Lost Lamb: Chapter 3
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.
Marian paced the yard uncertain of what to do. She had no idea where to even begin to look. As she wandered aimlessly, she happened to look towards the woods. As she watched, Israel emerged leading the mule. She breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t run away as she thought. As he approached, displaying a broad grin, Marian forced herself not to clap in delight.
“Those chickens are bullying Lucy again, and after I warned them not to too,” Israel said. He led the mule back into the pen and removed her halter.
“We’ll show those chickens, Israel. We’ll have one of them for supper,” Marian said as they both laughed. She didn’t mention she had feared that he had run away. What would be the point? He had just proven that she could trust him totally.
After a supper of fried chicken, of which Israel almost consumed the entire bird, he and Marian sat reading the Bible in the comfort of the cabin. When the time came for Marian to retire, Israel left the chair he had been sitting in and went to the table to retrieve the dreaded shackles.
“Israel, I want you to know how proud I am of you for keeping your word today,” Marian said. “I’m still holding you to your promise.”
Lifting the chains, he asked, “You mean you’re not going to put these back on me?”
“Not unless you can’t keep your word,” Marian said.
Relishing the thought of spending at least one night without wearing shackles, Israel pondered what to do. It would be so easy to sneak out in the middle of night. The Bradleys would have no way of finding him if he kept to the woods as he made his way to Philadelphia. Without weapons of any sort to hunt game or anyway to adequately defend himself, it would prove a formidable task, but he could do it. He was, after all, Daniel Boone’s son. Unfortunately, he was also bound by his word. That would put a halt to any hope of escaping. He knew this had to be another test. Having passed the previous one, he would show Marian her trust in him was not misplaced and then she would have to make a move to free him outright or return him to his parents.
“You have my word, Mrs. Bradley. I will not run away,” Israel promised once more.
“Good. Sleep well, Israel,” Marian said rising from her chair. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Turning towards the door, Israel said, “Good night, Mrs. Bradley.”
Entering the barn, Israel headed for his stall. Lying down in the soft straw, he placed his hands behind the back of his head. Although tired, his mind raced with many thoughts one of which was the fact that he should leave around midnight and get to Philadelphia as fast as his legs would carry him. But, he couldn’t break his promise to Marian. Why was he being so noble at a time like this? It didn’t make sense to stay here when there was an opportunity to make a run for it. Still, there was nothing to be done about it. He had given his word and that’s the way it was. Turning onto his side, Israel fell asleep thinking of home.
The next morning Marian came to the barn and found Israel slumbering. She smiled at his sleeping form. She was convinced now that he was Israel Boone. Having been given two chances to run, he had chosen not to because he had made a promise. That proved to her the truthfulness of his claim and she now knew what she had to do. It was her responsibility to get him back to his parents, but to do that, she would need help from her brother.
Marian left him there and allowed him to sleep in. It was midmorning when he left the barn and approached her where she sat on the porch churning butter. “Good morning, Israel,” she greeted him.
Looking at the sky, Israel judged that the sun had been up for some time. “Mrs. Bradley, why didn’t you wake me?” he asked.
“You’ve been working so hard I thought I would reward you with a morning to sleep in,” Marian answered. “That’s not all,” she added, coming to her feet. “Israel, I can’t grant you your freedom, but I can give you one day to be free.” She pointed towards the woods.
“I can roam in the woods?” Israel asked incredulously. “All day?”
Nodding, Marian said, “You deserve a day to yourself, but you must return before dusk. Arthur will arrive shortly after that. Need I remind you of your promise to me?”
“No, ma’am. I’ll be back before dusk,” Israel vowed.
“Eat your breakfast before you venture out. You must be famished,” Marian suggested.
Entering the cabin, Israel sat at the table and quickly ate his breakfast, before making a mad dash for the woods. Once there he quickly made his way to a stream he knew was nearby. He had seen it when he caught the mule there the day before. He walked along the bank for some time before finding a spot to rest that was dry and comfortable. Settling into it, he looked around him, and took in his surroundings. This was the world in which he belonged, unfettered and free; a world he wanted to very much return to for good. When and how that would occur had yet to unfold, but it would happen.
