Beyond the Quiet Hills (45 page)

Amanda then sobbed and pulled herself away from Jacob. She knelt beside her father, took his free hand, and said, “Oh, Pa, I love you!”

“I'm sorry I treated you . . . so bad,” Zeke gasped.

Amanda barely caught the words, and her tears fell on his hand as she kissed it. “It's all right, Pa. It's all right now.”

Zeke Taylor only had time to reach up and touch his wife's cheek. “Iris, I'm sorry.” Then he whispered, “You was always . . . the prettiest woman . . . I ever saw.”

They stood around the bed of the dying man and he did not speak again. Just before he died he looked up into the faces of those around him and strength seemed to return to him. He raised his hand as if in a farewell wave, then he smiled. It was a smile such as none of them had ever seen on his lips, then he closed his eyes, and his chest ceased to move.

“He's gone,” Iris whispered, tears flowing down her face.

Amanda put her arm around her mother, and her voice was choked as she said, “He's gone, Ma, but he went to be with the Lord. We'll see him again someday!”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

America's First Birthday

“Get up, woman! You're going to miss your son's wedding day!”

Elizabeth had been lying in the bed, coming out of a deep sleep. She sat bolt upright and stared at Hawk, who was standing over beside the washstand, his razor in his hand, his eyes laughing at her.

“Oh me! What time is it?”

“Time for you to get up. Here it is July 4, 1777, your son's wedding day and America's first birthday. You'd better jump to it.”

Elizabeth slipped out of her nightgown at once and began pulling her clothes out of the chest beside the wall, saying, “Hurry up! I need to wash my face!”

Hawk was lathering up and said, “Your face doesn't need washing. You washed it just three days ago.” He laughed as she picked up a moccasin and threw it at him and then began raking the blade down over his tough beard. His eyes watered, and he gritted his teeth. “Indians ought to try shaving for a torture,” he said. “It's about the worst thing I know.”

Elizabeth was slipping into her undergarments, and she stopped long enough to stare at him. “Don't talk about things like that. Not today—well, not ever, really.”

“All right.” Drawing the blade down his other cheek, Hawk said, “Life's real funny sometimes. Here we are getting ready for Andrew and Abigail's wedding. Just seems like yesterday you and I were getting married.”

Elizabeth pulled the shift over her head and then moved over to begin combing her hair. “God's always working things out in His own time,” she remarked.

Hawk said nothing until he had finished shaving, then he bent over and sputtered into the water, washing the lather away. As he dried on a coarse towel and picked up the basin to get rid of the water, he said, “I was proud of Jake offering to stand up for his stepbrother.”

“I think he's gotten over Abigail pretty well. He was never in love with her anyway. He didn't love her as he should, but she's going to make a good sister-in-law for him.”

Hawk moved away and sat down as Elizabeth poured fresh water into the basin and began to wash her face with soft soap. “Things are going well with the settlers, aren't they?”

“Couldn't be better.” Hawk thought about the treaties that were signed in June, ending the war with the Cherokee. It had come about when William Christian had led a force of militia against the Overhill towns in October. He had defeated the Cherokee and forced them to surrender—all except Dragging Canoe. He thought about that fierce warrior and the rumor that he had fled into the Chickamauga area. Aloud he said, “I wonder if we'll ever see Akando again? Nobody saw him after the attack.”

“I hope not. Don't talk about that, Hawk.”

“All right.” He came over, leaned over and kissed the back of her neck, then put his arms around her. “I'll talk about how beautiful you look.”

Elizabeth turned, put her arms around his neck, and drew his head down. She kissed him firmly, then said, “I've got two small ones to attend to. Now, you get dressed. I want
you
to look beautiful today.”

“I always look beautiful,” Hawk grinned, then turned to begin dressing.

****

The wedding of Andrew MacNeal and Abigail Stevens was being held at Fort Patrick Henry near Long Island. It was a part of a large celebration that was being held at the fort to commemorate the first birthday of the new United States of America. Settlers from all parts of the frontier were to be in attendance to see troops parade from Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia, as well as militia companies from Watauga and Nolichucky. They were even being joined by more than five hundred Cherokee warriors, including twenty chiefs. To show good faith, the Indians were even going to perform a dance for the settlers in their dress costumes.

