Spider's Web: 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.
Several claps on his back as he was about to take of a drink of ale nearly resulted in him spilling his drink; still, Daniel Boone was able to keep his mug upright. He turned to see who had greeted him in such a manner. There, standing before him, was Walter Bedford, one of Salem's merchants. The man was small in stature, balding, and highly excitable.
"Dan'l. Dan'l," Walter said quickly as he waved his upheld hands, "you gotta help me. You just gotta."
"Easy, Walter." Daniel patted the smaller man’s shoulder. "What do you want me to do?"
"Dan'l, I'm in a fix, a real fix. The colonel is going to be upset, real upset," Walter said nervously. "Those supplies have to get to him soon, real soon."
When Walter was anxious he tended to repeat himself, but Daniel wasn't annoyed by it. "Tell me what your problem is."
"Colonel Robert Ives of the Continental Army is expecting supplies that I’ve been contracted to deliver, but my driver is drunk as a skunk, as a stinking skunk. Dan'l, please, I’m calling upon your patriotism. I need you to help me. Help me, please."
"What is it that you want me to do?" Daniel asked again even though he already knew. Then he laughed. His repeated question sounded like an imitation of Walter.
"Deliver the supplies," Walter said, wringing his hands. "Please, Dan'l, I don't know who else to turn to. There's no one else I can turn to."
"I reckon I can do that, but why can't you wait until your driver sobers up?" Daniel asked and then he took a drink of his ale. He was curious about the reason for the other man’s haste.
"The supplies need to go out today. Besides, I know I can trust you to deliver them. I'm not so sure anymore about that drunken milksop wagoneer of mine, who happens to be my nephew. Believe me, I will deal with him. Anyway, Colonel Ives' army is marching south. You should be able to catch him in three or four days near Reed Creek.” Walter had grown calm now that Daniel had agreed to deliver the supplies. “You know the place, don't you, Dan'l?"
"I know it," Daniel said as he finished his drink. "I can move out as soon as I talk to my wife and make arrangements for her to extend her stay here in Salem."
Walter sighed with relief as he laid his hand on Daniel's arm. "Dan'l, I am sincerely grateful, immensely grateful. My wife and I would be glad to have Becky stay with us. It will be no trouble at all and it's the least I can do for the favor you're doing for me."
"Think nothing of it, Walter, and thanks for your offer to host my wife. I'll let Becky decide where she will stay, and then let you know. Why don't you go on back to your store and I'll meet you there in a little bit."
"Dan'l, you are a prince," Walter said with an index finger pointed upward and a smile stretching from ear to ear, “a genuine prince.”
"Only a prince, Walter?" a light voice asked. Rebecca Boone came to stand beside her husband and slipped her arm through his. She had entered the tavern only a few moments before. "He's a king, at least."
"And you are his queen, dear lady," Walter replied gallantly. "But right now, Becky, he's my savior." Immediately he blanched and ran his hands through his thinning hair. "Was that blasphemous? I think that was blasphemous. Wasn't it? I am truly sorry, so very sorry. Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me, Dan'l, Becky. The last thing I want to do is anger the Almighty," he finished with a wary glance at the sky as if he expected lightning bolts to rain down.
Daniel and Rebecca chuckled. "I'm sure He forgives you, Walter," Rebecca assured him.
"Just to be certain, I'll stop by the parson's house for prayer first and then go to my store,” Walter answered. It was evident he was still slightly nervous. “I'll be ready for you when you come, Dan'l. Thank you," He waved to the Boones as he left the tavern.
"What was that all about?" Rebecca asked.
"'Pears like I'm goin’ to deliver a wagon load of supplies to Colonel Ives on Reed Creek," Daniel answered. "You can stay in Salem until I get back and then we can go home together."
"Robert Ives?" the fetching redhead asked. As Daniel nodded his head, she added, "I'm going with you. I'd like to see him again.”
"You sure, Becky? It'll be over a week before we get back here," Daniel explained.
"I am going with you, Daniel. There's nothing I'd like more. I’d rather be with you than sitting around here, wondering what you're up to." Her irritation showed as she placed her hands on her hips. "Although yet another week away from Israel is not something I would prefer."
