The bird call again. Eli turned to back to the tree hoping to see Christi, yet all he saw was another note. 

He had a thought to send Eric Miller to get it but he thought against it. Eli knew what was going on, how they were treating her. Something should have been done about it but fear of making things worse kept him from it. 

Eli walked over first aid kit in hand and read the single word note. "Why?" 

That one question was enough to get Eli riled up. He wasn't mad at Christi. No,  he was mad at himself. He knew better than to drop a stitch like this. 

Eli took a deep breath before speaking. "I was 11 or 12 when your Momma passed. I can remember sitting with her not long before you were born. She'd say 'Elijah, my  Christabelle, is gonna be a good. Just you watch Eli. She's gonna be something special.' Past that I've known Tillie Helton since she was a little girl. She used to write me letters when I was in the war. She told me some about you. Said you were a good kid, quite and shy but she thought the world of you Christabelle. Between her and what I can remember of your Momma, that's more than enough for me." Eli was at his wits end at what to say to her. If that didn't get it done he didn't know what else would. 

He took one more deep breath before speaking again. He was really missing combat right now. Lord knows it was easier for him than this. "Sweetie we ain't got a lot of time right now. I'm gonna walk passed these trees and we're gonna get you patched up... Alright, I'm coming through. Just stay calm for me girl." Eli waited for just a few short seconds before pushing past the branches and getting eyes on Christabelle. 

His were in plain sight, he did what he could seem as non threatening as possible. He did his best to calm and collected but the look of fear and how battered she looked wasn't making it easy. "No one is gonna your Christi. Just wanna talk." Eli said as he slowly stepped to her.