As he watched the water rush by, Israel again considered escaping, but the thought was short-lived. He couldn’t break his promise to Marian. She had been too good, too kind, and too trusting to deliberately disappoint her. This, of course, was the Boone curse, as he thought of it now. Being a Boone stipulated that he do what’s right despite any discomfort to himself. He must endure continued captivity in order to fulfill his vow to Marian. If he had been of any lesser character, he’d have been halfway to Philadelphia by now. Well, as Israel was learning, no one said being a Boone was easy.
Israel roamed the woods the whole day long and returned to the Bradley cabin, as promised, before dusk. After cleaning up, he knocked on the door and announced himself. Marian called for him to enter. As he did, he saw she was just putting supper on the table. Israel realized how hungry he was. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast and the aroma that filled the cabin was most appealing. “May I help you, Mrs. Bradley?” he asked.
“Yes, Israel. Bring the mugs from the cupboard, please,” Marian replied. “Three of them. Arthur should be home soon.”
As he reached into the cupboard, and retrieved the mugs Marian requested, he grew dismayed at her words. Arthur would be back shortly. He had enjoyed two days without his oppressive presence. That was about to change. After carrying the mugs to the table, Marian motioned for Israel to sit down.
“Israel,” Marian said slowly. She looked troubled as she took a seat beside him. “Before Arthur arrives, you must put the shackles back on.” She rose and wrung her hands. “He won’t understand that I allowed you to be without them while he was away. I will explain it to him, but I seriously doubt he’ll see my way of thinking on it, even after I tell him you kept your promise and didn’t run away.”
Israel eyed the chains that lay on the floor near his feet. He dreaded having to wear them again. After two days without them, he had come to think of himself as being somewhat free. When he wore them, they acted as a constant reminder of his captivity. Still, there was no choice. “All right, Mrs. Bradley,” he told her, realizing her distress over it was as great as his own.
“I’m sorry, Israel. Truly, I am,” Marian said as she sat beside him once again and took his hand in hers. “I do believe you now,” she announced suddenly. “You have kept your word to me three times, and if you would do that, then you must be telling the truth about who you are.”
Israel brightened. He felt renewed hope. “Then you’ll help me?”
Nodding, Marian said, “I’m not sure how yet, but I will. It might take awhile to figure out how to free you. For the time being, I think what I told you should be kept between ourselves.”
“Mrs. Bradley, why can’t you just let me go?” Israel asked.
“It’s not the right way. You would be considered a runaway and the law could arrest you as such,” Marian explained, releasing his hand.
“If the law could catch me, which it can’t and won’t,” Israel claimed.
“I know it’s hard on you, Israel, but I’m asking you for some time. Perhaps, if I can convince Arthur who you are, he will free you, and then you’ll have papers to prove it,” Marian said.
“You could send someone to Philadelphia to fetch my parents,” Israel suggested eagerly. “Your brother, maybe.”
“He’ll have to be satisfied that you are being truthful before he makes that long journey. When I get through talking with him, he’ll have much to consider,” Marian stated. “That’s all I can do for you now,” she said sadly.
“Well, I’m a little bit closer to freedom than I was a few moments ago,” Israel said, picking up the shackles and then securing them about his ankles.
Marian closed the lock on them before she placed the other set of shackles on his wrists. She was mindful to keep his shirt cuff between his wrist and the metal to ward off chaffing or breaking open the skin. “I’m sorry, Israel,” she said quietly. Then she closed the lock on the wrist chains.
After being bound once more, he told himself his time in shackles would end soon now that Marian believed him. He had one person in his corner, and if the good reverend could be won to his side, then could total freedom be far behind?
“Israel, your parents must be proud of you,” Marian said, standing beside him and placing a hand on his shoulder. “They have in you a stalwart, upright, and honest young man. Your freedom will come; just not right away.”
Israel smiled slightly. He was encouraged by her words. At that moment, Arthur entered the cabin, looking quite pleased. “I got that bonus, Marian. A generous one,” he announced.
Marian rushed to him and drew him into her arms. “Arthur, that’s wonderful. Tell me all about it as we eat,” she suggested.