Daniel placed his arm around his wife’s waist and drew her close. "I doubt he's missed us for one minute. He's much too busy learning to trap bears with Mingo."
"As well as other things. Those two had better not be getting into any sort of trouble." Rebecca wrapped her arm around her husband.
"Now, Becky, Mingo can take care of Isra’l and himself without gettin' into trouble. They've done it before." Daniel absent-mindedly scratched the side of his head. "Of course, the cabin will most likely be a mite messy when we get back."
"That is the least of my concerns," Rebecca replied. "I know Israel is in good hands, otherwise I would never have allowed Mingo to take him. Still, there is a part of me that will always worry about him."
Daniel smiled crookedly. He bent his head down and looked conspiratorial. "Which one? Isra’l or Mingo?" As his wife shook her head, he added quickly. "Well, I reckon we best gather our things and get to Walter's store, my queen. Shall we make our way to the royal carriage?"
Rebecca returned her husband’s smile. "Certainly, my king, certainly," she answered, barely suppressing a giggle.
As they left the tavern, they did so under the watchful eye of a man and a woman who sat in a darkened corner. "Perfect," the woman said. She nodded her brunette head and grasped the man's hand. "Daniel Boone doesn't know it yet, but he is about to take me where I need to go. My darling, I'm beginning to spin a web that will both entangle him and defeat these pesky rebels he supports once and for all." The man returned the woman’s smile, and then he leaned over the table and planted a kiss on her full lips.
The wagon jostled Daniel and Rebecca as they traveled the road that would take them to Colonel Ives. They were only four miles away from Salem on a bright, sunny, warm day. Daniel's mind was on the last words he had spoken to Walter. He had reassured the man that the supplies would be safely delivered and the wagon promptly returned. The merchant had accepted Daniel's word and had been put at ease until his nephew reported he had overheard at the tavern that there was a roving band of highwaymen robbing travelers on the road. Daniel promised Walter he would deliver the supplies to Colonel Ives and that nothing would stop him; not even dangerous robbers.
"Becky, don't you reckon you ought to have stayed in Salem?" Daniel asked as he drove the team. He then lifted his arm to wipe his brow with a sleeve that he had rolled up earlier to be a little cooler.
Rebecca narrowed her blue eyes at her husband and crossed her arms. "No, but you think I should have, don't you?"
"With talk of highwaymen on the road, I just thought you'd be safer in Salem is all," Daniel replied as he shifted in his seat.
"I'd be safe inside one of Cincinnatus' ale jugs, but that's not where I want to be." Rebecca reached behind the seat and snatched her rifle. Daniel's talk of highwaymen had alarmed her.
"Safe and probably quite drunk," Daniel added with a grin.
"I'm beginning to believe, Daniel Boone, that you don't want me around. Have I grown so wizened and ugly that you can't tolerate the sight of me?" Rebecca teased.
"No-no-no," Daniel replied with multiple shakes of his head. "Quite the opposite is true. You become more beautiful everyday and are as radiant as the sun shinin’ up there. I fear though someday you'll run off with some rogue. It's best to keep you in places where that can never happen. That’s why we live on the frontier."
"If I were to leave you, I would have done it a long time ago." The redhead shifted the rifle from her lap into her right hand. "Lord knows you’ve given me motive."
Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he turned his face towards her. He challenged her. "Name one time I gave you a reason."
"Only one?" Rebecca retorted. "I can give you any number of times.”
“All right, let’s hear one,” Daniel prompted.
“Well, for instance, when you and Mingo go off in the woods on the pretext that you're hunting when you’re really just want to get away. Or, when you receive word that the army needs you on some mission or another and you drop everything and go. Both of those leave me very much alone."
"We're in a war, Becky. Sacrifices have to be made for the good of our country," Daniel explained.
"Sometimes, it seems you are the only one making the sacrifices," Rebecca said softly.
"You make them too," Daniel countered. "And thousands of others. We all have to work together if we're goin' to become an independent nation."
Rebecca reached up with her free hand and squeezed his arm. "And we will. Even though the odds are against us, we're destined to win this war."
