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Life from 1770-1865 for our ancestors. History. fiction and family lore. |
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Chapter 9 James looked at the Judge in the County Courthouse and thought, “Finally I'm getting rid of that thorn in my side.' The Judge had thrown out the lawsuit that Joshua Spere had brought against James. It started at the time James bought his land. At the same time Joshua bought land, but it had been purchased, sight unseen. It was the land close to the river, and on the same creek James was on. When Joshua arrived to take possession of his land, he looked it over and realized it had been logged out already. The only person that could be responsible was James. Joshua went to James demanding restitution and compensation. James replied with a chuckle and told Joshua, “You bought the land, sight unseen and you bought what was there, not what was supposed to be there. When I logged it, the land belonged to the Cherokee Tribe and I paid them for it. I'm sorry for this misunderstanding but we are neighbors and I don't want any hard feelings. There's more than enough timber on your land to raise a cabin and I'll come and help you.” But Joshua, believing he had been made a fool, was upset to say the least. It was obvious that Joshua was not going to take James up on his offer to help build a cabin. James had to make a trail and move his canoe on the north side of the creek because Joshua owned the south side and was continuing to be obstinate. Then Joshua put a lean on James's property and filed it in the Courthouse. It was for eleven hundred pounds which James chose to ignore. Because Joshua had been ignored, in 1785 Joshua filed a lawsuit against James for destruction of personal property. Now in 1788 the lawsuit was finally thrown out by the Judge, who stated that the case didn't have a leg to stand on. James was so happy about the outcome, he was almost giddy with relief! James had tried not to think of all the trauma through the last nine years that Mr. Spere had given him. Shortly after Spere showed up, James could no longer cut trees down to float downriver to the mill. Instead he focused on turning his land into a farm. Anywhere the land was fairly flat, James and his sons cleared the trees and underbrush away, broke the land and planted it. The men put buildings up for curing tobacco and storing grain. James also put up a building for housing his draft horses and put the horses to work cultivating weeds out of the fields and turning the soil over with a plow. The red soil was a nice rich sandy loam that worked easily. In the spring of 1780, Ben had come to James and told him that Fereby, Rebekah and Ben were moving back to the Milner place. The land had never been purchased from the Investor who owned the land and the three people were trying to get the money together to buy the property if they could. In the next three years they had scraped together enough money to buy one hundred acres. As Ben said, “We had to go back to making whiskey to get her done, but we did it!” During that time they had three children. Rebekah never did recover her eyesight, but she could sit and knit, change dippers and clean around the cabin. Fereby did not rely on Rebekah to try to cook, fearing without her eyesight it would be too risky and she might burn the cabin down. Julie gave birth to a daughter, in 1783, and James named her after his sister Jean. In 1785, they had a son that they named John. In 1787 they had another daughter that they named Nancy. James would have liked to have named the baby girl Easter, but Julie wanted Nancy. Over the years, James had become a man, with a reputation, that people knew and depended on to to get things done. In the spring of 1779, James directed and helped cut a road south of the Yadkin river to the White Rock ferry near Salisbury where the road went on to Richmond. The following spring after he finished his planting, he lent a hand and worked constructing a road that went from John Smith's mill on Hunting Creek to Rockford. In 1780, when the British invaded Surry County, North Carolina, James joined the Patriots and in October, when men should be at home helping with the harvest, the men were at Shallow Ford and helped drive the British out of the county. From there the British went east with Patriots in pursuit until they went through Salem. In the fall of 1782, James and the rest of the patriots got paid for fighting and supporting the American Revolution. He received six pounds, ten shillings and six pence for his services during the war. In the summer of 1789, late one evening as James was sitting on his porch, he was shocked to see a woman and young girl ride up to the house. He did not recognize the woman until she said, “Hello James.” “Nancy? IS that you? Why now?” Nancy's hair was white and she looked old. No, not only old. In pain! “My people have lived on land for the last twelve years that White Man says belongs to him. Your Government wants us off the land. We are moving. But before we move I bring you your daughter. This is Mary!” “How do I know that it's not Joe's or Chief Akanadi's?” “Mary, come into the light.” “Yes Momma.” Mary stepped into the light and James gasped. She looked like his two Jean's. His sister Jean and his daughter Jean. “This means she's twelve?” James stared at Mary. To James she looked like she was fourteen or fifteen, which couldn't be. “Mary was twelve last April. I had missed my monthly's when you left for Georgia. I didn't want you to leave and was going to punish you for what you were doing. It turned out I punished myself. This is quite a place you have here. Hello Julie. I didn't know you for a minute there. What are you doing here?” “Nancy. James is my husband. You shouldn't have come back. There's nothing here for you.” “You just surprised me, that is all. I thought Easter would be behind James.” “Easter died over ten years ago from childbirth. She had married James after you had died.” “I'm not dead, as you can see, but I will be soon. I've got a growth in my breast that's been growing for the last year and now it has spread to my other breast. Now I have stomach pains that won't quit. I fear my time on this earth is drawing to a close. You have to take our daughter and finish raising her. Jump off your horse Mary. The Chief wants his horse back and I have to leave. You be good to your Father, and behave yourself.” With that Ischemia alias Nancy rode away into the dark. James inhaled deeply and let his air out with a, “Wow!” Mary walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. James wrapped his arms around her, partly to keep from falling. He was lightheaded as he looked down at her blond hair and in a daze, trying to comprehend that he had another daughter. Julie stepped up to them and held out her hand to Mary saying, “Come child. It's past our bedtime.” Jean had come to the door of their house when she heard them talking outside and stared in wonder. 'This was my sister?' She ran out the door and grabbed Mary's hand. “I have another SISTER!” she exclaimed. “Jean.” Julie said. “Show Mary where you sleep. Tell those two boys upstairs that it's time for bed.” It was just the two boys now because Jonathan no longer lived in the house. Jonathan had moved out of the house and lived in the original cabin since he had turned eighteen. He had insisted he was too old to be sleeping in a bedroom with his brothers. James had been thinking the same thing. He had been hoping Jonathan would find gainful employment with the lumber mill or start working for himself. James had wanted Jonathan to build his own cabin and start a family. Because of who his Sire had been, James had always made sure Jonathan worked at whatever project was in front of him and didn't sluff off. Because of that James seemed to be harder on Jonathan then he was on Richard. Jonathan was full of resentment. The biggest challenge Jonathan faced, when he turned eighteen, was he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. Jonathan was surprised when two horses and a woman stopped in front of the cabin. Jonathan was sitting on the bench outside the cabin, smoking his pipe. “Can I help you mam?” Jonathan asked. “Is that you, Jonathan?” “Momma!? I thought you were dead!” Jonathan would recognize that voice anywhere. “I believed you were dead because they said you are buried right over there, east of the new house. Uncle Caleb said they pulled two bodies out of the burned out cabin. They thought it was Joe Henshaw and you. Who was it if it wasn't you?” “That's a good question Jonathan. One I would like an answer to. Stay here!” Nancy wheeled her horse around and headed back to the new house. “JAMES!' she shouted. “Come out here!” “Yes Nancy, now what is it?” “Who was that body they found with Joe Henshaw? The truth! NOT, I don't know.” “Strongheart said Chief Akanadi had an old woman that died in the village and Strongheart took her and burned the body in the cabin.” “That's why nobody ever came and got me. Why didn't you ever come and get me? You knew I was alive! The first year I was there was a living hell. Why didn't you come and get me?” “Because you made me feel like I didn't matter, when you took up with Henshaw. Since I didn't matter, you didn't matter. I would say you paid for your sins. I'm sorry for your suffering, but I'm not sorry I never came and got you. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself or blame your Chief! I didn't know you were alive until after I was married to Easter. Of course by then it was too late. Don't blame me for the life you've had. We reap what we sow!” James let all the venom out the he had stored up inside. Nancy turned her head and left hanging her head. James's bitterness was something she thought she'd never see. What happened to that loving husband she once had? Nancy shook her head and admitted, 'I am what happened!' Nancy rode over to the cabin, got off the horse and sat on the bench with Jonathan. After a minute she wrapped her arms around him and cried. “It's alright Momma.” Jonathan was trying his best to try to comfort her. “It's not alright. It will never be alright. I'm dying. After that it might be alright!” They sat and talked half the night and caught up with each other. The one thing Nancy didn't reveal was Jonathan's beginnings. She listened to him complaining about James and encouraged him to get out and face being on his own. When Nancy left, she felt better and had a plan with what she had to do. ------------------------------------------------ When she returned to the village, she went to her cabin, laid down by the Chief and went to sleep, until the pain woke her up. She got up and began working around the cabin. By the time she was done putting the cabin in order, it was high noon and she knew the Chief would soon be in for his noon meal. When he came in she had the stew on the table and cornbread was on his plate. “You came in really late last night, Ischemia. Was James there where you thought he was.” “He was there. But that is not what I want to talk to you about! Galalo missed her monthly last week. My word Akanadi, she's only twelve. So, why did you let her go. You always wanted to have another son.” Akanadi looked for a long time at Ischemia. “For what? We have dwindled down to five families. When we move to another village, I will no longer be Chief. My people are disappearing and someday we will all be gone. If our Galalo has a son, he will live in the White Man's world and maybe I'll live on through him. Let's not speak of this again!” “We won't!” Nancy pulled the trigger of the pistol that was under the table on her lap and hidden out of sight. It was a pistol that Jonathan had given her the night before. The bullet entered his belly button and passed between his vertebrae and severed his spinal cord. “OH, that hurts! You're going to die for this. If I don't kill you, my people will kill you. We'll burn you alive!” Nancy was busy reloading the pistol and Akanadi was dragging himself across the floor towards his long-rifle. His pain was becoming more intense by the minute. Akanadi reached his weapon and aimed it towards Nancy as she pulled the trigger of the pistol and blew the back of HER head off. Akanadi let out a yell of, “NO!” As his blood poured from his body, he slowly went into shock. After about fifteen minutes, the Chief passed into obliteration. Mary woke up early in the morning, and saw she was lying next to a little girl. She laid there, trying to get her bearings as to where she was. Looking over she remembered that this was her sister and it all came back to her. Her Momma told her she was dying. Mary remembered telling her Mother she had missed her monthlies. Something she hadn't done since she was ten. And her Momma asked her if someone had forced himself on her. Mary admitted that the Chief had done that once. And a grandson of the Chief, Tsula, meaning the fox, had played with her twice. Mary remembered telling her mother. “Chief told me he was going to punish me for being 'pocahono', promiscuous and one thing led to another and it was him too. I'm sorry Momma. I didn't know what to do!” Her Momma told her what they had to do. Mary was going to go live with her real Father. Mary was afraid. Now she was with her Father whom she did not know and his family. She had heard all about this mysterious man that her Momma talked about when it was only the two of them together and they were alone. Hearing her Mother talk about him and seeing James were two different things. Her Mother was dying and the rest of that family was moving away to parts unknown. Mary didn't know how she was going to tell her Father she was carrying a child. Maybe if she ignored it it would go away. With the innocence of a child, which she still was, she could hope and dream. Mary got up and put her only clothes on that she had brought with her. Putting her clothes on woke up Jean. Jean was instantly awake and was up for the morning as well and became a chatterbox while leading her down stairs. Seeing the house in the daylight made Mary's eyes as big as saucers. Jean led her past the living room, through the dining room and outside, to walk ten feet, to the kitchen house. Inside the kitchen, Julie and Rachel were cooking corn pone, fried potatoes and eggs for breakfast. Rachel looked up from turning the potatoes and asked, “Well, who do we have here?” “Jean, can you go back to the house and wake up your brothers?” After Jean left the kitchen house, Julie said, “Mom, I would like you to meet Mary, your granddaughter.” “MY GRANDDAUGHTER? How can that be? Who, What, How?” “You should probably sit down. Mary has lived in a native village until yesterday. She was brought here last night after you were in bed. Her mother Nancy didn't die in the fire after all. She was abducted by the Indians and another took her place in the fire. She was pregnant with Mary when she left. No one knew about this child until last night.” Julie went on to explain, “Nancy brought Mary, Mom. Nancy's dying Mom. She took the horses and rode away last night. I don't think we'll ever see her again.” “No! We are going to go get her. Nancy's place is here!” “James doesn't want her here. He's not happy with what she did.” “I don't care! I gave that man my three daughters, and this is what he does?” Rachel was seething with indignation. “I really don't want her here either, Mom. James is mine!” “Nancy is no threat to James and you! We'll house her in the cabin with Jonathan and I'll even take the food to her. James and even you, for that matter, won't have to look at her.” Mary stood to the side and took this argument in and slowly comprehension took the place of her innocence that had been challenged a month ago. All she could think was,'Momma must have been very bad at one time.' Julie sighed and took the initiative. “I'll go talk to James and tell him what you said.” Julie walked out of the kitchen house as Rachel said, “Please sit down Mary and tell me about yourself. Have you got any more brothers or sisters?” Julie found James in their bedroom, putting on his boots. Julie blurted, “James, Nancy stirred up a hornets nest when she brought Mary here. Rachel wants her back!” “Ya, I've been thinking about that. She could stay at the cabin with Jonathan. I'll talk to Jonathan and Richard and see if they'll come with me to get her. Is that fine with you?” “Yes, that's fine. Although I don't ever want to see you getting close to her!” “No danger of that. Is breakfast ready?” “Yell at the boys and bring Nancy. I got John and Mary is in the kitchen. Have Richard run and get Jonathan.” Julie didn't want to think of all the changes this would bring. “I suppose I'll have to take money with me to buy her back.” James was already planning ahead. After breakfast was served, and horses were saddled and hardtack was stored in the saddlebags. It was mid morning before the three men rode out with four horses. They were close to the Indian village when they heard screaming and caterwauling up ahead. When they got to the village everyone who was in front of a cabin was sitting with their heads between their legs, crying. The door of the cabin looked like it had been chopped on to get it opened. One middle aged man walked up to them and asked, “What do you want?” “We came to get Nancy. How much will it cost me?” For just a moment a crafty look crossed his face. “Two pounds!” James was surprised it was so little, but then remembered she was sick. He dug into his money belt and pulled the two notes out and handed them over. The man took the money and said, “She's inside. Get her and leave!” When James went inside, he could see that he had saved the tribe from digging a grave. All he could say was, “Clever devils.” He looked over at the Chief and shuddered. He could see where the Chief had dragged his body across the room to retrieve his rifle. He looked at the rifle and saw that it hadn't been fired. He looked at Nancy and his eyes got wider. There was a pistol in her hand that was a twin to Jonathan's pistol. “Jonathan, come in here.” Jonathan looked at his Mother and rushed into a corner and threw up. “Is that your pistol Jonathan?” He could only shake his head, 'Yes.' James made a grimace and bent down and pried the pistol from Nancy's hand. “Here Jonathan. Put your pistol inside your shirt.” With that James picked up Nancy and carried her out the door, and tied her across the saddle. Then they rode away. They were walking the horses back home so they wouldn't shake Nancy off the saddle. Richard trotted up along side James and asked, “Dad, what was Mom like?” When this question was asked, it was like a dam had burst loose inside James. He told them about coming to this country in a wagon loaded down with tools, pigs and chickens. About meeting Nancy at the tavern in Rockford before it was even named that. About being mesmerized with Nancy and her fun loving spirit. Then marrying her and then preparing for her to cross the river in the spring, bringing Jonathan with her. He told about how she knew where to plant which vegetables so they wouldn't cross pollinate. And then how he believed Nancy was dead when James came back from Georgia. James tried to keep the tale clean because of the boys sake. There