As they finished their meal then cleaned up leaving a plate for both Nico and Sarah. In the bedroom all was rather quiet for the time being. Sarah took this time to change the cloth on Nico’s back and face. Many of them were soaked through with blood, it took all night, but the bleeding finally stopped. When she removed the cloth, she saw that the scars were starting to mend to which she was quite great full for. No sooner had she changed the cloth, Nico began to move again while crying out in pain and agony. Asking for death over and over again between cries for death he called for his parents. He was reliving the moment of them being dragged away to be hung from the tree. All in his mind as if trying to change what had happened - trying to save his family. All Sarah could do was hold his hand and stroke his hair to try and calm him down. This grew to be too much for her as he went on like this for the next several hours right into the late afternoon. When his fevered dreams broke along with his fever at it was no longer as high as it was before. Yet it was still greater than normal. While Sarah had to stay with Nico listening to everything firsthand, she wasn’t the only one. Faith and Jason sat by the fireplace trying to ignore his screams and cries. Even this got to be too much for them it drove them out of the house far from the pain. They walked down to the barn where they kept back all three of three of Gage’s horses and Jason’s. They were supposed to be let go but Jason kept them behind so that Faith and her mother could have a way to escape. Should they come back sooner than any of them thought. This far away they could hear his screams just enough to let them know that he was still alive and still fighting to get back out of the dark, they stayed out till midafternoon when the rain forced them inside but by then Nico’s fevered dreams had stopped.

Sarah had her daughter try to get some water and food into him as she took a break to eat something and to get some fresh air. As much as she tried, Faith could only get him to drink a few small sips of water and very little solid food. As the fever and the whipping took all of his strength leaving little it any behind. As Faith wiped his brow, she saw how beautiful he is even with the wound above his right eye. Somehow it made him more distinctive more attractive than before. She got so lost in him that she did not hear Jason walk in. When he saw how she looked at him and cared for him like there was no one else in the world. Without a word he quietly left leaving her along with him.

After a while Faith left when she could no longer stand to see the man, she came to love a shell of his former self. She feared that he would never be that man again after all he’s been through. She ran out of room out of the house in tears after closing the door behind her to Nico’s room. She ran down the graves of Nicole and Coster. Sarah wanted to run after her daughter, but Jason stopped her telling her to give some time to come to terms with everything. She was only putting on a brave front and now it was time to face reality. Jason managed to convince Sarah to stay and look after him while he prepared something for them to eat. They had to keep up their strength for Nico. She cared for him through the night getting him to eat and drink a little more each time. Trying to get his strength back after a bit Jason took over for her so she could get some sleep.

While they took care of him, Faith sat by his parent’s graves crying till she had no more tears. Gradually her tears turned to fear and anger. Not fear of those who done this or angry at what they had done. Because this was always going to happen one day as her mother taught this to her. Rather she feared for Nico and the future he would face. Now he knew that no matter what he doesn’t belong anywhere not in their world or hers. The anger she felt was solely directed at Nico because he would never be the same. In that moment she was tending him, Faith saw that being a foundling he would never have love for just one person but everyone. Giving those that would do him harm a chance. In her heart she felt that he had only loved one woman- his mother. No matter how much she loved him, he could never love her for his love was taken by his mother the moment he first saw her eighteen years ago.

Faith knelt beside Nicole’s grave picking up some of the dirt that covered her grave. “Your son lives on Nicole, he survived everything, but I am scared of him. When I look upon his face, I see that he would forever bare their mark upon his eye. He will always carry your death in his heart because he loved you so much that he won’t be able to let you go until he avenges you. Maybe then he might be able to love me. He will have a place in his heart for me until then he can never love anyone else. I love him, Nicole, I have for a while ever since I saw the man he turned into two years ago. I thought he was beautiful before not just in his body but his soul as it was pure and still is in my mind and heart. No matter how hard they tried, his spirit and soul could never be broken as it is so strong. He also scares me because I fear that his strong spirit will make it so he will do anything to avenge you. Anyone else that has been wronged or harm by the white men even if it means his death and I don’t want that to happen.

Do not worry, Nicole, I won’t leave him. See I promised my mother that I will stay with him to make sure that he stays the same man that you raised. I won’t let him become like them. If he were to become like them then his revenge for your death would be unjustified and meaningless. If we can keep his soul pure like you raised him then when he avenges your death it would be justified. I just don’t know if I have the strength to stay with him until he is fully recovered. He’s in so much pain that when he cries out for you, I just want to run. Run far, far away until I can’t hear his cries. I know that this is wrong to feel this way, but his suffering is just so great that I can’t stand it anymore. I don’t know if I can be strong for him like my mother and Jason are. I promise you that I will try my best to stand by him for as long as I can. He needs people that love him to help through these next few days and weeks so that he can live.