"How do you know that?" Daniel asked.
"Because of men and women like you and me," Rebecca answered, inching a little closer to her husband. "When our home is threatened, we fight hard and win. Not once have we ever surrendered, or lost anything it took us years to build. Our country will do the same."
"I like how you think," Daniel said. At that moment, one of the horses stepped up its pace considerably. The jolt sent both of them reeling backwards. Daniel hauled back on the reins, and the horses slowed. "Skinny is in the mood to run." He spoke of the horse, whose slim build had earned it the uncomplimentary name. "I've had to keep her reined in. She's a mite spirited today."
"Let her go then," Rebecca suggested.
With a nod, Daniel raised the reins and slapped them down on the horses’ backs. The animals instantly kicked up their legs and the increased speed sent the wagon and its load springing forward. Daniel kept his eye on the road ahead as well as on Skinny. She was pulling to go even faster. Rebecca held on as best she could, but she felt as out of control as popcorn bouncing off the sides of a black kettle held over a hot fire.
After ten minutes of this lively flight over the flat road, they came upon a rise. It hardly made a dent in the horses’ pace. Once they cleared the top of the hill, the road took a sharp bend to the left. Daniel pulled the reins back, but it was too late to get the horses to slow down. They took the turn at great speed, which caused Rebecca's side of the wagon to lift off its wheels. As they came out of the turn, the wagon settled back down on all four wheels with a thud, but another danger immediately presented itself. Just ahead of them was a woman walking in the center of the road completely unaware of their pell-mell approach.
"Dan!" Rebecca shouted in warning as she pointed at the woman.
Her husband drew the reins quickly to the left and fortunately the horses obeyed. They backed off of their speed, but still they brushed the woman, who was trying to get out of the way and who was knocked violently to the ground. Finally, the horses slowed enough that Daniel could turn them around and check on the woman. After a short trot, they pulled alongside the fallen woman.
Rebecca jumped from the seat, leaving her rifle behind. "Are you all right?" she asked as she helped the young woman up and noticed she was, perhaps, only a few years older than Jemima.
"Yes, I think so," the woman answered as she shook her brunette hair. Then she dusted herself off and adjusted the packs on her back and chest to their original position.
"I'm sorry for that, miss," Daniel said as he joined the pair.
"It was partially my fault. I shouldn't have been walking in the middle of the road."
"We are truly sorry. My husband shouldn't have been driving the team so fast," Rebecca apologized.
Daniel looked slightly miffed. Wasn't it Rebecca who had suggested he allow the horses to run? And now, suddenly, after nearly running the woman over, it was his fault? There was no understanding women, he thought, especially his wife. Deciding to let the issue drop, he introduced himself. "I'm Daniel Boone,” he said as he pointed in his spouse’s direction, “and this is my wife, Becky."
"Please to meet you. I'm Hattie Brookes," she said with a smile.
"Where are you bound, Miss Brookes?" Daniel asked.
"It's Mrs. Brookes," Hattie corrected. "My husband is a soldier in Colonel Ives’ regiment. I'm on my way to join him, as well as to sell my wares."
"We're going that way ourselves. Would you care to join us?" Daniel asked. "It's the least I can do for almost causing you an injury."
"Being able to ride in your wagon rather than walking all that way is an answer to prayer, Mr. Boone," Hattie answered happily.
"Since we're going to be traveling together, why don't you call me Daniel?" he suggested.
"I'd like that. Thank you. Please, call me Hattie. The only Mrs. Brookes I know is my mother-in-law, and she's a hateful thing," she added with a laugh.
"Come along then, Hattie," Rebecca said as she led her to the wagon. She made a place for the younger woman behind the wagon seat while Daniel watered the horses and gave Skinny a warning to mind her manners and temper her speed. Once everyone was aboard, Daniel sent the horses into motion again. Skinny seemed to heed his warning and kept herself to a normal pace.
"Oh, this is much better than walking," Hattie said gleefully. "My husband, Jake, told me he didn't want me coming with him, but I missed him so much I decided to join him for as long as he'll let me. I'll sell my wares among the soldiers too. I probably won't get much for the things, but it'll be something."