As soon as Elizabeth and Hawk arrived at the settlement, they looked up to see William and Lydia Bean.

Elizabeth, at once, went to Lydia and put her arm around her. “I'm glad to see you. Are you all right?”

“Oh yes,” Lydia smiled. She had indeed survived being taken prisoner by Old Abram, but she had spread the word throughout the settlement that it was Nancy Ward who had saved her.

“Did you hear about Nathaniel Gist? He's going to join Washington's Continental Army. He's given his land to Joseph Martin, the new Indian agent from Virginia. He's the husband of Betsy Ward, Nancy's daughter.”

“Yes,” Hawk nodded, “and James Robertson has been made the Indian agent for North Carolina. That's a good choice. He's a good man.”

Hawk then smiled as he said to William, “Are you ready to give your speech?”

Bean smiled ruefully as he replied, “I'm not too sure about this. I knew when they asked me to speak that I should have said no. You should be up there instead of me. How about it?”

“No, I don't think so. I'll leave the speechmaking to people like you, Robertson, and Sevier. My wife is better at making speeches, anyway—at least to me she is.”

Elizabeth poked Hawk in the side. “You're pretty good at it yourself, you know.”

Bean chuckled, then sobered as he said, “I'm sure glad to see the Cherokee here. We all need to get along now and learn to share this land. There's plenty for everyone.”

Hawk seemed to look far in the distance as he replied, “I hope you're right, William, but some people think the frontier should belong only to the settlers. I'm afraid there may be more trouble ahead, especially with the revolution going on. It's only a matter of time till the British come over the mountains, too.”

Elizabeth felt the conversation needed to be changed to a lighter note. She turned to her husband. “Come on, Hawk,” Elizabeth whispered. “We've got to get inside. We'll miss the wedding.”

“Well, the groom's mother ought to have a place right in the front,” Hawk laughed. “Come along. We'll see them off in style!”

****

The wedding was held outdoors in the central square of the fort. The guests simply gathered around, while Paul Anderson stood in front of Abigail and Andrew. Jacob and Sarah stood up with them as Anderson said the old words, and they promised to love each other “till death do us part.” Finally Paul Anderson said, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Andrew turned and gave Abigail a resounding kiss, at which there was great laughter and a few teasing remarks by his young friends. Abigail flushed, then laughed, and the two stood beaming as the neighbors and relatives came up to greet them. A trio of musicians—on fiddle, banjo, and dulcimer—struck up a lively tune, and the crowd gathered around the refreshment table.

As Hawk and Elizabeth stood eating some wedding cake and drinking apple cider, they watched Sarah carefully.

Hawk said abruptly, “What would you say if we sent Sarah back to stay with my folks in Williamsburg?”

Elizabeth turned, her eyes wide. “How did you know that was what I was thinking?”

“I didn't,” Hawk admitted, “but she's not getting over seeing young Baxter die. She's not eating, and she mopes a lot. That's not like Sarah. She's always been so lively.”

Elizabeth sighed. The Baxters had moved away from the area after burying their son, but she knew that Hawk was right. Finally she said, “I think it might be best if she did get away from here for a while. How would she get there? Would you take her?”

“I'll ask Jacob. He's been wanting to go back and see his grandparents. If that doesn't work, she can go to Boston to your family.”

“I hate to see her go, but she needs to get away, and we've been praying about it. Why don't you ask Jacob?”

“I'll do it right now.”

Hawk approached Jacob and drew him off to one side. “Son, I want to ask a favor.”

“Sure. What is it?”

“Sarah's not doing well. I guess you've noticed.”

“Yes, I have. It worries me. What are you thinking about?”

“I think it might be well if you take her to Williamsburg. Go with her. You've been wanting to go back. Introduce her to some young people. Take her to some parties. Get her mind off Philip if you can.”