were many things he didn't tell, how Jonathan came to be, or how he had lost a friend and hired hand because of her, or how she did him wrong before she had been abducted. As far as he was concerned, that would do them no good to learn about those scandalizing things! It was almost dark before they rode into the yard and in front of the cabin. Rachel was there and when she discovered Nancy was dead, she made ready to put Nancy on the cabins table. It was this same table that Joseph Trent had built out of split boards, nineteen years ago. The same table they had eaten their meals off of. The same table they had cut meat on and cut vegetables on. The table they were now going to have a wake on and reminisce about Nancy's life. It was an act as timeless as life itself. The last act of honoring the dead. As James sat through the night, watching his Mother-in-law pray and talk about her daughter, he smiled. He thought how fitting it was that Joe Henshaw's body would spend eternity laying beside an old hag and not Nancy. He planned to start a new family burial plot on the other side of the new house. Maybe he could turn the ground above Joe into a field. He doubted anyone would object. Time to get his house in order. A feeling of homesickness filled his soul, It was time to go home and pay a visit to his Mother and Father. Mary was the only one who was truly heartbroken. Nancy's sons didn't know her and her mother couldn't relate to this white haired woman that at one time had been her daughter. Nancy's ex-husband closed his eyes, wanting to remember the young girl, the girl she had once been. Julie watched her husband close his eyes, hoping he would remember the old hag lying on the table, and kept repeating to herself 'Dust to dust, ashes to ashes!' No one objected to James establishing a family grave site and going to Salem to order a wrought iron fence to go around it. While he was in Salem he also ordered a four wheel, two bench surrey that could be enclosed when the weather was bad. The lightweight surrey could be pulled by two horses and carry six people comfortably. “One day after James was back from Salem, Jonathan came with his hat in his hand. “Dad, I feel like I want to go out and experience the world before I get old. I think I'll head over the mountains and see what Tennessee looks like. I'm hooking up with Charles McClung, who is the head of a group of men that is heading to White's fort in Tennessee. He's from Pennsylvania and needs some men that are Frontiersmen. We are to protect him while he's doing survey work.” “You're a man, Jonathan. I'll miss you, but you have got to do what you got to do. Stay as safe as you can and don't take any unnecessary risks with your hide.” The next morning Jonathan was gone. Fall was rapidly coming and everyone was busy helping to get the crops in and the vegetables dried and stored away for winter. James became quite concerned one morning when he saw Mary at the end of a cornrow throwing up. “Mary, what's wrong? Did you eat something that didn't agree with you?” “Oh Daddy, I hoped it wasn't true, but I guess it is. Momma feared I was pregnant and I believe I am. Women get upset stomachs when babies pull on them. You won't make me leave will you Daddy?” Mary had feared for two months that this day would come and had been as affectionate as she could be to everyone and did whatever anyone asked her to do. She hoped it had been enough to make them let her stay. “Oh baby, what did you do?” James tried to wrap his mind around this ...this. She wasn't even thirteen years old yet. She was too young to be pregnant! “Tsula wanted to play chief and squaw with me one day. It hurt, so Tsula said we had to play it again, because then it wouldn't hurt. It didn't. I missed my monthly and Moma sent me to you. You won't make me leave, will you Daddy?” Mary didn't know for sure why she didn't mention the Chief but thought it would put the Chief in a bad way as far as how James would view him. “No baby, I won't make you leave! But you have to realize that this game is only played with people that are married. Promise me you won't play that game again until you are married. Promise your father, you won't do that again?” “I promise! Just don't send me away.” she begged with tears running down her cheeks. “I won't. But now I have to go talk to your mother.” Julie had encouraged Mary to call her Mom or mother. James wondered what Julie would think about Mary now. He wondered what kind of trouble this would mean for him. James found Julie in the summer kitchen taking the dirt off the potatoes and putting them into a basket, so they could be stored in the underground storage cellar. James came in and sat down on another chair and started helping with the spuds. “We got us a problem Julie. We got us a little girl that's pregnant.” “Oh no! It's Mary, isn't it? Is it from before she came here? How far along?” “I would say about three months. She says she was talked into playing house and it was only twice. I think she didn't know what she was doing and she's still our little innocent.” “What do you plan to do, husband of mine?” “Can we hide it? Make it ours? I teach our children their reading, writing and numbers. No one but me has to go into Rockford. “That would mean I mustn't get in a family way for another eight months.” “Does that mean ...” “Yes it does. There is no other way! We have to abstain.” “We will do whatever you think is best, Julie.” It was in February when, after having eaten dinner, that James drew Julie to the side and asked, “Isn't Mary getting awfully big? How soon is she due?” “Well, according to what Mary says, she should be almost seven months along. I have thought the same thing about her getting big too soon. But she's also a young thing and hasn't reached her full size yet. I am worried about her, but what can we do?” “I'd like to take her to Salem. There's a Doctor there that treated Bill. He seems to know what he's doing with pregnancies and young mothers.” “What about what we were going to do? About claiming the child as ours?” “We still can and will. We don't register our children anywhere except in our Family Bible. If we would have to stay in Salem and have the child delivered there, in five years no one will remember whose child it was. Except for maybe Doctor Harlow. If the weather stays nice, how about tomorrow we will go to Salem.” The next day they were up early getting the team hooked up to the surrey and warm rocks laid on the floor of the surrey. With food packed in a basket and robes around their legs, they set out for the White Rock Ferry. They were barely out of the yard when Bill stepped out into the middle of the road with his hand held up in a gesture of friendship. “Hello James. It's been a long time since I've seen you. I was hoping I could talk you into going with me to Salem? But I don't want to impose on you.” James looked at Strongheart and couldn't believe the change in his outward appearance. He was older, but he once more looked healthy and fit. “You won't be. That's where we are going right now. There is a seat in the back with Mary. Unbutton the curtain and jump into the back seat. Mary, share your blanket with Bill.” “You mean Strongheart, don't you Daddy?” “Galalo! I did not think I would see you here.” Then Strongheart slipped into the Cherokee Language and James and Julie listened, completely befuddled. When they stopped for their midday meal they were at the ferry landing, waiting for the ferry to come back across. James couldn't hold his curiosity any longer and asked, “How do you two know each other?” Mary spoke up, “Strongheart was at many councils with the Chief, talking about what they should do with the shrinking members of our villages. He teased me many times like an uncle.” “I'm afraid I owe you a request for forgiveness James. I did not know you were Galalo's father.” “I didn't know I was a father to Mary until six months ago. She would not have grown up in the village if I had known! Speaking of fathers, how is Big Daddy?” “I should never have told you what his name translated to in English. Heapbig is in the afterlife. His last request is that I make him a grandfather. That's why I'm going to Salem. I need someone to tell me I'm cured of this dreaded wasting disease. Yes, that is what us Indians call it.” “Well, you're in luck Bill. We are going to see Dr. Harlow ourselves. If you would have been a day later, you would have missed us. I'm glad you were able to be here on time. The ferry was finally in place and James drove the horses and buggy on. He winched slightly when the helmsman asked for a pound for being ferried across. After paying they moved across the Yadkin. Once across they took the fork in the road and went on to Salem instead of Richmond. When they got to Salem, they went straight to the doctors office. It was after four in the afternoon and they weren't sure how long he was open. It was warm inside and felt good after spending most of the day outside in February even if it hadn't been raining. The four people heard, “I'll be right with you!” when they walked into Dr. Harlow's office. This time Doctor Harlow came out of his office, wiping his hands on a towel. “What can I do for you folks? That's foolish of me to ask. I can see you have a lovely young lady here that is expecting. When is the due date? Another two weeks maybe?” Julie spoke up, “I think another two months according to what this lady has been telling me. I'm worried! I lost a sister that had too big of a baby, and after she had it she had a sour womb and died.” “Infection my dear. For whatever reason, sometimes when a part of the body is exposed without the skin protecting it, that part becomes infected. If it's a limb, we can cut it off with limited success and get ahead of the infection. Your sister was lucky in that she was able to have the baby and hold and nurse him before she died. When a mother can't have a child, we can do a cesarean and save the child, if we can. Cesarean means cutting the mothers stomach open and extracting the baby in that fashion. Yes, that is most gruesome. But we as physicians have hope that we can someday find the key to a successful operation. Why we have hope is that in 1337, in what was then Prague, Bohemia, both mother and child survived. Why the mother didn't die, we can only guess. But we will keep looking and hoping. One thing we do know is, that lady was Royalty. Maybe everything was spotless clean! Now young lady, come into the examination room with me and let's find out how the baby is doing.” Seeing the girl's hesitation, he looked at Julie and asked, “Would you like to accompany us Mam?” “Yes I would!” It seemed like James and Bill were waiting a long time before Julie and Mary reappeared. Mary was all smiles and Dr. Harlow said, “Well if that will be all, I would like a pound for my troubles.” “One more thing Doctor” Bill spoke up. “You treated me for syphilis a few years ago with mercury. You told me to come back after a few years and you would be able to tell me if I still have it.” “Well, let's see. Can you stand on one foot? Good, now let me count in my head while you are doing that. Now, switch feet. Now close one eye. Now close both eyes. Yep, I think you're cured. That will be one pound six shillings for both of you. Thank you! “Turning back to Mary, Dr. Harlow said, “Remember Little Lady, if you can't find anything green to eat this time of year, eat as many dried vegetables as you can. Roasted or stewed, it doesn't matter. No salted meat. That doesn't help a lady in your condition. Oh yes, and drink plenty of water.” They were barely out the door when Mary exclaimed, “I'm going to have twins! I can't wait to see them!” James looked at Julie and she shrugged her shoulders. Two children instead of one. Now it would be three children instead of two! It was late in the day and the horses had reached their maximum distance they could travel in one day. James drove the horses and buggy to a stable that was close by and inquired about a boarding house where they might stay for the night. The hostler pointed out a house that was just three houses down from the stable. When they arrived the proprietor only had one room left and one bed. That night the ladies slept in the room and the men slept in the haymow of the stable. The next morning after a hearty breakfast at the boarding house, the four, after paying their bills, were on their way, heading home. Mary was all bubbly, wrapping her mind around twins, while the other three were quiet with their own thoughts. Julie was all at once overwhelmed with the thought of educating a child in the art of baby care. Not quite even an adolescent, Mary would be taking care of, not one baby, but two babies. James marveled, because he couldn't get over the fact that doctors had no more wisdom with humanity than midwifes or farmers taking care of animals. Why would a Countess have more of a chance to survive a cesarean birth then common everyday people? Granted she had maids, wash women and butlers to do her every bidding. She didn't have to go outside and get dirty. Get dirty? Like using a rope over for more than one birth? Maybe the knife wasn't as clean as Rachel thought? Was that possibly be the reason Easter had died? How could you make sure instruments at birth were clean? Water isn't even always clean. You could boil water and take scum off the top of the water when it cooled. He didn't know if this would help, but he would convince …..No! He would demand that Rachel boil water and put everything she used into the water and when a woman went into labor, make sure they were clean! Soap and clean water! All at once, losing Easter felt so …..preventable! Bill was thinking that, for the first time in his life wished, he was completely in the white world! Looking over at Mary who was so full of life, made him feel old. When he had met Nancy so many years ago, he should have taken her and ran back to his Mother and Step-dad and stayed White! Now he wondered, he hoped and dreamed he could find someone like this child sitting by him and hoped it wasn't to late too have a family of his own. It seemed like it was just a little while and James was paying another note at the ferry. On this final stretch toward home, the horses seemed to fly. They knew their stable where corn was waiting for them at the end of their journey. Once they were home, the everyday humdrum of surviving the winter tried to set in. James, however, wasn't going to let that happen. He spent many hours talking with Rachel about making sure everything was clean when it came to Mary having her babies. He didn't want anything left to chance. He even offered to attend and supervise the birth as Rachel delivered the babies. All of James's life he tended to become fixated with everything he did and this was no exception. That became apparent when he sat upright in bed one night and exclaimed, “Oh yes, I shouldn't have had to dream about that to see it should happen.” Julie yawned and asked, “What are you talking about? Go back to sleep!” James had another talk with Rachel that morning, which made her shake her head and mutter under her breath, “That man doesn't have enough to do! Why doesn't he take up a pastime like riding a horse everyday or go back to splitting logs. I swear he has become obsessed with these babies!” February was a distant memory along with the coldest days of winter and it was the first part of March that James made the two day trip to Salem to speak again with Doctor Harlow. He came back after three days, having spent a day with the Dr. James. While in Salem, James ended up buying a couple of stainless steel instruments that joined Rachel's assortment of birthing tools. March was flying by as Mary got bigger day by day. The last week in March, Mary was bloated and her skin was itching all over. On the last day of March, her water broke and James's plan was put into action. For the first part of James's plan, he had built a new, three by six foot table, that was brought into the kitchen. It was a little over two feet high with rails on each side of the table. Towards the bottom of the table were two wood wedges where the feet could rest. At the other end of the table was a wood wedge that was as wide as the table where the neck and shoulders could push against. That wedge could be adjusted with pegs according to the length of the pregnant lady. Mary was given a full body wash with water that had been boiled. Then the lower half of her body was shaved to get rid of all unwanted hair. Finally all the instruments that Rachel used in childbirth were boiled in water and layed out on a cloth that had also been boiled in water. The people that would be in the room with Mary had their arms washed past their elbows and had washed their hair and faces. Then they put on clean clothes. To Mary, all this fuss was almost laughable. She had witnessed, more than once, women in the village giving birth. Those women would be standing and holding onto a tree. Like a child, she enjoyed all the attention she was receiving. She would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't for the pain she was experiencing. Mary refused to get on the table until the pain got too much to want to stand up anymore. Mary had the strength of youth on her side and her pregnancy had prepared and matured her body for this time of labor. After two hours of labor the baby's head was showing. Rachel cut the perineum with the sterilized knife. Then Rachel slipped the instrument that James brought home, called a forceps, into place and helped bring the head out of the birth channel. Then Rachel turned the baby like she always had and finished delivering the baby. The baby was handed to James and he wrapped the baby in a towel that had been boiled and dried. James looked at the baby. It didn't seem to be breathing, so he lifted it upside down and slapped it on its back. Then the baby began to cry. The umbilical cord was tied and the end of the cord was burned with a flame from the fireplace. The baby opened its eyes and looked at James. It was a boy and his eyes were black. The same color as his hair. Rachel was working with Mary on the next birth. The head was out when James looked over at Rachel. She shook her head and James didn't know why. James handed the baby to Julie and grabbed another towel for the next baby. When James got to Rachel's side she stated, “This ones bald and I think a lot smaller.” A few more contractions from Mary and the baby slid out into the towel. It was a girl! The little girl opened her mouth and howled. When she took a deep breath she opened her eyes. James had never seen eyes like hers before. The eyes were gray, but she looked like an winkled prune. Then Mary did something no lady raised White would have done in the eighteenth or nineteenth century in the presents of a man that was not her husband. She bared her breasts, opened her arms and held out her hands, with tears flowing down her cheeks. Julie and James brought the babies to her and positioned them so they could start taking nourishment from their Mother. That night James sat down with Mary to have a talk with her. “You know Mary, this male child looks very different from any of the other children around here. They will say he's a dirty Indian. I don't want