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Life from 1770-1867 for our ancestors. History, fiction and family lore. |
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Chapter 1 Looking down through the bush at the trail below, Ulanigida Udanvdo (Strongheart in the Cherokee language) saw the small caravan approaching. It was the spring of 1770, and this land and area was now known by the White Man as Surrey Territory, North Carolina. It was less than twenty years since the area had been legally settled. Under pressure the Cherokee had given up all entitlement to this land. It was what the White Man called possession, or 'Owning'. The Cherokee tribe believed and called walking on a certain part of the land, 'His right.' And Strongheart knew if whites saw him they had the right to shoot at him since they would recognize him for a Cherokee. Although he felt he was a Cherokee, his Mother had been white, and it was said that his Father, Heapbig, was half white. So he felt he had as much right to be here as anyone. His white name was Bill Hart, named after his Mom's first husband who died when his Mother, Beth Hart had been captured by the Cherokees. The caravan, Strongheart was watching, consisted of a young man leading a small group. Next in line was an everyday four sided grain wagon being pulled by four cows. Inside the wagon were three small pigs in a cage, and in another cage were six hens and a rooster. Laying on one side of the wagon were all the tools needed to build log structures, plus the hoes, shovels and a ten inch one bottom plow to turn the soil over for a garden. In one of the bigger chests were his clothes. Alongside the wagon was a young man with a switch that he used to keep the cows moving. Coming behind the caravan was another man, who was keeping a bull trailing along behind the group. Strongheart had no knowledge as to who these three men might be, but the three men's outward appearances were so physically and uniquely different from one another, that he took notice of them and watched them go by. The lead man, Jonathan Rush was blond haired and stood six foot tall and pleasant to look at. Jonathan was a son from an old established farm family in Virginia, whose severest physical discipline he ever experienced was getting his knuckles rapped from the school taskmaster, who taught him his letters. Jonathan's father had grown tired of Jonathan's slothful and lackadaisical ways of doing the tasks when he was asked to do a task. His Dad had decided this trip with James would be good for him and maybe it would help him grow up some. The young man that kept the wagon moving was of normal stature for the times. Standing about five foot nine inches tall, he was an average looking young man with a strong jaw line. His philosophy also reflected the time and place of his upbringing. James Bertie had been taught that one was only as good as what you did or didn't do. His Father, William, had been the second son in his family and had been disowned because William had married a commoner. When James was five, his father,William had indentured himself to pay for safe passage to Virginia from England for himself and his family. William had worked as a clerk in a shipping firm since arriving in Virginia. Years ago, when William was having a hard time keeping the family fed; so to make ends meet, he had indentured his twelve year old son, James to a farmer that was William's friend. The farmer had been neighbors to Jonathan's family, which is how these two young men had become acquaintances. James was taking this trip seriously since the cattle, wagon and everything in the wagon belonged to him. As time passed the farmer and his Dad, who had been doing well, put together equipment for a startup farm. They had purchased tools from estate sales, for James as well as livestock. Now James was taking a trip west to find what he still needed, land. Like many settlers on the frontier, James would be squatting on land no one else claimed until he could afford to purchase the land, or until he would be pushed out and forced to go farther west, because the land he was squatting on was being bought out from under him. The man pushing the bull was a few years older than the other two men. Will Shelly had been a child when his family had been cast into the infamous debtors' prison in London, England. Will had grown up in this prison because his Dad owed money. At age fourteen a sea captain paid the debt and took Will on his ship as a cabin boy. When they arrived in the new world, Will was then indentured to the highest bidder at Portsmouth Virginia. After seven years of indenture-ship, he was told he couldn't leave because he had broken too many tools while he worked there and must continue working until they were paid for. Finally he could no longer endure his treatment and at twenty four years of age, he run away. West was the only safe direction for him to go since he didn't have release papers from the indenture-ship. The papers were still filed with the state of Virginia and he could be arrested and charged as a fugitive. Standing at five foot four inches tall, the man was partially stunted from not enough food and from excessive hard work. His life experiences shaped in him a hatred for England and people that lorded it over others. Strongheart sat and watched the white men move past him until they were a short distance away before he pushed through the brush and started running toward Bear Knoll. He was going in the same direction as these three men, except Strongheart was taking a shortcut. Bear Knoll was a trading post close to the river. Strongheart remembered coming there as a young boy and then again as a young man. To become recognized as a young man in the Cherokee Nation you had to live off the land by yourself for seven days and seek your spiritual being through fasting and praying. He had become a young man at age fifteen. Now at age nineteen, he was simply a man. Since his birth, Strongheart had been raised by the Cherokees until he was ten. At that time, Heapbig had decided to sell Beth back to the whites. Beth had wanted to go back to her people and Heapbig had ran out of patience needed that he once had, to deal with her. Eleven years ago she had been pregnant with Strongheart, but since then there had been no more babies. When Strongheart was ten, Heapbig had sat Strongheart down and talked to him, man to man. Heapbig didn't mince any words with Strongheart. “The Cherokees are a mighty nation. But I see changes coming with this white pestilence. They keep pushing white people towards us from the rising sun and slowly, like locus, they take land from us. We in turn take land to our west from our enemies. This cannot go on forever. We have to learn how to fight better or survive better. I don't want to do this, but I have to. I need you to leave with your Mother and learn the White Man ways. Come back in a couple of years after you have learned all you can. You are brave and your name is Strongheart. Live with your name on your lips and may the heart of the Cherokee beat strong within you.” A couple of years turned into four before he ran away from his new Stepdad and headed west back to the Cherokee Nation. Strongheart had much to share with his Father, “I have learned many things Heapbig. They make what they call paper, much like our thin hides that we paint on. They put words on paper with doodles. Each doodle portrays a sound that is part of a word. You have seen White Man run from one village to another. He carries many papers, more than he could ever remember. This is very important, because with these words on paper, they can work together. Men can be called from far away to come and fight a problem. I have learned to read the White Man's language and write the language. I also learned the game of adding, subtracting and multiplying.” Needless to say, Heapbig was not impressed. “Is that all you learned while you were gone?” “I learned how to keep my White Man weapons working. I can take my long rifle apart and clean it and put it back together. I can milk a cow, build a cabin or do any of the other things that White Man can do.” Being happy to live in one place or as the Cherokee language would translate, 'Staying put', was one of the things Strongheart had not learned to do. He longed to see what was over the next hill. Today he was traveling from the Shawnee in western Virginia, where he had lived since last fall. Now he was heading back to Cherokee country and his home village. Coming to the Yadkin River, Strongheart could see that he was a short distance from Bear Knoll. He drew back into the trees and shed his possessions and clothes. It was the middle of the afternoon and it was warm enough to take a bath. Plus he wanted to put on his best buckskins before he walked into Bear Knoll. Most of the settler's children during this time, didn't have the time or the inclination to learn how to swim, but Strongheart loved to swim. For the next hour Strongheart frolicked and splashed in the river. It was during the last half of his hour in the water that Strongheart had an audience. Nancy Trent had been told by her Mother to come down to the river and get a couple of pails of water. Nancy had never seen anyone swimming like a fish before, and she wondered who it could be. When Strongheart swam to shore she hid behind a tree. When he walked to the tree line, Nancy thought she was seeing a perfect specimen, with the young man being a model for all mankind. He was a tall, darkly complexioned young man that she estimated weighing between eleven to twelve stones. Nancy didn't want to embarrass the young man, but she did want to meet him. So she waited for a few minutes until she walked to the shore and then started walking to where he had disappeared into the trees. When she slipped into the trees, she saw movement up ahead. “Is anyone here?” she asked. When she turned to look around, Strongheart came from behind Nancy and grabbed her with one hand and put his other hand over her mouth. “Quiet, little one. Why are you following me? You won't scream if I let you go, will you?” Strongheart had been around inquisitive girls before and giving them a trill was what they all seemed to want. After being released from Strongheart's powerful arms, Nancy exclaimed, “Little? I'll have you know I am sixteen and am not a child. Why did you not say hello, instead of grabbing me and scarring me?” Looking up, she realized she was looking at an Indian. Her mind kept thinking, 'But he looked so white coming out of the water!' “I am sorry for offending you. I won't spy on you again.” Strongheart had turned stone faced when the tone of Nancy's voice had changed. Many times he had heard from the Cherokee Tribe how whites talked down to them. Strongheart felt it was time to put her in her place. “I was teaching you a lesson, little one. If I was bent on doing you harm, you would either be dead now or you would be gagged and forced to walk back to my people. We are rich in captives and slaves. You shouldn't be out here without someone being with you. I will now protect you and walk you back to your Mommy.” Nancy thought she was grown up in every way and the threat of being sent back to Momma infuriated her. “Why you insufferable clod. I need no help carrying my water back to our cabin, and if you think you can force me back to your village my big brother can track you blindfolded. You wouldn't stand a chance.” “You are a silly girl, aren't you? When we cross the river, we're in Cherokee land. How do you know that I don't have twenty young warriors on the other side? We all would like a second squaw for our wigwam. I'm sure our wives would also like help with all the wifely duties they must do. Now, why don't you be nice to me and let me walk you back to safety? I'm sure all your friends will be envious seeing what you found while fetching water. ” “You can walk where you want. You can walk behind me if you want. But if you walk by me you might get splashed. Do whatever you want.” Nancy thought she had put the big lug in his place, but when she glanced up he was grinning with amusement and with a glint of admiration in his eyes. She had to look away from those black eyes before she smiled in spite of herself. “As I have a choice, I will lead since it is a squaws place to walk behind. I have enjoyed talking with such a lively girl, but I must be on my way.” Strongheart had fun exchanging barbs with this quick witted young lady, but he felt he should be doing what he had planned. He needed more powder and lead for his Kentucky Rifle. “Don't tarry because of me. Maybe someday I will know the name you carry so I may tell all my friends who to be leery of.” Like all women of the world, getting the last word in was very important. “Strongheart! A name to be feared, strong and victorious in battle.” “Nancy Trent! I have two names as well.” She immediately felt foolish. 'That was a stupid thing to say!' she thought to herself. Strongheart was thinking the same thing. 'What little do you know?' He thought to himself. When Strongheart walked into the trading post, the caravan with the three men that he had seen earlier were pulling in next to the Trading-post's corrals. The man behind the counter wasn't the same man that Strongheart had always done business with. “Is Mertree here?” Strongheart asked, not liking the looks of the man behind the counter. “No, he no longer owns this post. I do! My name is Standish. Carl Standish! What can I help you with?” Carl gave Strongheart a suspicious eye. “I need powder and lead. How much will you charge for five pounds of powder and two pounds of lead?” “Nothing! Because I'm not selling to you. It's illegal to sell powder and lead to an Indian. Besides that, it's unethical. You are a poor hunter if you can't feed yourself with your bow and arrows.” Strongheart looked at the proprietor and couldn't believe his ears. The next trading post that he knew of was another fifty miles away. The powder he still had left had gotten wet twice since he had gained possession of it and it was getting unreliable. The bow was fine, unless you needed to shoot from a longer distance away. This White Man just disgusted him in so many ways. The taking of scalps had started to become fashionable since the White Man started paying for them during the French and Indian War, but for a moment he wished someone was paying for brown hair with a bald top. Strongheart didn't say a word. He turned around and walked out. He also wondered if Carl, the new owner of this smelly dump, had a horse that wouldn't mind having his throat cut. Strongheart was sure the horse would be in constant misery having an owner like Carl. Strongheart was so deep in thought that he did not realize he was looking at the horses in the corral until he was leaning against the railing. Strongheart was brought out of his stupor by a voice inside the next corral, “You okay Chief?” A man was sitting under a cow, milking it. “Ah ah, but I have a question that I don't know if you could tell me. Do you know, is there a White Man Law that forbids the selling of powder and lead to an Indian?” Strongheart let his frustration show in his voice and wasn't embarrassed because of it. “Couldn't tell you. I just got into this state myself. Although I wouldn't put it past those politicians in the eastern part of the state. They think they can control everything. Tell me your problem.” “I've always bought my lead and powder here with Mertree. Now this new man, Standish says it's against some law. We have gotten used to taking down big game from greater distances and a lot of my people are going to go hungry if we have to survive solely on bow and arrows. Not only that, but our enemies will become fearless if we can't shoot back.” “I know what you are saying. First, England trains the Indians in the use of firearms and then North Carolina denies you powder. Maybe we can help each other out. How much powder and shot do you need? I'll walk in there and buy it for you. What were you going to pay for it with?” Strongheart stared at the man in disbelief, “Why would you do this for me?” “Because I need friends out here on the Frontier and I think you could be a good friend. I'm James Bertie from Norfolk, Virginia. I was raised to be a farmer, so I don't know much about hunting, other than I would starve if I had to rely on a bow and arrow to eat. Who are you? Or should I say, what are you?” “I am Strongheart. That's my name. I am part of the Cherokee People. That's the Indian Tribe that I belong to. Where are you going for your farming?” Earlier when Strongheart had seen them on the trail, he thought the three men were too relaxed, or unobservant maybe. After all this was the frontier and just a swim away from Cherokee Land. “I don't know yet. I can stop moving anytime. I can live off the land until I can buy some land. I need to put in a garden soon and then build a cabin. A friend of mine, Will, came with me to help me if I help him through this next winter and help build him a cabin next year. Another friend, Jonathan will also help me, if he doesn't go back home to Virginia first. This is a lark to him and he might decide it is all work and no play out here with nothing around but the post. Do you know of a place that would have a creek that doesn't dry up in the summer and with a knoll overlooking the creek? One that I could build a cabin on. Not too populated, where I can keep the neighbors at bay until I can buy the land.” “Need to keep the neighbors away. Mm, ya I know the place. But, even though it's part of Surrey territory, it's still Cherokee land. We will have to cross the Yadkin River and travel south about five or six miles. Maybe three or four miles as the crow flies. Now, about buying me some powder and lead. I need five pounds of powder and a two pound bar of lead. I'll give you four Crowns and I should receive some shillings back and maybe a Crown. I appreciate you doing this for me.” “That will be no problem. Have you ever drank cow milk? This old cow still gives me a gallon twice a day.” When James left home, the calf was taken from the cow, so the calf wouldn't be a bother while making the trip. The caravan had left Virginia two months ago when there was still snow on the ground. “Yes I have, although I never had a liking for it. Believe it or not, I spent four years as a farm boy close to the coast. My Mother is white and I lived with her and her new white husband for four years.” Strongheart was hoping James wasn't stalling in regard to buying the powder. “Thank you for the money. I need a couple pounds of powder too and Standish is about ready to close. He won't care to argue if he wants to close up for the night. I'll be right back.!” “I'll be waiting.” Strongheart knew James was probably wondering where he had gotten money, but wouldn't ask, because it was not his business. The Shawnee were just starting to learn the value of money, and Strongheart had won twelve English Crowns in a stone throwing game. The disgruntled senior brave wanted his coins back and challenged Strongheart to a game of Chunky. (A game much like Hockey without the ice.) He had put up his second wife as collateral and Strongheart had won her as well. She had helped keep Strongheart's blankets warm, but Strongheart gave her back in the spring. Strongheart couldn't see having her slow him down. It wasn't long and James was back with the powder and lead, “Here is what you asked for. And this is your change. Three shillingsand two pence. He's gouging us with his prices. I told him what the prices were in Norfolk and he just laughed. He said, 'Go back to Norfolk and get it! This is good British gunpowder.' Let's go to the tavern and I'll buy you an ale.” “I'd rather not. Some Indian hater will be loud in there and I'll end up in a fight.” Strongheart knew most frontiersmen were fearful of the Red Hoard. Telling stories about how the natives had stolen a horse or killed a cousin seemed to be a pastime with them. At least, that's how Strongheart saw it. “Alright, I'm sleeping under my wagon tonight. I need to find something to eat in the tavern, so I'll talk to you in a couple of hours or in the morning.” James wasn't sure but thought to himself, 'Will Strongheart be gone in the morning, now that he has his powder and lead?' James walked up to a one room cabin that had a sign over the door. Boar Head the sign said, and above the sign was a boar's head tied to the wall. He could smell food cooking and knew there was a small kitchen out back, made of logs separate from the tavern, or it was a lean-to behind the cabin. James walked into the tavern, and looked around. He saw Jonathan and Will sitting