As Arthur related his news, Israel sat in silence, eating and thinking about his parents. He knew they must be very concerned for him as he would be for them. They just had to bear this circumstance a little while longer, and then it would all be over like a bad dream. In his mind’s eye, he saw his mother’s beautiful smiling face and his father’s lopsided grin. In these, he found pleasure.
After searching for Israel another entire day, Rebecca decided to rest in her bedroom while Daniel ate a meal prepared by Edna Kraft. With the whereabouts of her son still unknown, she had no appetite, and knew her rest would be anything but restful.
She sat in a chair closest to the window, shaking out her shoes, and rubbing her feet. She felt weary to the bone, and had to admit to herself that it felt good to relax as she leaned back into the chair. Still, she couldn’t be totally comfortable, not with her son missing. A moment later, she reached into her purse and pulled out the little wooden object Israel had begun to whittle. A carver he was not, but he had tried nonetheless. She fingered it, and visualized him whittling it with great persistence and care. What kind of animal it was supposed to be remained in doubt. Only Israel knew that for sure. In her mind, she saw him glance at her and smile; his freckles dancing in pure joy. She squeezed the object in her hand and clutched it to her heart. This object was perhaps the only item she had of his that been made by his own hand. Suddenly she realized she was holding it as if it was the one who created it, and at this moment, despair began to weave its way into her drained body. Would she ever again hold him in her arms as he squirmed to get away? Would she ever see him again triumphantly arrive with what he had provided for their table? Would she see him again, doing something as simple as reading a book or whittling?
“Becky?” Daniel spoke her name softly as he knelt beside her and proffered a plate of food. “I brought you something to eat. You need to keep your strength up.”
Rebecca was so deep in thought that she did not hear her husband’s approach. She took a glance at the plate and pushed it back towards Daniel. She didn’t want to look at it. Not that it was unappetizing, but that she was in such a state of anxiety that the sight and smell of food sickened her. “No, Dan, I can’t. I’m not hungry.”
“I told Edna that, but she insisted I try,” Daniel explained placing the plate on the table beside his wife.
“Where is he, Dan? Where could he be?” Rebecca asked, staring out the window. Her voice cracked with emotion. She knew he didn’t know the answer anymore than she did.
Daniel saw the tears welling in his wife’s eyes. He took her hands in his and stroked them with his thumbs. “We’ll find him, Becky. Alive and well. I promise you that,” Daniel said reassuringly.
“For over two weeks, we’ve looked everywhere; asked everyone we could find, and no one has seen him, heard of him, or knows where he is. It’s like our son just fell off the face of the earth and nobody noticed. No one.”
Daniel heard the anguish in his wife’s voice. He remained undaunted. “We won’t stop looking for him, Becky. No matter how long it takes. We’ll find him even if we have to fall off the face of the earth to fetch him back.”
Rebecca managed a smile. “You’d do that, Daniel, I know that. You really believe we’ll find him, don’t you? You’re that certain?”
“No doubt about it.” Daniel assured her. In his heart of hearts he knew what he said was the truth even if there was no verifiable evidence for him to believe the way he did.
“How can you be so sure, Dan?” Rebecca asked.
“I promised you, didn’t I? When was the last time I broke a promise to you?” Daniel asked, throwing a question back at her. “A Boone keeps his word. No matter what.”
“Oh, Dan.” Rebecca threw her arms around her husband’s neck. Daniel had convinced her they would find Israel. As he returned her embrace and patted her back, she gave in to her tears. She cried at the prospect of locating their son, cried that he was missing, and cried that she had such a good man for a husband.
While Arthur inspected the bed posts, head and foot board, and the frame that a customer had ordered, Israel labored in the fields, planting beans and squash among the corn in the Three Sisters method. His father had told him of this Iroquois belief. Daniel had heard it from a Delaware when he was a little boy growing up in Exeter, Pennsylvania. The story of Sky Woman and her daughter begins with a pregnant Sky Woman coming to earth with two plants, strawberries and tobacco. Later, Sky Woman’s daughter became pregnant and she had two sons. One was left-handed and the other right-handed. Sky Woman’s daughter died in childbirth. After Sky Woman buried her daughter, five plants sprouted from her grave. The most prized were corn, beans, and squash. The Iroquois believed that corn, beans, and squash are the Three Sisters; the physical and spiritual sustainers of life. These three vegetables comprised the Iroquois’ main food supply. This was the gift of agriculture to the Iroquois.