this little guy to ever think he should be ashamed of who he is. I would like to name him and change the identity of who he is. His name will be Marcus Alexander Bertie. I will claim him as my son, but he will know who he is, Black Dutch! Someday you will wed and leave my house, but you will always be his Mother. I don't know what the little girl's hair will turn out to be, but I have an idea for her name as well. What would you think of Alexandra for a girl's name?” “I don't know Daddy! I would like something simpler. Something like ….. I don't know. Layla? I know what you are trying to do Daddy, but she was a friend of mine in the Indian Village.” “Layla Alexandra Bertie! I like that. But I think Layla should be her pet name. How about Leonor Alexandra Bertie?” James sat down with the Family Bible that night and entered the twins' birth. He smiled when he wrote down, father – James Bertie, mother – Nancy. Marriages by a minister were never recorded at the County Courthouses in frontier days and on paper, James still had been married only once. James still had a family without scandal. He knew Julie would have something to say about all this, but he wasn't going to put a thirteen year old child down as the mother. The next morning James looked out of his bedroom window at what he had achieved. Next year after the crops were planted, he would take Julie and go see his parents. The visit was long overdue! Chapter 10 It was 1791 before James got the wish that he had been working toward. It was the middle of June and all the crops had been planted. James was finally going home after over twenty one years. He was taking the buggy pulled by two horses and Joel. Joel was the only child that Julie and James were taking. Not because he was a favorite, but because James thought at times his hands had to be freed up in case they ran across riffraff and ruffians. Joel was thirteen and could drive the team as well as James could. The rest of the children were well in hand in the care of their Grandmother Rachel, although she was over sixty and had outlived the life expectancy for the times, she was still quite spry. Richard was eighteen and felt he could easily fill James's shoes and had told his old Dad, 'You have nothing to worry about.' James thought it was time that Richard spread his wings and learned a few things. Mary was perfectly happy taking care of the children. Grandmother Rachel was a big help, and with five children, help was needed. The twins were over a year old and still required a lot of attention. Layla had almost caught up to her twin in size and would hold her own with any fighting they did. Anytime people saw Layla for the first time they would do a double take. She had gray hair and eyes, and her striking eyes could look right through a person. One of the most unsettling aspects of her personality, with her intense eyes, was watching what everyone did around her. The family had gotten used to her, but it would upset strangers to the point where some of them would excuse themselves and leave. Some people thought she had the makings of a witch even as a baby. Markus (Mark) was always listening and observing objects. The wooden twenty piece puzzle that James had made for Nancy and John had been put together by them once, and than at his young age, Mark put it together by himself. Nancy, who was four, thought she should be the boss of the twins and Jean, who was six, thought she needed to mother the twins. John, who was eight, thought the girls were all beneath a boy's interest and went outside to chase the cats or to play with the dogs. James had the trip all planned out. The horses could do fifty miles in a day, but not consistently. Traveling thirty miles a day would be more realistic. James thought it would take ten to twelve days to make it to Norfolk, Virginia. That was a lot better than the two months that he had taken to travel from Norfolk twenty one years ago. If they found a likely place on the road, like an Inn, to stay for the night, and if they had only traveled twenty some miles, they would stop. If they had traveled forty some miles and had not found an Inn, they would set up camp and post a guard. Next to criminals that were always looking to do someone harm, there were still Troys (Supporters of the Crown) that hated Patriots, as well as Patriots that hated Troys. They had packed the gear for camping along with dried meat and James had three Kentucky Rifles and four pistols. They were all single shot, black powder guns. The crossing of the Yadkin to head north was through Rockford, by ferry, now that the Surry County Courthouse was located there. Surry County had been split once more in 1789, two years ago, and now Rockford was the center of the county. The county had to supply a way to get to Rockford across the Yadkin. There was even talk about what it would cost to put in a bridge. After leaving Rockford, James stopped the buggy and gave Joel the reins. He then sat in the back seat with a rifle across his lap while Julie sat in the front seat with Joel. With the horses at a steady trot, they passed through Alberty and other small settlements. They had a late start that morning, so when they reached Mount Airy, they planned to stop and spend the night. Joel drove the horses in front of a livery and discovered that the stagecoach, that passed through here also would stay overnight and had a spare team of horses at Mont Airy at all times. The holster took their horses in for six pence with a promise to feed them hay and corn as well as rub them down. There was a Tavern and Inn close by where the stagecoach people stayed, so James's party went in to inquire about a room. There was a room available and James paid for it and then went upstairs to put his wooden gun case, in the room, under lock. It was a small room with barely enough room for the small raised tick bed that could fit two adult people in it. Joel would have to sleep on the floor with a blanket, or join the community room that had a large tick on the floor with individual blankets for the male travelers. Since James and Julie were carrying blankets with them, it was decided Joel would sleep on the floor. It was safer for Joel to be in a room together with them and there was less of a chance of getting bedbugs when using their own blankets. James had a lock with him that he kept for his gun case. After putting the lock in place, he carried the possibilities bag with him that held his lead shot and powder among other things. James went downstairs to join Julie and Joel and they went into the dinning room for their supper. There they had a mutton roast with a stew and fresh bread. They had a choice of milk, water or whiskey. While they were eating they met their fellow diners who were travelers on the stagecoach. The stagecoach driver was a lanky fellow that was approximately middle age. There was a couple of drummers (sales men) along with a widow and her two children that were going back to her parents, and a missionary that had been out west of Virginia to preach to the heathen. People were always looking for more information about what lay ahead while traveling. James couldn't believe how the countryside was changing. So it was no wonder that James would constantly carry on a conversation with all the people around him, trying to gather more information. “Sir,” he said to the stagecoach driver, as he shook his hand. “I'm James Bertie.” “Jasper McDevish. The stagecoach is escorting this young lady and her two children from Anderson's Bottom to Martinsville. Let me introduce Elizabeth Waller and her two children, Joe and Sarah.” “Pleased to meet you all!” James thought Elisabeth looked to be about twenty five but was probably younger since her children looked to be four and five years of age. Sarah showed interest and asked, “Are you folks from around here?” “Na, We're from Sully County, North Carolina. Where are you taking this stagecoach to?” “I'm going as far as Wynne's Falls to meet another driver. Then we're switching stagecoach's and I'll be heading back to Anderson's Bottom. The stagecoach I'm driving today will end up in Portsmouth.” Jasper promptly responded. “Alright! How far are you going tomorrow? We're going to Norfolk and it might help us if we tagged along.” “Be glad to have you. We're going as far as Martinsville tomorrow. It's a growing town and they have a brand new Inn there. This year it became their county seat. Of course it doesn't hurt to have General Joseph Martin living right there pushing the town. He has a plantation called Scuffle Hill, which is along side the town. We'll be crossing Irvin River before we get to Martinsville, but the river should be down so if you will just follow me through you should have no problem.” “I surely will do that! What time are you loading up tomorrow?” James was excited about not having to worry about what the next day would bring. “Passengers need to load up by eight bells. We'll be traveling a good forty miles tomorrow and we'll be spending all day doing it.” “I would say, we should turn in early.” James wasn't sure his horses could take such a pace, day after day. He was sure the stagecoach horses were receiving at least a day's rest after a day's run. Maybe after tomorrow he would give the horses a slow day. The next morning James was up shortly after the sun. Everyone at the tavern was eating and getting ready to move on. After breakfast, James was at the livery putting their horses into their traces. It was eight before everyone was totally ready to depart. The stagecoach passengers were loaded and James's buggy was trailing right behind them. It was a long exhausting day for everyone concerned. The weather had turned hot for so early in the summer and the road was extremely rough. The buggy had the latest leaf springs under the seats, whereas the stagecoach had springs under the body of the carriage that were a lot stiffer and unforgiving. The people in the buggy could see the people in the coach bouncing around. Watching the stagecoach bounce, Julie realized why people didn't travel more. It was strictly done out of necessity, and not for pleasure. It was only the second day and already she yearned for her home and her cool porch. It was late afternoon before they were crossing the Irvin River and another mile before they reached Martinsville. James let the stagecoach go through the river first as Jasper had requested. While waiting for the stagecoach to cross, James stepped out of the buggy to stretch his legs, and watched the stagecoach's progress across the river. When James saw three riders leaving the far shore to meet the stagecoach, midstream, at first he thought it was a welcoming party. But when one rider stopped his horse and raised his rifle to shot Jasper, the driver of the stagecoach, James knew this was something else. Without hesitation, Jame walked the two steps to the buggy and grabbed one of his rifles. Kneeling down and using one of his knees for a prop, he fired, almost without having aimed. The rider fell off his horse. James jumped up and grabbed another rifle and yelled, “Reload!” Then he knelt back down to fire another bullet off and sew the second rider drop. By this time the third rider was looking around trying to see where the shots were coming from. When he saw James on the river bank, he turned his horse around and kicked his heels into the horse's ribs. By this time Joel had handed his Dad another rifle with a live round in it. James aimed for a split second and discharged the weapon. The third rider weaved in the saddle for about twenty feet and fell off into the river. “Let's get to the stagecoach, Joel and see if we can help the driver.” James was loading the last rifle fired. “Yes Dad!” Joel couldn't believe his unassuming Father and just shot three men like he was shooting ducks. Joel jumped back onto the driver seat and took the reins from his Mother. Driving into the water with his Dad sitting in the back seat, James could see that the stagecoach had stopped midstream. The sand was slowly being washed away from the wheels and the coach was beginning to sinking. It would not take much longer and the stagecoach would become stuck in the river. The water was shallow, at this point, ensuring that the splashing of the horses was the only way to get wet. Julie was using her umbrella to deflect the splashes of water. “Get as close as you can to the stagecoach, Joel, and I'll try to jump aboard,” encouraged James as he stood up on the seat and was leaning out of the buggy. “Don't fall James!” Screeched Julie. “Don't intend to.” James replied. And to himself he thought, 'I hope not.' About that time they were alongside the stagecoach and James jumped onto the body of the stagecoach and worked his way onto the coach seat. The driver was groaning while laying half on and half off the seat. The reins for the six horse team was under the driver's body. James grabbed the reins and yelled at Jasper, “Turn loose of the reins!” Somehow Jasper managed to raise his body a little and unclenching his hand managed to free the reins that were underneath him. James took stock of where each rein went and then yelled, “Hiya get-yup!” The horses tugged on their braces, the stagecoach gave a lurch and started moving. “Hang on Jasper!” yelled James as he grabbed Jasper's suspenders with one hand and steadied him. “Did you shoot them polecats?” Jasper muttered through his pain. “Sure did. Didn't think I'd turn tail and run, did you?” “Not for a minute. I hope you kilt them all.” By the time they were pulling out of the river, a band of riders were fast approaching, “That's my Father!” Yelled out Elizabeth in warning. A man of about fifty was leading the group. “What happened? Who are you?” Elizabeth's Dad was confused with what he thought had taken place. “I'm James Bertie, from Surry County, North Carolina. Jasper the stagecoach driver was shot by three ruffians so I shot back. Who were those three men?” “Don't know, but I aim to find out! I'm General Joseph Martin. I've made a few enemies through the years and I'm deeply appreciative that you were here when my Daughter and my Grandchildren needed protection.” Joseph turned to his men and said, “Gather the bodies and if you can identify them I'd be very appreciative. Mr. Bertie, let us retire to my new home so I can thank you properly.” James looked at this man with awe. Here before him was the General who had run with Danial Boone in his younger days, had fought with the Patriots, had helped keep the Cherokees from fighting on the British side, had been an Indian Agent to the Cherokee, was still a Statesman, and now had a town named after him. And above all the tales about this man, James had also been told in the past, never to gamble with Joseph Martin! “It would be a great honor to be entertained by you General. Lead the way and my son will follow.” That afternoon one of the General's men reported that it wasn't Troys that had been responsible for the attack on the stagecoach but a group of settlers that claimed their area was to be the fourteenth state of the Union, becoming the state of Franklin. It seemed the General had a falling out with this group over the treatment of some of the Cherokees that lived in the area. This group also advocated the killing of all Native Heathens. General Martin was not happy that they had tried to abduct his Daughter and Grandchildren. Looking into the storm clouds in Joseph Martins eyes, James was curtain and without a doubt, someone would pay! General Martin insisted that James, Julie and Joel remain with him for a day to rest up and enjoy his hospitality. They meet the General's second wife, Susannah (Susan) and their eleven children. Later, when James was alone with Joseph, Joseph confided with James, that he had a total of twenty children, with his first wife Sarah, who had died, Susan, and with his common law wife, Elisabeth Ward. When Joseph saw the look of disbelief on James's face, he expounded on his belief that frontiersmen had a right to more than one wife. “After all James, it is our duty to produce as many children as we can, to better our country for the future.” Needless to say, it went against what James believed and was more than ready to move on the next morning. James was also astonished that the General had no problem with his wife knowing about his common law wife. This was the pinnacle of a wife having no say with what a husband could do inside a marriage. Unbelievably Disgusting! For the next week, traveling for the Bertie party was uneventful. James always seemed to find a place to stop by mid afternoon or early evening. The biggest delays they had was crossing the rivers. The first crossing was the Dan River by Wynne's Falls and then crossing the Dan once more at Boyd's Ferry. Then it was onto Hicksford on the Meherrin River. They crossed the Nottoway River one morning and Blackwater River later on the same day. By the time they got to Suffolk they were road weary and tired of traveling. As they continued to traveled east, the countryside changed. The farms had become more concentrated and the countryside more densely populated. The towns had larger stores and more things to choose from. In Suffolk they spent a day shopping so they wouldn't appear to look like poor relatives when they arrived at James's parents home. A day later when they pulled up in front of a large colonial home, Julie was grateful for having shopped the day before. It was awkward for James to knock on the door of a house where he'd never been at before, and anxious to know what was on the other side of it. When his Mother answered the door, he couldn't believe his eyes. The day he left she was a beautiful lady. Now she had changed to the point where he hardly recognized her. Yes, she was still attractive in her plump maternal way, just so different. She stood there and looked at him as she would with any stranger, “Yes, may I help you?” James would have questioned if he was at the right house if she had not spoke first, “Mother, I'm your son, James!” In disbelief she said, “James?” He restated his claim, “Yes, your son, James!” It was then that his Mother flew into his arms and started crying, “James, James! What took you so long to come home?” “It's hard to travel. At first I never even had a horse to ride. Come, let me introduce you to my wife and son. This is my wife Julie, and this is my son Joel.” James was having a hard time coming to grips with his emotions. “Surely you have more than this?” she questioned, as she tried hard to believe that her son, James was there. “Yes, I have five boys and four girls. They had to stay home and keep the farm going while we are gone. Although the twins are only fifteen months old and not much help at all.” “You'll have to tell me all about them. There is a stable around back where you can stable the horses. Do you need any help ….Joel? Julie, come with me. James, walk in through the back door, I have a maid who will show you where to take your luggage to. Julie, you have to tell me all about James and your family.” James and Joel took the horses and buggy around to the stable and put the horses into the stalls after currying them down. There were six more stalls in the stables with two of them being occupied with a beautiful horse in each one of them. The