with a young lady and another guy. The young lady was laughing and flirting, to the point where James stopped and stared. She was pretty enough to take his breath away. Walking up to the four people the guy stood up and extended his hand for a shake. “Caleb Trent here. You must be James?” “That's right. Are you a young settler here? Is this your wife?” James was trying not to be impolite, but was intrigued by the young lady. Young ladies were few on the frontier and girls would marry as young as thirteen and sometimes twelve, if times were dire for the family. “Oh no! This is my sister, Nancy. We all hailed from Maryland until our folks homesteaded here. That was ten years ago when this post was the only thing here. Since then, we have maybe thirty families that have moved in. Now that the Cherokees have agreed that we have a right to be here, the country should fill up fast. Have you picked out a spot yet?” “No, we haven't. But I met an interesting fella tonight. His name is Strongheart and I believe he is Cherokee. He said he knew of a good creek I could homestead on, but I would have to cross the river.” James was wondering if he'd see Strongheart in the morning. “I met him this afternoon when I went to get water,” pipped up Nancy. “I think he's dangerous. He threatened to take me across the river and make me his second wife. I told him I had a big brother that would track him down and kill him. He laughed. Said he had twenty braves across the river. Now with you four here, we would be a match for his twenty braves.” She winked at Jonathan and James saw his chances of a beautiful wife disappear. James paid for supper and covered Jonathan's and Wills supper bill as well. Tomorrow it would be back to cooking for themselves or chewing on hardtack. James was also a little worried about what Nancy had said about Strongheart and twenty braves. Then James started wondering 'what he might have that Strongheart might want.' James concluded that he didn't have much that Strongheart would want. Tomorrow was another day. After having spent another day walking, sleeping under the wagon and on top of the hard ground was no problem as exhaustion took over and sleep came swiftly. When James woke up, he knew what he would do. He saw Strongheart had a fire going at the edge of the clearing, so he went to talk to Will. “I'm going today to scout out a place to homestead with Strongheart. IF, I don't return, the cows and wagon are yours. The cow needs milking this morning and the cows need to go out and graze. Let the chickens chase bugs today and cut some grass for the pigs to go with their gruel. Keep the pigs penned up so these people around here won't complain about the ground being rooted up. Hopefully I will be back before dark.” While James was talking, Jonathan walked up and listened. When James was finished talking, Jonathan spoke, “I don't plan on walking back to Virginia. Today I'm going to see if I can buy a horse. Nancy thinks she knows where I can look. One of the horses is just a couple miles away. Hopefully I'll get a deal I can't refuse.” Jonathan smiled with a hungry look around the eyes, and all at once James knew he was talking about more than a horse. Growing up and being neighbors to Jonathan gave insight to what Jonathan was thinking. The look on Jonathan's face made James sad. James thought, 'What an ass. Tom cats never change.' Walking across the clearing, where Strongheart squatted, James knelt down by the fire and pulled the hardtack out of a pocket. “I'd like to go with you and see the place you have in mind. If I like it I'll come back and get the cows. Does this sound good?” “Sounds good.” Strongheart understood what James was doing and respected him for it. If Strongheart was sneaky and bore James ill will, all James was risking was himself. “I'm ready whenever you are ready.” When James had said he needed friends, Strongheart had to agree because he felt the same way. Strongheart had been to the ocean with his Mother and had seen a city. Seeing the city and all the activity with different ways to live without hunting, made him start to believe what his Father had tried to tell him when he was ten and told him goodbye. Strongheart believed he also needed friends, but in the White Man's world. “Good! I'll go to the river and fill my canteen. Someone should have a canoe around here that will give us a ride across the river. It shouldn't be more than a pence and I'll pay. Alright?” “Alright, I will leave some things by your wagon so we can travel light. My bow and water jug is all I will take. And I always have my knife.” Then Strongheart patted his side where the knife was. “I'll stop by the Trading-post and see if anyone has a boat or canoe we can cross the Yadkin with. I hate getting wet and I can't swim worth a darn.” For James having been indentured at twelve years of age, swimming was something he wasn't allowed to do. Stopping at the Trading-post when it opened, James found that Caleb Trent had a small boat and Caleb could be found this time of year, at home or in the garden. Carl also was curious and was asking what happened to the dirty Indian that had been asking for powder yesterday. James didn't offer any information, and just said, “He's probably around somewhere.” Running west to where James had been told the Trent place was, he saw Caleb planting something on a small patch of flat ground, close to the river. Taking time to catch his breath, James could see Caleb was planting what looked like squash or pumpkin seed. “Caleb, I was told you had a boat, that you might let someone use to go across the river? Do you rent it to people on occasion?” “Sure do. Do you have a pence you would be willing to part with? I think a pence will cover a couple of days. I'm assuming you will need it to cross back over. The boat is straight to the river under a tree by the shore. Bring it back by tomorrow night. Alright?” “Splendid! Here's the pence, and I should have the boat back by tonight.” “No hurry. My time for the next few days will be getting this garden planted. Wish I was going with you!” Planting and taking care of a garden was not something Caleb enjoyed, even if the rest of the family helped, which they did. He was hoping the younger kids would get done with their breakfast and hurry out to the patch. He had been informed this morning by his Mom that his Dad and Nancy wouldn't help today because Jonathan Rush was coming by and courting Nancy. Their father had to supervise the outing since a marriageable girl could not be left alone with a man. Caleb's Mom sounded proud that Nancy might have a chance with a wealthy farmer's son from eastern Virginia. After giving Caleb a pence, James walked back to get Strongheart and leave while the day was young. Finding the boat was not hard to do and before long they were on the south side and hiding the boat. Strongheart took the lead and followed a deer trail to the high ground. James discovered he was having a hard time keeping up with Strongheart as he seemed to glide noiselessly through the forest. Tall trees grew on the slope and James could see it would take some clearing to accommodate his wagon. When they reached the high ground, the trees and undergrowth was less, but still it would be hard to get a wagon through. Strongheart and James walked and trotted most of the morning until Strongheart took a sharp turn to the west and followed the sloping ridge down to a spring. By the time the two reached the spring, James was in full admiration of Strongheart. Strongheart seemed to be part of the woods, gliding from tree to tree, like James thought a ghost would do. A perfect example of a creature being part of nature. “This is the creek. Let's slip down the hill and follow the creek and we'll come to a rise in the ground where you can build your cabin. Come!” James was excited! A spring, with a steep slope. He could build a flume and wooden channel and someday have water run right by his cabin. He remembered seeing it done before. James shook his head. He had been visualizing and dreaming while Strongheart was scooting down the ridge. James rushed to catch up, sliding on his butt half the time while running down the hill. A hundred feet downhill the slope leveled off with a knoll on the east side just like Strongheart had described it. James could see that a lot of trees needed to be cleared to bare the knoll to get it ready for a cabin. He cringed, thinking of all the work Jonathan, Will and he would need to do this summer, to have the cabin ready for winter. The rest of the day was spent, backtracking and blazing trees that needed to be removed in order to create a trail to drive a wagon through. It was after dark when they rowed across the Yadkin River. That night Strongheart went to the tavern with James and they both had double portions of food. To James, when he was finally able to lie down, the ground had never felt so good. The next morning, Jonathan, Will and James had time to catch up and discuss what they had done yesterday with themselves. Jonathan informed the group, “I found a horse yesterday and Carl said I could keep it in his corral with his other two horses for a fee. I'm tired of sleeping on the ground and Carl said I could rent a room in the Trading-post since he and his family have a new cabin to live in now. I can come out and help you six days a week for six shillings a day.” James was amused, “Half of that is more than enough pay. Three shillings and we work from sunup to sundown and I will furnish the food.” Jonathan wasn't amused, “Four shillings, an hour after sunup and an hour before sundown. And I'll eat before I come and after I leave.” “Deal! Tell me if you can't make a day and I'll do the same if we don't need you for a day or two. Sound fair?” “Sounds fair. I hope I can stick around and see how you fare with these cretins around you.” “Whom are you referring to when you are calling, 'These cretins'. That's the same as calling someone a buffoon, is it not?” James was wondering what had happened to bring this conversation up. “Not quite. One's a joke, the other is dense. Tell me you haven't noticed how backward these people are around here? Jonathan was on a roll and Will was rolling his eyes. “I think they have adapted some to their environment in order to do what they need to do so they can survive. Can you give me an example of why you might think that, of these people? Is it how they dress? Because they wear buckskins or what?” James was thinking that Jonathan thought everyone was beneath him, but wouldn't say that to anybody's face. “For instance, Nancy's Dad, Joseph, had stars in his eyes when I told him of all the things I grew up with and I told him how much land my Dad owned. I might have embellished a little but by the end of the day his eyes had gold flexes in them. I have one word for these people, 'Gullible'.” Jonathan was almost beside himself with glee. “I seem to remember something from the Bible, 'Let your yeah be yeah, and your nays be nays. Above all, be honest in all things with your neighbor.” Even as James uttered his rebuke he knew Jonathan wouldn't hear it. “Where would be the joy of living if you couldn't have fun with people sometimes?” Jonathan was wondering how long he would have fun before he would have to go back to being under his Dad's thumb. Working for James would extend the time. Maybe he would wait until fall or maybe until next summer. That would serve his dad right for sending him along with James. “All I can say is be careful. I wouldn't want these people to be mad at me!” James was through talking, “Let's grab three axes, a file and a couple of spades. We'll take the boat back across the river today and clear a path onto the ridge for our wagon. We can see how far we get today once we're on the ridge. Tomorrow we will move the wagon across and start living in it again.” Jonathan of course, had other ideas, “I'll be riding my horse back and forth. I don't have to suffer anymore on the hard ground. After all, I've got a tick filled with straw, with no bedbugs in it.” “Help me grab the tools and we'll get going. Time is wasting with us jawing.” By the end of the day, they had a trail cleared to the top of the ridge and it was dark once again when they rowed back across the river. It was a little late that night before James was able to milk the cow. James was pushing to get the wagon to the cabin site so he could unload the plow and put the garden in. He had some seeds that he had brought with him and Caleb had given him some seeds that he had left over from the Trent garden. James knew the first year would be tough with trying to keep the wild animals out of the garden. He would also have to fence the garden to keep his cows and pigs out of it. The cows and pigs would fend for themselves in the woods and except for the milk cow, James hoped they would become wild enough to stay away from the cabin. By the end of the week, the three men had gotten the wagon to the cabin site and were plowing the ground in a flat low spot close to the creek. They did not cut the trees down but banded the bark off the trees in order to kill them. They would be cut down later as they were needed. What James needed now was for the sun to shine through. Any brush or saplings were ripped out of the ground to clear the ground for the corn, squash, pumpkins, cabbage and tomatoes to be planted in the garden. It was almost too late to plant radishes and potatoes, but James still put the potatoes in. After the garden was in, the cabin site was stripped of all the trees and brush. The trees were sorted into piles that could be used for the cabin. All the branches and brush were burned while the logs were sorted into length and size. It had been six weeks since anyone had seen Strongheart. When James saw Strongheart in the clearing one evening, Strongheart had tears in his eyes. James walked up to Strongheart and said. “I'm glad to see that you came back to see us. How are you?” “Not so well my friend. I knew this would happen when I showed you this spot, but it is still hard to see how much you are changing it. I brought you a young deer that I shot coming here and what we don't eat tonight we'll dry to eat later.” Strongheart was quiet as they set up smoking racks and sat around the fire. James could see something was eating on Strongheart, but waited till Will crawled under his sleeping blankets and went to sleep. James motioned to Strongheart and they walked away from the fire. “Alright Strongheart, what is bothering you? Your mind has not been here tonight. Is everything alright in your village? Are you thinking of another young maiden you would like to add to your harem? You can tell me.” The last question had been asked in jest, because Strongheart had said that he didn't have a wife because a wife would just slow him down with his roaming. “You almost guessed right when you said young maiden. I floated down the Yadkin from my village yesterday and stopped at Bear Knoll last night to see if everything was quiet and normal. From what I saw I think Nancy will be getting married soon.” “Why would you say that? I know Jonathan's been sparking her, but I don't think he will marry her. In his arrogance, he thinks he is better than her.” “He took her to his room behind the trading-post and kept her there for a long time. I don't think they were throwing bones. I think they were playing games under the blanket!” After saying that, Strongheart made a lewd motion with his hand as only an Indian could make. James made a grimace with his face and asked, “Where were her folks or Caleb to chaperon her? I know they understand the repercussions of a pregnant girl. Her folks will be drug through the mud if they don't disown her. If they disown her, because of the shame, they will still have to leave here and start someplace where no one knows them. If Jonathan runs away before Caleb and his Dad can get their Blunderbusses out and can't find Jonathan to marry the girl, Nancy will have no way to make a living for herself and her baby except on her back. I bet Carl Standish would just love to see this happen. His eyes would be filled with shillings turning into pounds.” Strongheart had a thoughtful look on his face when he said, “I can take her captive and take her away from here. I will show her good places and fun.” “Nancy was not raised native like you were. She would not like that life for long. Remember your Mother? No, the answer is, I will have to start socializing with Nancy's folks. Stop in, ask how they are doing, try to talk to Nancy and maybe fish with Caleb on Saturday evenings. They will realize I'm their alternative plan when things come to a head. I wish I'd never taken Jonathan out here with me. Someday, someone is going to string that boy up under a tree. The sooner the better!” “If you wish, by tomorrow night, he could be dead!” “No, wait until he's done the crime. Maybe he'll take Nancy back with him and be honorable about her. We won't know until things happen. Although I never have heard of a skunk losing his strips. Not to change the subject, but I have to get some sleep. Tomorrow we lay out where we are putting the cabin and run a trench to fill in with rocks that our logs can rest on. You wouldn't want to stay and help, would you?” James was hopeful. “If I remember right, the biggest logs go on the bottom. Alright, I'll stay around for a few days. With man handling those logs, you need all the men you can get.” “You saying that has got me thinking. Could you go back to Bear Knoll and ask Caleb if I could hire him for four days. I'll pay him and you four pence a day if that's alright with you?” “I think I would rather take my pay in powder, if you would not mind. I should be back tomorrow afternoon or the next morning. I'll be gone in the morning when you get up. Talk to you later.” “Goodnight” Laying down, James had the thought, 'Strongheart is a good guy to have around. A big help!' The next thing he knew it was morning. By mid-morning the site and dimensions of the cabin were decided and laid out. Part of deciding the site was how many tree roots needed to be grubbed out. It was to be twelve feet by sixteen feet, one room cabin, with a fireplace on one end. A door on one side of the cabin and a window on the other side to let light into the cabin when the weather was nice. Usually there were no nails to be had in the frontier and in that case the roof would be split boards, hued out of logs and held on the roof by a net of smaller logs. But James had planned ahead and brought from Norfolk, Virginia, three inch long square nails with big heads. There were enough nails to put and keep, wooden shingles on two roofs. The first way always meant a leaky roof, the second way with shingles meant a roof that was watertight and would last for thirty or forty years. Next year, if James had time after helping Will build his cabin, James would put a puncheon floor into the cabin. The floor would be logs split in half and buried in the dirt with the flat side up. On each end of the floor would be two half logs, with the face down, to hold the floor of logs from tipping out of place. The cabin was started with rocks from the stream, hauled to the trench by a stone boat. The stone-boat was a metal bar holding boards six feet long and twenty inches wide. It could be pulled by man or beast. This is just one of the ways jobs on the frontier were made easier by the tools they used. James was a little disgusted with Jonathan that morning. He was late in coming and then seemed to have no energy with helping to pull the stone-boat up the knoll from the creek. James was digging the trench while Will and Jonathan hauled rocks from the creek bed. Jonathan started complaining, “This is too hard of a job for us men to be doing. Let's get your cows rounded up and put them to work pulling this stone-boat.” Jonathan was starting to think that working for his Dad would be better than working for James. For James, Jonathan and his lazy ways was just another of those things he had to put up with on a Monday morning. “It would take too many days rounding up those critters. Besides, one of them has a new-born calf and I'm not using her. Have you any better ideas besides that?” “Ya, have you got a harness for a horse? I could lend him to you for two pence a day.” “And put him to the job, you are supposed to be doing? I've got a harness but the pay is the same. Should I show you where the harness is?” James had thought about Jonathan's horse but knew Jonathan would want more money for his use. He was smiling inside because Jonathan had walked right into his trap with no excuses. Reaching underneath the wagon and under a tarp he pulled the harness out and handed it