“Why, I'd be proud, Pa.”

“Good, I'll send word to my parents that you're coming.” Then an apprehensive look crossed his face, and he reached out and took Jacob's arm, squeezing it hard. “This doesn't mean I want you to stay there, you understand?”

Jacob grinned and suddenly slapped his father on the chest. “It'll be nice to see my grandparents after all these years, but I've got a father to come home to now, and a family.”

Hawk smiled and the two suddenly put out their hands and held on as they smiled into each other's eyes.

Jacob moved away from his father, coming to stand beside Amanda. She looked at him with surprise and then smiled at him. “The wedding was beautiful, wasn't it?”

“Sure was.” He looked over and saw Iris standing beside Sequatchie and noted that she was smiling up at the tall Cherokee.

I wouldn't be surprised if something didn't come of that one of these days
, he thought, but he said nothing to Amanda.

After the wedding, everyone gathered to watch the Cherokee perform. Jacob and Amanda were amazed by the intricate movements of the Indians. After the performance, Jacob turned to Amanda and said, “Let's take a walk. I want to talk to you.”

“All right.”

They walked along under the fading sun that was already growing crimson. Jacob stopped her as soon as they were out of sight of the cabin and turned to her. “I'm taking Sarah to Williamsburg.”

“I didn't know that.”

“Pa and Ma just decided it'd be good for her to get away.”

“I think it will. She misses Philip so much. When will you go?”

“Right away. Probably next week.”

“I'll miss you, Jacob.”

Jacob took her hand and held it, then said, “I'll miss you, too.”

She did not answer. There was a quietness in her, and her eyes were expressive as she looked up at him. He could not read her thoughts, and he said, “How much will you miss me?”

She smiled more broadly. “Enough,” she said.

“Enough to wait for me to come back? You won't go running off with one of these young fellows?”

“No, I won't do that.”

There was a sweetness and a gentleness in her at that moment. It had always been there, perhaps, but Jacob knew that he had missed it somewhere along the way. She had grown up to be a very pretty young woman, with beautiful doelike brown eyes. He reached out and pulled her forward, waiting for her to resist, but she did not. She came against him, and her face was in repose with an expression that stirred his curiosity. He found himself trying to find a name for it. It was something like the gravity that comes when someone has seen a great deal, and there was a shadow of hidden sadness and yet there was a joy. She always had a curtain of reserve, but now he sensed the great vitality and imagination kept under stern restraint. He knew suddenly that there was a fire in this young woman that made her lovely, and he bent and touched the coolness of her lips. She had the power to stir him and she did so now, deepening his love for her and arousing a sense of loneliness. One powerful flash of emotion touched them both then. Her lips were soft, and she yielded herself to him wholly, completely, and he knew that something had happened to them both.

As he lifted his head, Amanda whispered, “I'll wait for you, Jacob.”

“I'll come back,” he whispered. “I couldn't do without you, Amanda!”

Sounds of gunfire caused the couple to turn back toward the crowd. They watched as the new nation's flag was raised over the fort while the guns continued their salute.

As Jacob kissed Amanda again, the promising future of America seemed to symbolize the promising future of its brave pioneers.

Epilogue

Thomas Denton stepped into the library to stare at his sister, Annabelle. She fit into the rich surroundings of the room in a mauve-colored silk dress with a large gray bow hanging down the back. Her beautiful figure was enhanced by the close-fitting bodice and waistline, and the three-quarter-length sleeves that ended just below the elbow with a white frill. She turned toward him and smiled in a rather disturbing fashion.

“You'll never guess who I just heard from, Annabelle.”

“No, I can't guess,” Annabelle said. “Who is it?”

“Jacob Spencer.”

“You heard from Jacob?” she said abruptly. She held her head higher, and an interest came into her eyes.

“Yes, I saw James Spencer, his grandfather, you know. He'd gotten a letter from Jake's father. You remember Hawk Spencer, the long hunter?”

“I remember. What about him?”

“Jake's coming home for a visit and bringing his stepsister with him.”