horses were chewing on hay when they left to take the luggage to the house. James couldn't believe the good fortune his father had. He knew a shipping clerk would not be able to afford a house and grounds such as this. He became more convinced of this as the maid Louisa, showed them to their rooms. James and Julie sat in the living room, catching up with his Mother about Father and what his Sister's lives were like. Jean was married to a solicitor, who's name was Danial Allen, and she had five children. Jeanie, her oldest daughter was thirteen years of age. Jennifer was eleven. Theodore was nine. Catherine was six while Clarissa was three. Jame's younger sister, Sara Ann was married to a man that was suffering from poor health, named Baylor Frazer. Because of his health he couldn't hold a job and their Father were giving them household support. Sara had two children, Robert, who was ten and William, who was seven. According to James's Mother, his Father had become a Insurance Agent for Cargo Ships. He helped the Captains of the ships fill out their Manifests before they sailed and sold the owners of the ships insurance for the ships and their cargo as well as selling life insurance for the crew. William was part owner of their insurance company and was being underwritten by Lords of London. James shook his head. He had never heard of such a thing. When William arrived home, James was given a handshake and a hug. James thought his Dad had lost an inch or two in height, and had gotten quite portly. “My, my, it is so good to see you son. You're looking hale and hearty. The last time you wrote, you said you have twins. Where are they?” “They're home with their Grandmother and sister Mary. The only boy we brought along is Joel. Joel, come and meet your Grandfather.” “I'm pleased to meet you Sir.” Grandpa stuck out his hand and Joel shook it. Being treated like a grown up made Joel's day. “What a nice strapping young lad. How old are you son?” James interrupted the conversation, “Joel's thirteen years old. Going on fourteen. They grow up fast on the frontier. He drove here most all the way.” “It is the age to become self-sufficient and reliable. Joel, your Father was indentured when he was younger than you. It was with an older couple that had already raised their children. It helped make your Dad into what he is today. Although you aren't being indentured out, your Dad is trying to teach you everything he knows. James, how is Joel's studies coming? We need hard workers in this country, but more so we need educated hard workers.” “I couldn't agree with you more, Sir. I think Joel would do well with higher education. He is doing very well with his studies.” “If you want, send him my way when he is ready. We have William and Mary College at Plymouth that is a very good college. I think I could even help him with his studies and help get him into the college. Now, I think there is something else you should know. You know my Father disowned me. He went as far as cutting off my allowance, but he never put it down on paper. Well, in 1779 my nephew died after only being Earl for one year, without any heirs. My younger brother Barlow, then became Earl. This was during the war and Britain was not inclined to find me. My Brother Barlow, has always been a politician and I'm sure he greased some palms to speed things along without investigating if I was alive. I'm planning to fight him in England's courts to challenge his right to Earldom. Someday I might rectify his seizing my right to being the next in line.” “Wow, I don't know what to say Sir. If you win, will you take Mom and go back to England?” “I would have to. I might even have to move back there while I'm fighting for my rights. At the least, I would have to set up residency there.” “I wish you well Sir, but for me, I don't know if it would be important enough to pursue it. It looks like you are doing fine here with the situation you have.” “Yes, but it's the principle of the whole thing that gets me. My brother never even asked me if I would let him have the Earldom. He could have written to me! If nothing else it's disrespectful.” “I hope you find the conclusion that you're hoping for Sir. But at the moment I'd like to know when I can see my sisters.” “We'll have to drive around and make arrangements for them to come over. I still have my buggy hitched and we should go now. Would you like to ride along Joel?” “I think I would like to stay here if you don't mind Sir. Louisa was wanting me to help her with some things.” “Give her a hand if you like. It helps that she's a lovely girl. She's also very efficient with her duties. Come James, bid your wife adieu and we'll be on our way. I'll wait out by the buggy.” When James emerged from the house, William was in the buggy ready to leave. Driving around town brought back memories of his childhood. So many things had changed, but most of the houses in this part of town remained the same. As in many towns that experienced growing pains, the older houses were towards the center of town. They were now driving through the district where James spent seven years of his childhood. “I bought and own the house we had when we first came from England.” William said. “Your sister, Sara, lives there now, even though I own it. At first her husband was going to buy it once they had enough money. But then he became unable to keep a job, so they are living there now, rent free. They stopped in front of the old house and went to the house to knock. No one answered the door and the door was unlocked. William walked in and yelled, but no one was home. “Sara must be at Jean's house.” William commented as they made their way back to the buggy. James Dad seemed more concerned than upset. Jean lived in a house that was kept up better than Sara's and Jean answered the door when they knocked. “Dad,” Jean exclaimed. “I wasn't expecting you! Who have you got with you?” “You don't recognized your own brother? Let me introduce him. This is James Eresby Bertie. James, this is Jean Louise Bertie Allen!” “Oh Dad! Come here big brother and give me a hug. Wow, you've changed. Are those muscles under that coat? I'm so glad I still have a brother yet. Losing those other two almost did Mom and Dad in! Come in and see your other sister.” Then she yelled out, “Sara, come see what I found.” Sara came around the corner in clothes that had seen better times. She looked older than her twenty nine years with the worry lines on her face and green bruises on her face that she couldn't hide. “Who's this? She inquired. “This is our brother James! Don't you remember him?” Jean asked as she pushed Sara forward. “Give him a hug!” “Our brother? I was just a little girl when he left.” Sara stepped into his embrace and felt like she hit a stone wall. “Oh my, are you a lumberjack?” “Among other things. Did you run into a door? That's quite a shiner!” “Ya, the door never seems to open!” Sara shook her head sadly at her tongue in cheek sarcasm. “Sounds like you want to do something but can't! What's going on? Maybe I can help?” If someone or some husband was beating on his sisters without cause, James wanted to hear about it. “No one can help me. I married Baylor with my eyes open and now with my boys, he won't let me go.” “Why do you want to leave? Is it because you have to take care of him?” Sara snorted, “Oh ya. Health reasons, why he can't work. That's a bunch of bollocks! Fact is, and I'm ashamed to say this but, Sir, I thought they, Baylor and his men, were hovel-men and beachmen, not thieves, smugglers and pirates. I knew he drinks too much and is out all night and sometimes days on end. It was three days ago I heard Baylor and one of his cohorts arguing about how they should sell the beeswax that they took from a Dutch Ship before they sunk her. That's when he threatened me to stay silent and gave me this bruise on my cheek, to emphasize his demand.” William's face turned white when he heard this tale. “My Divinity in high heaven!” he exclaimed. “We insured that vessel! My own son-in-law is sinking ships and stealing from me? We have to take this to the Constables and tell them!” “Don't be in such a big hurry. Let's think about this. Do you know the Head Constable in this precinct?” “Of course I do! It's Timothy Shumate, your old friend from the community where Sara lives.” “Well Sir. Do you remember that one of the reasons you indentured me was because I was starting to run with the local street gang. Tim was one of those guys that was pushing me to join them. If Tim is a constable, he's taking money under the table. Yes, I believe he's as crooked as a bent penny nail. Your Insurance Company will have to hire your own enforcement squad and start breaking some heads. That's what I see has to happen!” Sara was listening and spoke up, “It's no use. Baylor will never let me leave him and he will kill me before he would allow anyone to take his boys or let them go anywhere without him.” “Let's think about this before we decide what to do. Jean, did you know anything about all this?” “I knew he gave me the willies and he works at night, but I didn't know any of this. He's probably a murderer!” Jean shivered. James was thoughtful and didn't comment. “Sara,” William spoke up. “I think you and the boys should come home with us.” James had been thinking about all this and said, “Sir, I don't think there's room in your one seater buggy. Jean, isn't your husband coming home soon? Maybe I should stay with my sisters and we all will go to your place then.” “You might be right James. I'll run upstairs and see how many of the children want to go with me. Dan only has a two seater buggy and all of you might be a bit crowded.” After William left with Jeanie, Jennifer, Catherine and little Clarissa, James sat down with his two sisters and told them what he was thinking. “You're right Sara. If you try to leave Baylor, and stay with Jean, he would make everyone's life miserable including Mom and Dad's just to get you back. But, let's say I took you and your boys and went back home to North Carolina. He would follow and leave everyone that was here alone. Sara, what if you left a note for him to find, stating, that he has to quit drinking and leave his partners in crime and follow you to Rockford. Together you can start a new life together and lead a God fearing life.” “I don't know if his buddies would let him leave, or if he will want to leave the life he's been leading. He belittles people that lead God fearing lives, so I doubt he will change. But, if you think you can protect me in the western frontier, I think I need to try. If I don't try to leave him and take our sons, he'll lead his sons into a life of crime too. How will we know, if he shows up out west, that he wants to change. Or is just coming to take the boys.” “If he comes by himself, we have to give him a chance. If he comes with friends, he would be coming to cause trouble. We just got here to visit the folks. Do you think you can act normal around him for a week or two? If not, we will have to plan on leaving tomorrow.” “I don't know. I've been here with Jean for two days. I don't know if he's been home or if he plans on questioning me on everything I've done since I left. But I'm sure he will. James, I'm scared of him!” “Alright then. We will leave tomorrow after we gather more clothes for you and the boys. Tonight we will all get together and I'll explain why we have to cut this visit short. I'm sure Mom and Dad will understand.” They were interrupted by Jean's husband Dan, arriving home. It was the first time that James had met him and he liked what he saw. Dan had none of the muscling that the frontier life brought on but James was struck by the deep intelligence that the man showed with his well thought out questions and answers that he expressed. The conversation continued on the ride over to the folks' place, discussing the need to leave in the morning, and going back to the wilds of the frontier. Robert, who was in the back seat had been listening to the conversation between his Uncles and spoke up, “Dad mostly has ignored Will and me until recently when he started having me do errands for him. He doesn't ask me to do it for him, but tells me like I'm his servant or something, and Dad parades me in front of his friends like he's got something they don't have. He does the same thing to Mom when he has friends over. He doesn't treat her very nice at all” Sara spoke up, “He does do this, however I had always thought my behavior was another way I could show my support of him and positively endear him to me. I didn't realize I was just inflating his already overinflated ego. His stepping outside the boundaries of the law is just wrong.” Sara didn't realize what she had just said. Society believed crooks suffered from low self esteem and believed they had to look good in the eyes of their fellow man in order to feel like a success in the world. That night, when things were explained to their parents, it was accepted as something that had to be done. Sara and her boys stayed the night and James had them all up for an early start. The sun was barely an hour old when they rolled in front of the rental house that Sara and family had inhabited. James was cautious and escorted the family inside the house with one of his pistols in his belt. Walking into the house, Sara whispered, “He's here!” pointing to a jacket lying across a chair. “Well I better wake him up then so I can explain things to him.” James wasn't looking forward to that but knew it was the honorable thing to do and had to be done. They found Baylor sprawled across the tick with his clothes still on. James had a thought and pulled Sara from the bedroom and whispered in her ear. “Remember, you're coming with us so he can come also and have a change for the better. Be a loving wife towards him and explain things to him. I'll explain things to him if he gets belligerent. Alright?” “I can do this.” replied Sara, “Deep inside I still hope that I wasn't wrong about him.” She opened the door and walked over to the bed, look a deep breath and shook Baylor's shoulder. “Honey, wake up! We have to talk.” “Leave me alone. I'm sleeping!” Baylor was groaning with the headache he had from too much whiskey the night before. The comment, 'We have to talk.' hadn't sunk into his brain at first. “Me and the boys are leaving and we are leaving you all to yourself. If you want to find us, quit your drinking and start making an honest living. We will be in Rockford, North Carolina if you're interested in changing.” Sara started gathering and putting clothes into a bag like James had instructed her to do. What Sara had told Baylor was lying in his mind unprocessed until a man spoke to him, “And come by yourself if you are willing to be a husband and father to your family.” “What! Who the heck are you? Get out of my house!” “I could be your worst nightmare if you don't change for the better. If you don't change I'm sure a prison will be waiting for you. Sara, does Baylor have a weapon in the house?” Sara opened a drawer and gave James a pistol. “He keeps it loaded.” was all she said. James put his weapon under his armpit to hold it and proceeded to take the primer out of Baylor's pistol. Then he laid Baylor's pistol on the floor by the door and pulled his own pistol from his arm pit. Then he slipped the primer into his possibility bag. James continued with his information, “I'm James, your brother-in-law. I live outside of Rockford North Carolina. I am taking Sara and the boys home with me and I suggest you to sober up and follow us. That would be the best thing you could do. Sara now knows what you've been up to and soon others will know as well. You need to get out of town. But don't bring your friends. I wouldn't like that.” Baylor snorted at that, “ With me and no weapon, you are acting pretty brave. With my friends, I'm invincible. I'm sure you don't want my friends breathing down your neck. I'll make you wish you never meddled with my family. You've been warned!” “Well, you've been warned as well. If you don't have a change of heart toward your illegal activities and change, you're going to end up dead. If you don't have a change of heart, and come my way, you'll end up dead sooner than you wish. Are you ready Sara?” “Ready as I'll ever be.” “Then get the boys into the buggy and yell when you're all in. I'll stay with your husband until you're all seated.” A few minutes later, Sara yelled and James left Baylor and his scowling face behind. Jame took Baylor's pistol with his escape and dropped it on the porch. Jumping into the buggy he said, “Drive!” Baylor took his time walking out to the front porch and sitting down. He had thought his phantom brother-in-law, James, would never be here bothering him. This put a new wrinkle in his controlling everyone around him. He had business to attend to and James could just become complacent with thinking he wasn't coming. They would get the beeswax sold in small quantities along with a few other things. Baylor and his best men would get a few good horses together and make a trip in a month or so. Baylor had big plans for his in-laws. He had thought he'd convince or blackmail them into helping his misbegotten gains become legitimate properties. After the fact of James's demise, he'd convince them not to cross Baylor Frazer. James was deep in thought while Joel was retracing the road in which they had come. His first thought had been to pass Suffolk and travel another twenty miles for the day. But after thinking back about Baylor and realized, except for that one outburst, Baylor had clammed up and acted like he was thinking. James realized Baylor wouldn't be coming hell bent after them right away. He would wait and plan his moves. Thinking about it, James figured Baylor would try to leave James with a false security that Baylor wasn't coming. The deciding factor was that the horses did not have the rest that they needed with arriving one day and leaving the next. He smiled to himself, 'I hope I'm not wrong, but I think you outsmarted yourself Baylor. I think Baylor is going to be coming but it will be a little while before he does. He will want me to let my guard down and then he'll show up and throw everything he has at me.' The trip home to North Carolina seemed to go faster than the trip to Norfolk. The boys were enjoying the trip as it was a new adventure. Norfolk was all they had ever known, and the wide open spaces of the countryside was fascinating. The women took the trip as a time to bond and share their lives and get to know each other. James took the time riding in the buggy, for his thought were plotting against the storm he knew was coming. Last spring while stopping at the trading-post, Carl had been asking if the pesky natives had left the area for good. Caleb was lounging at a table that week and wondering the same thing. Most of his income was trapping in the winter. When he was home, Phebe had him doing things around the house and help her with the seven children. Siting in the trading-post was a pleasant alternative with spending his time. Caleb looked over at James and asked, “Well, are they gone?” “I believe they are. Why are you guys worrying about this?” “There is a village across the river and about eighteen miles away, that Caleb says is empty and it has