Another Chance (40 page)

Had the woman never entertained a Lenape before? While not appearing afraid, her nervousness showed
. "I am pleased Father has someone to help him," Sarah replied, trying to ease the tension building in the room.

"The stew is hot, whenever you are ready
and I baked today," Mistress Westcoat said.

"Would thee care to wash up before eating?"
Sarah asked her companions.

"Good idea," Benjamin said
. "I will show them the well and the necessary."

Before they left, she knelt close to Little Turtle
and said, "How about gingerbread to go with the stew?"

"Yes!"
He hugged her.

"Go with thy father
." Sarah tapped him on his breechcloth- covered bottom. "We will have everything ready when thou returns."

Little Turtle raced out the door after the other men
.

Mistress Westcoat eyed her oddly
. Uncomfortable and unsure of the woman's look, Sarah sought a topic of conversation. "Are thy husband and thy son well?"

"Thank you for asking," Mistress Westcoat said, as she placed the wooden spoon in the pot
. "News arrives slowly, as you know but last I heard they kept well." Her pale blue eyes misted. "In this troubling time, your father is a wonderful man to give me this job." She tucked wisps of light brown hair beneath her cap.

"I am sure thou earns thy keep,"
Sarah said reassuringly.

The older woman smiled
. "I do try. Although I don't stay overnight, since I have chores at home to do when I leave here, I make sure food is ready in case guests stop by."

"Does thou feel safe?"
Sarah asked, unable to stop herself.

Mistress Westcoat blushed
. "At my age and with my shape, I am of no interest to any man except my husband." Her flush spread down her neck.

As she removed the pewter plates from behind the bar, Mistress Westcoat said, "You don't appear frightened of those Indians
."

Sarah
listened to the words. She heeded the woman's tone, but she failed to figure out how Mistress Westcoat felt about the Lenape. "They have given me a home and have kept me safe. Why should I fear them?  They are no different from thee or me." Sarah selected the ingredients she needed for the gingerbread.

"But they are heathen
. You are a Quaker, or at least heed the doctrine. You believe in God. They do not," she challenged, placing the plates near the fire to warm.

After setting the necessary items
on the worktable, Sarah chose a bowl from the corner cupboard. "Indeed they do. Only the names we call him are dissimilar."

"Their skin is darker
. They shave their heads," she pushed, as she placed the cutlery on the round table closest to the bar.

"My skin is fairer than thine, but I would not judge thee less because of this difference
. They are people, as are we." Sarah focused on her chore and began sifting the flour.

"Do you like them?" The metal cup rang as the edge hit the oak table
. Mistress Westcoat's surprise and concern colored her tone and her actions.

"I respect and admire the Lenape at Long Meadow, just as I do many of our neighbors
. Those I have met at Wolf's plantation have treated me kindly. Some I call friends."
One I call my lover,
she added silently.

"Then you like them?" the woman persisted
.

"Like who?" Benjamin asked as he came in
.

Glancing over and around him,
Sarah replied, "Where are Wolf and his family?"

"They are currying their horses and will join us soon
." Her father stared at her. "Thee did not answer my question. Like who?"

Sarah
gave a condensed version of her conversation with Mistress Westcoat, as she placed the batter in the spider pan and placed it over a tent of coals.

"Does thee?" Benjamin asked
.

"Thee taught me to love God's children
. Why should I think any differently toward the Lenape?" She had not shared her feelings for Wolf with her father and wondered why. Did Mistress Westcoat's presence halt Sarah's tongue? Had an intuitive awareness of Benjamin's possible displeasure checked her? He surely could not worry about her being 'Read Out' at meeting.

"Very true, my dear," he replied, in a neutral voice
.

She heard no disapproval in his comment, yet she sensed an undercurrent of something she could not identify
.

After pulling out the heavy oak bench, Benjamin sat and rested his elbows on the worktable
. "Tell me about thy visit; how thee occupies thy days, and any other news. Since thee left, we have had few visitors."

Sarah
complied. Occasionally, he nodded. At other times, he merely listened.

While telling about Quick Rabbit, she heard Mistress Westcoat's adding an occasional "Oh, dear
." Finishing, Sarah said, "Since no one had any news of thee, I decided I needed to come see for myself."

"I am glad thee is helping the poor Lenape woman," Benjamin said
. "Perhaps that is why God sent thee to be with her people."

A bolt of
lightning shot though Sarah's system. Was that why she had traveled through time? Was that her sole purpose? If or when Quick Rabbit recovered, would God or the fates whisk Sarah back to her own century? She couldn't wish for the poor woman to remain in her comatose state, yet if her father were right. A few weeks ago, the idea of completing her mission and leaving would have delighted her, today, just the opposite.

Wolf walked through the door
. Sarah ached to rush into his arms and cover him with kisses, feeling she must make the most of her limited time. Before she could move, Little Turtle bounded in.

"Is the gingerbread ready?"

Pushing aside all thoughts not needed for her tasks, Sarah said, "Almost."

              * * * *

The time occupied by eating and sharing additional news passed swiftly
. Sarah detected no animosity toward the Lenape, not even from Mistress Westcoat. At times, she recalled Benjamin's words about Quick Rabbit, but she refused to dwell on them.