I promise to look after him, Nicole, for as long as I can and help him through these dark days. I am not doing this because I love him, but I am doing this because we owe you. You saved him so that we could know and love him, guiding him to be what he was always meant to be. What you raised him to be a savior -an avenging angel.” Faith spoke as she stood up letting the dirt fall from her hand back over her grave. She left feeling a little less weak and afraid but more determined to help Nico become what his mother wanted him to be. Faith took her time walking back to the house trying to compose herself and trying think of what to say to her mother and Jason. No words came to her mind as she reached the front door. As she reached for the handle Faith recoiled her hand as she felt her unreadiness to face the three of them. Faith walked down to the barn and saw a pile of hay near the stove. She laid down on the pile of hay and quickly drifted off to sleep.

By the next morning Faith had gathered herself enough to go back into the house and face her demons. The moment she walked in to her surprise everything was quiet even her own mother who stood by the stove making breakfast for everyone. Faith was half expecting a lecture from her mother about running away but Sarah did was smile at her not saying a word. As she looked around for Jason, Faith could not see him from where she stood. Jason voice echoed from the bedroom letting her know where he was. After a while when breakfast was near completion

Jason walked out and over to Sarah secretly taking her hand into his. Last night he and Sarah came to see that both cared for one another much more than just friends. Faith saw this and was happy for them cause her mother has been alone for a long time. Jason was perfect for her. Faith just smiled as she took a seat at the table. Breakfast was a quite one as none seemed to know what to say. By the end of the meal Faith grew tired of the silence.

“I’m okay with the two of you courting each other.” Faith spoke soft and quietly catching them off guard.

“We’re not...” Sarah began to say before Faith cut in.

“It’s alright, mom. We all need a fresh start after this not just Nico. I see that now. When I ran out of here last night I went to their graves, and I talked to Nicole. I couldn’t stand to see and hear him in so much pain calling out for her, his mother. I love him, mom, I have for a long time not even our age difference makes me love him less. I saw last night in his heart that until his revenge is satisfied, he could only love his mother. He loved her so much that until he can finish this and let her go. He can never have enough room in his heart for me or anyone else. I accept this because she saved him and now it is up to us to save him. So, he could always be what he was meant to be. A savior - an avenging angel who feel and understands the pain and suffering of others. He can only get that way if I am strong and help him through his recovery. But overall, I have to make sure that he stays on the right path and doesn’t become like the others. If he does, he will fall off his path and all his mother tried to do will be lost. That cannot come to pass. He is a special man, mom and Jason. He’s not like the others of his race, I mean no offense to you Jason or to myself. Since my father to is Anglo but Nico is kind, loving and has a spirit that is stronger than anyone else of his kind even you Jason.” Faith told them both with a strength that was never there before. Her words seem to resonate with both of them down to the deepest part of their heart and soul. Her words were the truth.

“You’re right, Faith. Nico has a strength of spirit that none of us Anglos could ever dream of having.  That I could ever dream of having. We will protect and guide him while you care and love him. Nico needs this more than anything else. As for your mother and me, we won’t do anything until he is well again. When we leave this place, it will be for a better and much safer for those who are mixed lovers.” Jason sighed as he held onto Sarah’s hand. Smiling at her as she smiled back at him.

“Okay, let just take this one day at a time and try not to push his recovery more than he could handle. I also think that we should crate up the Gages personal belongings along with his and load them onto the wagon. This way they will be safe for him when he is well enough to leave. They will be back it’s only a matter of time.” Sarah told them trying to bring them all back to reality.

“Okay.” Jason and Faith agreed with Sarah.

“Good, we will pack while you watch over and care for him.” Sarah spoke taking control of the household.

They finished their breakfast tea a little while later taking their time. Once they finished Sarah and Jason took to packing up the living area. Taking only their mementos and personal belongs leaving all the furniture in place. As they packed Faith tended to Nico changing his bandages and washing his body. Washing away the sweat from his fevered dreams. She gave him the love and care that he needed to make himself well. Faith cared for him over the next several days as he slowly regained a measure of conscious. After his fever completely break returning to normal by week’s end, he was able to hold down water and some soup. Before all he was able to get down came back up a short time later. He was far from better because he was still so very weak that he could sit up or talk apart from small words. As he got more and more alert Sarah explained what happened to him giving Faith a break. As she explained to him what happened she changed his bandages and washing his body. At first, she was worried how he would take it fearing for the worst but this was not the case. For some reason Nico took it better than expected on the outside. But deep in his heart Nico longed for vengeance for his parents and righting the wrong that was done to them.