nice cabins that are just sitting empty. It has water and is on the way to a pass across the Appalachians. It's a great place to have a town and another trading-post, don't you think?” Caleb popped up with, “Those cabins are better cabins then what I'm living in. Besides, someone is going to buy the land I'm on any day now and I'm going to haft to move soon. I just as well move to where a cabin is already built. I'm going to talk to Jonathan and see if he would like to move there as well.” James was surprised. He didn't know that Jonathan was back in the area. At that time he had figured it wouldn't be long before Jonathan showed up. And he had been right. Thinking back and knowing the village they were talking about, James wondered if he should move his family there too if Baylor was sighted coming this way. James was surprised Jonathan would even agree with moving there since his mother had lost her life there. He didn't know how Mary would feel about the place either. In time, he'd know, because she would tell him. Richard was surprised with the arrival of the travelers. He'd thought he would have at least a couple more weeks of being in charge of the crops and animals around the place. Being in charge of the children seemed to be a different matter. Mary was the only one who really worked when she was available. But her time was limited to the twins. The rest of the kids, (a name Richard gave the children because they ran around like baby goats, constantly chasing each other.) were next to worthless. How he had wished James hadn't taken Joel with him. When the travelers came back with two more boys, Richard was surprised and overjoyed. Richard was also intrigued by this Aunt that was only eleven years older then he was. Where was her husband? He was mulling this thought over and could see something wasn't right. He didn't have long to ruminate over this puzzle before his Dad took him to the side, out of earshot and filled him in on his Uncle. Richard couldn't believe his ears, “He's a pirate?” “Baylor's worse than a pirate. A pirate prays on his country's enemies. He prays on anyone he can, even family. I'm telling you this because I will need your help. He's coming here with his friends in crime and we need to be ready. I'm going over and talk to your Uncle Ben. The Trent's are right on the road to Richmond and he might come that way. They will need to keep their eyes open too. I'm also going to stop at any store in the settlements north of here and talk to the owners. If we can be forewarned and know where and when they are coming, we can stop them. I need you to practice the skills I taught you and live out in the woods for a while. When they are ready to strike it will be from the south or across the river through Spere's. If they slip by the settlements without us hearing about it, we will have to find them before they surprise us. After we know they're here, we'll have to dog them until we can run them over.” After James had made the trip north to the settlements, he turned to the old village of Chief Akanadi to find Jonathan. He found more than just Jonathan. The trail west turned into a street with buildings on each side of it. On one long building was a sign reading, Standish Trading-post. James thought, 'I see Delbert got his store. I hope he's doing well!' He pulled onto a side street and recognized Akanadi's cabin. He was delighted when Bill stepped out the door and onto the porch. “Strongheart! I didn't expect you to be here.” “Strongheart died. All that's left is Bill.” he said with a grin. “I hope he's not too far gone. I need him now like I never needed him before.” “There's a little heart residing in Bill. What's up?” “I went back to the Virginia's coast for a visit this summer and found out I had a brother-in-law that's as crooked as you can make-um. He's coming here, and he's coming with friends.” “How soon do you need me?” “That I don't know. It could be tomorrow or it could be two months from now. I got Richard running in the woods, sharpening his skills and keeping an eye on our surrounding. I'm hoping Jonathan will join Richard in the woods. If we can find out when they're coming, maybe we can bring the ladies here and keep them out of the line of fire?” “Sure. They can come anytime and stay here in this cabin. Let's go tell Delbert what's up so he can spread the word. Don't worry James. We all will be looking out for you!” Bill was trying to reassure his friend that everyone was there for him. “Thank you Strongheart, but I've got to make sure I protect my family any way I can. Let's go talk to Delbert.” Going into the new trading-post, James, looking around appreciated all Carl had done to help the next generation into a better tomorrow. Like his Father, Delbert had space around the counter for people to sit and chat with one another or sit at a couple of small tables in a corner. Caleb was there as well as several others that knew James. Bill announced in a loud voice that he needed everyone's attention, “Does everybody here know James Bertie? He's lived on the south side of the Yadkin for the last twenty some years. Recently he went back to his childhood home, which is Norfolk Virginia. While there he found he had a brother-in-law that wasn't treating his sister right. That's not the worst of it though. There are some things a man just has to accept, at times, to keep peace in the family. But this fool is also a thief, a criminal and a gang leader. James brought his sister back with him, which is as if he was rubbing his noise in his foolish pride and manhood. Now James knows he has a fight on his hands because his brother-in-law won't be coming by himself. What James would like to know is, can he bring his wife and children here and will the town protect them like they were your own?” There were shouts and cheers and foot stomping and assurances to the request. Then a man that had no inhibitions and could barely stand on his feet stood up and made a speech, “We would gladly protect your loved ones, but you could do a favor for us if you don't mind. We have been debating, excuse me, arguing what we should call this town. Give us a name!” James thought for a minute then started smiling, “I got a little girl that is only a year and a half. Her name is Leonor. Now I think if you are going to protect her, we should name this town after her. I would like to name this town, Leonora.” The men all looked at each other, 'Name the town after a girl?' and they all shouted, “Leonora, Leonora, Leonora! Three cheers!! Shortly the men left, hurrying home to tell their wives they had a name for their new town. It was almost a month after they had returned home, when James got to thinking about his neighbor, Joshua Spere and how he might be a problem if Baylor passed through Joshua's land. After thinking about it for a few minutes, a smile began to cross James's face and he went to the barn to saddle a horse. He then headed for Rockford. Walking into the trading-post he noticed there were a few customers sitting around. After picking out a factory made ax handle he started making conversation with Carl. “Carl, I saw your new store a couple of weeks ago. It looks like a nicer store than the one you have here. I gave a suggestion for a name for their town. What did they decide on?” “You should know James that they took your suggestion and there is a big sign on both ends of main street now. I don't know how you did it but everyone is happy with the name, Leonora. Those people were feuding for months and you walked into the trading-post with a name and everyone liked it!” “Well, I wish it would be that simple with my neighbor, Joshua! That man can hold a grudge forever. If I went onto his place, I'm sure I'd get shot at. Even if I'm not armed!” “Joshua's not dumb. He may be bullheaded, but he's not dumb. Take Charlie with you as a witness and I think you could talk to him. Say Charlie, would you like to go with James while he talks to Joshua?” “How much would you give me to go with you and risk my life with that hothead?” Charlie was fifty five to sixty years old and had lost his wife a couple of years ago, and now he had no gumption to do anything, especially if it had anything to do with work. His youngest son had taken over the farm and gave Charlie a shilling or two every week and sent him to town for this or that. Charlie would stay away all day long, which made his son perfectly happy. “Well, when you put it that way, you shouldn't do it for nothing. How does a shilling sound to you?” James had figured that this wouldn't be cheap. “How about three shillings? Those sons of Joshua's are worse than their old man. They might just shoot both of us in the back and put us six feet under.” Carl spoke up, “We're all witnesses to you two going out there. Remind them of that and they'll let you leave after James says his piece.” “Carl's right Charlie. I don't think you have any thing to worry about. Three shilling is like a full days pay. How does two shillings sound to you?” “Alright, I'll take it! Hand it over. And you pay for the ferry going over and back.!” “Not so fast. I'll pay for the ferry, but I'm only giving you one shilling now and one when we leave Joshua's place! Alright?” “Alright! Let's shake on that. No going back on your word.” Charlie was thinking this was just too easy. Crossing the Yadkin and leaving Rockford, James couldn't help but feel that this idea of his was getting quite expensive. Six pence a piece for a rider and a horse to cross one way was over a shilling just for the ferry. After crossing they turned onto the trail that led to Joshua's place. Coming into the clearing and on a little rise above the river, James let out a bellow that could have raised the dead, “Hello the house!” It was well after time for the noon meal but James wasn't surprised that Joshua came out of the cabin. James hoped the boys were out tilling the crops so he would only have to deal with Joshua. “What do you want, Bertie? Come to bring me my money you owe me?” “You know I can't do that Joshua. I'm just like you. Land rich but cash poor. If I had it I might give it to you, just to have a neighbor that wouldn't shoot me in the back. I come to ask for a truce. I have a brother-in-law that is wrapping up loose ends on his business deals in Norfolk Virginia and stopping here to get his wife and children. He might be carrying a bit of cash on him so he'll have some guards with him. If he stumbles onto your place looking for directions treat him with respect and I'm sure he'll be amiable. He can be a short tempered bear at times. After all we're neighbors and we should get along if we can.” “Get out of here Bertie! If you don't beat all. You don't bring any of my money and now you want me to mollycoddle some relative of yours. I should shoot you just for trespassing. If you were armed I would, even if you brought old Charlie with you to act as a witness for me shooting your dumb ass. Get out of here!” Charlie was already two hundred feet away and leaving as fast as his old mare would take him. Turning his horse and galloping after him, James had a time catching up to him. On the main road, Charlie stuck out his hand and said, “Pay up James! I don't know what you were trying to do back there, but what ever it was it didn't work. You can't reason with that old coot. Him waving that rifle around was enough fear to unsettle me for a month of Sundays. Give me my money and don't talk me into something like this again! Goodbye!” James headed back home thinking, 'That went better than I could even hope.” Chapter 11 Sara couldn't believe she was riding sidesaddle on a horse. As her brother,James, had said, “There are no real roads yet in this part of the county for buggies to travel over.” She felt like she was in a gypsy caravan. She smiled to herself thinking she had never met a gypsy, but she still liked the analogy. Sara's sister-in-law wouldn't make the fifteen mile trip. Julie had more than enough traveling for one summer, and wasn't about to leave the comforts of her house to go live in a village, of all places. Grandma Rachel felt the same way and wouldn't leave the house. The children took the trip like a lark and were riding two per horse except for Mary. She mothered her little brother and sister and seemed to pay way more attention to the twins then Julie did. Now Mary had them on a travois pulled by a horse while Mary sat bow legged on the horse with her dress pulled up to her knees. James was no help with chiding her. In fact Mary had convinced James to help her with making the travois. This was one summer James wasn't overly concerned about the crops. It was the end of July and the fields were fairly clean. Whatever would happen, this late in the growing season with the crops, wouldn't be too bad, as far as weeds went. If nature gave him hail or pestilence, Jame would have no control over it, and left it where it belonged. In God's hands! Protecting his loved one's took precedence. Once they were on the trail to Leonora, Sara found the trip quite pleasant. It helped to have a bonnet on her head and an umbrella in her hand. They had started out early in the chilly morning wearing a jacket. By mid morning the corset and petticoats were getting hot. Sara hadn't admitted defeat yet with wearing those to the garden when she was hoeing. She couldn't understand that Mary never wore a corset or a bonnet for that matter. Mary and the twins were as brown as berries. Sara had gotten little Jean and Nancy to wear a bonnet, but in Sara's mind, Mary was a bad influence. Because James didn't want to trot the horses, due to the travois and the twins, it was mid afternoon before they arrived in Leonora. To Sara, Leonora was just another dirty frontier town with a dirty main street surrounded by the weeds owing alongside the buildings. When James pulled up to one of the larger cabins, a man stepped out that James introduced to Sara as Bill. “Bill, I'd like you to meet my sister, Sara. Sara, this is a good friend of mine, Bill Hart. Over there with my boys are Sara's sons, Robert and William.” “Pleased to meet you Bill. So you're the man we're staying with?” “Yes, I am. I've been waiting for you James. What took so long?” “Mary put the twins in a travois, so we walked the horses here. I didn't think there was any rush.” “There wasn't. I have soup made since noon and we can eat it any time.” “Well, thank you Bill,” a pleased Sara gushed, “I was wondering if we were going to eat hardtack again. Soup sounds great. If you'll allow me, I'll help you get it out and served.” It was hard for Sara to comprehend that a man would make a meal. She could also smell cornbread as she was entering. Moving into the cabin, she saw a wood covered floor, until six feet in front of the fireplace where there were flat rocks that made up the rest of the floor. One of the things she noticed was the light streaming from six windows in the one room cabin. There were rods running above the windows with heavy drapes hanging on them, made to be closed at night. There was a loft above them as they walked in and on one side of the doorway was a curtained area made for privacy. On the other side of the doorway was a couple of ticks filled with grass and stacked on each other to be spread out at night. James noticed the windows and looked at Bill. Bill saw the look and informed him, “The trading-post carries windows and sashes now. No more going to Salem to get something when you can get it here. The trading-post even carries lumber from the mill, so we made our own frames for the windows. Cutting out the logs to frame the hole is the tricky part. I used that limestone stucco that Delbert carries and some nails to make sure the logs stayed in place while I sawed on them.” James thought Bill had done a lot more than just put windows in. He had put up a privacy curtain for the ladies and curtains over the windows so that the room could be turned into sleeping quarters for the women. He knew the loft had not been here the last time he talked to Bill. Bill had done a lot of work for James and James was completely touched. He was sure Bill and the boys would be sleeping in the loft. Jame's voice was filled with emotion when he said, “You don't know how much I appreciate what you're doing for me. I can go home and get ready for Baylor without worrying about them getting in the cross hairs when the lead starts flying.” “I'm sure Joel would rather be with you instead of being here with the rest of your clan.” “Take him hunting. That should keep his mind off what he's missing. Better yet, take all the boys out and teach them how to live in the woods. Keep them busy so they have no time to be getting into mischief.” “I can do that, and now I have the time to do that. This will be fun!” Bill was relishing the thought. “That reminds me,” James injected, “How were you able to do all this to the cabin? I should give you something for having done this!” “No, it was my pleasure and also one of my goals was to make this cabin where a family could live in it. This will be my home base for a while. I travel to the different tribes west of here and trade for furs. Then I bring the furs here and resell them to Delbert for a profit.” “Do you still go as Strongheart?” “No, I go as a trader. Traders are treated differently than a stranger. They all want me to come back. So as long as I treat them with respect, they treat me the same way. I leave here with trade goods and come back with furs. Everyone is happy.” “Well, I'm glad for you.” “This happens to be the start of my easy time. Late winter I'll be traveling again until early summer. You wouldn't mind if Joel would take a trip with me, Would you?” “I think I'll keep him at home. I think at his age, the temptations would be too great with the maidens. I could see him having to fight a jealous brave and losing big time at his age. Besides, he's at an age where he's being shaped into what he will become. Being a farmer would be a lot more stable than being a trader.” “Ya, you're right James. You never know when some young warrior wants to take your goods away and make a name for himself. From the time I leave the trading-post until I make it back, I'm on the alert to all possibilities, all day every day.” “I have to head back and check on Richard and Jonathan. You have fun with the boys while I'm gone and teach them a few things. I'll be back when it's safe.” James was having a hard time leaving, but knew he had to get back and protect the rest of his family. He waved to the boys as they played in the dirt street and got on his horse and left. It did no good to get too emotional! He had a lot to do in order to stay vigilant. Joel came over to Bill and asked, “When Dad said we were coming here, he didn't say what we would be doing, besides watching out for everybody. What are we going to be doing here? I don't want to be kicking a rock around in the dirt until Dad comes back to get us!” “I've been thinking about that Joel. Do you think you could help me in teaching these youngsters how to become woodsmen? Our biggest challenge will be in not losing anybody. We can teach these young-ins how to be quiet in the woods, how to set up camp, how to stalk prey, how to make bird calls,....All sorts of things.” Joel smiled, “I can't wait to see them start a fire with