XXX- The Defiant

Samuel Reed approached the Hawthorne cottage, brushing the rain from his face. It had begun raining early in the morning, and the walk from the mill to the cottage had been a cold and wet one. William Reed, Samuel's father, had agreed to let him spend the day with Anne Hawthorne to keep her company while they waited for any news or sign of Ravenna.

Samuel had told William about Ravenna's disappearance, worrying the older Reed man. William had been secretly hoping Samuel would be successful in courting Ravenna, and hearing of the young woman's disappearance was hurting his son, and the father in turn.

Samuel could see the cottage on the horizon. It stood proudly on the skyline, as if the infirmary knew it was essential to the village. The young miller could see the gardens that surrounded the Hawthorne home, the vines that crawled up and around the stones of the infirmary.

As Samuel approached the infirmary, the greenery around the cottage became more vivid and vibrant as the rain fell. The one thing out of place was the older woman sitting on the bench in front of the small home, getting soaked in the rain.

Anne Hawthorne sat in front of the cottage on a bench, waiting, watching. It broke Samuel's heart to see Anne look so helpless. She was always a woman who knew the answer to everything but had nothing for her granddaughter's disappearance. It hurt Samuel to see Anne this way, but he could only imagine how it felt to be Anne. To have remedies for everything except the thing that mattered most to her.

Samuel, Teresa, and Anne had previously discussed what to do about Ravenna's disappearance. Samuel was the one searching for her between Canden village and the cottage. Teresa was recovering from her daughter's birth, and could not help in the search. Anne could not leave the Hawthorne infirmary in case a Canden villager needed her. Samuel sighed. If only there were more of them here, more people could help search for Ravenna.

Samuel finally reached Anne and embraced the older woman. Anne leaned listlessly into his embrace as if her warmth left her with her granddaughter.

"How are you doing today, Anne?"

As if he did not already know.

"I have not slept yet, Samuel. I've been waiting." Anne's hair was loose from its usual bun, her greyed hair cascading down her back in waves. "Ravenna needs to know I'm here for her when she comes back. It does not matter when she comes back. The first thing she will see is her grandmother waiting for her."

The lack of sleep showed heavily under the older woman's eyes, a purple hue under her wise eyes. Her blinks were becoming slow and long, and her head was starting to nod forward.

"Anne, how about you come inside, we can make you some food or tea? At least come out of the rain. If Ravenna comes back, she will come into the house as she always has." Samuel offered his arm to Anne, who ignored him.

"Anne?"

The older woman continued to ignore Samuel. She sat on the bench, waiting for her granddaughter to return. If she stayed in the rain like this, she would get sick. Samuel took a deep breath. Anne was a stubborn woman. But he had to do what was best for the healer. The young miller bent down and picked up the older woman, placing her weight across his arms.

"PUT. ME. DOWN. NOW." Anne commanded, loud and sharp.

"No, Anne. You've spent your life caring for others, it's your turn now. I'm taking you inside, I'm getting you out of the rain, and you're going to get out of your wet clothes. You're going to make yourself sick and you know it. Ignoring your health will not bring Ravenna back, and I fully suspect that you know that." Samuel defiantly opened the cottage door and carried Anne through the entryway.

Teresa stood in the kitchen, making eggs for breakfast. She was more than willing to cook, as Anne had taken care of her, and she felt it was only fitting to return the favor. "Good morning An... well this is a sight!"

Teresa observed the miller carrying a drenched and angry Anne through the cottage. Samuel's face was firm with determination, and his thick arms flexed with effort. Anne's face flushed with rage; her arms firmly crossed her chest. Samuel set her down in her living room and told Anne to get out of her wet things.

"Anne, please. Go change your clothes, put something dry on." Samuel's voice was kind but purposeful, and Anne left the room irritably. Anne was the one used to instruct others, not vice versa. Samuel knew there would be hell to pay when Anne returned to her usual self when Ravenna returned. Or they would all sit in the parlor and laugh about it. Anything would be possible once Ravenna returned.

Teresa approached Samuel, who took out his kerchief and dried his face and neck from his walk to the cottage. "Samuel, why were you... what just happened there?"

Samuel gave a small half-smile. "She was sitting out in the rain. She's drenched. I don't know how long she's been out there. She wouldn't come in of her own accord, and she will get sick if she stays out in the rain. It's not healthy for her. Anne needed to come inside and get out of her wet clothes and have some warm food, maybe some calming tea."

Teresa put her hand on Samuel's arm. "Thank you for taking care of her. She forgets she needs care too. I hope Ravenna comes back soon. We all miss her, but Anne especially. It's like part of her is lost. You did the right thing, even if she didn't seem appreciative of it at the time."