"Your husband was probably looking out for your best interests, Hattie," Daniel pointed out. "A camp follower leads a hard kind of life."
"Trust me, Daniel, living that life is easier than living with Jake's mother and that's what I'd be doing if I stayed behind," Hattie said. "I know Jake, though, he won't let me stay. It must be nice for you, Becky, getting to travel with your husband."
"Oh, I don't always get to go with him, Hattie," Rebecca said. "This is a rarity."
"All husbands must be the same," the young woman concluded with a sigh.
"Yes, in many ways they are," Rebecca said as she imitated her husband’s lopsided grin and rolled her eyes at him.
"I think I need to protest here," Daniel countered. "We husbands care for our wives to such a degree that we try to protect them and what do we get for our trouble? We're defied and our efforts undermined by the very ones we love."
"Piffle," Hattie cried. "Jake is more in love with his country than with me. That's why he joined the army rather than the local militia. 'Gotta do my duty in the army for God and my country,' he had said."
"Sounds familiar," Rebecca replied, her eyes trained on her patriotic husband sitting beside her.
"You should be proud of your husband, Hattie," Daniel said. "He's accepting his responsibilities like a man."
"Oh, don't get me wrong, Daniel I am proud of him, but I could just as easily rip his head off for him not being able to see my side of things."
"I understand what you mean, Hattie," Rebecca said. "I feel the same way...sometimes."
Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, Daniel remained silent. The battle between husbands and wives had been going on for centuries before his arrival on this earth and would continue to be waged long after he was gone. Until men and women began to think alike, it would never end and that day would never come, he thought, because God never intended it to be so. Despite them not always seeing eye to eye, he was grateful for his wife, who brought him great joy…on most occasions.
The women chatted while Daniel concentrated on driving. Skinny was asserting herself again and he had to work to keep her reined in. He wished the other horse, Missy, would whisper in Skinny's ear and tell her slow down. Close to nightfall, Daniel chose a narrow clearing with a small creek nearby. Rebecca and Hattie prepared the evening meal while he unhitched the horses and watered them. Then, he rubbed them down and hobbled them. He tied on Missy’s feedbag containing oats before addressing the other horse.
"Skinny, I want you to think about walkin' tomorrow. No more runnin'," Daniel advised as he placed the feedbag strap behind the horse's neck, "or I'll turn the reins over to Becky and I'll let you ladies fight it out." After patting the horse's mane, he entered the camp to find Rebecca stirring a pot of venison stew. He drew in a breath and the rich aroma filled his nostrils. "That stew sure smells good, Becky."
"Grab a bowl and come get some," Rebecca told him.
Just as he moved to do as Rebecca commanded, Daniel became alarmed. He heard something nearby. He wasn't certain what it was, but was sure that whatever it was, it wasn't good. Swinging his body in the opposite direction, Daniel grabbed the rifles that were leaning against the wagon. "Becky," he whispered.
Rebecca had just finished pouring herself a mug of coffee. She lifted her head. She knew there was danger. Daniel's manner told her so. She looked at Hattie, who was standing beside her, and then set the pot and mug down on the ground. Daniel handed a rifle to her. Hattie who was unarmed, opted to hide underneath the wagon.
"That's a good spot for you too, Becky," Daniel said, speaking softly. "I'm going to scout the area." As Daniel slipped into the woods, Rebecca joined Hattie underneath the wagon.
"What's wrong?" Hattie asked. She was visibly shaking.
"It's all right, Hattie," Rebecca said, patting her shoulder. "Dan's heard a noise. It may be something or nothing. We'll just have to wait and see."
"You don't think there are Redcoats out there, do you?" Hattie asked.
"I doubt it," Rebecca said. "It's most likely highwaymen. We heard there might be some in the vicinity. Just be still and quiet. Dan will know soon enough what's triggered his ‘danger’ senses." Poking her head out from underneath the wagon, Rebecca looked around. Then returned to Hattie who was clutching her bag that was strapped around her neck and sat on the ground beside her.