to Jonathan. James went back to digging and throwing the dirt towards the center of the dig. This was necessary to raise the dirt floor of the cabin higher than the outside ground level. It was the middle of the afternoon when Strongheart arrived with Caleb in tow. The rest of the day was spent filling the trench in with rock. The idea with the trench and rocks was that James wanted to make this a longer lasting cabin. Most cabins on the frontier were short life cabins. Rain water coming in through the roof kept the timbers wet and it wasn't long before they started rotting. Timbers lying on the ground never got dry and within ten years the logs would start crumbling. If a cabin lasted thirty years, it was a well-made cabin. The idea with the rock was that after a rain the water would seep away and the log could dry out until the next rain. The rainfall in this country could be sixty inches of rain a year. That night Jonathan stayed on site, for his horse was in no condition to travel back to town. Caleb and Strongheart planned on staying through the week. By Friday night they had eight foot walls up on the sides of the cabin and the ends of the cabin were peaked into an A shape. Strongheart had made a suggestion to James which he thought was a great idea. Instead of having one window with a three log length, they made three windows, one for each of the three walls, with a one log gap a foot across. The logs around each opening needed more hewing to provide a flat surface for a shutter. James paid Jonathan and Caleb on Friday night and James added four pence to Jonathan's pay since they had used the horse, now and then, throughout the week. With Strongheart accompanying the two back to town and the clearing felt empty with only Will and James there. The two moved on to begin putting a roof on James's cabin. The first thing they had to do was find a tall thin tree, preferably a pine tree, which had a diameter of four to five inches. This would be the ridge pole and would be hewed flat on two sides. It would hang over the edge of the cabin peak by about a foot. They had some three inch diameter logs that would be flattened on one side and they found more in the Timber. By Saturday night they had most of the logs that they needed. When James was growing up, the folks he had been indentured to, had always attended church on Sunday and rested all day except for doing the chores that needed doing. Now, as with most Sundays, James read the Bible for a while and then went and hoed in his garden, between making sure Will and he had food to eat. If he had been honest with himself, he would have recognized that sitting still and doing nothing was something he didn't do well. Already he was thinking about all the steps he would be taking on Monday to put a roof on his cabin. James was up bright and early Monday morning, anxious for the day to start. After sharpening the adze, James began to swing the adze between his legs to flatten the logs. All the logs were green with moisture in them and would warp and twist as they dried, but James was hoping, when he tied the wood together with green rawhide, the wood would dry in the shape he wanted. Will came behind with the draw knife to smooth the wood and take the bumps out. It was mid-morning and Jonathan had not shown up to help. James took it in stride and kept working. Two people were slower than three, but the job would still get done. By nightfall James knew something was up. Whatever it was James knew he would find out what it was, sooner or later. Footnote Stone= little over 14 pounds Adze= an ax type tool with the head shaped the opposite way. Draw knife= a sharpened iron bar about fourteen inches long with a handle on both ends. Chapter 2 Strongheart was laying in a thicket, peering at the spare room behind the Trading-post where Nancy had slipped into an hour ago. It was the middle of the night now and she still had not reemerged. Finally, Nancy made her appearance and walked by the thicket. She was humming under her breath and walked as if she had not a care in the world. Strongheart pulled the tanned robe onto his shoulders and went to sleep. He awoke when a noise entered his subconscious. Opening his eyes, he saw it was daybreak and Jonathan was walking around the corner of the building. One quick look and Strongheart saw Jonathan had all of his worldly possessions under his arms plus the saddle he had bought with his horse. Slipping around to the edge of the Trading-post, Strongheart could see Jonathan saddling his horse. Strongheart was almost sure what Jonathan was up to, so he ran around the town to the trail that had brought the three young men to this place a little over two months ago. Fifteen minutes later Strongheart saw Jonathan following the trail heading north-east, riding his horse at a trout. Sure enough, Jonathan was heading home. Jonathan was humming under his breath as his horse trotted along. He chuckled to himself, 'Come morning, James will wonder why I didn't show up for work! But James wouldn't quit what he was doing just to come to town and check on me. With a day's head start Nancy's Father and Caleb will never catch up with me. If they showed up back home to shot me, Old Dad would take one look at those hay seeds and pay them off or run them off. This has been the perfect caper! As far as Nancy was concerned, he had done her a favor. She would have something to reminisce about when she compares me to that boring husband who is siting by the fire at night.' He knew the first night he met Nancy that James had been infatuated with her. It was with perverted pleasure that Jonathan wowed and dazzled Nancy with his sweet talking ways, break down her resistance to his advancements, just to show James up. According to Jonathan's Dad, James could do no wrong, and that had rankled Jonathan to no end. Revenge was sweet, at least in this case. Strongheart ran back to the Trading-post where his personal items were hidden. He wrapped them in his robe and grabbed his Long Rifle, powder and shot along with his water jug. When the Trading-post was out of sight, Strongheart changed his gait to a ground eating run that only Strongheart was able to maintain. He continued that run throughout the day with short walks every hour or so. As the sun was setting, Strongheart was getting tired and hungry, but knew he might have to run half the night before finding Jonathan's camp and fire. Tomorrow, it would not be good for Strongheart to be found, especially since established farms would start to appear on the normal countryside and Strongheart would start finding himself getting shot at, unless he changed his clothing and took on his white name. White or not, he didn't need to be identified with being in these parts. Just when he was fortifying himself to a possibly all night run he saw a campfire up ahead and smelled meat cooking. Running off the trail, he stopped to catch his breath. Slipping up to the camp, he saw a horse with the bridle off and the saddle still on the beast, hobbled and grazing. He could see the man by the fire was Jonathan. The smell of meat cooking and knowing that there was going to be a confrontation in the near future, Strongheart stepped back and made sure his rifle was ready to be fired. He then stepped into the open and said, “Hail the camp.” with Strongheart's weapon pointing down but in front of him. Jumping up Jonathan exclaimed, “What are you doing here?” “I could ask you the same thing. Aren't you supposed to be working today?” Strongheart thought he'd play dumb and get Jonathan to react. “I would have, but I got some good news last night and thought I should head home while I could.” Jonathan was laughing to himself about the news he was dying to share with someone. Who better than a fellow Casanova to brag too? “Nancy told me last night, she's going to have a baby so it was time to leave before her folks caught wind of that. Imagine her surprise when she finds out I'm not at the Trading-post tonight. Of course she'll only think I'm camping out with James tonight and won't get frantic until this Sunday when I don't show up.” “Why you dog-shit! I'll let you in on a little secret of my own. I've loved Nancy since the first time I saw her and knew I could never have her. Her folks would never allow it. Not like you! Now, why don't we bed down for the night and we'll go back together tomorrow. How does that sound? Strongheart had been thinking all day while he was trotting along, how he could convince Jonathan to do right by Nancy. The only thing he could think of was to make Jonathan believe he had something every man wanted. Now when he was uttering his spiel of persuasion, Strongheart realized maybe he actually felt that way. “No way! You go back and tell James to marry her. How does that sound?” Jonathan was taken completely by surprise when Strongheart raised his gun to his shoulder and shot him in the middle of the chest and then commenced reloading it with powder, ball and stuffing. “What did you do that for? You could have killed me!” “I meant too. I must not have put enough powder in my gun that time. I think I have more in my rifle now. Should I try again or will you go back with me?” “Alright, alright! You got me. Now help me get this ball out.” “Bare your chest and I'll look at it.” Jonathan stretched his arms up and Strongheart grabbed a hold of it and pulled up on his shirt. “Aw, aw! Man that hurts!” Strongheart looked down at Jonathan's pants and spied the ball on his pants. “Here it is. All I did was break the skin and draw blood. In a couple of days it'll heal up and you'll never even know you've been shot. Now shut up and let me have some of that deer you killed. I didn't find anything to shoot today except you!” “Help yourself! Don't mind me. If I would have kept going instead of stopping to hunt, you never would have caught me. I wish I'd known you were behind me, I'd ah rode all night if I'd ah had too. You would have never caught me!” 'Mm, nothing like repeating himself. I don't think that guy is planning to go back with me!' Strongheart thought to himself. Sure enough, after Strongheart had finished eating and left camp to make a bed of leaves, Jonathan slipped the bridle back on his horse and climbed aboard. A shot rang out before Jonathan could kick the horse in the ribs. Jonathan toppled out of the saddle, twitched and laid still. “Dumb fool! He should have waited until he was out of the campfire light. As James would say, you can't change a skunk or his stripes. I would say I used enough powder this time” Strongheart rolled Jonathan over and raised his shirt and unbuttoned the money belt. He then walked over to the deer, cut a hind quarter off the carcass and tied the leg to the saddle. After all that he changed rifles in the scabbard and climbed into the saddle. Strongheart headed the horse back on the trail east bound, dozing as the horse clumped along at a tired walk. When the horse would stop to rest, Strongheart would kick him in the ribs to get him walking again. When the sky was turning light, Strongheart got off the horse, grabbed his blanket and the deer leg and walked away, heading back in a westerly direction. He walked until he saw someone in the distance and then he headed off the trail and into the trees. Finding some dry wood and a thick underbrush, Strongheart built a small fire and roasted several long thin strips of deer meat. Some strips he ate and the rest went into the bag that he carried under his arm by means of a shoulder strap. Then he laid down on the blanket and went to sleep. Throughout the day, Strongheart slept with short periods of being awake to listen to the sounds around him. He thought about Jonathan and his callus attitude toward Nancy and his own fraternizing ways around the young girls that were infatuated with him. He always took it as his due to tease them and more if that was what they wanted. Now, he almost felt ashamed of how he had carried on with them. When Strongheart woke up the sun was setting. As he walked along he ate the cooked deer meat out of his bag. As he came to a fork in the road he stopped and thought about his next move. The fork to his right headed north-west. 'Maybe it's time I see my Shawnee friends.' he thought and took the fork. 'The Appalachians are beautiful this time of year!' It had been three weeks since James had paid Jonathan for his week's work. Will and James had one side of the roof shingled. Shingling was a slow process when the shingles were made as you shingled. Making shingles was a winter job. It took time to make shingles out of two foot chunks of logs. First you had to cut cedar logs every two feet to get ready to slit the logs every inch to inch and a half thick. This was done with a wedge and cleaned up with the draw knife. James wanted the shingles to be more like shakes to help hold the heat in the cabin that came from the fireplace. It was a Friday afternoon right after lunch, in the middle of July, when James asked Will, “I'm going to Bear Knoll and check out the local news. I'll be spending a couple of nights there and possibly do some fishing. Would you like to come along with me?” “I think I will just stay right here and keep making shingles. If we keep using only the wide shingles, we will need less nails. That should help, knowing that we have enough nails for my cabin. We shouldn't need many two foot logs of cedar anymore, and that can wait until you get back. Are you going to see Nancy?” Of course Will knew all about James's liking Nancy because Will liked her too. Both men were wondering if a marriage had taken place in the last three weeks and if Nancy had left with Jonathan to go back east to his parents? “If Nancy is still there. We haven't seen anyone here for the last three weeks, not even Strongheart. I'm ready for some news and a bit of ale. I suppose I could invest in a horse, but we need to have a corral built before we get a horse. Maybe this fall if I have any shillings lying around I'll do that. Right now I have to decide how I'm getting across the river. Maybe if I follow this creek down to the river, I'll be far enough upstream that I can float a log across and I won't float to far downstream from Bear Knoll. Sure you don't want to come along?” “No, you go ahead. But we sure could use a ferry crossing man at the river. Not enough traffic yet, I suppose. Take your ax with you.” “I will. Talk to you later.” James was surprised at Will. Every once in a while, he'd impress James with some insight. Usually Will was quiet and would ask directions on what to do next. Will at first, never made suggestions. When James found him lurking by the campfire one night, on the way from Virginia he considered him a half wit and took Will on, just because he had felt sorry for him. Since then James realized Will's demeanor was what it was. Simply because his growing up years reflected Will's being abused and had been taught not to show emotion. Surprisingly, behind his demeanor was an intelligent person. Picking up the ax and the blunderbuss, he stopped and thought about it. The weapon and powder would only get wet with the river crossing and would be another drag to carry. Setting the gun back down he grabbed a couple sticks of dried meat and headed down to the creek. He was hoping to find a dry log by the river that wasn't too big to drag to the water. The three miles was an adventure, since he had never gone this way before. After making a couple of detours around brush and boulders he finally made the his way to the river. 'When I've time I need to blaze a trail down here.' Looking around he found a tree laying down' away from the river. It was perfect for what he wanted, but it was too much of a log for him to drag to the river. He proceeded to chop the log in half. James didn't realize he wasn't alone until he heard, “Where's your Blunderbuss friend? What are you doing? If you want to hollow out a log to make a canoe you are going about it all wrong. If I was a resentful Indian, your ax head would be a good enough reason to kill you. Much better than a stone club!” The noise James had been making, had traveled up and down the river and Strongheart had heard it as he was floating by in his canoe. “I didn't think about the sound carrying on the water. I need to find a boat maker and have my own means of getting across the river.” “Why do that? You're so proud of your chisels and gouge set of tools to make plates and bowls. Use them, along with your ax and adze to make a canoe.” “A wooden canoe? Maybe I should give you something for yours? It's lightweight and manageable.” James had a bit of trouble wrapping his mind around a wooden canoe. “This canoe is made out of a willow frame and hides. I am always watching the water to see if there's something in the water that would snag the boat and rip the skin off. A good log canoe is a lot stronger. Tomorrow we will find you the right tree to make a canoe. Now, why are you out here without your gun?” Strongheart had stopped at his village to borrow a canoe and was coming to Bear Knoll to see what was happening with Nancy and he wanted to see James. He not only was friends with James, but Strongheart also found James amusing with his townie ways. “It's been three weeks since I've seen you or anyone else for that matter. I want to go to Bear Knoll and catch up on some news. Where have you been?” “I headed to the Appalachians for a little enjoyment. Then I went back to my village to catch up on the news there. Now I thought I'd come here and see how things are. I can see that I didn't come soon enough. You need all the help you can get!” Strongheart was enjoying giving James a bad time about being out here, unprotected. “Laugh all you want. Now you can give me a ride across the river. Was there anything new happening in your village? How's big daddy doing?” James chuckled at that miss-numeral. “It's Heapbig. Yes he's fine. He's been giving me a bad time about not making him a grandfather and wondering when I'm getting married, if you must know. Let's get you across the river so I can go fishing.” “Sounds good. Hope you have an extra oar so I can help you row.” When they got across the river and landed close to the Trent cabin, James asked, “You coming with me?” “Na. I think I'll float down to the other side of Bear Knoll. I'll be fishing over there when you find me. You can bed down with me when you're ready.” Strongheart wanted to stay unnoticed if it was possible. “Sounds like a plan. I'll let you know about all I find out. See you later.” Stepping into the Boar Head on that Friday afternoon, James saw the tavern lacking in customers. The only person there was Nancy's Dad, Joseph. He was sitting in the corner, deep in his cups. James didn't know quite what to make of it, but thought he'd better find out. Walking over to the bar he asked for two pints of ale. He paid for them and grabbed them, then walked over to Joseph. “Can I have your company Joseph? James asked. “You want to sit by me? Sorry young man but I don't remember who you are? What's your name?” James began to get worried. “I'm James Bertie. Your son, Caleb helped me about four weeks ago raising the walls to my cabin that is across the Yadkin. I know your son and your daughter well. How are they?” James hoped Joseph wouldn't realize he was fishing for news. “Good, good. Next week our traveling preacher is coming through and my Nancy's getting married. We have a young man that lost his wife last winter, due to childbirth. He wants to marry Nancy and who am I to argue.” James immediately thought this sounded suspicious and decided he needed to learn more. “I don't think I've ever met him. Who is he?” “John Milner. You've never met him because he's busy with the four children he already has. He's probably close to thirty and as steady as they come. I'm sure he'll make Nancy happy.” “I thought Jonathan was sparking Nancy. What has Jonathan got to say about all this?” James knew Jonathan had to have left the country, but he wanted Joseph's opinion about Jonathan. “That polecat! I thought he had honorable intentions. He left the country without a howdy doody, goodbye, or anything. Nancy is heartbroken. The only good thing about all this, has been that Jonathan met his maker on the way back to Virginia. They found his horse over towards Walnut Cove. Somebody must have needed a ride because they found his body about ten miles this way. Shot in the back from what I heard. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!” “When did you hear all this? I'm going to have to write a letter and tell his Dad! I'll have to let him know how sorry I am for his loss. He has to be taking this hard!” James was thinking out loud. “Ya, well, I'm sorry for his loss but I think he might have spoiled his son a little bit, because he sure wasn't honorable!” “What do you mean? Did Jonathan spoil Nancy? That skunk!” Finally Joseph was getting to the heart of the problems. “My girl's in a family way. John says it won't matter. He's even agreed to predate the wedding by three months. Course his neighbors will all know different but that can't be helped. The only thing I'm worried about now is John. He brews a little whiskey out of corn for the coastal market and I think he samples his product a little too much.” James took a second look at Joseph. Was Joseph entertaining the idea that he would be interested in another candidate for the role of Nancy's husband? “I don't know if I should say this but I would like to marry Nancy, if she would want me? I'm not established as of yet, but I'm working on it and I don't have four children for her to take care of and I don't have a desire for strong drink. I don't think I would be a wife beater and I would take care of her the best I could.” James let out what he was thinking and had been thinking ever since he first layed eyes on Nancy. “You would be alright with predating the wedding as well? Who would be your Bondsman? Is he a steady worker and does he have a wife and children? You know the role of a Bondsman, do you not? All at once Joseph had a gleam in his eyes. “Aye, on the frontier I would think that would be very important. In case I would die, it would be his responsibility to step in and provide protection and guidance for her and her children. To the point of finding a husband for her or marrying and taking care of her, himself.” James thought he knew of such a man. Centuries later Bondsman would turn into a popularity contest and best man. “Good! Tell me who you have in mind. Do I know him?” “No, He doesn't like to come to town. He's single and I don't think he will ever get married unless a woman asked him. He works with me and can do anything you ask of him. One thing, he's no taller than Nancy and does not have the best body odor.” “That's all right. We can only hope nothing happens to you. Let me go home and talk to Ma and Nancy. How long will you be in town?” “I can be here until Monday morning. Should we meet here Sunday night?” James hoped Will would understand him being gone that long. “No. Let's meet here tomorrow night. That way we can announce the prenuptials on Sunday in church. I should know by then. That way if Nancy would say yes, you two can get together for Sunday dinner. Does that sound alright?” Joseph was in a hurry to turn their lives back to being unstressed. His wife had been in a tizzy ever since Nancy had broke the news to them. After Joseph left, James finished his ale and left to celebrate with Strongheart. He found him by the river with his hand in the water by some rocks. “What are you doing? Do you call that fishing?” “Yes it is! Look behind me. What do you see?” About that time Strongheart jerked his hand out of the water and a fish went flying through the air. “I think we have enough fish for supper. Did you learn anything about what's going on?” “Yes I have. I learned I was almost to late in putting my name in the hat on getting dibs marrying Nancy. Next week the circuit preacher's coming through and Nancy's Dad was ready to give her away to a widower, who has four children. I'm meeting Joseph tomorrow night and we'll see what Nancy thinks. I might be taking the widower's place.” James was thinking of all the things that needed doing before the coming week was up. He was hoping Will was still shaving shingles. “You've got it. She won't want four kids and a baby to take care of while she's still a girl. Did you hear anything about Jonathan? Did he run away like we thought he would?” Strongheart hoped he wasn't sounding too eager for news about Jonathan. “He ran. But he didn't run far when he ran into trouble. Some one shot him west of Walnut Cove. Joseph said in the back! You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?” James thought he saw Strongheart twitch a little around the eyes. “Not me! You know it is not honorable to shoot people in the back. Besides that, Walnut Cove is out of the way to the Appalachians. Are you going to ask me to be your Bondsman?” “You want to be my Bondsman? Would you be interested in building a cabin and being my neighbor and settling down with a wife someday?” James had to chuckle at the thought of Strongheart staying put for more than a couple of months. “When you put it like that, no I don't want to be your Bondsman. Who are you going to ask? Will?” “Ya, I think Will will do just fine. He'll think it's another responsibility to take seriously. I should go to the Trading-post tomorrow so I can present him with a bar of soap when we get back to the cabin. I wonder if we have a milliner or a bodkin in or around Bear Knoll that could set Will up with new clothes........ Why didn't I think of this before? Maybe that's why Will smells. He doesn't have a change of clothes when he jumps into the creek! Come to think about it, his shoes are about shot.” James had run out of news while they cleaned the fish and laid them on the hot rock that was in the middle of the fire. As soon as the fish were cooked they picked the pieces up with their knife blades and ate them. Both of them contemplated what each of them were doing with their life. “I have a question, Strongheart. What do you want to strive for in this life? In thirty years, what will you say you took joy in?” James couldn't see living for the fun of it. “I would like to say, I have twelve sons and daughters that live for each other and help one another.” “I enjoy meeting characters like you. We can sort all that out tomorrow. Now let's get some sleep.” Strongheart was tired of James's rambling. James was as excited as a child with a lump of maple sugar. The next morning James told Strongheart that he was going in search of a tailor or someone close to that. The Trading-post should have that information. Walking into the Trading-post, James looked around the room and realized he had never really looked at what a Trading-post had to offer. Besides the weapons that were sold, there were tools of every description and for every use. Instead of using a knife to eat with, there was sets of forks, spoons and knives used only for eating. This all was a reminder to James of how it was for him, growing up. It was also a reminder of how in the last six months he had turned into a barbarian when it came to his eating habits. Carl was at the counter watching James walk around the room. “Can I help you, young man?” Carl asked, not so much to be helpful, but to insure no one took anything without paying for it. “Yes, I don't see any fabric here. Do you know who sells fabric and makes clothes?” “I have fabric in another room. My wife can make common, everyday clothes. If you want something fancy you would have to go to White Plains for the tailor there. You know where White Plains is?” “Oh yes, we came through there on the way here. Can I look at the fabric?” “My wife can help you. Let me show you the room and I'll get her.” Carl made sure James was in the fabric room before going to get his wife. At times like this Carl wished he would have built the living quarters onto the Trading-post. It didn't do to leave his merchandise unattended for too long. When Carl's wife, Molly, came into the dry goods room, she found James with his arms folded, looking at the twelve bolts of fabric leaning against the wall. “How can I help you Sir?” she asked. “I need two pairs of everyday pants for a friend and two shirts. How much will that cost me and how long would it take to have them made?” “That depends on the weave and what kind of fabric you want. Lightweight wool cost less than my heavy wool. A shirt should be made out of linen. I have one weave and two colors, blue or gray in linen. This lightweight gray wool is great for this time of year. It would be what I would suggest for pants. It also will go with either of these colors for shirts.” “How much will this cost me?” James was worried since his money bag was getting lighter all the time. “How big is your friend? How many yards of fabric will tell me the price.” “He stands about this tall.” and James put his hand up even with his neck. “He's very thin as well.” “Ten yards for pants and shirts. One shilling and three pence times ten, Comes to twelve shillings and six pence for fabric. Ten shillings for sewing them. Total mm, One pound, two shillings and six pence should cover it. Pay me twelve shillings now and bring your friend in Monday so I can measure him.” James questioned himself, 'What if Nancy won't marry me? Will still needs the clothes.' “I'll do that! It might be Monday afternoon before we will be here.” He dug into his money belt and pulled out a pound. Molly reached into her bag and counted out eight shillings and gave them to James. “Something else I have been thinking about. Is there a cobbler in these parts?” James didn't believe there could be a cobbler, as small as Bear Knoll was. “No, if you would want a cobbler, you would have to go to White Plains. However, Mrs. Trent makes double and triple thick sole moccasins. All she needs is to measure your feet. Around here the children go barefoot or wear moccasins.” The afternoon was spent with Strongheart. Strongheart showed James how to entice catfish to bite on a finger and how to swim in the river. When the time came to meet Joseph at the Boar Head, James was relaxed and ready to find out his fate. He was surprised to see Caleb and Nancy at the tavern and not Joseph. Nancy and Caleb stood up when James entered the tavern. Nancy was the one that led the discussion, “Sit down James. I told Papa I would make up my mind about who I wanted to marry after I talked to you. Caleb said you have a cabin that you are building, but it's not ready as of yet. How is that coming?” “Will and I have half the roof shingled and in another week it should be all shingled. I still have to build furniture. The fireplace is done and we have been using it for the last week. I'm hoping next year to put a wood floor in. This summer I have a garden planted and we will be getting produce soon, so we will be spending time with that.” James didn't know where this was leading but knew he had to be honest. “I understand that you have done a lot since you came here last May. But I also see that you're not ready for me yet. The thing is, I need to get married now. Let's get married next Sunday and I will stay with my folks until the cabin is done. Could you put a floor in this year, instead of waiting. If you promise me that, I will marry you. Can you do that for me?” Amazed, James looked at her thinking, 'She's between a rock and being ostracized. Who does she think she is?' Then he thought, 'She's just scared.' “I need you to understand something. What we are talking about takes time. If you were there by my side, you could do things to help. If nothing else, weeding the garden would help. In another month and a half we will be getting ready for winter. Things like harvesting the gardens and picking the corn and hunting and making jerky. Caleb, would you and your Dad be willing to help me for the next month? Joseph could make the kitchen table and chairs and whatever cupboards Nancy would want while staying home. With me as family, you can come and help split logs to put in the wood floor and whatever else I need help with. Is this something you and Joseph can do?” James wondered if Nancy knew what her family was willing to do for her. Caleb was shaking his head in a positive way, “I can't speak for Dad but I think he would do this. I can row over Monday morning and start helping you.” Caleb found it hard to believe that his sister was making demands, but at the same time he could understand where she was coming from. She still wanted control in her life, even if it was just a little. Even though Caleb was older, he always had to ask Nancy to do something, not tell her. She had always wanted to be in charge of everything around her. James knew anything you wanted in life had to be worked for. “Talk to your Dad. I'm heading home in the morning and spending time weeding the garden. Will and I are coming back Monday morning on an errand and we'll come back with you and your boat. Nancy, you will have to let me know when you need me here next Sunday.” When James made it back to Strongheart camp, he was all ears to learn what had happened. It was still daylight so Strongheart suggested they cross the river and head back. Two hours later found them stumbling into the cabin site, in the dark, looking for their blankets. In the morning, Sunday no less, Strongheart said he was going to go look for a big White Pine Tree with a curve in its trunk. James stayed sitting with Will and asked, “Will, would you be willing to be my Bondsman? Do you know what being my Bondsman means for Nancy? If something ever happens to me and I'm dead and gone, you will have to step up and take care of Nancy and any children she has. Think you can do that?” “You are saying she would be my wife? The children would be mine?” Will was fantasizing about being Nancy's husband. His eyes were sparkling and he was breathing hard. “If Nancy would want to replace me with you, then yes. But if she wanted to find someone else, you would have to help her find who she would want. Could you do that?” Will made a face like he had just bit into a hot onion. “I think I should look less of a pauper when she sees me. Have I earned any money so that I can go and buy some clothes?” Will was feeling discouraged. “The deal was, we will build my cabin this year and your cabin next year. However, we can't have you running around with no clothes to wear. We have hides, but we've been using them to bind our roof together. Plus, we have had no time to cure hides for clothing. I am going to buy you some clothing tomorrow when we go to Bear Knoll. In the meantime I'm going to have you wear a pair of my pants while you wash your clothes and take a dip in the creek with this bar of soap I bought for you. Let's call it even for you standing up for me. Alright?” “Whatever you say James. Thank you! For you, I'll be the best Bondsman I can be.” “I know you will. I'm going to go hoe in the garden now and I'll take my bath later.” After several hours of hoeing James was ready to call it a day. His back and arms were hurting and he was hungry. His thoughts were interrupted by an ax striking a tree. Following the sound down the creek about a mile, he found Strongheart cutting into a massive pine tree. “You found the tree you were looking for?” “O yes, this one is perfect. Not only has it got the perfect curve but it's big enough to be able to haul ten people when I get done with it. Here, you take a turn with the ax.” The rest of the day was spent bringing the tree down and taking the limbs and bark off the trunk. The next morning James was sore but he paid that no mind since he had been that way a lot, building his cabin. He jumped in the creek and after that pulled some of his better clothes out of his trunk. When James told Strongheart, “We're using your canoe.” Strongheart told James, “Go ahead. I'm working on the wooden canoe today.” Will just followed James with a silly grin on his face. When Will and James made it across the river, the first place they stopped was at the Trent cabin. Nancy's Mom, Rachel, opened the door to their knock, “Come in! You must be James. Nancy is in the garden. Do you know where that is?” “I do. I've been down there before. First, I have a question I want to ask you. I heard you make moccasins. Is this true?” “It is. If you provide the leather, it's two Shillings. If I provide the leather, the cost is eight Shillings. Plus six pence for every added layer of leather for the sole. It takes about a day for a pair of moccasins. For you, I would make a pair for nothing.” “Oh no, it's not for me. It's for Will here. He is to be my Bondsman and his shoes need to be replaced. We aren't going to White Plains for a cobbler, at least not until winter, so Will has agreed on moccasins until then. He's not used to going barefooted so we think three layers of leather would be good for the sole. Do you have enough leather for two pairs of moccasins? If not, one pair would be fine.” “Two pairs it is. James, you run along and see Nancy. She's down in the garden. Will, sit down here and we'll measure your feet. Both of them. No two feet are exactly the same. I'll get some leather and we'll draw your feet.” James walked down to the garden and saw Nancy chasing one of her younger sisters around the garden while another sister and brother were busy hoeing. He thought, 'She's still a child at heart. No wonder she is dragging her feet about leaving home.' All at once, Nancy's sister, Easter, saw the stranger coming down the path from the cabin. She immediately yelled, “Alright everybody, let's get back to work!” “Don't worry Easter, that's my beau. Come here guys and meet him. This is Easter, who is almost three years younger than me. This is Juliana who is eleven, and this last one is Benjamin or Ben, who is eight. This is James Bertie, who is four years older than me. We are getting married next Sunday and he's building me a cabin to live in with a wooden floor. When will it be finished James so I can see it?” “I still have to talk to your Dad to see how much help I'll get. We have a lot to do before the snow flies. Actually, putting the floor in before the dirt is trampled like a rock, is a good thing. I hope we can get it done before we run out of time and winter is here. We still have to chink the cabin and make it winter ready, plus put the south side of the roof on yet.” There was a lot of little things that James knew needed doing but he didn't want to to appear as if he were to much of a worrier. “I'm sure you will do everything that you can. One of the things I worry about is living over there in Cherokee Land. You haven't seen that Strongheart anymore since Caleb and him helped you raise the logs to the cabin. Have you?” “Strongheart is his name, and yes, I have seen him since we raised the cabin. Staying on his good side is important. If any hostile Indians would want to burn us out, Strongheart might help stop that.” James knew Nancy had gotten a bad impression the first time she met him, and James had tried to hide the friendship he had with Strongheart just to keep the peace in Bear Knoll. Especially with Carl Standish's anti native sentiment that he verbalized every chance he had. “Well I wished you didn't live over there. Heaven knows when those heathens might go on a warpath.” Nancy kept up the rant she used to hide her true feelings about natives and Strongheart. The Indians had never done anything to her and Strongheart was so manly and witty that she kept her true feelings hidden, even from herself. It was easier to go along with the sentiment expressed at Bear Knoll. “We have gun holes on three sides of our cabin and we have cleared the underbrush and tree stumps away from the cabin. We would have a clear line of fire if we were attacked. Strongheart has said that an Indian fight between two tribes is unsettling because it's all about sneaking up on your enemy and striking from close quarters. Nothing like the European way of fighting. All we need to do is stay vigilant and treat everyone fairly. Someday I'll be able to build you a real house. Someone needs to move in the area that can run a sawmill. And we need to be prosperous.” James went to get Will for his measurements at the Trading-post and Nancy watched him leave. In her mind, James was too serious for her and would be an old man before his time. 'Dam you Jonathan! Why did you go and get yourself killed.' She was sure he was going to Virginia to tell his folks the good news and had planned to return before she ever knew he was gone. Now she had a choice between John Milner with four children and James, who won hands down. Her and four children? She shuddered! At least James would keep his dirty hands off her until she was too fat to care. 