The house where the baby lay stood strong against the cold January winter wind, leaving the hungry baby with only the small fire his father started before he took the rest of his family away. The fire stayed lit all through the night keeping him warm but little else. He cried himself to sleep throughout the night. Crying for something to fill his hungry belly and change his cloth whereas the cows and chickens that were left behind had food for a week. It was almost like Daniel wanted the baby to die. Yet that was not meant to be. As his salvation was only one hour away by wagon.

Down the snowy road, a recently freed middle age African couple were riding by wagon looking for a place to work and stay for a time. They had little money just their final pay from their former owner who also gave them the horse and wagon. The man was forty-two years of age, and he had strong shoulders as well as a strong back from years of working the fields. His hands were callus and hard from the years of hard work and laboring. The woman who he rode with was also forty-two years of age, unlike the man she did not have a strong back or shoulders as she worked in the house. Instead, she took care of the house and cooking the meals for their former owner. Both showed their age from the years of hard work but unlike other slave owners of the time their former master and his family treated them with respect, going as far as to give them permission to marry when they fell in love. They were given their freedom after the patriarch of the family passed away. His son who now runs the plantation freed them for all their hard work and loyalty to the family. They were happy despite not having the one thing that all women wanted one day....children. It was not just her, but it was also her husband as both were sterile. For reasons unknown but it was common for most who worked in the fields day after day lifting and carrying heavy bags. After nearly twenty years of trying both came the realization that they would never have children, and they accepted it – reluctantly. They traveled down a road for some time before seeing from a distance a small modest farm and smoke from a chimney.

They stayed that road for the next half hour until they reached the border of the farm. Both could hear the sound of cattle and the clucking of chickens emanating from the barn. This made them hopeful that someone was home. They drove the wagon up to the house which took them by surprise as modest, but it was also very homey. It was a simple home, and it was beautiful. The man slowly jumped off the wagon, and into the snow he walked around to help his wife off the wagon. As they walked up to the door, they could see a note was left - nailed to the door. The man took the note off the door and began to read aloud it to his wife.

 

“To whom it may concern:

I Daniel James Scully leave all mine and my family’s possessions to whoever finds this letter. This includes the house, livestock, field and everything in the home. I have included the deed for you to put your mark. To make it yours as well as twenty dollars to get you started.”

 

“It’s ours my love, it’s all ours; they left their deed behind for whoever got here first.” the man said enthusiastically as they had a home to call their own.

“That’s wonderful love.” she replied joyfully as her husband. Until a strange sound startled her “I hear someone inside or something, like something is crying.” she continued quite cautiously.

He stopped dead in his track, giving his wife the deed saying “Take this and stay here. Let me deal with whatever, whoever is inside our new home!”

His wife stepped back from the door and with one swift kick he kicked in the door. He expected to see an animal, or a person come running our but what he saw was completely unexpected him. “Love you need to get in here, NOW!”

The man’s wife ran into the house not sure of what to expect, once inside she ran up to her husband’s back “What’s wrong?” she asked not seeing what he saw. She walked up to beside her husband but when she got up to him her jaw dropped “Oh my God.” she said in shock with her hands on her chest, as she looked at the basinet and the now silent baby that laid in it.

“Is it still alive? It stopped crying and moving.” he asked almost like he had his breath taken all away from him.

She slowly knelt so as not to scare the baby in case it might be alive. She moved the blanket and held her hand over his mouth and nose area just close enough to feel the faint gasps of air. “It’s still alive. Go and quickly get the milk from the wagon. The poor thing is starving.” she yelled at her husband while picking up the silent and still baby. Cradling it in her arms “Why would anyone leave you behind?” she said in a motherly way stroking the baby’s cheeks.

