Back home on the farm, Epsey began to prepare for her planned move to Wrightsborough. In her mind, she had already divided their possessions into three categories: those that would be left behind and abandoned; more valuable things to be hauled to Wrightsborough and sold; and personal belongings that she and Henry would retain while living in someone else’s house. For a substantial fee, Joseph Maddock had agreed to send a waggoner to help with the move. All the livestock had already been sold except the saddle horse and their best milk cow, which had recently calved. Epsey had decided to carry the cow and calf to Wrightsborough to be sold and to keep the horse in the town stable so she and Henry could visit the homestead when possible in the future, and to have it available when Ethan came home after the war.

Henry was excited about going to a new home in town and insisted on helping as their belongings were divided. As the appointed time approached for the wagon to arrive, Epsey decided to go to the woods corral and bring the cow to the house so it could be tied behind the wagon.

“Henry, I’m going down in the woods to get the cow. Would you rather go with me or stay here and continue piling up your father’s tools? I’ll be back inside of an hour.”

“I’ll stay here, Mama. I think I know what Daddy will be needing when he comes home.”

Epsey smiled and began the long walk past the fields and then several hundred yards farther to a fenced area of about two acres, which included an open grassy knoll and some shade trees. This was the same place where she and the baby had accompanied Ethan when he’d cleared the area for a small pasture. She remembered how compatible they had been, both with each other and in their basic attitude toward life. Now he was a different man, obsessed with killing. Almost by habit, she prayed that God would change her husband by reminding him that their Savior was the Prince of Peace. She saw no justification for the terrible violence that had so changed their lives.

Although the cow was quite tame, she was reluctant to be roped and taken to the barn lot, where she would be kept separate from her calf while providing milk for the family. Epsey attempted to hem the cow into a corner but was never quite able to slip the rope over her sawed-off horns. As she chased the cow around the corral, she heard voices coming from the direction of the cabin. She assumed that the waggoner and an assistant had arrived early, but after a few minutes she became alarmed, as it was obvious to her that there were several voices, some apparently raised in anger or excitement.