'Dam you Jonathan!' She repeated. After Will and James were done at the Trading-post, they went home and spent the next four days shingling the south side of the cabin. Saturday they helped Strongheart chisel the final bits of wood out and off the canoe to smooth out the surfaces, on the inside and on the outside. It was heavy and dragging it two miles was an afternoon effort for all three of them. They were able to launch the canoe on its maiden voyage by taking it across the river and collecting Wills new clothes. It was dark once again when they drug themselves into the cabin for a good night's sleep. Sunday morning found James and Will taking quick baths in the creek and cutting each other's hair the best they could. Arriving at the Trent cabin they were met by the Preacher and a pair of moccasins for Will. James shook the Preacher's hand and slipped a Crown in his hand for payment. Then the Reverend led Will and James to the Predated Marriage Contract and James signed his name and Will put his X next to it. Then they lined up and Nancy made her appearance from behind a curtain where her parents slept at night. “Dearly beloved,” began the Preacher, and James saw tears trickle down Nancy's cheek. One of Rachel's best dresses had been taken in to fit Nancy and she looked in every way, the beauty that she was. When the Preacher came to the part of, “Do you take this man, James Eresby Bertie to be your lawful husband,” Nancy squeaked out a “I do,” that could barely be heard. When James responded with a subdued “I do”, he was wondering if having a beautiful wife would be worth the troubles that could plague him in the years to come. After the short ceremony, the two were stationed at the head of the table and served fried chicken that the chickens in the yard had contributed. Later, after dinner James and Nancy were shown the table and chairs that Joseph and Caleb had made for them. After many well-wishes James took his leave and before going, gave Nancy a peck on the cheek. Dusk was settling in when Will and James canoed back across the Yadkin with a promise from Caleb that he would come in the morning to help split logs for the floor. The next morning Caleb showed up with Mother Rachel and Easter. James was informed that they were going to chink the cabin while the men split the logs for the floor. James shook his head thinking Nancy should be here as well. In James mind the question arose, “How long will it take before she truly accepts me as her Husband?” Chapter 3 Will and James were shivering from the cold wind as it blew down the Yadkin from the northwest. It was the first week in April and spring was showing its face. Giving one excuse after another, Nancy had begged off having to crossing the river and move in with James. First it was the wooden floor that needed to be laid in the cabin. Then it was the excuse, 'She felt poorly and she needed her Mother around in case something would happen with the baby.' Then it was, 'She needed her Mother around so her Moma could help deliver the baby.' Then, 'The river was frozen over, but was unsafe to cross.' The next excuse was, 'Spring rains and spring thaws had the river too high and was unsafe for Johnathan to cross!' James was completely flummoxed with what Nancy was thinking. She had named the child after Jonathan Rush. James was tempted to ask Strongheart to kidnap the child and take him away to his village. He didn't, because that would only lead to heartaches for the village. James was almost entertaining the idea of Nancy being kidnapped and forget the whole marriage. In James's mind it was time for Nancy to cross the river or forget it. The Yadkin was still plenty high when they crossed, but it could be that way until June or July. The two men were crossing the river in the wooden canoe Strongheart had made. He had made it with a flat bottom on the outside and inside, making it as stable as any row boat could be. James's thinking was, 'It had plenty of room for ten people, so it should be no problem with Nancy and the baby, no matter how many cloth nappies, dresses or baby clothes she brought along.' Reaching the north shoreline James told Will, “Let's go to the Trading-post first. I'd like to see if I have any mail from home.” Entering the Trading-post, James could see Carl was busy at the counter. Looking over at the community board he started reading the notices, someone had a horse for sale, puppies being given away and young lads were looking for work. Looking at the board, James had an idea that he thought would work when he was trying to deal with Nancy. After the people around Carl had cleared away, James approached the counter, “Do you have any mail for me Carl?” “Yes I have. In fact, there are two letters. Maybe you have some news about what has been happening back east. I'd like to hear any news you have.” Carl Standish was always looking for news. News he could spread around, that wouldn't hurt anybody's feelings. Leaving the Trading-post Will and James jumped into the canoe and started rowing against the current. After paddling one hundred feet, James was wondering if it would have been easier to drag the canoe, the quarter-mile they needed to go to reach the Trent cabin. Finally, reaching their destination, James and Will drug the canoe onto the shore and walked the short distance to the cabin. Like always, Rachel met them at the door. “Come in, come in. Give me a little bit and we'll have lunch. Is the river going down? You boys look like you're bushed.” James looked at her and thought, 'Why can't her daughter be more like her?' “We're not used to peddling upriver is all Mam. We're fine. How's Nancy and the baby today?” Nancy was walking from the back of the cabin to the door when she started hearing the conversation. “We're fine James. And it's Jonathan, not the baby. What brings you to town today?” Nancy was acting like she had no idea about James's frustrations. “It's been over six weeks since the little tyke was born and I think we have abused your folk's hospitality long enough, so I've come to take you home.” “But James, I'm just getting to feeling better and it's still chilly out there.” “I'm sorry you feel that way Nancy, but Will and I are about to get very busy with everything we plan to do this spring. It's not everyday, I'll have Will with me to help paddle the canoe. I didn't want to do this, but if you're not willing to go with me today, I will post a page of annulment on the community board. Of course I will have to state the reason. The reason BEING we never consummated our union. Then you can tear up the marriage license and your Dad can give back the Crown that I gave the Preacher. It's time you decide what you want to do! Maybe, John Milner hasn't found a wife yet and is still interested. Would you like for me to go talk to him for you?” James knew divorce was not thought of as an option and there was only one reason for it and that was an annulment. Of course he would have to swear on a Bible and provide witnesses if Nancy fought the annulment, but James wasn't worried. “Damn you all to hell! I don't even have that option any more. John married Lucile Crumby. Dad has been dropping hints that I was staying beyond my welcome and now you. Easter, help me pack. We'll leave after lunch!” “Thank you Nancy. You won't regret this!” James knew as quick as the words were out of his mouth, he should not have said that. It sounded too much like gloating. “I already have.” Nancy said it with venom in her voice. James didn't say a thing. Lunch was a silent affair with Rachel staying as quiet as the rest of the family. She knew of her and Joseph's past heritage and she definitely wasn't going to share. A lot of her and Joseph's ancestry were first immigrants in Jamestown, Maryland. The other few people of their past were Native Americans. When Chief Powhatan saved the immigrants from starvation, he sent young maidens with the food since the people in Jamestown were all bachelors. The reason for the preferred treatment was the copper that the Whites had. Copper was the natives form of currency. As a result there were approximately thirty some inter marriages between the two cultures. The next spring there were more immigrants from England, resulting in a new blended culture of people. Rachel did not blame her native ancestry for Nancy's headstrong will as much as the headstrong puritan sect in their background. By the time the canoe was loaded with baby dresses and nappies, plus Nancy's clothes it was mid afternoon. The wind had died down and the river was almost peaceful. Nancy found she did not mind the canoe ride. It was actually pleasant. The three miles going uphill to the cabin was invigorating with James carrying the clothes and Will carrying Jonathan. Nancy entered the door of the cabin and was astonished. She found it to be clean, warm and snug. Joseph and Caleb had made cupboards to go around on the outside walls that held clothes, pots and pans. There were pegs drilled into the walls, where harnesses hung. A rocking cradle was by the fireplace for the baby, along with a rocking chair to sit and rock the baby. In the far corners, away from the fireplace were curtains hanging, giving each corner some privacy. When Nancy looked behind the larger curtained area, she saw a raised platform that held a straw mattress, called a tick. In the other corner was the same made platform, only smaller. The blankets on the beds were folded neatly. Nancy reached down to bring a blanket to her nose and was pleasantly surprised. The blanket smelled fresh and clean. The straw tick smelled a little stale. She knew a person could take them out on a cold and windy day and beat on them, but it took new dry grass to make them truly fresh. The tick felt full and soft, not hard and lumpy, so Nancy knew it had been beat on recently. Looking around, Nancy realized James didn't get mad one day and came to town, demanding his rights? No! He had planned everything he had done. From asking her Dad for her hand to coming to town and getting her. ' I'll wager James will have Will go fishing tonight.' No sooner did she have that thought when James came into the cabin with the clothing that Nancy had brought and Will trudging behind with Jonathan. “Are you ready to eat Nancy? I have a pot of stew cooking over the fire. We have new wooden bowls that Will and I carved out this winter. If everyone can wait for another half hour or so, we can have some hoecakes to go with the stew. I ground the corn this morning.” “Hoecakes sound good. You grind your own corn?” Nancy was intrigued with how James was able to do everything he did. “It's more like pounding corn. I use that flat iron over there in the corner and the flat heel of my hatchet. It's three or four kernels at a time and not ground fine, so I soak the meal for a couple of hours before I bake them on a flat surface.” James was leaving a lot out with his explanation. He had learned a lot from the wife of the farmer he had been indentured to, but also from Strongheart about some of the less known ways of getting something done. Strongheart had spent half the winter with James and Will. James had cautioned Will not to say anything about Strongheart to anyone. After supper, James looked at Will and Will looked to the roof and said, “You know, it's been a while since we had a good mess of fish. I think I'll head out and see if I can catch a few. Fish for breakfast sounds good to me.” Nancy had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from smiling. Jonathan picked that moment to start crying so Nancy was able to turn her back to them as she reached into the cradle. Baby Jonathan was hot and sweaty and Nancy realized Jonathan had too many blankets on this close to the fire. He was hungry and wet so Nancy headed to the curtained bedroom to change and feed him. After changing him, Nancy began nursing him but realized it was a lot colder in the corner of the cabin than by the fire. The rocker was out there, and growing up she had witnessed her Mom breastfeeding her younger siblings. Will was gone fishing and James was her Husband. She said to herself, 'You'd better get used to it!' and walked out of the bedroom. James had splashed the wood plates off with water and was now sitting down reading something. “What are you reading?” Nancy asked. “It's a letter I picked up at the Trading-post. It's from my Father. Would you like for me to read it to you?” “Please!” To my dear son James; When this letter finds you, I hope it finds you in fine spirits and in good health. I received your letter informing us of your marriage and I'm happy for you, although I found it very sudden. You have always had a level head and I'm sure you know what you were doing. We would love to meet her someday. We, for the most part, are doing well. I have some sad news to share with you. Your brother, Richard, is now learning to be a sailor. This was not his choice, since he was sub-scripted and forced into his Majesty's service. It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was walking down the street with his betrothed, Mary, when he was forced onto a ship. We wouldn't have known what happened to him except for Mary running home to tell us, plus His Majesty's Service keeps impeccable records. In the interest of our fifteen Colonies, England seems to be doing everything wrong with their high handed ways! The rebel rousers of this new country are trying to incite the people against his Majesty and it seems like the Crown is playing into their hands. There are several things that they are doing wrong. One, they're trying to tax us without our input of what is fair. Second, they're forcing us to accept with what they want, with soldiers being stationed here in the colonies. Third, they are making us house the officers in our homes. Now this affront of taking our young men against their will is an abomination. I don't know how else to describe it. I always thought our Kings and England's system was fair, but now my faith has been shaken. It doesn't look good! You know that I felt Indenture-ship was one of the ways for people to learn new skills. For the last thirty some years, England has been shipping out people from the Islands because of indebtedness. Now they are shipping over convicts to us as well. A lot of these people hate everything English. May God help us in these turbulent times! Please stay safe, and may God direct everything that you do. Your loving father, William Bertie “That was a letter from your Father? He sounds like an educated man. You told me once that he was born in England. Did he learn his Letters there as well?” Nancy was all at once curious about this man she hardly knew. “My Father was the second son of an Earl over there. He married a commoner and when I was five years old my Grandfather disowned him because he wouldn't divorce my Mother. I was there when Grandfather argued with Father. He was urging Father to make himself available to marry an heir of Manchester. Father has since teased Mother about picking beauty over money.” “Is that what you did? Marry me for my beauty?” “No, beauty helped. But I married you for the spirit that you exhibited. So full of life. So..., I don't know. Maybe I'm a fool, like my Father.” “You're no fool. Jonathan's asleep. Let's lay him down and let's do something we need to do. Since you wrote your folks about me, I need to do something about being your wife. Come Husband.” Much later, Will came into the cabin. He left the fish in a wooden bucket outside the door. The lantern was out, but there was a soft glow from the fireplace. He threw a couple of small logs on the fire and a flame started. He couldn't place the difference in the cabin, but it was there. The smell of a baby and the smell of a female in the room? He didn't know, but to Will it smelled like home before his family had been thrown into the debtors prison. Spring came and for the next three months, everyone worked hard. Last fall Will had picked a spot to build a cabin, about a quarter-mile downstream, away from James's cabin. They had marked and ringed the trees they wanted to cut down and cleaned the underbrush from the site. They were not planning to cut the trees down until the spring planting was done. James needed a cash crop for things he couldn't grow himself. He had a choice of growing more corn and making whiskey or growing tobacco. He decided to grow both. He wasn't going to grow enough corn to spend the money for things to make a still, but by having extra corn, he could sell to a distiller. He wouldn't have enough tobacco to raise a barn, but he could dry some tobacco along the walls of Will and his cabins. Right after James brought Nancy and Jonathan home, the ground was dry enough to plow and work. A lot of the planting was on new ground that was being put into crops. James planted potatoes and English Peas in part of the old garden spot and potted tomato seeds into wooden pots in the cabin. By the middle of May the weather was warm and the chance of a frost was almost nil so the potted plants along with all the other vegetable seeds were put into the ground. After that, the work with the ax became a daily job, falling one tree at a time. Nancy was a trooper with the garden and James all at once realized Nancy had taken over the garden. She wanted certain plants in certain places to keep some plants from cross pollination. Nancy explained that curtain plants were planted with more exposure to the sun and some with less sunlight. James could see no problem with her involvement and encouraged her. It irritated him somewhat when Nancy began having a superior attitude about her garden and what needed to be done and when. Will took the brunt of her attitude and was always there to say, “Yes mam, yes Nancy, yes beautiful,” without a suggestion of a better plan. James just shook his head and thought, 'If it makes her happy'. One good thing about Nancy's involvement with baby Jonathan and the garden was that she never noticed when three axes were taking down trees. Strongheart would come and go as he pleased and James always enjoyed his company when he showed up. Two cows, once again were put to the yoke, only this time it was a struggle getting them to accept restrictions in their lives. Their calves were being penned away while they drug logs to the cabin site. Two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening were all James would use the cows and it took a month before James was ready to dig the trench for the foundation in which to set rock in. By the beginning of August, Will's log cabin was basically complete except for the shutters over the gun ports. That's what James had told everyone to call them since that was what they were. The vegetables were starting to produce fruit that was starting to ripe, which was the first sign of fall and they should getting ready for winter. Eating fresh squash, tomatoes and potatoes was a treat, but now came the work of drying and storing as many vegetables as they could. This year the potatoes would be stored in the coldest corner of a cabin, but next year James hoped to dig a potato cellar. Before the rush of the fall preparation for winter started, James asked Nancy about crossing the river to go see her folks. “Nancy, let's take Jonathan, go see your folks and catch up on the news. We'll stay overnight at your folk's place and come back the next day. What do you think about that?” “I'd love to do something! Seems like it's been ages since I've seen anybody except you and Will. And he's no fun. All he says is, “Yes Mam.” And when I ask him not to call me Mam, then he changes it and says, “Yes beautiful!” Then he looks at me and grins. I swear, he just likes to see me blush.” “Well you are beautiful in our sight. You're the only girl he sees, living out here. You can't blame him for teasing you a little bit. I'm glad you comb your hair every day. A lot of ladies just let themselves go, living in the woods, when all they see every day is their husband and children. This winter I should track a flue to the front of the cabin so we don't have to walk down to the creek to get water. I like that we take a bath twice a week and stay clean. But I don't like carrying water every day. If you can be ready, we'll go to town tomorrow morning.” “I can be ready if you can bring me water. I need to wash some nappies and some of Jonathan dresses, and we should clean up as well.” “I wish Jonathan wasn't wearing dresses. I know it's easier because of the nappies, but it just seems,.... I don't know,.... girlish?” “I'm sure you wore dresses as a baby, and it didn't hurt you. Every baby wears dresses until their outhouse trained. If Jonathan wore wool pants, I'd be washing twice as much as I do now. No thank you!” James was thanking Strongheart every time he brought water from the creek. Because of the spring at the head of the creek, it never dried up and was always fresh. The only drawback he had with where he lived, was becoming short of money. When he left Virginia, his Dad had pretty much given James his inheritance. That was gone and James was hoping his corn and tobacco would bring him in some cash. He was alright with the way things were, but he needed cash if he was going to buy this piece of heaven. If he couldn't find the money and someone else bought this land, all