Fiction Sample Ash Loanwright prompt

 I'm taking a writing class and thought I would share some samples from my class assignments. This prompt was to let the reader know what kind of person Ash Loanwright is without telling you what kind of person he is. Here's my 400-ish words...

“Hold on, little brother,” Ash Loanwright said as he grabbed Ben’s hand.

He watched the boy’s chest rise and fall in heavy gasps. His grey uniform was soaked in blood, and nothing Ash had done had slowed its flow. He knew it was too late for holding on, but he didn’t know what else to say. Ben’s eyes were opened wide and blood was coming from his mouth. Ash wished he could turn back time.

“I think we should take the girls up to Uncle Bob’s in Ohio,” Ben had said.

“Fine. Fine. Take the women and children. Then, you come right back here and defend this farm.”

Ash had insisted that his brother stand strong against the northern oppression, demanded as the oldest brother that they had to defend their father’s farm, to save their family land.

Ben’s grip tightened on his hand with each labored breath.

When his horse, Betsy, had gotten sick and lay suffering in the barn, Ash had knelt beside her and rubbed her side with his hand, begging her to get better. His father had brought him his hunting rifle and told him to put her out of her misery. To let her go. To let her be at peace.

He knew his brother was dying, that these were his last breaths. He wondered if it would be right to give Ben the same mercy he’d given Betsy. He knew he couldn’t. Even if it was the right thing to do, he knew he couldn’t. The Lord would have to take Ben. Ash wouldn’t help with that.

Ash bowed his head.

“Lord, have mercy,” he begged.

Silence.

Ash looked up to see Ben’s labored breathing had ended. He let out a gasp, and then in the silence, he heard a woman scream.

His brother was gone.

Ash still lived. He looked to the sky and then leaned over his brother to gently close his eyes.

He crawled toward the scream.

He could smell smoke and it drove him forward. Toward home. Toward his family. Toward Sally Ann.

He pushed himself up off the ground. He ran, dragging his injured leg behind him and cursing it for being so slow. He passed the bodies of his friends and neighbors. There was nothing he could do for them. They were in the Lord’s hands now.

He reached the edge of the woods and saw flames touching the sky above the barn.  He didn’t stop. He kept on towards the house. He thought of his folks. He thought of Sally Ann, who he swore he would marry if he could get to her alive.

So, now that you've had a peek at this sampler, let me know in the comments what kind of man do you think Ash Loanwright is? Did I do my job or not?