“No!” she screamed, pushing against him.  “Let me go!”

“Nabby!”  He shook her. “It’s William!  Look at me!”

She refused to obey, but her arms fell limp to her sides.  Her body shook with anguish and in the midst of tears, she blurted her secret.  “He’s dead!  I killed him!”  His body stiffened, and she sobbed harder, covering her face with shaking hands. 

He raised himself from her and pulled her into his arms.   Cradling her close, he spoke gently in her ear.  “It’s over.  Shhh, all will be well.”

Her sobs emptied, and her shoulders slowed to an occasional shudder.  “No.”  Her head wagged back and forth against his chest and tears seared her cheeks.  She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, blew into it, and tried to remove all traces of gunpowder residue.  “It will not be over.  They won’t let it be over until they hang me.”

They sat at the edge of the tree line next to a clearing.  A cloud moved from in front of the moon and bathed the meadow in light.  Her dress tangled around her calves, exposing the bottom of her petticoat.  He picked up the hem of the white linen and studied the soiled edge more closely.  Her stomach convulsed at the reddish-brown splotch—blood.  Over and over, the deafening pop followed by the meaty thud replayed in her mind. She started shaking and he drew her closer, tucking the stain under a fold in her dress. 

“Don’t fret.  I’m here.” He lifted her chin and held his hand there until their eyes met.  “Tell me everything that happened after I left.”