a stick and sinew!” “I would say, we have our work cut out for us then. That can wait. Now I should help your Aunt with serving supper.” When Bill had laid eyes on Sara, coming up the trail, so prim and proper with the trees as a backdrop, he had lost his breath. He admired the facade of the outward demeanor. So calm and so posed. Like a Queen of Ice. Something his Cherokee side of him would admire. Don't let anyone know what you are truly thinking. He thought about her waiting for the arrival of her husband. Was he coming as a repentant and humbled partner of a marriage or as a rebuffed husband, demanding his due and her submission. The anxious waiting couldn't be easy. Would it be a marriage of someone's convenience? Which one's? Was that a marriage or a rewrite to a contract? One thing for sure. Life will go on and will never be the same. Bill had seen a mountain of changes in his short life. When Bill stepped into the cabin, he could see Jean playing with the twins and Mary helping Sara getting everything ready to be dished out. “Do you girls need any help in here?” “No, call the boys and we'll eat. There is not enough room to sit at the table, so we'll have to eat wild. I'm glad you have enough bowls and saucers. A lot of the children will have to sit on the floor.” Sara didn't like the chaos of eating willy-nilly but knew it was temporary. “Wait a minute. This is an expanding table and I have boards for it. Also I have a long bench outside that we can slide behind the table and will seat four children. With the chairs around the table that we have now, we'll have room for everyone to sit up.” Bill had planned everything, just for this visit, and he hoped he hadn't forgotten anything. “Alright!” Once more Sara was impressed with Bill's thoughtfulness. “I'll help with the table and have Joel help with bringing the bench in. We'll get the table set!” Setting around with everyone, seemed like a dream to Bill. It felt like a sharing of a village, but much more intimate. It was so much more than it had been when it was just his Mother and his Stepdad. Looking back on his life, Bill realized his happiest time was when he lived for others as well as himself. The revelation turned his eyes misty and brought a lump into his throat. Bill's thoughts were interrupted by Sara. “I brought my knitting needles along to keep occupied. What are you boys doing to stay busy?” “We're going to have fun learning how to live in the woods. It's never too young to learn.” “Certainly John and William are too young to be traipsing around in the woods. Besides getting lost, they will also slow you down with what you are doing!” “No, we aren't going to leave them out. If I'm showing the older boys a skill that's too old for the younger lads, Joel will take the youngsters under his wings and we'll split up. Until James comes and gets you all, I'll teach the boys as much as I can about living in the woods.” “How do you know so much about the skills needed in living on the frontier?” “My Mother was a captive when I was born in a native village not too far from here. I was ten when we were sold into the White World, and I lived on the east coast until I was fourteen when I ran away from home. I ran back to the village that I had lived in and was welcome there. I relearned the skills I had forgotten and had to prove myself by living off the land for seven days. Everyone on the frontier should know survival skills in the woods. If nothing else, how to not get lost in the woods. I'm hoping I can have two months of playing in the woods with the boys before James comes back. William and John are not too young to learn! It might mean life or death some day for them.” “Wow, are you still part of the Cherokee People?” Sara was amazed. He was so white, but yet he seemed so.... native? No! Philosophically different. He carried himself so unassumingly, yet he seemed so in control in his every move or thought. Sara finally decided no one would want to mess with him or fight him. Bill was someone she would want her boys to become. Being around him would be good for her boys. “They still consider me a brother. But a lot of the people don't remember me because most of the old people have died and the tribe has shrunk in size. I'm sure there are less than half as many people as there once were.” “When can we expect you and the boys to come in at night for supper? Will you be bringing us meat to cook with?” “Yes, we will be bringing meat in to you. But we also will be bringing roots and green leafage that is safe to eat. I'll try to bring the boys back to the cabin in time to dry the meat we find on that day and give you some to prepare for supper.” Bill was glad he had answered all of Sara's questions. Now he had to make sure nothing happened to the boys as he instructed them in wood-lore. For the next month he taught them how to stalk prey, and identify fresh or old tracks. They became skilled in slipping through the woods without making a sound. Bill had bought an English Longbow several years ago and still bought steel tipped arrowheads for his own use when he wanted to enjoy tracking and getting close to his prey. Now he spent time with the boys teaching them how to make bows and arrows as well as practice with them. Robert excelled in everything Bill taught him and by the end of the month, Bill decided Robert was ready to pass the survival test of being in the woods for five days without food. He had his bow and arrows along with a length of string and his knife. Six days later, towards nightfall, Robert returned to the cabin in time for supper. Robert tolerated his Mother raining hugs and kisses down on him when he walked into the cabin, but didn't seem to be all that hungry when he sat down to eat. Bill observed him that night and was pleased. Robert was quieter then before his test, but to Bill, Bob was also more self assured and grown up. Bill saw it for what it was. The wilderness had left its mark on Bob and he would never be the same! He had morphed from a boy into a man! When Bill quizzed Bob on how he did out in the woods, Bob told him without bragging, “It was good that Mom fed me in the morning of the first day or I would have gotten hungry by the end of the day. I set snares for rabbits that day and waited by a creek most of the day. A covey of quail landed by me before dark and I was able to shoot one with an arrow. I found a hollow log before dark and started a fire and ate the bird, I shot that evening. Then I crawled into the log and slept that night. By morning, I woke up cold, so I got up and walked and ran around until I could warm up. Then I checked my snares. I had snared two rabbits which I cleaned and cooked. I found that was a mistake. I should have been stalking the game by a stream of water early in the morning, instead of worrying if I was hungry. That was the last time I ate that day except for some roots. The next morning I woke up cold again. I had nothing in my snares so I went to the creek once again. As it was getting daylight, a spring fawn came with its Mother to the water and I shot it. I ate and dried the meat that day and slept that afternoon. After that I always hunted early in the morning and napped in the afternoon. It was so quiet! I could hear everything around me. A snake, slithering through the grass, and even bugs under a rotting log. So peaceful!” S After two months, Baylor Frazer was ready to ride west and retrieve his two boys from his goody, goody, brother-in-law. He had half a mind to leave his wife with his brother-in-law and take the harlot, from the brothel that he had been patronizing for the last couple of years. Not that his wife wasn't amicable enough, it was more about a status symbol around his buddies. But that Lolita had been something else. Too bad she never had warmed up to him. The six friends Baylor was taking with him were all flush with money, as was Baylor, with what they had gleaned from their unlawful activities. They had full money bags from their monthly extortion from all of the business places in Norfolk. The bribes to the constables were paid, so they had a month before they needed to be back in town. Baylor had promised his friends a bonus to travel with him so they were treating this time as a lark. No danger for the next month with no one knowing them. And getting paid besides! After the first couple of days spent riding on the road, the saddle and boredom started getting to them. Their bottoms were hurting like blazes from spending long days in the saddle. By the time they got to Wynne's Crossing and the ferry, they were in a foul mood and rode off without paying for their fare. As luck would have it, Brigadier General Joseph Martin was riding home from business in Richmond and was ready to cross when the man running the ferry service came back across the river madder than a wet hornet. “Dang, am I glad to see you General. Those seven riders just stiffed me out of more than two shillings. If you would get me my two shillings, and two pence, you and your men would get a free crossing from me the next time you need my services.” “Wow, that's quite an offer. With me and my ten men, that's two trips across this puddle.” “I don't care! It's the principle that matters to me. Nobody stiffs old Johnny and gets away with it.” Johnny was steamed to say the least. “Aright Johnny, we'll see what we can do. Describe these men to me.” “They didn't look like anybody from around here. More like wetbacks from the docks or maybe guards from a prison. Big men. Oh yes, one of the guys said, “Baylor.” and nodded to me. I should have known something was up then. Those polecats!” “Alright, Johnny. You just made it worth our time to stay in Wynne's Crossing for the night. We'll bring you back your money in the morning.” General Martin rode away with a smile on his face, and a bit of devilry on his mind. Halfway to town, the General said to his Lieutenant, “Send Sargent Rye up and have him talk to me.” “Will do Sir.” and wheeled his horse around. A minute later, Rye came up at a trot to answer the summons. “Yes, General.” “Still have your knife on you?” “Right here Sir.” Rye was a thin, wiry man in the prime of his life and liked nothing more than to fight. “Good, good. When I nod to you tonight, I want you to pick a fight with a fellow. Take it outside when he's ready to fight and don't be afraid to cut him up. If his friends make me mad, cut his throat if you want to. We'll back you. Alright?” “Sounds like fun. Like always, I get your share of what he has on him. Right?” “Like always.” There were only two bars in Wynne's Crossing and Martin found his prey in the first one. The General and his men had an early supper at the local Tavern and had rested for a couple of hours while Martin filled them in on what he wanted to happen. The General had issued his men Double Barreled Pistols and they all made sure the barrels were primed and ready to go. At the first bar, Martin picked out the renegades right away. There was four gambling tables going on due to the large crowd that night. When there was an empty chair at a table, his men immediately sat down and introduced themselves. When one of the men at one of the tables introduced himself as Baylor, one of Martin's men that was at the table raised his hand and acted like he had just experienced a cramp. “Excuse me, men, but I just got a cramp in my arm. First time that has ever happened to me. Wish I could have played with you fellas, but I better retire for the night.” The General slid into the seat and said, “Joseph Martin fellas. Glad this seat opened up. Who might you all be?” The standard of going around the table clockwise and giving names was observed with, 'Hank Welsh' 'Joe Slade' 'Baylor Frazer' 'Jack Andres'. Martin then asked about the game, “Are we playing Five card draw at this poker table, Gentlemen?” “We are.” Baylor replied. “I'm not!” injected Jack, “Let someone else fill in for me.” Jack was a local man and had been rooked by the General once before. “I'll take that seat.”said one of Martin's lieutenant's, sliding into the seat. The Virginia militia didn't pay that well and The General always seemed to find ways to increase the ante. The fleecing Martin would do tonight would go a long way towards that goal. The spoils would be divided up like always. Fifty percent would be divided up between ten men and the General would get the other fifty percent. Joseph Martin was that good of a gambler. For the next two hours, four out of five hands would go to the Lieutenant or the General. Baylor would get a win about every tenth hand. After losing about half of what was in his saddle bag, Baylor threw in his hand. “I'm out. I don't know how you're doing it but I'm losing too much money. I fold!” The General raised his hands in the air like he needed to stretch and pointed to a man at the bar that seemed to be with Baylor's group. The man seemed to be drinking in excess of the others. Rye sauntered over to the bar and shouldered his way between two men, accidentally hitting the ribs of his target, with his elbow. “Hey! Watch what you're doing with that elbow.” growled the man. “What do you mean shithead? I only gave you a little love tap to get to the barkeeper. You wouldn't want a man to die of thirst because of you, now would you?” Rye thought this was almost too easy. “Watch who you're calling shithead. I've half a mind to take you out and cut you up a little.” The guy had been with Baylor far too long and thought no one would want to mess with them. After all, they were too tough to mess with. “You and whose army? You could have a whole regiment of Red Coats behind you and I could still cut you to ribbons. Why don't you go home little boy and have your daddy teach you how to fight.” Rye could almost see the wheels in the alcoholic induced brain trying to work and make a retort. “If I thought you were serious, I'd take you outside and show you a thing or two. Now run along and find someone else to play with.” The man was getting a little anxious and looked around for Baylor. Rye decided to lay it on thick, “I think you are yeller, that's what I think. Just a damn coward. Not fit to live among men. Why don't you go back home to Momma and put your head on her lap and have a good cry. She's the only woman that could love a ugly man like you. Run on home now! I said, GIT!” “That does it! I'm going to take you, little wiper snapper, out back and put you six feet under. Come on stupid. You're not yeller now are you?” Rye had definitely got to the Drunk, and he was boiling over with anger. Rye walked out the back door while reaching into his money belt for his toad sticker. In his mind, he believed this was going to be easy. This would be like taking honey from a smoked hive of bees. Once out the back door, he spun around and walked backwards to keep an eye on his opponent. Coming out of the bar behind him the agitated man, was pulling his own knife out. Behind the two, the men that had been in the bar, were struggling to be the first ones outside. They were all excited to see a good fight. Joseph Martin kept his eye on Baylor as he waited for a chance to get out the back door. Baylor appeared angry and upset. It had been a bad night for him. But he knew he'd better be there for his men. Baylor was outside just in time to see the two opponents start circling each other. At the same time Martin's men pulled out their pistols and cocked them, holding them down by their legs. The local men heard the clicking of the pieces and hurried away. They all at once wanted no part with flying lead balls. Baylor looked around him and realized there were ten pistols drawn, cocked and ready to be used on his men. The two opponents were too engrossed with each other to notice what was happening outside of their line of vision. Rye's adversary stabbed in, aiming for Rye's gut. Striking like a snake, Rye jumped to the side and jabbed for the wrist, stabbing it. As the opponent grabbed for his wrist in pain, Rye leaped forward and slashed his opponents throat. He then jumped away from the gush of blood spewing from the throat. The man looked around like 'This can't be happening to me!' Then he fell to his knees and than onto his face. The first person to speak was Joseph Martin. “Baylor, remember that man at the ferry that you stiffed this afternoon? Besides the two shillings and two pence, you owe him, you also owe me ten pounds as a collectors fee. Would you like me to collect the hard way or the easy way. It's up to you! The hard way is going to cost you way more than the easy way. Reach into that money belt of yours and pull out ten pounds, two shillings and two pence.” As Baylor reached into his money bag and pulled out the money, Martin said, “Thank you Baylor. Now you boys just mossy on out of here and find someplace to bed down for the night. I'm sure tomorrow will be a much better day for you. Unless you keep stiffing people around these parts. That wouldn't be good. We frown on such behavior in this country.” Baylor stood there, furious and let it soak in. He had just been fleeced by the best and he knew it. “Come on men, let's go.” He knew he had lost face with his men and didn't know what to do about it. All at once this trip wasn't much of a lark. He turned around and started back to the livery and his horse blanket to sleep under. Behind him he heard the obvious question. “What about Clem?” Martin called after the gang, “Don't worry about Clem. We'll take care of Clem. You worry about yourselves. Now GIT!” Rye was busy stripping the dead man of all his belongings, including his boots that looked bran new. The next day after saddling up, General Joseph Martin turned and headed back to the furry. Lieutenant Snipes rode up alongside Martin and asked, “Where are we heading for next?” “After we give the ferry man his due, I think we'll trail those fellas that we run into last night and hound them out of Virginia. These are the kind of people that we don't need around here. Also it didn't hurt that they were about as flush with cash as any I've seen in a while. How much did Rye pull off Clem last night?” “He wouldn't say, but he's been grinning from ear to ear all morning. He might have lockjaw as much as he's grinning.” “Well he'd better be saying. Almost half of that money belongs to the rest of you troupes. We'll let him enjoy things for a while before we remind him. He did good last night. Let's get the man paid and get going after those lawbreakers. We don't want to lose them!” After paying the ferryman and thanking him for giving militia the opportunity to help make honest men out of the thieves and keeping the general public safe, they headed to the other side of Wynne's Crossing to pick up the trail. It was unusual for six horses to be together without being hitched. Unbeknownst to the six men, Martin had his tracker and another trouper go into the livery and mark the left shoe on the inside with a file on all six horses. Besides the horses the troupe had, it left only five more horses that weren't theirs. On the trail ahead they discovered four horses that had the mark. After that it was easy to follow the trail on the dirt road. The tracker thought he had done a good job, since he hadn't known whose horses were in that barn besides their own. Timothy Shumate had a nephew that had gained acceptance into Baylor's gang at the insistence of Tim. When they pulled up to the livery to get their horses taken care of, Odes Neal was the last one to dismount. Looking back on the trail to see if they were being followed, he saw one rider sitting on the ridge that they had come down on. Thinking about what that meant, he looked down on the ground and noticed a mark on the ground of his mount's hind left shoe. After he got off the horse, he set himself and lifted the hind foot. He could see the mark that had recently been filed on the shoe. He looked at another horse, who also had the same mark. Four out of six of the horses had marks on their left hind shoe. Someone had marked the shoes to make it easy to follow their group. Odes could easily guess who would have done such a thing. All at once an uncomfortable feeling came over Odes, and immediately Odes knew he didn't want to be part of the gang anymore. The next morning Odes was up by three AM and slipped a horse out of the livery and headed east. When Baylor gathered his men around, he realized Odes wasn't with them. Then Baylor realized his horse was missing and Odes's horse was still there. Baylor was perplexed until he looked at his back trail and saw the telling hoof print. Halting his four men he had them look at their horses hoofs. Four rear left shoes had the same mark. They got back on their horses and started walking and trotting down the road again while Baylor thought about it. He remembered James's warning about not coming to Rockford. The nagging question that entered his mind was, 'James couldn't have this much reach to cause him all these troubles, could he? Na!' Scowling to himself, he dismissed the thought, but Baylor wasn't real sure. 