Lost Lamb: Chapter 1
by Tami B.
Disclaimer: The following work has been written solely for the enjoyment of fans and not for monetary profit. The rights to the characters initially created for the Daniel Boone series belong to 20th Century Fox and Fess Parker. All other characters are of the author's own creation. No copyright violation is intended.
It was May 1787 when Daniel Boone arrived in Philadelphia, along with his wife and teenage son. An easterly breeze blew through the bustling city of Philadelphia in the recently won independent state of Pennsylvania. Here thousands of people lived and worked and faced an uncertain future. The former British colonies were not faring well on their own economically, including Pennsylvania. The cause of this, it was believed, was a lack of a centralized government. Unity between the states was nonexistent, creating problems for the defense of the new nation as well as in foreign relations. Events such as Shay’s Rebellion had demonstrated the need for a strong national government. Shay’s Rebellion had been an armed uprising by debtor farmers from western Massachusetts in the years 1786-1787. Led by Daniel Shays, armed mobs had closed down courts because the Massachusetts government imposed heavy taxes, which resulted in the seizure of farm property and debtor farmers being imprisoned for not making good on their debts. Such heavy-handedness spurred the formation of the Constitutional Convention, which would draft the legislation that would define the nation’s fundamental law.
Having been a legislator, Daniel had come to assist the designated delegates from Virginia who had been chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention. The Boones were staying as guests in the home of Howard and Edna Kraft and their teenage son, Elmer. They were friends of the Boones and lived close to the meetinghouse being used for the Constitutional Convention. The arrangement worked well for both the Boones and the Krafts. Israel and Elmer got along famously and Edna provided companionship for Rebecca while Daniel was attending the convention.
Strolling down the street, Daniel made his way to the Kraft’s home in the late morning. He was dressed in one of his finest suits. It was mainly black, but there were shades of gray there too.
Although the convention was still in session, Daniel had permitted himself to leave early. He had been working with the Virginia delegates from early in the morning until late at night for a week now. What he needed was fresh air and time with his family and that’s exactly what he would have.
Stepping into the house, Daniel found Rebecca and Edna in the kitchen preparing lunch. “Looks like I got here too soon. The meal isn’t ready,” he said, placing his tricorn on the hook on the wall.
Rebecca’s face beamed when she saw her husband. “Dan, you’re home early,” she said and raced into his arms. Then she took a step back to see a troubled look cross his face. “Is something wrong?” she asked with concern.
“As a matter of fact there is,” Daniel admitted, holding his wife at arm’s length. “The delegates are engaged-“ He stopped himself because he was about to inform her of the debate over how to elect a president. All the delegates and attendees, including himself, had taken an oath for life not to discuss the deliberations. “Let’s just say the more they argue the hotter the room gets. Why, the fire they spark with their words is going to burn the building down. I dare say that if they keep it up much longer it’s going to feel like the pits of He-”
“Dan!” Rebecca shouted in warning and to cut him off . “You know better than to talk that way, especially in front of women. What if the boys heard you?”
Daniel smiled in his usual lopsided way. He had hoped to get a rise out of his wife, and knew sinking into what passed for profanity in their family was a certain way to do just that.
“Daniel Boone, you ornery rascal, you,” Rebecca chided. “You did that on purpose.”
“Just checkin’, Becky, to see if you still had your Irish ire,” Daniel stated and then began to laugh. “You do. I’ve been stuffed in that stuffy room for so long I had to make sure you were still you.” Pulling a chair out for himself, Daniel sat in it and rubbed the back of his neck. “Forming a new nation is nothin’ but hard work. Ever since we won our independence, we’ve been like lost lambs tryin’ to find our way on our own. What we need is a shepherd to help us along. That’s what a central authority will do for us. It’ll take time and cooperation by the states, but in the end, we’ll be a better nation for it. I don't know which is worse - onerous physical labor or puttin’ meaningful words on paper. I guess it doesn’t matter. Both have to be done to build a country. I think I prefer the physical labor because it doesn’t seem all that arguin’ accomplishes much. I reckon it has somethin’ to do with lawyers. They talk just to hear themselves talk. If they would act more like frontiersmen then we’d have a-”
“Dan,” Rebecca interrupted, “you’re rambling and starting to sound just like those lawyers you’re referring to.”
Chuckling, Daniel said, “So I am. Becky, what do you say to an afternoon together with Israel? Where is he anyway?”