their work would belong to someone else. Every waking hour and every nightmare at night was focused on how to make this land his. The next morning showed all the signs of being another hot August day. They left the cabin as soon as they could and made for the river, walking at a fast pace that Nancy struggled to keep up with. The river was at its summer low so James's legs were soaked with mud from pushing the canoe into the water and dragging the canoe out of the water. On reaching the shore they saw a sign that read, 'Welcome to Rockford'. James asked, “What's this?” Nancy replied, “Carl has been pushing to have the town become the Territorial Capital and thought Bear Knoll wasn't a proper name for a full fledged town. So this must be what they decided to name it. Rockford! That sounds nice. Are you going to walk me to my parents place?” “Sure, I need to talk to your Dad anyway. After that I'll go to the Trading-post and Boar Head to catch up on the news. I hope my Dad wrote and has news about Richard. I'm sure his fiance, Mary, is worried sick.” “I'm sure your whole family is worried sick. Can you carry Jonathan? He's getting too heavy to carry for very long!” Nancy wore a billed bonnet to keep the son off her face, but all three were brown in the face from being outdoors all summer. James thought she looked more beautiful than ever. When the three arrived at the Trent's home it was still early morning and the men folk were still in the house. Rachel ran to the door at the first pounding on the door and exclaimed, “Nancy, James, what brought you here so early this morning? Have you had breakfast? Would you like some porridge? It will only be a minute. Sit down!” She grabbed Jonathan and entered baby talk land, “And how's little Jonathan? Are you getting little tofers? My word, he's got three teeth already. Such a big boy! Easter, put some porridge on to cook!” While the porridge was cooking, James was inquiring when the name of the town had been changed to Rockford. Joseph enthusiastically dived into his story, “About a month ago Carl called everyone together and asked for a new name for out hamlet. I suggested 'Yadkin Town' but Carl quickly shot that down. He said it sounded too much like the town was full of talk and that was all. He said we should name our town, Rockford, saying it sounded like the river was easy to cross. That's been his idea of a name since he got here. No one else had any more suggestions so Rockford it is. Now, he's pushing to organize this place, his next step in requesting the town become the county seat. We don't have enough men to fill all the town council so I don't think it will happen.” “Sounds like Carl is getting too big for his britches. But you never know. Someday this county will need a place for a courthouse. Might as well be us. After we eat, I need to go to the Trading-post and see if Carl is holding any mail for me. I'm sure I'll get an ear full when I stop in.” Eating porridge today at the Trent's was a treat. They had bought some brown sugar from the Trading-post and porridge was all Joseph would allow it to be used on. It had come all the way from the Bahama's and it was expensive. After breakfast, James was ready to go and Joseph went with him to the Trading-post. At the trading-post, Joseph walked up to a fella that was leaning up against the counter, “Hello John. What brings you to town today?” “I took a breather before I get really busy this fall. In another month, Lucile is going to have our first baby. Right about the time we start drying fruit and vegetables for winter storage. In another month I can start up my fermenting tanks with this season's corn. We're going to be busier than all get out. Thankfully my nine and ten year old girls are a big help. My five and seven year old boys try, but they're not much help yet. Last year I had to stay home with the kids and I couldn't boat down the river and sell my product. So I sold it all, for mere pennies to a shilling, to some guys that were running a raft of logs down river to a saw mill.” 'LOGS' All at once James knew what he needed to do. 'Masts for ships. That's where the money is. White Pines! I know what kind of tree ship masts need! After one hundred and fifty years, the kind of masts the shipwrights needed could not be found along the coast. The coast had virtually been denuded of the big trees. If I could sell fifty tall White Pines, they would pay for my land.' James had to calm himself down. “John, If I took some logs down river next summer, I could take your whiskey with me down to George Town. They would pay top pound for logs and whiskey.” “George Town! Is that town even connected to our river? There's closer lumber mills to sell logs to than George Town!” “Yes, but a shipwright will pay in gold for tall, thin, White Pine. And I can harvest them this winter and float them down river next summer. Want to come along?” “I might go as far as Salem. The market there is good for corn whiskey.” John knew that in two to three weeks he could be back home and have his whiskey sold. James had something else in mind. “John, could you use more corn for your still?” “Depends on the price. I'll pay one shilling and sixpence, per bushel of shelled corn, leveled full. You could double that amount if you could reach the coast with it.” “I'll keep that in mind and see if I will have some extra.” Carl had been eavesdropping; he stood around the corner and to the side holding a letter in his hands. When there was a break in conversation he spoke up, “I got a letter here for you James. It's been here awhile.” “Thank you Carl. Have we any new settlers come through this summer? If I'm going to drag logs to the river this winter, I think I may need to use something besides my cows for oxen. Did you see anyone with good strong steers being used as oxen?” “Yes I have James. There was a young fella that had a wagon loaded down with everything under the sun, plus a wife and six kids. Those steers were big and strong Lineback Cattle. I never did learn the fellas name though. Sorry.” “I can help you.” John spoke up. “I was here when he rolled into town. I complimented him on his Lineback oxen and asked him his name. But I couldn't remember it to save my soul.” “Boy you're a big help! Is there anything else that could help find this guy?” “Yes there is. He said he was going to build a cabin about ten miles north of town, staying on the east side of the Yadkin. Now all you gotta to do is get on a horse and go find him.” “If I had a horse?” James laughed to himself. Here he was trying to put together a raft of logs for next year and he still hadn't gotten around to buying a horse. “I've got a horse that I can rent to you for a couple of days.” Carl put his voice into the conversation. “Three pence a day sounds about right to me.” “Four pence for two days and I'll make sure he has time to eat while I rent him. Sound like a deal?” “For anyone else, I wouldn't. But I trust you James that you will do what you say you will do. Four pence up front.” “Deal! Now which horse do I get?” James had the thought that he might have made the deal too quick. “The mare. All she will be carrying is you. She may be old but you won't kill her. Go out and have fun for the next two days.” Carl was almost chuckling to James's face. “Here's four pence. Maybe she'll get younger when I take her out of your corral. That includes a saddle and bridle for her. And don't worry if it's dark tomorrow night before I get back with her. Now show me where her rigging is.” James was hoping that it wouldn't be James caring the mare back home. James made a quick stop at the Trent's cabin to tell Nancy he was off on a hunt for the next two days. What he was hunting, James would tell her when he got back home. The easiest way north for the mare was the shoreline, so that's where James and the mare went. After a couple of miles, James had to move inland because of a hill and drop-off into the river. He didn't want to fight the river current and get wet. A mile of fighting the woods and James was ready to see what the river had to offer so he turned to the left. Onto the shoreline once more, James made good time. It was mid afternoon by now and James was beginning to get hungry. James had his blunderbuss with him and he started looking for something to eat while he was riding along. James gave pause when he heard a shot ring out up-ahead. He kicked the mare in the ribs and kept his eyes roving around. Rounding a bend in the river he saw a young boy gutting a small deer. “Need some help son?” To James it looked like the young lad was doing fine but James was trying to be neighborly. “I'm doing fine, but once I get done here that horse could carry this carcass back home for me.” James was surprised the young man would be this forward. “My name is James Bertie, what's yours?” “Tom Bonnet. Look, I got to get this carcass home so Mom can make supper out of it. Can I use your horse?” “Sure, I'll go with you so you don't get lost.” Tom snorted, realizing that he had been forward, then shrugged his shoulders. James grabbed the fore-legs while Tom grabbed the hind-legs and swung the carcass behind the saddle. “Hang onto the hind-legs so we don't have to tie it down and tell me where to go.” James was hoping this wouldn't take too long to deliver the deer to Tom's mother. “Follow the river till we come to a creek, then we'll go up it till we can cross it. I'll tell you when.” Tom was ready for James to start walking. James clicked to the mare and they started walking. The creek was easy to find and James could see why he wouldn't want to cross at the mouth of the creek. He found an animal trail and started up it. After a couple hundred feet, James started hearing an ax at work. “Is that your Dad at work?” James asked. “I spec-t it is.” Tom replied. “Every time Dad stretches out on the grass and complains about his back Ma starts complaining about needing shelter before winter hits. Pretty soon Dad is back to trying to bring another tree down.” “Are you helping your Dad by scabbing off the trunks and pilling up the brush?” The young lad looked about nine or ten years old, but that was old enough to help out anyway he could. “I am! Besides hoeing the garden and cleaning away brush, I also swing the ax when I can for Dad. Cross the creek here.” Tom pointed to the creek and it looked like it was crossed there a lot. Climbing out of the creek bed and facing a small rise, James could see the ground was being denuded with a small garden down the slope off to the side. At the end of the garden James saw two girls guarding the garden against six head of Lineback cattle. James was all smiles, because he knew he was at the right place. “Let's find your Dad. I think we have a few things to discuss.” They took the deer to the wagon where a lady was putting wood on a fire. “Hello Mam, Tom shot supper and I helped bring it home to you. Would you need any help skinning the deer out? I didn't bring my knife with me but if you have an extra, I sure would like to help.” “My don't you talk fancy. No, Tom and I can get this. I'm sure you're here to talk to my Husband. Follow the noise and you'll find him. He needs all the help he can get. So don't spend too much time talking. Winter's coming and he's got a cabin to build.” James shook his head and followed the noise. He came upon a man swinging an ax and winching with every stroke. James could see he wasn't putting the driving swing into his body like he needed to do to make the chips fly. He walked up to the man before the man knew James was there. “Here, let me swing for a while.” James grabbed the ax and let the chips fly. After ten minutes of chipping on the trunk, James knew the ax could use a bit of sharpening. “Is your file handy?” James asked. James turned around and found the man stretched out on the ground five feet away from the tree. “It's in the wagon. Tom knows where it's at. Thank you for the help. Ever since I had a tree fall on me last fall I've been plagued with this backache that I can't shake. Man, I hate it! James Bonnet is my name. But everybody calls me Jim.” “I'm James Bertie. And I'm still James. You say a tree fell on you? Man, why aren't you dead?” “It would have been the best thing. I'm not providing for my family like I should be doing. We've been here for two months and I only got eight trees down. I don't know what my family's going to do if we don't have this cabin up before winter.” “Maybe we can do some horse trading. Where are you folks from? You say a tree fell on you?” “We hail from New Brunswick. We were buying a small farm and I worked with a logging crew in the winter to help make ends meet. Then last fall, that blamed tree fell on me and I couldn't work. The owner of the logging crew wanted me to sell my oxen to him so I could make my payment on my farm. But I had four more years of payments yet and I couldn't see doing that. So, I sold the farm. We piled into my wagon and headed for warmer country. I thought I would be getting better, but it hasn't happened. Now I'm in another jam and I don't know what to do.” “Well Jim, I know what we're going to do. I know of a few good old boys and we're going to have a cabin raisin. We all have about three weeks until we all get busy with harvesting our crops, so we have to hurry. Now I need a favor. I need your oxen this winter. I want to put a raft together by spring and float it down river. I need to drag the logs to the water this winter. That's where your oxen come in. Can I put them to work this winter?” “That all sounds good James, but will we have enough winter here to do that? In New Brunswick we used a log sled after the ground froze. It takes so much more effort to drag trees across soft ground. We can try, but it won't be easy.” “I'll have to think about that Jim. Let's go get this ax sharp and see if we can take down another tree before dark. Have you got all the trees marked that you want to take down?” “I do. There is a X to the south side about five feet up. It's easily seen.” “Good. I'm staying the night. Tomorrow morning I'll leave at sunup and go back for some help. Hopefully I'll be back by tomorrow night.” After the ax was sharpened, James went to felling another tree that Jim had marked out. The cry 'Timber' came just before dark and James was treated to a venison steak before he crawled under a blanket that Mrs Bonnet gave him. The next morning as the sun was coming up, James took the letter out of his bag and read it and shook his head. Dear James; I write this letter with a sad heart. Richard didn't make it back home. He lost his life at sea from a cannon blast on an English Man of War Schooner. We could blame the French but I blame the English Government for putting my son in danger. He never had a choice and didn't have a chance to live a life as a man of peace. His fiance, Mary is having a hard time with this. I have grown in my belief that we need to throw off the shackles of George the III and rid ourselves of England. I pray this letter does not fall into the wrong hands. I could lose my life with what has been said here. Your loving Father, William James was feeling depressed and needed to shake the mood off. He rode out the next morning, with promises of coming back and being told what trail to take that wasn't the river way. He had turned onto the main trail when Strongheart stepped in front of him. “Ho horsey, What are you doing here Strongheart? Are you following me?” “That's funny. I don't have to follow you if I know where you are. What's your interest in our new neighbors?” Just because the new neighbors were across the river didn't mean Strongheart wasn't interested about what was happening close to his village. “Jim has oxen and a knowledge about timber that brought me here. He's in trouble isn't he?” “Yes he is. If we don't do something, they will freeze before they starve .” Strongheart was telling it like he saw it. “Strongheart, what are you thinking about doing to help the situation?” “I have not many choices. The man is worthless the way he is and will be the end of his family's life. I think we might have to end his suffering and rescue the woman and children. Those six cattle will go a long way in feeding them this winter.” “I think we can do better than that Strongheart. I'm going for help to raise the cabin for them. I'll introduce you to them and you or someone from the village can show the woman how to preserve food your way. You can gather meat for them and leave them here. The man might get better, but if he doesn't then you should talk to Mrs Bonnet and decide what to do. Besides that, I need those oxen. Please, don't kill them! Alright?” “Aright, you can introduce me and we will see. When are you coming back?” “I plan to be back before dark. We need tools and men. Meet me here at sundown if you can. Hopefully I won't be by myself.” In two hours, James had the old mare back to Rockford and was talking to the Trent's. “We need to raise a cabin for some people that can't do it by themselves. Can you spare a couple of weeks? Caleb, Joseph? I'm stopping at the Trading-post and seeing if anyone else would be available. Then I'm going home and getting Will and some tools. Nancy? What do you want to do? Go home or ask your Mother if you can stay here for awhile?” “I'll stay here if there's no one at home. Hopefully, no one will come and burn us out. I'm sure Mom won't mind. Jump off that horse and get some porridge before you go to the Trading-post.” “Thanks anyway, but Mrs Bonnet gave me some venison to chew on the way. I need to get Will and get back there before dark. I'll see you later.” James took the mare back to Carl and was pleasantly surprised to find John Milner leaning against the counter like he hadn't moved in the last twenty four hours. “Say John, you wouldn't know of a couple good lads that could swing an ax, do you? We have a family that needs help raising a cabin north of town. The Husband got hurt last fall and he came out here thinking he would mend on the trip out here. He's in a world of hurt and needs help. Think you can spare a couple of weeks for a good cause?” “I can! I'll run home and grab a couple of guys. Where will we find the place?” “There is a trail going north out of town that handles a wagon. Before you get to the creek, you turn towards the river until you see the crossing across the creek. That's all there is to it. You'll hear axes ringing if you show up tomorrow. Thank you! I gotta run” James made it sound simple and he hoped John would show up with a crew. He ran back to the Trent's to get the canoe and found Nancy waiting for him. “I'm going back with you and getting some stuff. I can get it together while you're gathering tools. I promise I'll hurry!” For the next two weeks, with eight men helping Jim Bonnet with his cabin, they had a snug cabin for Martha Bonnet and family to survive the winter in. Strongheart had Martha get over her fear of him and he hunted while she salted and dried meat of all kinds. One of the maidens from the village, Laughs a Lot, brought vegetables and baskets from the village and helped Martha dry them and put them away in the corner of the cabin. Before long the cabin was snug and finished. The Bonnet family moved in, grateful to the warm hearted people in their new community. James got the oxen for a cheap price and the girls no longer had to watch them and protect the garden. James had pondered what to do about logging trunks that were one hundred forty feet long and longer. He finally came up with a solution. Put a wagon axial and wheels under the small end of the log and put a skid under the boss end of the trunk. That's what James and Will and Strongheart did through the months of November and December. In January, it was pushing logs onto the ice and tying the logs together. Then finding long, thin poles to use for keeping the raft in the middle of the river. Strongheart voiced a need for a buffer board around the edge and James wanted a shack in the middle of the raft. By the end of February John Milner had his whiskey on board and the raft was starting to float as the ice on the river was breaking up. By the second week in April the raft was ready to go. The last things they brought aboard were their firearms. Strongheart gave James a used long rifle and told Will to keep the blunderbuss as Will was staying behind to put the crops in with the help of Nancy. There were only three men on the raft as they flouted down river. John Milner, James Bertie and Bill Hart. (Strongheart) One of the last things James did before they left was cut Bill's hair. They wore leather clothing with wool long-johns underneath their clothes. It was early spring and it was still cold. They had sand