'How far was James's reach?' All Baylor really knew was that someone had marked their horses so they could be trailed easily. The first person Baylor thought of was General Joseph Martin. It had to be him that was trailing them. They were being left alone so far. Maybe if they paid their way and stayed honest in their dealings, Martin would let them travel unmolested. Baylor thought it wouldn't hurt to keep this line of thought and keep riding. 'Maybe if they pushed the horses a little harder, they could get away from Martin.' Baylor had asked for directions at Martinsville and knew they had to turn in another day. He thought about that and decided that the next good road he saw going south, they would take it. After trotting for four hours, Baylor saw a road that went south. He took it and the other four men followed. The road took them to Lawsonville, arriving late in the afternoon. Baylor inquired at the roadhouse if they were still in Virginia. “No, you're in North Carolina. You crossed the line about ten miles ago.” Baylor let out a sigh of relief. He was hoping the General would stop at the border between the states and not continue to following them. There was no livery in this one horse town, but the proprietor had a stable in the back. He showed them how much corn each horse should have and filled the stanchion with all the hay the horses could eat. The proprietor noted that the men didn't rub the horses down like they should have, but figured he wasn't going to do it for them. The next morning after paying the bill, Baylor asked how to get to Rockford. “Well, in order to stay away from Kings Mountain you need to stay on this road to Town Fork. Then you head west to Colonel Jack Martin's rock house and keep going south to Richmond. Then you wind west along the Yadkin until you reach Rockford. It's a long day's ride if you want to make it in one day, but I would suggest you stop at Richmond and seek lodging there.” “Jack Martin? Is that any relation to General Joseph Martin? Baylor all at once got worried again. If he saw a rock house it would be at a distance. “Oh yes, he's a brother. He's also the county's Judge.” “Thank you for telling me. I'll try to keep on the good side of the law.” “Ya, Jack's a good example of how the British were trying to control the colonies. For a while they were offering Crown Grant's of land. The idea was give a large parcel of land to someone that pledged elegance to the Crown and they then became Lord of a group of tenants. The Lords of the land controlled the masses, and England controlled the Lords. Colonel Martin received eight thousand acres from this program and for the last twenty years built his rock house.” Baylor was anxious to change the subject, “Could you tell me what's in Richmond?” “Nothing much. It did have a County Court House and Prison, but now the town is slowly dying. I think it has a tavern yet and a Mercantile and of course some old people, so I think you can find some lodging.” “Thank you for your help. We should be able to find our way to Rockford now.” The proprietor of the road house in Lawsonville, watched the five men ride away and shook his head. To him they looked completely inept. His last thought about them was, 'They should have stayed in the seaboard!' That day they passed Jack Martin's rock house. Evan from the road it looked amazing, unbelievable and completely out of place with the rolling hills of timber surrounding it. It stood four stories high, and it looked like a castle in the middle of nowhere. It was late afternoon when they finally rode into Richmond. The proprietor at last night's road house had been right. After inquiring at the mercantile, they were directed to a couple's house that had a cabin behind it. It was set up with tick's on the dirt floor and blankets on a table. It had a fireplace with firewood stacked alongside of it. If it became cold at night, the men could start a fire. The horses were turned into a corral and the horses gear was taken into the cabin. The supper and breakfast cost was separate, if they wanted it. Some travelers lived off jerky and johnny cake which they carried with them. Baylor and his men were hungry and hadn't bought anything for the road, so they were eager to pay for the meals. The next morning they were being fed hoe cake with honey and hot chicory tea for a drink. Then they had to catch their horses and get them sorted. It was nine in the morning before they were on their way. After ten miles on the road, they entered the river road that meandered alongside the river except for avoiding the sharpest bends of the river. Early in the after noon they were getting hungry again. They didn't have anything in their saddlebags to eat and had reached the unspoken agreement that they would just have to tough it out, when they saw the sign, 'Liker fr Sell'. Baylor pulled up on his horse and looked at the sign, “I could use a good dose of Liquor. What do you boys think? Could you all handle a little liker?” “I could use some cornbread. What we had this morning didn't stick with me long enough.” One of Baylor's men was saying food was taking first place in his wants. “Let's ride down this lane and see where it leads us. We can always turn back.” Traveling for another quarter mile they came to a clearing with a cabin and an assortment of buildings on the place. Hanging on the porch was another sing, 'Corn Liker Her'. Looking out the door into the bright sunlight, Ben Trent saw the five horsemen coming up the drive. Seeing them he thought, 'Na, it can't be the crooked brother-in-law James was talking about'. But to be on the safe side he said. “Rebekah, can you go out onto the porch and see what those guys want?” “Alright. Maybe your signs are working.” Rebekah stepped out onto the porch and asked like only a blind person could, “Can I help you?” The first thing out of one of Baylor's men's mouth was, “Wow, Frazer, she's blind!” Ben thought for a moment, “Frazer? Baylor Frazer! Dang, that's him.” As noiselessly as he could, he slipped out the back door and headed toward the corn-crib where his ten year old son was building a fort. “Jim.” Ben whispered, “Come with me!” They went into the horse barn and saddled up Jim's horse. “Now Jim.” Ben instructed, “I want you to ride to Rockford and go to the trading-post. Tell the men there that the criminal that James has been warning everyone about is at our place and we need help! Alright!” “Yes Dad! And then he yelled, “Getty up!” and kicked the horse in the ribs. Ben wished Jimmy would not have done that and he hadn't had the foresight to tell little Jimmy to be quiet until he was on the road. He thought it was time to get his rifle off the hooks above the door. He entered the cabin in time to hear Baylor say, “Who else is here Mam? That sure sounded like a horse leaving.” Ben looked above the door and saw his rifle was missing. He smiled because he knew who had his rifle. Ben reached above the mantle and picked up his pistol and loaded it. “That is probably true. My nephew, Jimmy, loves to go to the Rockford store if his Dad lets him.” “Well, where is this Dad of his” “Right behind the door Baylor.” said Ben letting his presence known. “And his wife is around the corner.” Fereby injected into the conversation. “And don't worry, we're all armed.” “Let's leave men! I think we should get to Rockford before it gets dark.” Ben laughed, “No worries there. Rockford is only a couple of miles away.” Baylor and his men hightailed it down the driveway, retracing the way they had arrived. Back on the road the horses were kicked into a gallop. Shortly thereafter the road curved in by a ninety degree angle and Baylor realized they were swinging by the farm they had just left. That was confirmed by a sign by the road, 'Liker fr Sell'. Baylor had a sinking feeling in his gut that he should have taken James's advice. They had lost thirty some minutes of valuable time. Halfway to town, they saw a rider coming toward them. Five hundred feet away he stopped his horse. Baylor yelled, “That's Bertie! Get him!” James shot over their heads and turned his horse around, galloping down the road. From there he veered off the road onto a trail that led to the river and splashed into the river. The Yadkin was down for the summer and it was no problem to cross. Baylor and his men were in hot pursuit and paid no attention to the water. James left the river and plowed through some brush before he hit the trail that headed west along the river. He crossed a road that led to the ferry and kept galloping down the trail. After a couple of miles he veered off the trail and jumped off his horse. He ran into the underbrush, trying to use everything he had learned from Strongheart. Baylor and his men rode on by and a quarter mile later came upon a clearing with a cabin and other buildings on the farm place. “Alright Bertie, come out of there or we're burning you out!” A rifle went off inside and one of the men fell off his horse. Baylor wheeled his horse around and galloped behind a barn. His three men followed. “Alright, we'll spread out and come in from all sides. The side with the chimney doesn't have a window. Joe, you go over there and start the cabin on fire. We'll keep them occupied while you're starting the logs to burning.” After ten minutes the shooting at the cabin began. James located a man and sneaked up behind him. The man didn't know what hit him. James figured when he woke up dead, it would be in a place that was pretty hot. James went on to locate the next man. Baylor was reloading his rifle after about the twentieth time. The barrel on his rifle was hot and needed to cool off. While waiting he noticed no one was shooting. He was turning around when he heard, “Bye Baylor!” Baylor didn't feel the bullet go through his head because his brain didn't tell him. An hour passed and the quiet finally got to Ralph, one of Joshua's sons. “I'm going out there and see what's going on!” “You go fast and we'll try to keep you covered.” His brother Issac said. Issac went to the door and got ready. Ralph gave a nod and Issac swung the door open. Ralph was running by the time he reached the porch. He flipped off the porch and was behind a tree before he stopped running. Crouching down, he waited. He heard nothing except the whinny of a horse. He knew by the horse, that those four men hadn't left. He was living off adrenaline, being out here. He ran to another tree and could see around the corner of the cabin. There by the chimney lay a man with a smoldering branch. He ran to the man and threw the branch away from the cabin. The man's head was smashed in and his throat was cut. Ralph ran back to the front door and barged in. After catching his breath he said, “Something or someone helped us out. I found a man with his throat cut that was trying to burn us out. I also heard a horse whinny behind the barn. Issac, it's your turn to go out there. I'm all done in.” Joshua looked at Issac, “You want to? I ain't as young as I once was. I don't know if my heart could take it.” Issac opened the door with more confidence and less speed. He ran around the cabin and saw the dead man by the chimney. Hiding behind the chimney he looked around. He saw a man behind a stump that wasn't moving. He ran to the stump and crunched down. Looking over to where he knew shots had been fired from, he saw another man dead. Issac looked at the man below him and saw his throat had also been cut. He ran to the man behind the tree and saw his throat had been cut as well. From the tree he saw another man, stretched out on the ground. Walking over, Issac saw the man's forehead had been blown to bits. Walking over to the front of the cabin, he yelled, “Come out Dad. We got a mess to clean up.” After walking around the dead men and trying to figure out what had happened and how many men it must have taken to kill these men they saw in front of them. Joshua Spere's started striping the bodies and was pleasantly surprised with the money belts the men were carrying on their persons. That night they counted over a thousand pounds. Joshua sat back and thought, 'With this money we can build a nice house and buy more land'. Joshua turned to his boys and said, “We're not going to look this gift horse in the mouth. We aren't going to mention anything about those five dead men that are out there for nothing. Tomorrow we're digging one grave for those five men. Next month we're heading to Salem with those five horses and selling them. Coming back, we're going to buy some lumber from the Lumber Mill. Then we're going to be neighborly and go over to James Bertie's place and ask him how he built his house. He might know where we can get some timbers, cheap! We don't want to be feuding with James Bertie! No Sirree, we sure don't want to do that!” Chapter 12 It was six weeks after James had brought Sara and the children to Leonora that James rode up, before noon, to the front of the cabin. Getting off the horse he stretched and knocked on the front door. Sara and the girls were home, having a light lunch. James had left home early that morning and was hungry. Sara hurried and fed him as quickly as she could. Sara had been living on pins and needles ever since she had left Norfolk. At the time that she left, she still had an emotional bond to her boys Father and knew she was obligated to submit to the marriage if at all possible. Her brother, James, said all things were possible and Baylor might have had a change of heart. Over the last two months, if Sara would admit it, she had lost the bond she had felt. Living in this frontier town and watching Bill interact with the children and her, had given her a new perspective of what a man should be. The first thing Sara did was take James outside and asked, “Did he come?” “He did. Baylor was chasing me out of Rockford when he took a wrong turn and ran into a neighbor that hated me. I'm sorry, but no one has heard from him since. Now don't repeat what I'm telling you because Joshua could call me out if I don't have proof and he could challenge me to a dual because I'm slandering his name. But yes, I don't think your husband is in this world anymore. I'm sorry!” “Now what do I do? I suppose the boys and I will have to go back to Norfolk to live with Mom and Dad.” “You can stay with us. You don't want to make that trip again so soon and neither do I. I can't go now if I wanted to. It's harvest time and we have to gather in the crops and get ready for winter. Next spring after the crops are planted we'll talk again. If you're really unhappy we can maybe go to Norfolk then. We'll see.” That fall was a real awakening for Sara. Married wives did not work outside of the home. But the work inside the home kept them busy. On a farm, a wife was doing the cooking and the cleaning and washing, plus storing the vegetables away into a cellar. Or drying the vegetables and then finding someplace cool and dry to put them. The children down to four years of age helped as well. The men hunted and dried meat and cured hams. Come winter, the meat became a steer that would be frozen, hanging in a tree and wrapped up to keep the birds off it. Sara appreciated all the work her farm family did. Late in the fall, Bill was back, showing the lads how to trap beaver, mink, muskrats, coyotes, wolverines, bobcats and lynx among any other pests a fur trader would buy. The other half of selling to fur traders was the quality of the fur. It shouldn't have holes in the hide and had to be semi-cured. Sara held her noise at times when Bob came in after having caught a skunk in a trap. After a while Sara tried not to get to close to her sons. The boys and Bill were living in the old cabin by the spring and they kept the smells away from the main house. Bill spent Christmas with the family and Sara was surprised when Bill gave Sara a stole of the softest mink skin imaginable. The stole was an extravagance that didn't go with the black mourning dresses she was supposed to wear, for a year, while she was in mourning over the loss of her husband. By the middle of January, Bill headed out to start buying furs from the natives. The native women had gotten used to seeing traders bringing big steel needles and steel awls for weaving sinew in buckskin, along with steel knives, guns, powder and shot, chisels, thimbles, blankets, stocking hats and even wool jackets. In some village's Bill stopped twice in a season, to bring them all they needed for the next year. And of course, Bill always embellished the ability of the natives that did a great job with curing and tanning hides. That spring when the twins were turning two, a coughing croup invaded the country side. As the weather became warmer and the windows were once again raised to let air flow in the houses, the constant cough in the children slowly disappeared. Markus was the only child that the cough seemed to hang on and wouldn't let go. As spring slowly lead into summer, people shed the lethargic feeling of hibernation that came from staying inside by a fire all winter. With the longer daylight hours and warmer days, they spent hours outside planning and planting fields and gardens. Along with this awakening from the winter past, came a restlessness of wanting something, but not knowing what it was that was wanting. That restlessness was strong in the Bertie household that spring with most everyone there. James could see it was Sara and Bob that were the most restless and talked to her about it one day, “Little sister, have you decided what you want to do after the crops are in? Should we prepare for another