“He’s down at the wharf with Howard and Elmer,” Rebecca answered, returning to her work at the table alongside Edna. “He and Elmer are unloading a ship of Howard’s that came in.”
“You’re welcome to join them, Daniel,” Edna said with a smile.
“I might just do that, but with my wife in tow,” Daniel said to the other woman. “Well, Becky, do you want to spend the afternoon with your ornery husband or not?”
“You won’t hear me turning down spending time with you or our son,” Rebecca responded.
“Good. Then after we eat, we’ll collect our boy. That is, if I can remember what he looks like,” Daniel said. “Does he still wear a powdered wig and sniff snuff?”
“You’re thinking of a delegate, Dan, not our son,” Rebecca said, smiling.
“When we get to the wharf, I reckon you best point him out to me. You reckon he still remembers his ole ailin’ pa?” Daniel asked.
Picking up a loaf of bread, Rebecca threw it at Daniel for his facetiousness. The woodsman easily caught it, tore off a piece, and began to eat it. Yep, he thought. He knew exactly how to invoke Rebecca’s Irish ire and this time he got food out of the bargain.
After waiting only a short time for Israel and Elmer to finish loading the warehouse with goods from the ship, the Boones walked along with Elmer to the marketplace, where many people were going about their business. They passed a shop, which displayed a couple of fancy dresses that Rebecca stopped to admire, and then they moved on down the street. They passed a cobbler shop, a livery, and an inn. Near the end of the street was an auction house. Israel and Elmer, who had run ahead of the adults, stopped to watch the proceedings. On a platform stood people who were being sold as bondservants; some were hardly older than Israel.
Daniel and Rebecca caught up with the boys and came to stand beside them. Israel and Elmer looked disturbed by the process unfolding before their eyes. There was sadness on both their faces. “Mrs. Boone?” Elmer asked. “Were you sold like this when you were a bonded woman?” Israel had told Elmer some of Rebecca’s past in the course of their conversations, including the time she had been an indentured servant.
“No, Elmer,” Rebecca said, placing a comforting arm around the boy’s shoulders. “By the grace of God, I didn’t have to suffer that humiliation. When I arrived in Philadelphia from Ireland, I was immediately indentured to an innkeeper. He took me straight from the ship to his inn.”
Israel watched as the people were inspected as if they were nothing more than animals. “This isn’t right,” he declared with a shake of his head. “People bound in chains when they haven’t done anything illegal or wrong.”
“It’s the way of the world, Isra’l. In time, maybe most folks will think like you and all this will be no more,” Daniel explained.
“I feel sorry for them, Pa,” Israel said. “Not being free and all. Shackled. Not able to go where you want, when you want.”
“Most indentured servants aren’t chained, Israel,” Rebecca commented. “I wasn’t. But like you said, you still aren’t free. You’re always about your master’s bidding, or awaiting his beckoning call.”
“You can’t just take a walk in the woods if you've a mind to,” Israel said. “I don’t reckon I’d make a good bondservant. I reckon I love freedom too much.”
“That’s something you’ll never know; being a indentured servant, I mean,” Daniel said. “Free born, you are, and free you will die.”
“Oh, Dan,” Rebecca admonished. “You’re being over-dramatic.”
“I can’t help it, Becky. Bein’ in the midst of the all those debates at the convention has had an effect on my thinkin’,” Daniel admitted.
“There’s a cure for that, Dan,” Rebecca said enticingly. “It’s called time in the woods. That will put your frontiersmen thinking back in your head.”
“No doubt, but you’re right,” Daniel said. “Boys, let’s head for the woods. It ‘pears like I’ve forgotten how to be a proper woodsman and I’m goin’ to have to relearn it right quick. Isra’l, lead the way.”
“All right, Pa. Mind if we stop at the Kraft’s? I want to fetch my rifle,” Israel said.
“Me too,” Daniel stated. “Can’t hardly be a proper woodsman without a rifle.”
They quickly left the auction and the bustle of the city and made their way to the Kraft home. As soon as the woodsmen were dressed in their finest buckskins, they headed for the more relaxed atmosphere of the woods. All of them bore rifles except for Rebecca, who carried a basket of food that Edna sent along. Elmer's mother didn’t want her son or her guests to go hungry even though they were quite capable of obtaining food in the woods.
The boys set about tracking one another as Daniel and Rebecca rested near the stream. Daniel sat on the ground with his long legs extended and crossed at the ankle. His arms were wrapped around his wife. Leaning her back against her husband’s chest, Rebecca clasped his big hands in her smaller ones. Both were quiet and lost in thought.