Israel formed a mound of soil and then planted some seeds of beans around the shoots of corn. Then, he planted some seeds of squash between the rows of corn in accordance to the Three Sisters method. However, his shackles continuously got in the way. He wasn’t about to ask to have them removed because he knew Arthur would deny him, and anyway, he wasn’t about to ask the farmer for anything. He wanted nothing from the man who imprisoned him. He preferred Arthur working near the barn. It gave him some peace for a change.
Arthur loaded the posts and the frame and then carefully wrapped them in blankets for the two- day journey to his customer’s home. He wouldn’t have them scarred before the owner took possession of them. He knew he would need help with the heavy head and foot boards so he went to seek that help.
Stepping towards the fields, Arthur shouted for his bonded boy. “Joseph! Joseph!”
Israel lifted his head in response to the name that wasn’t his and looked at the farmer who had used it.
“Come to the barn,” Arthur ordered.
Dropping his hoe, Israel made his way to the barn where Arthur stood waiting. “Help me load the foot board onto the wagon.”
Israel took hold of one end of the foot board and stepped backwards. When he got to the wagon, he eased the piece into it. Then he climbed into the wagon took a hold of the end, and took a step back. When he did, he slipped on the blanket covering a bed post and fell against the covered furniture; his chains slapped his body, causing some him pain.
“You clumsy idiot!” Arthur screeched. “If you’ve damaged the merchandise, I will take it out of your hide. Get out of there. Now!”
Israel tried to rise, but found it difficult since he was in confined area. He felt the need to defend himself. “It was an accident, Mr. Bradley,” he said, getting to his feet and then jumped out of the wagon. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Arthur asked. “Sorry won’t fix what’s been broken. It took me a very long time to make that bed, and I’m to be paid handsomely for it when it’s delivered in excellent condition. It’ll go hard with you, boy, if I find one scratch on it. Get back to the fields.” He then climbed into the wagon to examine the bed pieces for even the slightest hint of a dent.
Israel turned on his heels and stomped away from the barn. He didn’t like Arthur and was growing weary of being near the caustic furniture maker. Arthur had never said a kind word to him, never given him a word of encouragement, and was always ready to deliver an onslaught of strident verbiage. With Arthur, there could be no such thing as civility. At the moment, Israel was angry. He wanted more than anything to be permanently away from Arthur and his farm. Only the despised chains and Arthur’s constant vigilance kept him from leaving. In his blind, yet silent, rage, he didn’t notice he had passed Marian, who was making her way to the barn.
“Joseph, what’s wrong?” Marian asked when she noticed how livid he was.
“Israel!” he shouted. “My name is Israel Boone. You acknowledged it yourself and said you would help free me. What have you done about? Let me guess...nothing.”
“I am trying. You must give me some time,” Marian pleaded with him.
“And in the meantime, I’m chained like an animal, and have to put up with the likes of your husband when I’m not even supposed to be here,” Israel complained. “You know, I should have lied to you when I said I wouldn’t run off, and done it when I had the chance. I don’t seem to be getting much of a reward for my honesty. In fact, I’m being punished for being stalwart and upright.” Turning on his heel, Israel went to the field, picked up his hoe, created a mound of soil around the sprouting corn, and planted the beans and squash, all the while wishing Sky Woman would descend and take him away.
Marian didn’t know what had sparked Israel’s hostility, but she was determined to calm him. With a glance over her shoulder to see if Arthur had overheard Israel’s loud protests, she followed Israel into the field. Arthur wasn’t paying any attention. He had uncovered the bed pieces and was inspecting each one of them.
Placing loosened soil over the newly planted beans and squash, Israel slammed the hoe down on them and then moved to plant the next set.
“Israel,” Marian said as she approached him.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he prepared another mound of dirt for the beans and squash.