Her husband left as quickly as he could and grabbed the milk that they had brought earlier that day from a farmer. He grabbed a cup to pour the milk it. As quick as he ran out was just as quick, he ran back in with the milk and cup in hand. Once inside he poured some of the milk into the cup. When he went to give it to his wife, she did not take it instead she made him hold it as she dipped her finger in it. Then carefully place it on the baby’s lips and mouth trying to slowly hydrate it. Soon the baby begun to take more and slowly but he was drinking.

“Darling, bring that chair over next to me and put the cup of milk on it. I need you to get some water from the well and warm it up. This little one needs to be clean or else it will get sick and won’t survive the day.” the woman said softly while the baby sucked the drops of milk off her fingers.

Without questioning her, he moved the chair over and put the cup on it. Then proceeded to go outside to the well and gather some water. He hauled one bucket of water inside and left to get another bucket of cold water along with an empty bucket, towel and a small pot to boil the water. Inside he poured the cold water into the empty bucket and then hung the water over the fire to boil. He mixed it with the cold water till it was just the right temperature. Just as was finishing so too was his wife was doing because she didn’t want to over feed the baby. She gently burped the baby then started to remove the filthy cloth.

“Darling?” she said with a smile.

“What? What’s wrong?” he asked deeply concerned for the baby.

“Nothing is wrong, but you remember when we first married and talking about having children one day. How we both wanted a son?” she asked still smiling with joy.

“Yes?”

“Well, we finally have one of our own.” she said quite joyfully.

“What? Really? He’s a boy. I have a son.” he said quite excitedly to the point where he nearly knocked over the bucket of water while speeding to the baby boy.

“Do you want to wash him, Darling.” she asked as he picked up the baby and looked at him with joy in his eyes.

“Do you have to ask.” he said turning to walk over to the bucket. He gently placed the infant boy in the small amount of water and started to wash him gently. “Why do you think they abandoned him? What kind of person could do that to such a sweet boy.” he asked as he washed the baby.

“I don’t know but knowing the white people it is most likely due to his small size. They probably thought he would die. They most likely didn’t even name this little man.” she said in disgust for the people who left him, seeing only an innocent little child.

“He’s our son now and no matter the size. One day he’ll grow up big and strong and do great things. We’ll raise him right, more than they ever could. And I know we can love him more than they could ever because I don’t know about you, but I love him already.” he said with pride as he took the baby out of the water and placed him down on the towel, covering him up so that he could dry the baby off while keeping him warm. “Our son will need a name, a good strong name. I think that you should have the honor, my love.”

She thought for only a few moments before saying “Nico. His name is Nico. This way he will have both of us. Ni for Nicole and Co for you Coster.”

“Nico Samuel Gage.” Coster said in agreement, adding more to the baby’s name. “Samuel for my father and he deserves surname, our surname. One that I believe he will carry with pride and honor.”

“It’s perfect; it’s a good strong name.” Nicole said in agreement, before suddenly realizing their wagon still outside. “Coster, I just realize that we left everything in the wagon. One of us needs to unload it before it gets to dark out and take care of the horses.”

“I’ll go. This little guy is going to need blankets and something to wear.” Coster said as he softly laughed while kissing his sons head, handing Nico off to Nicole. “I’ll be quick.”

“Okay, be quiet I think he’s falling asleep.” Nicole whispered.

“I’ll be silent and quick. Don’t let Nico go.” he smiled at Nicole who just smiled back.

Once Coster was out of the cottage, Nicole sat down in the chair and gently rocked Nico to sleep. As he drifted off to sleep, she whispered to him “I’ll never leave you, my son.”

As she sat holding a sleeping Nico, Nicole began to think about just how hard it is going to be for the three of them. Not that because they are freed slaves in a white country, but they were not ready to be parents. Not emotionally and financially as they had nothing for their new son. No clothing and no toys. What Nicole feared the most the more she thought about it was not this but the people who live here as they would not understand why they would take in a stranger’s baby as their own, especially when money and food was hard to come by. What they could never understand is that to them finding Nico gave them a reason to live and to believe in God, that maybe he is out there watching over them and this small blessing is their gift. For all their good work they have done. A gift they always waited for but could never have one of their own. To Nicole and Coster, Nico will always be there no matter what comes their way. Nicole looked down at Nico and smiled, seeing and feeling now that their family was complete. Though she did not know what happened to him Nicole from the first moment she held this boy he was hers, and always will be across the homestead Coster too felt the very same way from the first sight.