“Dan, do you really think there will come a time when all people will be free?” Rebecca asked.
“I reckon. It might take a spell and we may not live to see it, but it must come. How can a free society stay free unless all her people are free?” Daniel reasoned.
“It’s a pleasant thought and the Constitutional Convention is building a foundation for it,” Rebecca concluded. “Dan, do you realize you may be making history?”
“Now, who’s being over-dramatic?” Daniel asked. “I’m not a delegate to the convention. I serve mainly as attendee and nothing more.”
“Still, you’re a part of it. Rumor has it that we could be the first nation headed not by a king, but by a president elected by the people. A shepherd who will keep the lambs from losing their way, just like you said,” Rebecca said, squeezing her husband's hand.
“That’s what I love about you, Becky. You agree with me and throw my own words back at me at the same time,” Daniel said, chortling.
“What I’m trying to tell you,” Rebecca said, turning to face him, “is that’s what the Constitutional Convention will accomplish; the Constitution will keep Israel and those that come after him free. They’ll never know what it’s like to be owned like a piece of property. They can live all their lives as a liberated people.”
“As God intended,” Daniel added succinctly and then held her shoulders as he kissed her. Breaking apart, Daniel smiled. “This shepherd better look for the lambs. They may have gotten lost.”
“You would leave your wife to find them?” Rebecca asked.
“As the Good Book says, the shepherd would leave the ninety-nine lambs to find the one lost one, or in this case the two lost ones because one is my son, and the other belongs to a woman who will have my hide if I let anything happen to her little lamb,” Daniel stated.
“Those lost lambs are as tall as me,” Rebecca pointed out, “and know the woods.”
“I don’t recall the Bible restricting the shepherd to looking for lost lambs only if they are shorter than their ma,” Daniel replied with a grin.
Laughing, Rebecca raised her hand and Daniel took it and assisted her to her feet. “Two shepherds are better than one. I’ll help you.”
It wasn’t long before Daniel and Rebecca found Israel and Elmer downstream swimming. The day was a cool one and both boys emerged from the water with their teeth chattering. Rebecca berated the both of them. Israel donned his green shirt that he had left on the bank, but it was soon drenched. Escorting the shivering pair to the Kraft’s home, Daniel wore a smile while Rebecca scowled.
That evening after a filling supper, the Boones and the Krafts relaxed in the parlor. Israel and Elmer whittled as they listened to the adult conversation around them.
“Why do you suppose firebrands like Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, and Thomas Jefferson are not in attendance at the convention?” Howard asked. “They were most outspoken when declaring independence and expressing their views on freedom.”
“I don’t rightly know,” Daniel admitted. “But George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin are and they will form a federal constitution that will bring organization and unity to the states.”
“Sometimes I wonder if that’s possible, Daniel,” Howard admitted. “Sure, we were united in the war, but now that that’s over, the states spend more time bickering, fighting, and oppressing their own people than standing together. Can we really become the United States of America?”
“We will because we have to,” Daniel said. “We can’t allow another Shay’s Rebellion to occur again. One of the objectives is to unite the states under the banner of the United States of America. At least, when the nation is threatened by enemies, her united people will rise to defend her and not permit her to be over run.”
“You know I’ll do my part, Pa,” Israel declared.
“Me too,” Elmer chimed in.
Daniel smiled. “With young ‘uns like Israel and Elmer, the nation will thrive and grow to be the grandest country in the world.”
“My husband, the eternal optimist,” Rebecca said from the chair next to his.
“Here, Ma,” Israel said, handing her his whittling. “It’s a gift. I hope you like it.”
Rebecca turned the small object over in her hand. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was. It appeared to be an animal of some sort. Rather than asking Israel what it was and hurting his feelings because she didn’t know, she smiled and gushed over the present. “Israel, thank you. What a wonderful gift you have made just for me. It’s a thing of beauty, and I like it very much. I know you worked hard on it and your craftsmanship is improving.”
“Gee, Ma, it’s just whittlin’ not a sculpture,” Israel said, wondering why his mother was making such a show out of it.
“Nevertheless, it’s an object I will cherish,” Rebecca told him.
“All right, Ma,” Israel said with a shake of his head, still not understanding why a small piece of pinewood would bring her such joy.
When the Boones retired to their bedroom, Rebecca placed her gift in her purse and then thought no more of it.