As they prepared to leave,
Sarah asked, "May I speak to thee for a minute, Father?"

"We will saddle the horses while you talk," Wolf said
.

"Shall we walk outside?" Benjamin asked, as he offered his arm, understanding she wished for privacy
.

They strolled around the house in companionable silence
.

"Does thee remember whe
n I hung that swing for thee?" Without waiting for an answer, he went on, "Some members of the Society condemned me for erecting such a scandalous contraption. Thy mother and I laughed for we enjoyed watching thee play." He chuckled, enclosing the swing's rope with his fingers. "Did thee know, thy mother enjoyed a ride now and again?"

"Father, I must talk to thee
." She focused on his face, s she might watch his reaction.

As if expecting her words to be grave, a serious expression crossed his face
.

Without additional preamble, she said, "I am in love
."

His right hand fisted on the rough cord
. He averted his eyes and stared up at the thick branch of the maple tree that supported the swing.

"Thee does not ask who the man is
."

"I need not ask
. I observed." Benjamin encircled one hand over the other. His voice held no disapproval, but no joy either. His gaze appeared to fasten on anything but her.

"Wolf has not asked me, but if he does, I wish to marry him
. With thy approval, of course," she added.

Benjamin shook his head
. "That I cannot give."

She broke his grasp on the rope and made him face her
. "Why? Because he is a Lenape? Because his God has another name?"

"No
. These are not the reasons. If people condemned me for hanging a swing in a tree, thee will experience a much more difficult time for marrying an Indian. The community will not approve. Everyone will shunned thee."

She started to speak, but he gestured for her silence
.

"By marrying thy mother, I was 'Read Out'
. I did not realize how much I would miss attending meeting or socializing with members of the society."

Sarah
stared at him in disbelief.

"No
. I do not regret marrying thy mother." His expression softened and he went on, "We fell in love, and I cherish every moment that I had with her. But my religion was, no is, an important part of who I am. To be forbidden from participating as a member of the Society has been hard, but at least I have other neighbors for friends. If thee marries this Lenape, thee will have no one."

"Thee gave up thy religion for love
. Why can't I follow my heart, as thee did?" she asked desperately.

"Thee will be giving up more than religion," he replied earnestly
.

Gripping his hand with both hers, she pleaded with him
. "He is a good man. I love him. Does thee not wish to see me happy?"

He grabbed her in his arms, holding her against him
. "Thy happiness is my only concern. Will thee give up thy way of life, thy friends, thy family? People will not approve if thee weds an Indian." Easing his grasp, he looked at her. "Thee will always have my love, for thee is a part of me and of thy wonderful mother.” He shook his head sadly. “For thy own happiness, I can never give my permission."

She kissed his cheek, whirled around, and fled
. Tears threatened to fall, but she swallowed hard and raced toward the barn.

Wolf finished tightening the cinch on his horse and straightened the stirrup
. Moments later, Sarah careened into him. He caught and held her. Gently, his fingers caressed her upper arms. While they had eaten, he had noticed a slight nervousness surrounding Sarah. Now his curiosity increased one hundred-fold. "What is it?"

She sniffed
. "Nothing." Mounting her horse, she said, "Father wishes us a safe trip back."

"Indeed, I do," the older man said, joining them, slightly out of breath
. He strolled between the horses and over to Sarah. Reaching, he squeezed her hand. His head moved slowly obviously taking in her skirt that bunched around her thighs and then his gaze traveled over the cotton liners covering her legs. Although he frowned, he did not speak.

Wolf continued to watch the interplay for he sensed the tension between them
. Sarah had told Wolf that white women wore neither leggings nor a loincloth. Surely seeing his daughter wearing pants would not cause the amount of strain that Wolf sensed.

Turning away from
Sarah, Benjamin faced Wolf. "Take care of my daughter. She is precious to me."

"I will guard her," Little Turtle said, obviously hearing the words, but not seeing at whom they were directed
.

"As my son said, we will keep her safe
… always."

"Say goodbye to Mistress Westcoat for me
and thank her for the meal," Sarah added.

"I will
. Have a safe trip." Benjamin walked over to White Owl and shook his hand.

"We thank you for your hospitality," White Owl said, before starting
.

Instead of glancing back to wave to her father,
Sarah kept her gaze straight ahead.

What had happened?
Wolf wondered. He allowed his son and his grandfather to draw ahead. "Sarah, what is wrong?  Benjamin is well. The woman is a good worker." He hesitated before adding, "Do you wish to stay?" Every muscle in his body tensed as he waited her answer.

She twisted in her saddle and faced him
. "Never."

Unsure of her meaning, he repeated, "Never?"

Shaking her head, she said, "My life at the tavern is over."

"Why?"

"I told my father of my love for thee. I asked him for his blessing. He refused."

Anger built inside Wolf
. "Does he not consider an 'Indian' good enough for his daughter?"

She shook her head
. "Thy nationality has nothing to do with his withholding his approval."

"Then why?" Wolf persisted
.

Sarah
glanced at him, then flushed and looked away.

"You must tell me!" Wolf demanded
.

Her light blush turned to scarlet, and she stared straight ahead
. "He fears that I will be ostracized by our neighbors. He worries that this will destroy my happiness."