While she held Nico, Coster was coming in and going out of the cottage with their belongings and supplies. Until the wagon was empty then he unhitched the horses and took them to the barn, where they would be warm. He fed them with some of the hay that was left behind as well as fresh water. Before he went back to the cottage, he made sure to feed the cattle and chickens that were left there along with his son. With all of the animals secure he went back into the house where he preceded to put away their belongings. Making their beds for the night and fixed up the basinet to make it warmer and more comfortable for his son. Coster moved the bassinet closer to their bed, keeping his son close at hand. After everything was done, he went over to his family, kneeling down beside them and begun to softly stroke Nico’s face as Nicole smiled down at her two boys. Both realized that after so many years they were now at peace.

“Do you want me to make us something to eat?” Coster asked as he stroked Nico’s cheek.

“Would you mind, Coster? I just want to hold him a little longer.”

“I don’t mind at all.” he replied while standing up.

“Thank you.” Nicole sighed to which Coster just smiled.

Coster didn’t have to fix much as he warmed up some stew that Nicole had made the previous day. Once the stew was warming over the fire, he unwrapped the rocking chair that they had brought with them. Along with other pieces of furniture such as a small table he had made and some dishes. Coster went into one of the bedrooms and saw that the one facing east would be perfect for little Nico. All it needed was color and a sturdy crib not a bassinet to which he would outgrow it. By the time he got the stuff set up and looking over the cottage the stew was ready. Coster just had to set the table and warm up the milk for Nico as he was beginning to wake up. Of course he would be hungry too. Nicole got up with Nico and headed for the table but first she handed Nico over to him so that he could feed him which pleased Coster very much. For the rest of the day neither spoke very much as they just enjoyed their meal and the baby. Coster, himself took great pride in feeding Nico, as he looked into Nico’s he knew that the little boy would grow up to be a great man and a great son.

They finished their meal an hour later, Coster stilling holding Nico who was asleep went over to the rocking chair. He took a seat and rocked Nico as Nicole cleared the supper table. Nicole spent the rest of the evening making this house theirs. She began to put away their things and making a room for Nico which was the one that Coster had picked out. The room though perfect lacked baby clothes, toys, blankets and a crib. In the morning, she would go to their neighbors and into town to get some supplies. Such as fabric for curtains and feathers to make a feather bed for their baby. They also needed to pick up nails and lumber so that Coster could make what repairs were needed. After a while they put Nico down asleep in his bassinet while they took to their bed. With all drifting off to sleep till the morning although both would routinely get up during the night just to make sure that he was okay.

The morning came early for Nicole, Coster and Nico for he woke them up crying. They did not get angry like most new parents would for the Gages had waited all their life for this moment. Though they had been through it before as Nicole raised her former owner’s children. This time was different for this was their child. Coster tended to the animals feeding and cleaning them, then went about collecting eggs from the chicken coop. Then he milked the cow while Nicole washed and changed Nico waiting for the milk to come. While waiting for him to return she started making biscuits and once they were baking, she got Nico dressed in one of Coster’s shirts to keep him warm. After he was dressed in a fashion Nicole put him back in the bassinet and smiled at her baby. When she stood back up looking at him, he was smiling back at her for this was the first time he had smiled at her which brought tears of joy to her eyes. Hours passed before Coster returned with the milk, eggs and water. By that time the biscuits were done and the water for the milk was warmed as Nicole was getting hungry, Coster got cleaned up before eating or even touching Nico. By the time he was done washing up, Nicole had the eggs prepared and, on the table, along with milk for them and Nico. The Gage family sat down and had their breakfast before setting out on their long trip.