The next day Israel was to deliver Howard’s accounting sheets to the office at the wharf. Apparently, Howard had forgotten them at home and Edna dispatched Israel to deliver them in case her husband had need of them. Elmer, who had suddenly become ill either from the chill he had gotten when he went swimming the day before or from some other cause, wasn’t able to carry out the task so Israel had eagerly volunteered. Rebecca had gone to visit friends she had made years ago soon after she landed on the shores of America from Ireland. Daniel was at the Constitutional Convention so Edna sent Israel.
The boy dawdled on his way to the wharf, and he figured he would take the longest route back as he was in no hurry to return to the Kraft home. Maybe he would visit his father and mother at the meetinghouse of the Constitutional Convention, but then he remembered that the convention was closed to the public and that meant him too even though he was the son of one of the attendees.
As he strolled down the street, a rust-colored dog approached him and Israel bent to pet him. The dog happily wagged its tail and attempted to lick the teenager’s face. “You’re a good dog. Aren’t you, boy?” he said kindly as he continued to vigorously pet the furry creature. He then rose, while keeping his eyes on the friendly canine. The next thing Israel knew someone crashed into him and he landed in a heap on the ground, his coonskin cap flying off his head. The papers scattered.
“Hey!” Israel hollered at the blond-haired, green-shirted offender, who had gotten back onto his feet and raced away from the prone teenager. “Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” Mumbling, Israel had just gone to his knees to retrieve the papers when two men grabbed him and wrestled him back to the ground. Without warning they chained his hands behind his back. “Hey!” Israel screamed. “Let me go! What do you think you’re doing! Let me go!” The two men dragged Israel towards the auction house. “What’s this all about?” Israel demanded. “Let me go!”
“Shut up, Joseph!” one of men said. “You’re goin’ back and don’t try runnin’ off again.”
“My name is Israel Boone,” he informed the men. “Son of Daniel and Rebecca Boone of Kentucky.”
“You’ll try anything, won’t you, Joseph?” the other man said.
“But I’m telling you the truth,” Israel informed the men. “I’m not this Joseph person.”
The argument continued in the same vein until they arrived at the auction house. Israel was ushered into the back room, where the auctioneer waited. “You found him. Good. Let’s get him on the block. He’s the last to be sold today,” the auctioneer said. “He won’t go for much, but it’ll be enough to get his family out of debt.”
“Please, Mister,” Israel pleaded. “I’m Israel Boone of Kentucky. I can prove it. My pa is at the Constitutional Convention. I’ll take you there. He can tell you who I am.”
“I know who you are. We met some fifteen minutes ago, Joseph Mills. You were just delivered here from the jail. You’re to be indentured for a period of seven years because your father died deep in debt; which is better than spending time in debtor’s prison. Consider yourself lucky,” the auctioneer said.
Israel’s heart raced. They weren’t listening to him. He struggled to free his hands. “My name is Israel Boone, I tell you. I’m not Joseph Mills.”
“Get him on the block,” the auctioneer ordered the two men.
The men proceeded to do just that, but Israel fought back as best he could with his hands bound. If he could get free, then he would make good his escape, but the men held him firmly no matter how much he struggled. The auctioneer made a fist, pulled it back, and caught Israel in the jaw. He did it once more then the fight went out of Israel and he dropped to his knees. His head was spinning and his jaw was in massive pain. “Joseph, in minutes you will be an indentured servant. I hope you behave better than you have thus far or you’ll be wearing shackles for the whole seven years. Get him on the block.”
After that, Israel didn’t remember much about being sold into bondage. He vaguely recalled his limbs and back being checked for soundness. What he did remember clearly was being hauled into the back of a farmer’s wagon and chained to it to prevent his escape.
When his senses fully returned, Israel tried to look about, but found he had been blindfolded. Attempting to use his shoulder to dislodge the blindfold proved useless; it wouldn’t budge. The sun was evidently hidden behind the clouds for he couldn’t feel it. Hence, there was no way he could tell in which direction they were traveling. His jaw was throbbing as well. He tried pulling at his chains to work himself free, but to no avail. Everything seemed to be working against him.
“Hey, Mister!” Israel shouted. When no answer came, he shouted again and again. “You have the wrong person. I’m not Joseph Mills. I’m Israel Boone.” There was no response. “When my pa finds out about this, you’re goin’ to be in real trouble. He won’t take it kindly to me bein’ kidnapped. Hey, mister, are you listenin’?”