trip to Norfolk in another month?” “No, I don't really want to go back home. That life to me is so... distant and artificial. But I don't want to be a burden to you either. What I would like to do is go back to that little cabin in Leonora. But I can't go back there. I have another six months of mourning before I can entertain the thought of choosing another husband and I couldn't go there without a chaperone. So if you will have me for another year, I will be here waiting for my mourning time to pass.” One day as James and Mary were putting in the last of the vegetables into the garden, James asked Mary, “Are you happy here Mary?” Mary looked at her Dad and said, “That's a funny thing to ask! Happy? Is there such a thing as being totally happy? Content I can understand, but happy? I'm happy when I'm having fun being chased by my brothers. But that is because at that time I feel totally together with them. But after that, I need to do something. Hoe in the garden, change a nappy or help Grandma cook supper. Am I happy? No, I'm content to help and be needed, but not always happy.” “Why I was asking is, Sara would like to live in Leonora this summer and she needs a companion and a chaperone. Would you like to do that until fall?” “I would love to do that! Sara and Bill had so much fun last summer. You know Bill is enthralled with Sara. I believe if Sara goes there this summer, she might not come back next fall!” “If that would make Sara happy, I would have no problem with Bill being my brother-in-law. My problem is sending you, with Markus still being under the weather. Could you and Layla go with Sara and let me bring Markus later on?” “I would do that. After all Dad, Markus has taken to sitting on your lap since Layla insists my lap is just for her pleasure. Once she gets something in her head you can't change it! She's a stubborn one.” “That she is. Alright, it's settled then. Next week we'll ride up there and surprise Bill when he comes back from one of his trips.” The ride to Leonora was different from the last year in many ways. Sara still had a bonnet on her head but had left Julie's umbrella at home. She was still riding side saddle but her corset was at home along with Julie's umbrella. Robert and William each had their own horses instead of riding double. Mary and Layla were riding double and the group made good time this year with not having a travois slowing them down. Unlike last year, there was no one there to greet them when they rode into Leonora before noon. The cabin door was latched from the inside, but Bill had shown Bob where the hook was. He walked to the horse barn and reached around a beam to where a wire hook and thin rope was hanging. Walking to the front door of the cabin, Bob reached up to the where a one inch hole was and slipped the hook inside the cabin and lowered the rope. Getting on his knees he looked under the door and reached inside with a twig, pulled the hook and latch rope outside and hooked them together. Then it was just a matter of pulling the latch rope through the door and unlatching the door. The cabin was neat but could be cleaner. One could tell that a bachelor lived here. Sara immediately sized up the task at hand and commenced giving orders. “William, I need some water from the creek. James, let's get a fire started and bring in the dried meat that's in your saddlebag. Bob, Go to the trading-post and see if Delbert has any vegetables on his shelves. Mary, let's wipe off the table and clean up this place.” Sara began opening windows to air out the place and offset the heat that would be coming from the fireplace. She would soon be cooking outside for the summer. After starting the fireplace. James went outside to put the horses away and brush them down. In an hour everybody had lunch and thought of things to do. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tsula was set into a trot that he could do all day long if he had to. His village had crossed the Appalachian Mountains three years ago, to join another Cherokee Village. He had wondered what had happened to the old village after they had left. After the first day he thought, 'The heck with this, my legs are aching and I'm tired.' He had found a dense thicket the evening of the first day and set some snares. The next morning showed he had caught a rabbit. He built a small fire and had roast rabbit for breakfast. He had made it over the Appalachian and down to the foothills on that first day. Now he could see the old trail was being well traveled and knew he would have to be vigilant since he was in White Man Land. Trotting down the trail, Tsula expecting any minute that he would have to jump into the underbrush if he saw someone. Coming around a bend in the trail he saw a new cabin up ahead. Tsula looked at it as another thing that agitated him in his long line of grievances he had against the White Man. He knew he'd have to make a wide detour around this obstacle if he didn't want to get shot at. Halfway around the cabin, he saw a horse in a corral, with a halter on its head. Tsula had experience with a horse and thought, 'Why not! The horse is just waiting to be taken.' He walked to the back side of the corral and removed the bars from the fence. He walked up to the tied horse and untied it and led it away. A half mile farther away Tsula emerged onto the trail and jumped on the horses back. Another twenty miles and he started recognizing the area as being close to his village. It was mid afternoon and he was getting worried he might be seen soon so he took the old deer trail that he knew about. Emerging at the creek across from the village he left the horse tied to a tree and crossed the creek. Crouching down behind his Grandfather's cabin, his agitation grew until he was gnashing his teeth. There in front of him was Galalo with her blue eyes helping an old white guy plant a garden. In front of them was a two year old child with gray hair and eyes. The child stared right at him and he couldn't look away. 'Was this.... his?' He grinned thinking back to three years ago when he talked her into playing adult games. 'If this.... was his? It didn't belong here!' Should he grab it and run? Looking at the white man he thought, 'No, I'll be ran down and killed!' Tsula continued watching and the white frontiersman went into the cabin, while Galalo walked over to gray eyes and picked her up. “Pis, Galalo!” he whispered. Mary looked around. “Galalo!” Tsula whispered louder. “Over here.” Mary remembered the Cherokee language and looked to the tree. “Tsula? Is that you?” The Fox stood up so she could see him. “Over here!” Mary couldn't believe her eyes. Tsula was so lean and handsome with that cocky grin on his face. “What are you doing here?” “I came back to find you! And here you are, in our old village. Is this our little child? What is it? A boy or a girl?” “Yes she is yours! Her name is Layla. Isn't she beautiful?” “Yes she is. Come over here so I can hold her. No one should see me or I might get shot, and I know you wouldn't want that!” Mary found her feet were moving under her and they didn't stop until she stood in front of Tsula. Ever since she had been a little girl, ha had that effect on her. With that mellow, soothing voice of his, she would do as he asked, and he would reward her. Sometimes with berries that he had found, sometimes with protecting her from other children that would poke fun at her because of her blue eyes. He never hurt her except for that once. He never meant to hurt her. Tsula held out his arms and Mary handed the baby to him. Layla stared into his eyes, mesmerizing Tsula. He shook his head and said, “Let's cross the creek so we won't be heard when they look for you.” “No, let's go to the cabin and let me introduce you to them. My Mother taught you English when she talked with me in English. You needn't fear.” “No, I don't trust them. Come!” “You are wrong about them.” Mary let him take her hand and draw her across the creek. “What a nice horse.” “Get on and I'll give you Layla.” Mary got on the horse and took Layla all the while protesting, “You don't have to just take me. Let me tell Father I'm going with you.” “No, they will never understand. This is the only way.” Tsula led the horse to the trail and jumped up behind Mary. Kicking the horse into the ribs, the walk turned into a slow lope. After ten miles the horse was getting tired. Mary kept protesting, “They will be coming for me. They can track. They have horses. They will find us. You should turn around.” The talking made Tsula more agitated as Mary kept repeating herself. He finally reached around Mary and grabbed Layla with one arm and pushed Mary off the horse with the other arm. She tumbled off the horse while screaming, “NO!” Tsula didn't feel like the fox he was named after when he threw Galalo off the horse. He knew White Men were behind him and it would only be time before they found him. He kicked the horse into a full gallop for the next mile until he had to walk the horse. The horse was running sweat down his soaked hair. After the horse had his breather, Tsula kicked the horse in the ribs until the the horse was running at a slow loop that ate up the miles. Running by the front of the cabin where he had stolen the horse, he saw a clothesline with clothes hanging on it. He stopped the horse and ran to the clothes line with Layla in his arms. Dropping the child he grabbed two shirts off the line and made a cradle around Layla. He then picked up Layla and tied the cradle around his shoulders. Tsula then sprinted past the horse and was down the trail as fast as he could with Layla bouncing on his back. He ran for the next two hours as the sun went down. The moon came up as the sun went down and fifteen minutes after the sun turned to night, Tsula started running once more. By midnight he was over the pass and when the sun came up he was less than a mile from the village. His sister, Maini had a lodge and two children. Her man had been killed, fighting with some white men that had been poaching on their lands. Tsula slipped into her lodge while everyone was still asleep and woke her up. “Sh, I need your help. This is my daughter Layla. Her Mother is Galalo. She turned White on us. But I took my girl and I'm not giving her back!” Maini looked at her brother and said, “They will be coming for this little girl. Galalo knows you so we have to leave here! Where would they look for you if not here?” “South maybe, or west to join some other Cherokee village.” “Then let's go north. We can join the Shawnee and they will protect us. They are much more belligerent to the White Man than we are! Stay here and feed Layla and watch my children and I will get my horses.” Tsula nodded in agreement. He knew Maini's deceased husband had three horses before he died. He also knew Maini would want to take everything that wasn't tied down. S Mary screamed a second 'NO' as her rump hit the ground. She jumped up and started chasing Tsula. After fifty feet down the trail, she stopped and fell to her knees. The realization that chasing Tsula was futile, she mentally berated herself on how stupid she was. Then she got back on her feet, turned around and started running. In her mind she thought, 'I've got to get back to Dad. He will help me get Layla back. Tsula can't do this to me and get away with it!' After James had left Mary and Layla out in the garden, and had went in to talk to Sara, he was distracted from thoughts of Mary. Sara began complaining to him about how Robert was disappearing all day long out in the woods. After a little while, he thought about Mary in an abstract kind of way, wondering if she had decided if they needed another roe of beets since she hadn't come into the cabin behind him. When he finally started getting worried an hour had passed. When he walked out of the cabin and looked into the back yard, all he saw was Layla's blanket on the ground. Running to the spot, he saw Mary's footprints from the moccasins that she wore. The footprints lead to another set of moccasins that were bigger than Mary's. They led to the creek and across to the other side. Further on they ended by the hoofs of a horse. Alarms went off in James's head when he saw the male moccasins lead the horse away, ending at the trail. He got down on his knees and examined each hoof separately. The right front hoof had a chip out of it. He ran back to the cabin and grabbed his rifle and powder bag and ran to the stable. James grabbed his horse and saddled him. Sara was by the entry of the stable watching James, when he vaulted onto the saddle. “Where is Mary and Layla?” she shouted to him. “They've been taken. I'm going after them! Getty up Buster.” And James was down the bank of the creek and on the other side before Sara could say another word. When he came to the trail, James didn't slow up, but kept galloping down the trail. Coming to the main trail he stopped long enough to determine which way the hoof prints went. They were heading west, so he headed west and put his horse into a slow gallop. Eight miles down the trail he saw a figure coming his way. Drawing closer he could see it was Mary. James jumped off his horse and hugged her as Mary was catching her breath. The first words out of her mouth was, “He has Layla! Tsula's taken my baby! Help me Daddy!” “Jump on and we'll go after him,” directed James. He knew from past stories about abductions that the longer it took to retrieve a captive the harder it was to find them. If a child was captured and adopted into a family, no amount of wampum would buy the captive back. James jumped into the saddle behind Mary in pursuit of Tsula and Layla. The weight of caring two two people slowed the horse down and the horse had to walk at times to keep from becoming winded. It was close to dark when the hoof prints turned to footprints and they found the winded horse by the front of a cabin. James let out a bellow to the cabin, “Hello the house!” A lady opened the door and said, “Yes, what do you want?” “Is that your horse?” “It is. He must have gotten out of the coral. Thank you. I'll put him back where he belongs.” “I don't think he got out of his coral by himself. He's been ridden!” “He has. I didn't notice him when I got the clothes in. He's all done in! Who would do that?” “I think he was stolen from you today. A native abducted my daughter this afternoon and took your horse. Is your husband home?” “No, he's working in a clearing to plant some tobacco. He should be home soon.” “Let him know what happened. We have to keep trailing that native before we lose him! Goodbye.” Picking up the footprints, James was amazed at the stride the youth was taking while carrying the child. By this time the trail was hard to see because of the dark, and when the moccasin trail turned off the path he shook his head in defeat. He didn't know that Tsula had taken a short rest while shifting the load on his back. James didn't know at that point that Tsula and Layla were a mere hundred yards away. “We have to stop and go back, Mary. We need fresh horses and more people. Your fox is bedded down somewhere out there but we'll find him tomorrow.” “NO! He'll just get farther away. Let's go back to the cabin and ask if we can stay the night. Tomorrow when the sun comes up, we'll be at this spot. We can get him, I know we can. We have to!” They did what Mary wanted. It made a lot of sense to James. Backtracking to the cabin, a man answered when James hailed the cabin. “Come on in.” was his reply. Entering the cabin, the man said, “I'll take your horse out back. “He took two of Jack's shirts! His newer ones too. I'm Maud.” “This is Mary, my daughter. And I'm James Bertie. It's nice meeting you. Can we stay the night? We'll be out of the house before daylight. We need to pick up the trail at first light. We would appreciate it if we could have a blanket for the floor.” “Nonsense! We have a tick in the loft and I thought you would be back so I still have some warm soup you can eat before you retire.” “Thank you. We appreciate all that you are doing for us.” “Nonsense! We have to stick together. Tomorrow we'll send some hardtack with you. Now let me get two bowls for you.” “Yes Mam, thank you kindly.” The next morning found them on the trail, chewing some dried meat, as the sun was coming up. James found the tracks right away and followed them back to the trail where the moccasins could be seen running again. By mid morning, James and Mary were into the pass. James was becoming more apprehensive the farther they went into native territory. He was amazed that Mary and him hadn't caught up with Tsula yet and Tsula hadn't stopped to rest. The tracks were hours old and James came to realize that Tsula must have run all night. At one point on the trail, the tracks were wiped out by others traveling on the trail. Luckily after several more miles, they picked up a trail that James was pretty sure was Tsula's tracks. By noon they were overlooking a valley with lodges and cabins scattered over the valley. “Don't worry Dad. Let me talk for both of us. We'll find out if anyone has seen Tsula.” At that moment, ten men came out from the trees and stopped them. “What are you doing in our land, White Man?” Mary started speaking in the Cherokee Language, “My baby was stolen from me yesterday and I want her back. She is two winters old and Tsula took her from me. Have you seen him?” “We haven't seen him. Four days ago he left and we don't know where he is. He's not here!” “Can we ask around? Someone might have seen him. My Father tracked him here. So he must be here!” “Let us go to the Chief and ask. But I'm sure no one has seen him. I'm sure your Father is wrong. One foot looks like another foot. Follow us.” The Braves lead the two into the center of the valley and to a large log cabin. The door opened to expose a tall, thin and potbellied older man. Mary immediately started talking the language again. At one point she was crying, but kept on talking. The Chief had been silent and stern until he said something. Then his features softened and the next time he spoke, it was like a father. At the end of talking to the Chief for a half hour, she pointed to a bench outside the cabin and said, “You sit here Daddy and don't move until I come get you. I'm going to talk to people around here and find my little girl.” Two Braves followed along behind her. James sat and waited. He thought about all that had happened to him in the past since coming into the frontier. Then he thought of Bill and his insight into how the natives thought. Bill had explained to James how the resentments of the native people had grown and how they derived satisfaction from little wins with putting something over on the White Men. He all at once knew what Mary would be coming back with. Sympathy with no baby and no information. It was maybe an hour before dark when Mary came back. James could see with her slumped shoulders that she had no luck. The two Braves standing behind her had stern looks on their faces and one Brave pointed east and said, “You go!” James looked at Mary and said, “We'll find her Mary. We'll talk to Bill. He'll know where to look.” Mary nodded her head and got on the horse. James climbed on behind her. They turned around and headed towards the pass. |
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