between the logs in the middle of the raft with a fire pot over the sand. Any romantic notions of floating down the river were squashed as they tried to stay warm and tried not to become bored. James only had twenty logs in the raft. If this became a profitable venture, he would do it all over again next year. Chapter 4 Nancy woke up slowly and sighed. She hadn't felt this rested in a long time. Baby Jonathan must have slept all night. Nancy looked to the crack in the east wall of the cabin to see if the sun was up yet. Then she looked to the west wall to see where the beam of light was on the wall. It wasn't on the wall, it was on the floor. The thought that ran through her mind was, 'Oh dear, it's late morning already. I overslept. Will is going to be here looking for breakfast!' It was May and James had been gone for a month already. Nancy felt something move and realized it was her stomach. She reached down to rub the little bump on her tummy and felt it move again. She was four months along according to her calculations and Nancy figured it was time for the baby to start to move around in there. Laying there, enjoying the moment, she contemplated how lucky she was. She thought of Lucile Milner and shuddered. Poor Lucile, She had been a year younger than her and had married John Milner. She had gone from a redhead, blue eyed, fun loving girl, that laughed at everything, to a shriveled up lady that didn't seem to care about anything. Lucile never laughed anymore for many reasons. Two of those reasons were her missing two front teeth after they had been knocked out. It was unlawful for a man to hit his wife with a closed fist, although no one would take a man to task for having done so. The marital laws encouraged a man to use a switch instead of their hand. James was always kind and loving and went beyond any man that she knew of. He was demanding if it was his right, but always kind and fair. James had thought about taking Will with him, but Nancy had begged him not to. Nancy had told James she needed Will here to put the garden and crops in. That was only half the reason, in reality she didn't want to be alone. James was her husband and protector, and Will was her buddy, her slave, and her enjoyment. If the day started to get too long hoeing in the garden, she could pick up a clod of dirt and chase Will around the garden and through the trees. Will would play along and yell as he ran, “No Miss Nancy, don't hurt me. I'll work harder. I won't complain, I promise.” Nancy would aim for a tree that Will was running by and let the clod fly. “Tomorrow, you work harder. Now you smell. Take a bar of soap with you and jump into the creek. I'm going to go make supper. When I get close to done, I'll have you get James.” Only this spring there was no James. He might be on the Pee Dee River by now, a hundred miles away. She hoped all the work everyone had gone through last winter would be worth it and James would be back within another month, ladened with tall tales and English Pounds. How had she ever been so... lucky to have ended up with Gentry? Nancy roused herself by throwing back the covers and climbing off her straw tic and platform. Throwing up the shutters to let the light and spring air in, she went to the door and opened it. There Will sat, waiting by the door. “Why didn't you come in and wake me Will?” “You needed your sleep after all the work we did yesterday. Besides, this way I was able to rest too. Such a beautiful spring day. If I would have stepped through the door, the urge to see a sleeping beauty would have been to great for me. If you want to fry up some salted belly pork to go with yesterday's cornbread, I'll wake Jonathan up and change his nappy. I'm going after some fresh meat as soon as we are done planting the tobacco field.” “Thank you Will. I swear, you do more for me than most husbands do!” “I am your husband, or at least your second husband waiting in line. I promised James that if anything happened to him, I would take care of you. That's what a Bondsman is for.” Nancy had a thought that was so naughty and fun, she wondered how far she could get Will to go along with it. Mm, wash out Jonathan's nappies, dig out those unsightly stumps that sprinkled the landscape and what else? “Will, how would you like to be a husband in training? That way I would know if I would want you for a husband. Is this something you would like to try?” “Beautiful Nancy, I would gladly do anything to show you I would make a great husband. What have you got in mind?” “Well for starters, after you have changed Jonathan's nappy, I need to have the nappies from yesterday washed out and scrubbed with lye soap. The washboard is still by the creek and the soap is by the wash basin. As soon as I have made breakfast and eaten, I will come out and finish up so you can eat. Then we'll finish planting the tobacco field. Tomorrow you can go hunting, but you can't spend too much doing that because we need to put pumpkin and squash seeds and our tomato plants in the ground.” “I would gladly wash those nappies out, but that goes beyond even what James does for you. I'm not complaining but you're nice to James when he does something for you. As a second husband, what nice thing will you do for me?” “Oh hush! I'll think of something. Now you go take care of those nappies while I get breakfast made.” Nancy felt a chill pass down her spine when Will asserted himself. Will saw how she had been managing James, reminding her that Will wasn't as simple as his demeanor led people to believe. Maybe, just maybe, this game that Nancy was thinking of playing with Will, might be just a little bit dangerous. That danger, for some reason, thrilled her and made her feel alive, like she had felt before Jonathan died. She was eighteen, almost nineteen, and didn't want to feel like an old lady yet. She didn't even realize she was humming a tune she hadn't hummed for two years. Breakfast was cooked and in her mouth before her taste buds woke her to that fact. Finishing her breakfast, Nancy ran out to the creek and rushed Will to the house saying, “Go eat, I have to make sure the soap is out of the nappies so Jonathan's bottom doesn't develop a rash. Watch Jonathan till I get back in.” “Yes beautiful!” Nancy noticed that Will didn't say 'Yes Nancy' or 'Yes Mam'. He was already trying to change the rules of their game. Nancy blushed! She was also left with the soul searching imagination as to what was an appropriate reward for a second husband. James sat in the office of 'Carolina's Shipbuilding and Ship Repairs'. James and Bill had spent a good two months floating down the river, to get to the point of having an interested buyer look at his logs. James knew none of the logs were conky. Another way of saying, 'Rotten on the inside'. Bill had known the difference and shown James what to look for. Now an experienced shipwright was inspecting his raft. The owner of the shipyard Clem Buford came in and sat down. He was in a quandary. Those were hand picked white pine logs. A couple were as long as one hundred sixty feet. He wanted those logs. He knew what he didn't use he could sell to his competition. But he didn't have money on hand to buy all of those logs. “James, may I call you James? If I buy all of your logs, I have just cornered the market for White Pine Masts. No one else is going to float down the river with logs like these. I need to go to my Banker and sell him on loaning me the money that I need to buy those logs. Would you come with me?” “What kind of price are we talking about?” At that moment, Bill was canoeing to the next shipyard and inquiring what the white pine was worth. “If you would go with me and I get the loan, I would pay twenty five pounds per log for all twenty logs.” James leaned back and thought for a moment. His head snapped up and he said, “I'll take it. Let's shake on it!” He knew he could quibble about the price all day, but with twenty five pounds a log, he knew he would be back and would need a buyer for next year. James also thought this guy was a straight shooter. “If I can get a loan! Let's go into George Town and talk to my Banker and go from there. Alright?” “Sounds good!” Outside the office Bill was waiting. “What have you learned?” Bill handed him a slip of paper and James unfolded it and looked what was on it. On the page was written, 18. James nodded and said “Follow us.” James climbed into a buggy pulled by an old nag and Clem clicked his mouth to get her moving. The old mare moved into traffic and took them downtown at her own pace. Pulling in front of the bank, Clem stated as a matter of apology, “She's not much but she takes me where I need to go.” He patted the horse's rump and made sure the poop bag was in place. Clem and James walked into the bank and Clem stated his business to a teller and then they sat down and waited to be called. A few minutes later the Bank President stuck his head out of his office and waved them over to his door. After the shaking of hands and introductions, the two guests were invited into the President's office to take a seat. The first thing pertaining to business was, “What can I do for you?” Clem spoke up, “I would like to borrow five hundred pounds to buy ship masts. This man came all the way from the western part of North Carolina to bring us grade A White Pine logs that are perfect for ship masts. I will sell some of them to my competition for an increased individual price. There are no logs like this anywhere else in George Town, much less the colony of South Carolina. This man is the owner of his raft and is anxious to get back home.” “I'm not opposed to lending you the money but we have a problem. This Bank has been directed to use South Carolina issued notes as currency. One of the problems is North Carolina does not recognize the currency because they are pushing their own. The other problem is the value of the currency compared to the English pound and it changes every day.” James looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. He was still thinking about Colony rot while the Banker kept talking. “We have the Spanish Bullion and some English Crowns for hard currency but not anything like five hundred pounds!” James had a thought, “Would you have a hundred pounds of hard currency on hand?” “I think we could put together that much. But you would want more than a money belt to carry it. How would that help us?” James replied, “I could have you issue me a bond for a year for four hundred English Pounds with provisions that after one year, the Bank would have to pay out in English Pounds or hard currency. We could even write it up with no interest due, when the bond matures. I would have a copy, you would have a copy and Clem would have a copy as an interested third party. Next year, hopefully, Clem will have the funds to pay me for another raft and I can take the money home and buy the land I'm on. That's my thinking and my plan. Can you make this work Sir?” “I think we can. Let me call my secretary in and he'll write it up. Excuse me. David, can you come in here for a minute. Now let's fill the clerk in on what we have decided.” James sat back and thought, 'One hundred Pounds will pay any debts I have and easily get us through next year. And I won't have some worthless paper money devaluating while I'm waiting to get the land bought.' After James had a Promissory Note in his hands and two small cloth bags, the two men stepped out into the street. James felt the people around him knew what he was carrying and expected at any moment for them to be grab and run away with his money bags. Looking around, he saw Bill standing by the old mare. He gave a sigh of relief, realizing once again the confidence he felt when Strongheart was around. James didn't acknowledge Bill, but stepped up and sat in the buggy with his bags and said, “Let's go.” Nothing unusual happened on the first street block, but on the second block a man stepped from between two parked buggies and grabbed the reins of the old mare. A second man stepped out and was pointing his pistol at James. “Raise your hands above your heads gentlemen and no one gets hurt.” At the same time a young lad ran out to grab the bags from James. James saw Bill walking up behind the man with the gun. He dropped his hands onto the back of the boy's neck and threw him away from his money. Bill slipped a ten inch blade into the kidney of the man with the gun while shoving the gun downward. The gun went off, spraying the dirt street with dust. The pain was too much for the man and he dropped the pistol and hobbled off. Bill looked at the man holding the mare and the man dropped the reins and ran. The boy was gone and Bill picked up the gun and held it in the air saying, “Thank you gentlemen!” Clem clicked his tongue to the mare and then asked, “What just happened?” “You might have a dishonest Banker! I don't know for sure. It could be that a gang is watching the place and they thought we were easy pickins. It's a good thing we had Bill. If they would have demanded our copies of my Promissory Note, we would have known it was the banker.” “Well, you got your money. Now what are you going to do?” “Get out of town just as soon as we can. We have a month of paddling even if we push it hard. No one can touch us once we get into the wilderness.” “Are you going to bring me more logs next year? Why I'm asking is you could bring this town too many and you won't get as much per log. Ten logs per year would be adequate. More than that and I couldn't promise twenty five pounds per log.” Clem wasn't sure he would be able to use all twenty five logs this year. “What wood should I bring for you if not White Pine?” James had an idea of what was used, but needed Clem to voice it. “White Oak. That's the best wood for our hauls. I also know of a cabinet maker that likes Red Cedar for his Hope Chests. Maybe four logs of Red Cedar and the rest, White Oak. Have you got the trees to do that?” “Oh yes, I have miles of trees to select trees from. We will pick only the best and not from one spot.” “Wow, you don't have to go through any Government Officials or pay a fee for removing a tree. You don't own the land or anything?” “It's still Cherokee land and I have their unwritten understanding that doesn't include fees. I'm sure that will change in time.” “I hope it doesn't change for your sake. A lot of these loggers that float rafts down a river have half of their sales in expense.” “Yes, but they have shorter distances to travel and can do more than one trip a year. I understand that more logs end up bringing the same money.” As quick as James got to the shipyard, Bill was there, ready to leave. Saying goodbye to Clem, the two jumped into the canoe and rowed away. Towards evening Bill directed the canoe to the shore and they pulled it into the trees and set up camp. James gathered some rocks and squaw wood together and started a fire. After it was blazing Bill showed back up with a small deer carcass. That night they cooked all the meat, plus ate all they could. It wasn't until mid morning the next day that they stopped along the shoreline for their morning meal of cold venison. Dipping their hands into the water they washed the venison down with a drink from the river and continued on. As normal, James was in front of the canoe paddling and Bill was in back of the canoe paddling as well as steering. It was the middle of the afternoon when Bill asked a question, “James, have we have enough money to buy a couple of horses?” “We do. Whatcha thinking?” James was getting tired of paddling and it was only the second day. “I think we are on the wrong waterway. Nothing looks the same. Besides that, we have a lot of hare pin curves where we travel five miles and only go one. I think we could make better time if we had a couple of horses and cut across the country. What do you think?” “I agree! The next town we come across we'll ask around and find us a couple of horses.” “Well in that case, let's keep going until we find a town that has horses and maybe some food. Alright?” “Sounds good to me! Hopefully we'll come across a town soon.” It was almost dark before they heard sounds of doors slamming and horses whining. Rounding a bend in the river, they saw lights. James spoke up, “Looks like a pretty good sized town.” They paddled to the shore in front of the town and read the sign. 'Rhems', and up the street they saw a tavern, where men were walking in. When they got to the wooden building they saw above the door, 'Rhems Roadhouse'. Before they stepped into the tavern they could smell the food cooking out back. Stepping into the place, they could see three young lads in the far corner and the proprietor behind a counter on the side of the room. It was warm in the room, but Bill and James were hesitant to take their coats off since it would expose their bulging waistline that had a full money belt on each of them. Walking up to the counter, James said, “Two ales.” The three lads looked at the two men that had walked into the tavern and their ears perked up. Bill and James looked dangerous. They had their long-rifles under their arms with a sheath sticking out below their coats that probably held a knife. If they were going upriver, they had come downriver to sell something and had money on themselves. They were not from the coast. They also knew these two men were not easy pickins. After the ale was served and James took a coin out of his coat to pay for them he asked, “You got anything good to eat tonight?” “We got a stew that the wife says is pretty good. We also have a steak that has been aged for the second day. A half pence for a bowl of soup and a pence for the steak. Your choice.” James looked at Bill who gave a shrug and James said, “We'll take two bowls of soup with our ale.” Bill's head gave a nod and headed for the corner where the three men were. James followed. “Hello guys.” James started speaking. “Looks like you got a quiet little town here. You get a lot of river traffic passing through here?” “Some.” One of the young men spoke up. “It keeps this place open, otherwise he wouldn't have enough business to stay open. Prices are too high.” “Now you tell us. Tell me, you know of anybody that would have a couple of horses for sale?” James was trying to get a handle on what to think of these three young men. They were dressed in worn wool clothes with peach fuzz on their faces. They weren't the cleanest and Bill and James could detect a little body odor. It occurred to James that maybe him and his partner might not smell too good either. The man who spoke up before and seemed to be the leader of the group replied. “Ya, we've got a couple of horses for sale. Good horses! Four year old geldings with a lot of bottom. I would sell them for two pounds a piece.” “One pound and a legitimate sale bill plus the tack for the horses. Think about it. Our food is here and we're hungry.” James was doubting that these three lads were the owners of any horse flesh. “Why don't you bring the horses to the front of this place with a bill of sale and we will look at them. Alright?” The boys left, giving the two a chance to voice their concerns. “You know,” said Bill, “If we don't see them out front, they might be laying for us when we head back to the river.” “Let's hope we're only being paranoid. We'll talk to the man behind the bar and see if we can bed down here tonight. Tomorrow we can keep looking for a couple of horses.” James didn't know if he wanted to bed down among the trees if they were going to get jumped. When the Tavern Owner came back to ask them if they would want another ale, James asked him. “What would you charge if we stayed in your road house tonight by the fire?” “I usually don't allow that to happen, but if the price is right? Two pence apiece, upfront! And we don't serve breakfast so if you leave before we are up, I'll understand.” James knew the fee was too high for a normal overnight sleep but he wasn't going to argue. Most places that accommodated overnight travelers had a room with bug infested ticks that covered the floor with blankets provided. Shortly after finding the two men wanted no more ale, the owner went out the back door into his lean-to living quarters for the night. Bill and James moved to a corner of the room that didn't reflect the light from the fireplace. James pointed to himself and Bill immediately went to sleep. About five hours later Bill was awake and James went to sleep. Towards daylight Bill nudged James and said, “Wake up! I slipped outside last night and they are out there. We are not going back to the canoe. They expect that. We will head away from the river and then head west. We'll find horses someplace else. Let's go! Give me a couple