The wagon came to a stop and Israel waited quietly to see what would happen next. A firm hand squeezed his shoulder, causing him to grimace. “I’m listenin’, boy. You can shout to the mountaintops that you’re Moses and I don’t care. Your lies don’t interest me. I have papers that say you’re Joseph Mills, that you’re indentured to me, and it’s all legal like. Now, quit your yappin’,” the farmer ordered.
“Aren’t you interested in the truth?” Israel asked him. There was no answer. The wagon was moving again and Israel kept silent. The farmer wasn’t concerned with his plight. Still, Israel didn’t despair. His father would come for him. He had before and he would now. All he had to do was bide his time. In the meantime, Israel imagined himself hunting in the woods with his father as it made the time pass swiftly and gave him some comfort.
When Daniel and Rebecca returned to the Kraft home well into the evening, an agitated Edna met them at the door. “Is he with you?” she asked in a quivering voice. “Is Israel with you?”
“No,” Daniel answered. “What’s wrong, Edna? What’s goin’ on?”
“I allowed Israel to deliver some accounting papers to Howard at the wharf this morning and he hasn’t returned, nor did he arrive at my husband’s office. Howard just got home himself and he says he hasn’t seen Israel. That’s where I thought your boy was all day,” Edna explained as Howard moved behind her.
“Is his rifle here?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, it is,” Edna said, wringing her hands.
“Then he didn’t take to the woods,” Daniel concluded.
“Where could he be?” Howard asked.
“I don’t know. It’s not like Isra’l not to fulfill an obligation. He has been known to go huntin’ and not return for a few days,” Daniel admitted. “I reckon I’ll go speak to the constable. Don’t worry, Edna,” he said, laying a comforting hand on her arm, “until we know there’s something to worry about.”
“I’m going with you, Dan,” Rebecca announced. She went out the door first and then headed in the direction of the constable’s office. Willing to take the advice Daniel gave to Edna, Rebecca found she still had to fight down the fear that something untoward had happened to her son. Still, he had gone missing before and he always came home safe and sound. She had to believe he would now as well.
After reporting Israel’s disappearance to the constable, Daniel and Rebecca moved through the darkness, attempting to retrace what they thought would have been Israel’s steps. They searched for some sign of their son. The street they walked was quiet. It was all but vacant of people and the shops had closed. Rebecca spotted some papers in the grass. Picking them up, she looked at them and realized what they were. Had there been any wind that day, they would have scattered more than they had already. “Dan,” Rebecca called to her husband and he came to her side. “Howard’s ledgers. These must be what Israel was supposed to deliver.”
“The papers made it here and most likely Isra’l too. Let’s look around and see what else we can find,” Daniel suggested.
A few moments passed before Daniel discovered Israel’s coonskin cap also lying in the grass. He grabbed it and looked about him. “Becky, Isra’l’s cap,” he said, holding it up for his wife to see.
She quickly moved to retrieve the cap from her husband’s hand. “He was here, Dan, but where is he now?” Rebecca asked.
“Let’s talk with the shopkeepers. Maybe they saw or heard something,” Daniel suggested.
“Dan, what do you think happened? Something made Israel drop the papers and lose his cap,” Rebecca said, wishing she could come up with a plausible explanation.
“Any number of things. No use guessin’ until we know more,” Daniel said, not wanting to let on that he thought something drastic must have happened to Israel. His son wouldn’t neglect to deliver the papers or leave his cap abandoned on the ground. Daniel figured Israel had been forcefully separated from them, but how that was done was still a mystery.
After visiting one shopkeeper after another, Daniel and Rebecca were no closer to knowing Israel’s whereabouts than when they started. All of them told the same story; there is always noise and bustling activity on the street during business hours. They hadn’t seen or heard anything unusual earlier in the day and they didn’t recognize Israel’s description.
Not willing to give up so soon, Daniel and Rebecca inspected both sides of the streets for other signs of Israel. By the early morning, they had found absolutely nothing. Daniel convinced Rebecca they needed to rest, and promised they would resume the search later in the morning. Daniel and Rebecca returned to the Kraft home disappointed, but they both clung to their hope.
The succeeding days brought them no closer to locating Israel. They spoke with numerous people from the street where their son’s cap had fallen and no one knew anything about Israel. Daniel spoke to the auctioneer at the auction house and he too knew nothing about the disappearance of Israel. Undeterred, the Boones continued to look for their lost son.
Previous page: Lost Lamb
Next page: Lost Lamb: Chapter 2