“Israel, please, look at me,” Marian said, placing her hands on his upper arms and turning him towards her. His head was bowed, but she saw a trickle of a tear in his eye. She knew it was a tear of frustration. “I’m trying to convince Tobias that you are telling the truth. He’s not sure what to think. Arthur believes you’re a liar and won’t change his mind, so the door is shut there. Tobias will come around. I know my brother. It’s taking more time than I thought. I know this isn’t easy for you. I expected you to act like the Biblical Joseph and accept your circumstances for what they are, but you’re too much of a fighter to be enslaved. Israel, I don’t have your courage. If I did, I’d release you, but I could never forgive myself if the law caught up to you and you were sentenced to another round of imprisonment. When you leave here, I want you to be free of the law as well.”
Having not looked at her once, Israel turned his back to her, causing her to release her hold on him. He resumed planting.
“You’re wrong about one thing though. If I thought for an instant that after you gave me your word that you would run, I would never would have released you from the shackles,” Marian continued. “Israel, I took a chance and trusted you. Admirably, you didn’t fail that trust. Won’t you please give me a chance and trust me? I won’t fail you either.”
Israel continued to work for a few moments, then he sat the hoe head on the ground and leaned on the handle. Looking at her, he saw her sincerity and knew she wanted him to be free as much as he wanted it. “I reckon you and your brother are about my only hope, so I gotta trust you. It just seems like you’re stringing me along, is all. I know that’s not the case,” he told her. Then he cast his eyes skyward and watched the clouds lazily float by in the blue celestial region above from which Sky Woman was said to descend. “Mrs. Bradley, I want my freedom back in the worst way. There will come a time when I will have it - your way or mine,” he warned.
Marian contemplated his words as he picked on his hoe and went back to work. She wondered what his way was. Would he harm herself or Arthur in his effort to be free? No, she decided. He hadn’t shown a tendency towards violence. Most likely he would run, and she wouldn’t blame him if he did. As she headed for the barn, she prayed that this situation would be settled to the satisfaction of all, including Arthur, although she acknowledged it would take a long time to accept the loss of his bondservant.
The next morning and not long after Arthur left to deliver the bed that Israel had dropped but not damaged, Tobias arrived in a wagon. Marian was sweeping the porch and waved to her brother as he approached. “Marian, Polly Golden is asking for you. She’s getting ready to have her baby.”
Marian smiled. She had anticipated this moment for some time. She looked to the field to see where Israel was planting. “Israel!” she called and motioned for him to come.
Israel walked as fast as he could, seeing that Tobias was there. He was just the man he wanted to talk to. Stopping in front of Marian, Israel said, “Mornin’, Reverend.”
“No time for pleasantries, Israel. Please get into the back of the wagon,” Marian said, rushing into the cabin and emerging with a key. After climbing into the seat beside Tobias, she turned towards Israel as her brother drove the team towards the Golden farm. “I need your word, Israel, that you won’t run off if I remove your shackles.”
Shocked, Tobias said, “Marian, I don’t think that’s a smart thing to do. The boy will run away.”
“No, he won’t,” Marian stated. “He hasn’t before, and he won’t now.” She knew she was taking a big chance by releasing the chains, especially after what he said the day before, but she had to do this for him. If he ran, then she’d accept what punishment came her way.
Thinking only a moment, Israel came to a quick decision. “I give you my word,” he said. That was all it took. Marian used to the key to open the locks and he shrugged out of the shackles. What Marian couldn’t know was that Israel was planning to steal away when the way was clear, although his conscience was giving him trouble. He had decided he wouldn’t listen to it. When the opportunity came, he would be gone, and he would be free.
Sometime after arriving at the Golden cabin, Israel and Tobias worked side by side chopping firewood. Israel swung the ax and the reverend retrieved the pieces and placed them in a wheelbarrow.
“Reverend,” Hiram Golden called as he stepped onto the porch, leaving the confines of the cabin. “I reckon I’m in need of prayer again. Would you mind?”
“Not at all,” Tobias said. Then he looked towards Israel. “First time fathers are always jittery.”
Israel watched as Tobias prayed with Hiram on the porch and continued to watch as they went inside the cabin and closed the door behind them. This was his chance. Marian was inside the cabin too, presumably with Polly Golden. There was no one around. Israel took off like a shot.
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