Shattered Moments Read Online Free PDF

feed each other bacon while he took a seat on the bench next to Finn and exchanged greetings with everyone.  His mother placed a plate piled with porridge, bacon, bread, and butter in front of him and kissed the top of his head, as she had when he was little.  It was nice to be home.
    “How’s Susanna?” John Mallory asked, pushing away his plate with a little burp of satisfaction.   Sam knew his father was eager to hear the news, but he wasn’t budging until after breakfast.  Susanna hadn’t left anything for him to eat last night, not expecting him home, and he was starving, having had nothing in his belly since the previous afternoon.
    “She’s well.  Still sleeping,” Sam replied as he popped a piece of grease-soaked bread into his mouth and sighed with satisfaction.  “It can’t be long now; she’s huge.”
    “She’s not due for two more months, son,” Mrs. Mallory cut in, giving Sam an amused look.  “I hope it’s not twins.”
    “That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?” Sam asked, winking at Finn, who rolled his eyes at the idea.
    “Having three children under the age of two is not what most women aspire to,” Hanna Mallory replied, shaking her head.  “It’s hard enough with two, especially since Ben seems intent on escaping every chance he gets.  Your father caught him by the stream yesterday, trying to fish with a stick.  He could have fallen in.”  Sam threw a look at Ben, who was in seventh heaven as he shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth, his eyes closed in concentration.  With only four teeth, it took him a while to chew, which was actually beneficial to them all since it kept him quiet for a few minutes at a time.
    “I will try to stay at home until Susanna ’s delivered and look after Ben.”  Sam got quiet as he glanced at his father, who pursed his lips.  Clearly, he had the next mission already lined up, needing Sam more than ever since Uncle Alfred was up north gathering valuable information to be passed on to the Continental Army.
    “Pa, I need to be there for Sue.  I know you all help her, especially the girls, but it’s me she needs.”
    “All right son, maybe we can send Finn instead.” 
    Abbie’s head snapped up at this, her own breakfast forgotten.  “Not if I can help it,” she cried, the memory of their last mission still fresh in her mind.  Finn had made some local runs, but Abbie resolutely refused to let him go any further, especially behind enemy lines.  Their experience in New York left her fearful and over-protective, and with good reason.
    “Abs, it’s all right,” Finn said, laying a hand on her arm.  “It won’t be the same as New York, will it , Mr. Mallory?  I won’t be in any danger.”
    “There’s always danger,” Abbie protested, her face pale.  “People die every single day and not only in battle.  I won’t let you go.  I won’t.”  With that, she scooped Diana off the bench and stepped outside, Ben’s howl clearly audible through the open window. 
    “ I won’t let him go,” Abbie mumbled to herself and set off for the stream.  Diana squirmed in her arms, but Abbie paid little attention as she stomped away from the house.  She was angry with her father; angry that he wanted to expose Finn to danger after what happened in New York.  She didn’t think of it as often anymore, but it was still there, never far away, especially at night.  She had come within an hour of her execution, and that was something she’d never forget.  Abbie still had nightmares in which she was trapped in the airless little cell, afraid to close her eyes and miss even a minute of her last hours on earth. 
    She had never been as terrified, alone, or heartbroken.  Her baby was going to die with her, and they would spend an eternity in some unmarked grave ; carelessly tossed on top of a pile of other corpses who met the same fate, and left to rot without so much as a funeral service or a marker of some sort.
    And then they nearly lost