of minutes and then come out.” “Alright.” James waited for a few minutes and then slipped out into the dark. A rifle cracked and a bullet flew by and clunked into the wall of the roadhouse. Another rifle cracked and someone screamed in the night. Then everything was quiet. James tried to stay in the shadows, heading north, while running through town. He ran for another ten minutes and stopped under a tree by the side of the road. The sky was turning light and Bill materialized by his side. “They were waiting for us. You sure made a great decoy!” “Thanks. Anything to help.” “I wasn't worried. I knew they had to be poor shots. Let's go!” Strongheart took off at a trot and James followed for a half hour until James had to walk. Strongheart looked behind and slipped into the trees. James picked his pace back up until he heard Strongheart's whistle and heard horses coming at a gallop. It was broad daylight by then and the riders galloped by. Strongheart spoke up, “If they corner us, I'll shoot and you reload. Alright?” “Sounds good to me. Should we take to the road again?” “No. Follow me and try to step in my tracks. I'll try to find a trail to take. Let's go!” They disappeared in the underbrush and Strongheart became a ghost. They found a trail and traveled most of the day. The area was settled and they were always wiping out their tracks when crossing roads. That night they found a road heading west and traveled half the night. The next day they slept until noon. James posed a question to Strongheart, “We are far enough away to not worry about being pursued. Don't you think so?” “Ya, I think so. Why?” “My legs can't take your pace. The next farm we come to let's find a horse or two. If we find one, we will travel until we find another. Alright?” “Sounds good! Let's go.” The next farm they passed looked prosperous, so they turned in and knocked on the front door of the house. A middle aged farmer answered the door and looked at these two buckskin clothed, bearded men standing in front of him. “Can I help you?” “Maybe you can. See, we were on the river heading back home after floating a raft downriver. Going upriver is taking too long with fighting the current, so we decided to head cross country. Now we are looking for a couple of horses to buy.” “I've got horses, but they're all draft horses. You need riding horses. Tell you what. Keep following this road until you come to a fork in the road. Go to your right and it will head north. Go a couple of miles after the fork and there will be a horse farm on the right side of the road. Knock on those doors. Good luck and I hope he has something for you.” “Thank you!” All James could think of was, 'Just a few more miles to a horse.' Bill and James hurried away with Bill kicking in his ground eating trot with James struggling to keep. After another hour they came to the fork in the road. A half an hour after that they could see the farm so Bill stopped to take a breather and wait for James to catch up to him. James had been thinking while he had been running, so when he had caught his breath he took from his money bag six pounds worth of shillings and put them in his pocket. Then he looked at Strongheart and said, “Are we ready?” And then they walked on into the farm place with its pastures, that at one time had been forests, with barns serving as a backdrop to a white cottage type house. In the pastures were mares with their foals. Around the barns were corrals with adult horses in them. Knocking at the door of the house, the lady that answered the door, held her nose and pointed to one of the three barns and quickly closed the door. Walking to the barn, they could see a middle aged man working with a young gelding. James spoke quite loud to get the mans attention, “Excuse me Sir, but we would like to talk to you.” “Oh, someones here.” Taking the hackamore to lead the horse to a corral post and tying the reins to the post he asked, “What can I do for you today?” “We would like to buy a couple of young strong geldings that we would ride back to the frontier. We would need the tack that is needed for a riding horse as well. Can you help us?” “I can. I pick up used saddles from sales around the country and sell them along with the colts I break and train. The trouble is I only have one four year old gelding that is ready to go. I've got a coming three year old that is green broke and needs to learn neck reining and forgetting about the need to buck every time I get on him. Are either of you good horsemen?” “I think I am, or was.” James spoke up. “I'd like to look at that two year old if you wouldn't mind.” “You're looking at him. By the time he's a four year old he'll be a big horse.” “You are right! I had thought he might be the four year old fella. Can I come in and walk him around?” James liked what he was seeing. “While you're getting acquainted, I'll get the four year old.” James climbed over the fence and unwrapped the reins, while the man walked into the barn. James had an idea what he was looking at. There were twenty some mares out in the pasture with their foals. It would be his guess that all the four year old gelding had been sold except for the one that was left. So, that four year old was the least desirable of that year's git and he was leading the best of the coming three year old's. The horseman probably sold his broke three year old's as four year old's. The man came back with the four year old that was on the small side but well dispositioned. James smiled when a thought came to him. This would make an excellent horse for Nancy. Both horses were sound, healthy horses. James was ready to start dickering a price for the two horses, “You said you have saddles, blankets, hobbles, hackamores, bridles and leadropes for the two of these geldings? How much will you need for outfitting these two horses out including the price for the horses?” “I would need five pounds to do all that!” The man said it while looking straight into James's eyes. James knew the man realized he had James and Bill over a barrel. “I'll have to do that in shillings. Would that be alright?” “Preferable! I don't like the paper currency our colony is trying to push.” James reached into his pocket and started making piles of twenty shillings on the corral. Once he had five piles, he asked the man, “Would you like to count them?” “No, it's all there. I'll get the bill of sale. Then we'll get these horses saddled up.” He walked to the house with the money. Bill looked over at James stroking the neck of the three year old, “Do you think you can ride this horse?” “Maybe not the first time in the saddle, but I will ride him. I broke a couple of colts during my indenture ship under the instruction of Farmer Yates. Patience is the key. Don't let the horse think he can be stubborn, but don't push him with more than he can handle. Jump the fence and lead him around a bit. After he gets used to that, I'll get on him and you lead him. Then you hand me the reins and we'll see if I can stay on. Either I will or I won't. He might decide to be nice to me today and dump me tomorrow.” By that time the proprietor of the horse farm was back looking a little sheepish. “You know, I don't even know your names. How can I fill out a bill of sale! I'm Phillip Hart. What would your names be?” “I'm James Bertie. And this is my good friend Bill Hart.” “Really! I had an Uncle that got burned out during an Indian Rising about twenty five years ago. How old are you Bill?” “I'm twenty three years old, Phillip. Although my Mom's first husband's name was Bill. Except for a couple years difference with my age, we could have been cousins. With my black eyes, I would say we're not cousins. When Mom gave me my white name I had nothing to say about it.” “Interesting! I know what I'm going to call you. My almost cousin! I'll be back with the sale bills.” Strongheart shrugged his shoulders like, 'It's out of my hands.' The rest of their stay at the horse farm was like night and day difference. Instead of bridles where the leather was half rotted, the bridles were almost new. Phil insisted that the saddle chest straps be the best he had. Phil insisted they take a bath in their bath house by the stock tank and exchange clean long johns for their dirty ones. He gave James a straightedge to cut his beard off and Bill a tweezers to pluck the hairs off his chin. Then he insisted they stay for supper and start out in the morning. The next morning they were outfitted with saddlebags and food in the saddlebags. After a couple of miles down the road, James turned to Bill and asked, “How do you feel about almost being a cousin?” “Heck man, It felt like when my stepdad tried to adopt me and I had to run. The word would be, smothered!” After another two days of traveling west the farms became fewer and log cabins were becoming more prevalent. On the third day it was trails and woods. On the fourth day they were traveling more north then west. Strongheart was once more in his element and on the fifth day James found himself being led into a Cherokee Village. James was amazed. These people did not look anything like the Mohawks that were part of the Iroquois league. These people looked more like Europeans. James turned to Strongheart and asked, “Why do these people look so different then other native people?” “Our Fathers have passed on a legend that twenty some generations ago, our people had a big fight with round eyed people that had iron swords and iron chest plates. We won and took all their women and children from them and chased them away. Since then we have been a lighter skinned Indian than those around us. This particulate group is the lightest of the light. Of course, since then, we have many slaves that are white and black.” James sat on his horse and thought back to what his father once told him. He said when Spain had Columbus come to America and claim it for Spain, England had refuted that claim by stating that in 1172 AD Prince Madoc of Wales sailed to America twice before they disappeared, never to be seen again. 'Here is the proof of that claim!' It was mind boggling. Next he thought back to what Thomas Rolfe had claimed. Not only was he the son of Pocahontas but his Grandfather, Chief Powhatan was a descendant of round eyes, red hair, white skinned Vikings, who had a settlement on Newfoundland. The native people took four women and seven children while the men were gone on their big boats. They became part of the Algonquian people and spread across the northern seaboard, many, many years ago! “Get off that horse and quit staring off into space. These people are going to think you're a halfwit. What are you thinking about anyway?” “Thanks Strongheart. You know how to bring a guy back to earth. Exactly why are here instead of continuing north. We aren't that far away from my cabin, are we?” Strongheart had said for the last day that a lot of the terrain was looking familiar. “That is why we are stopping. We are neighbors and they would have felt snubbed and belittled. We couldn't just ride by with their scouts having seen us. If we had been on foot, we might have slipped by them. But I think this is a good thing.” “Is this your village? How many of these girls are part of your harem?” James was back to teasing Strongheart on his attraction to the girls. “Very funny! No, this is not my village. That would be another day's ride from here. And as far as we are concerned, this is a three or four hour stop to enhance neighborly relations. I know not to dip my wick into a diseased honey pot. You should know better than that!” “Sorry about that. I didn't know you had a change of heart about attracting the young girls.” “It's not that. If we stayed overnight, and our horses didn't disappear, mothers wouldn't trust their daughters and would keep a close eye on them and us. What would be left to choose from would be a few 'Wife of Many.' And we would be barring gifts! No thank you! If I was to throw a blanket over some cute girl and give my long-rifle or a horse away to her mother and father, I would have a permanent companion until something happened to one of us. Not going there” The houses were much like the Mohawks that James grew up by. A long house that housed several families that were closely related to each other. It was made with green saplings for a frame with a bark covering with a webbing of green branches tied to the frame to hold the bark in place. Holes were left open at the peak of the roof to accompany open fires on the ground to let smoke out. What was different was there was no stockade around the outside perimeter. James thought the scouts gave the tribe enough warning if an enemy approached their village. It was by a major creek so they never had to worry about running out of water. The Chief was not what James expected. He was a thirty five or so, year old man that had a five foot eight inch frame with a slight build. But when James looked into his eyes and heard the Chief speak precise English, James understood why this man was Chief. “Greetings White Men. Or should I say man. How is Strongheart? Am I safe to say that?” “It is safe, Chief Akanadi. I have been traveling in disguise as a White Man in the White Man World. But in my heart I am still Strongheart. It is good to be among my brethren once more. It was a long trip and I learned many things. One of the things I learned is deceit is among the White Man as well as our brethren. Threats to our way of life can come in many ways. But you know that so why should I tell you?” “It shows that your heart is still pure. That is good! What else have you learned?” “Some White Man ways could be good for us. For one, they build houses that can withstand all kinds of assault while those inside are safe. Fire is the only thing that will overcome a cabin, but if people clean trees, underbrush and smooth the ground so no one can get close to the cabin, your loved ones are safe inside.” “That is true. I have seen it for myself. But the White Man has tools to build these... cabins. How do we get these tools?” James spoke up. The two men had been speaking English in the interest of not being rude to James. He thought it might be more than that. The Chief had been looking at him expectantly. “I live in your territory without paying you anything for your goodwill. Also, I cut down trees for my cabin and trees that I floated down the river to get me White Man Wampum. I owe you a part of that wampum. Maybe I can trade you what I owe you in tools and guide you in putting together cabins of your design. Would this help you?” “Most assuredly it would. You have been undisturbed where you are because Strongheart traveled to the villages on your behalf and pleaded for your right to be here. We trust Strongheart, therefore we trust you. Can you come back in two weeks with tools and help us put up one cabin? After that, with tools, we can do the rest. Is this agreeable?” “Very much so. I look forward to working with you. Now we must be going. I have been away from home for some time and I would like to get home to my wife. Thank you for your hospitality Chief Akanadi. Until we meet again.” That night James and Strongheart stopped traveling when darkness fell upon them with about fifteen miles to go. Strongheart had a conversation with one of the braves that James didn't know about. Strongheart asked James for a strange request after they had eaten some jerky that the Chief had given them. “When we are on the last trail before we get to your cabin, I want to ride ahead to make sure everything is alright.” “Why wouldn't everything be alright at home? Do you know something I don't know? “No, I don't! But, we have been gone for three months and we don't know what has all taken place since we left. I can be like a ghost until I'm sure everything is all right. The last half mile I will leave the horse and go on foot. When you come to the horse, you wait until I come back. Alright?” “Alright. We'll play it that way. I'm sure you will find everything the way it's always been. Nancy will be six months pregnant and complaining about what I did to her. Don't let her know I'm here. I'd like to surprise her.” “Will do.” The next day the two of them were up with the sun and on their way. The sun was directly overhead when Strongheart motioned James to stop. Strongheart and the horse soon disappeared down the trail. James gave it another half hour and then nudged his horse into a walk. Time passed and after a while James came upon the four year old gelding. James stopped and waited. Within the next ten minutes James could hear someone coming like he wanted to be heard. Strongheart stepped into view with a perplexed look on his face. “What did you find?” asked James. “I don't know for sure. I don't know if you know this, but someone has been watching you and yours from time to time. If something is interesting or puzzling, the watching becomes more frequent. Yesterday a brave asked me if you were the husband of the woman by the spring. When I said yes, he said, “Maybe she has more than one?” Will is shaved, with a haircut and he gave her a hug. Then they held the boy's hands as they went to the cabin for their noon meal. It looks too.... loving?” “Well, whatever it is, I'll have to deal with it. One thing I know is, Will can't stop from telling me what is happening. I'll know soon enough. Let's go.” “No! I'm going to my village on foot. I don't need to be in a hurry and I don't need to be taking care of a horse. Before you see me again, I'll stop and see how the Bonnet's are doing. I'll be back in two weeks. Take care brother.” James took the reins of the four year old gelding and clicked to the horse he was on. It felt like forever since he floated down the river on that raft. He thought to himself, 'That was then, this is now. Deal with it!' As James rode out of the trees and into the open, Nancy, Will and Jonathan were leaving the cabin, heading back to whatever they had been doing before they went for lunch. What he saw was mixed expressions on the two adult faces as he rode up. The first to speak was Nancy with the obvious, “You got a horse!” “No, I got two horses. One for you and one for me. Now when the river is down you can go see your Mother whenever you would like. It is a good thing we built that corral last year. Now we have the horses. This is Pet. He would be your horse. And this one is Buster. He was green broke when I bought the two. He's pretty good now with accepting me on his back.” James all at once realized he was doing a little bit of rambling and felt disconnected. “I feel grungy and shaggy with this beard and hair. I'm going to get a bar of soap and take a dip in the creek. Then I'm going to shave this stuff off my face. Nancy, tonight you can cut my hair.” As James walked into the house, Nancy turned to Will and said, “He doesn't know and he doesn't need to know anything we did. Alright?” Will just shook his head in agreement. But what he was thinking was another story. That night after Nancy cut James's hair he asked. “Will looks pretty good. You must have been cutting his hair while I was gone. Was he using my razor while I was gone or did he get one of his own?” “No, I shaved him every other day. I have to tell you something. He wants to be my next husband so I told him he would have to be what I wanted him to be. He's washed Jonathan nappies since you've been gone. He's been doing everything I tell him to do. Did you notice that big old stump is gone between here and the creek. The fields are spotless when it comes to weeds. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I enjoyed myself and had fun while you were gone. It's like I have my own personal slave.” “Well I don't know. I might have to take him down to the creek and beat the daylights out of him!” Nancy looked down at James and saw that he was smiling. 'Yes!' was what Nancy thought. 'That went better than I thought it would!' The next day James said to Nancy. “I noticed that we are about out of meat. I'll take Will along and we will see what we can get.” “If you think that you need him.” Nancy knew it would only take one person to wait by a salt lick or set by a creek. She figured James needed reassurance. The two men were half way over the ridge heading for the salt lick when James stopped and turned to Will. “Well?” “Oh man am I glad you are home. She's a monster! Do this, do that! Now give me a hug! Not like that! Now kiss my feet. That's a good boy! She drives me crazy! Next year I'm going with you! You can find someone else to stay with her.” “We'll see.” And to himself he thought, 'Nancy, who are you?' And Will thought, 'How can you love and distrust someone at the same time!' |
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