Daniel crept over to the horses. They were undisturbed. He had thought someone might have been after them, but there wasn't anyone about. He moved on then, intending to cover the camp in a circular pattern. He had only gone a couple of hundred yards when he came upon two men, reclining on the ground. They were passing a jug of rum between them.
"You boys wanting somethin' more than a drink?" Daniel asked as he came to stand before them. He noticed they had no weapons. They were dressed in a straggly fashion, but didn't seem intent on causing harm. Nevertheless, he didn't want them around; particularly when he was traveling with two women.
"What are you offerin’?" one of the men, who was wearing a tricorn hat, asked.
"A hot meal in exchange for you movin' a couple of miles west of here," Daniel said.
"Why?" the other man asked. He was wearing a floppy hat.
"I got a hankerin' to be alone and I can't hardly do that if the two of you are around," Daniel said. "You see, I'm tryin' to give up drinkin' and it's makin' me a mite edgy. Why, sometimes, I get so filled with meanness that I just start breakin' or shootin’ at things. I can't stop myself. I don't reckon you’ll want to be near if'n I should start that. Since I'm in a right friendly mood at the moment, I thought I'd offer you boys a meal, and send you west."
"Which way is west?" the man with the tricorn hat asked.
Daniel pointed.
"It's a deal, mister."
"Good. You two start walking west, and I'll catch up to you," Daniel said.
The man with the floppy hat shook his head. “How do we know you'll bring the food?"
"I reckon you'll just have to trust me," Daniel said. "On second thought, I'll walk with you a spell just to be sure you don't lose your way."
"That's mighty kind of you, mister," the man in the tricorn hat replied. "You have any rum you’re wantin' to part with? My friend and I would be glad to take it off your hands as a gesture of friendship - since you're swearin' off drinkin'."
"Not a drop. How about some coffee?" Daniel offered.
"I only drink a special coffee my favorite tavern brews," the man in the floppy hat asserted. "It's made with three-fourths rum and one-fourth coffee."
"Interesting," Daniel said. "Come along, gentlemen." He led them west for almost a mile and then left them to go the rest of the way by themselves while he returned to his camp. He was careful to alter his course often enough to confuse anyone who might be following him. When he was sure no one was, he made straight for the camp. On approaching it, he let out a whippoorwill call that told Rebecca he had returned.
"Dan's back," Rebecca informed Hattie.
"Becky," Daniel said as he entered the camp and bent down to see the two women were still crouched underneath the wagon. "It's all right. Come on out." He leaned his rifle against its side and then helped Rebecca up. He moved to do the same for Hattie, but she had risen without assistance. "No trouble," he told them. "Just two drunks. I sent them a couple of miles to the west. They won't bother us. I did, however, promise them some of that venison stew." He took a small pot from the bed of the wagon and made his way to the fire. "I won't give them much."
"Who are they, Dan?" Rebecca asked as she came to stand beside her husband.
"I didn't ask their names, Becky. I didn't think formal introductions were in order since we won't be seein' them again." Daniel dished some of the stew into the pot in his hand. "I'll be back soon." After kissing her cheek, he snatched his rifle and moved off silently into the night.
"You see, Hattie," Rebecca said. "This is what it's like to be married to Daniel Boone." She then began to serve the venison stew.
Daniel covered the distance quickly and found the two men where he had instructed them to be. They were conversing; so he crouched to listen. He was suspicious of these two, but he couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was that was causing him to feel that way.
"When's he comin' back with that food? I'm starved, Luke," the man in the floppy hat said.
"He’ll get here when he gets here," Luke answered. "Drink some more rum."
"I thought we were going to meet Jay Cobb's wife tonight."
"Barney, that's tomorrow night, you idiot," Luke said.
Daniel smiled. He knew their names now. ‘Won't Becky be pleased,’ he thought.
"I hear she's a good looker," Barney said.
Luke jumped to his feet and hauled his companion to his. "You'll treat her with respect, you hear me, you drunken fool?"
"Oh, sure, sure," Barney said. "But there isn't nothin' wrong with just lookin' at a pretty girl, is there? And that's all I'll do, Luke, is look."
"Shut up and be quiet. Boone should be back soon," Luke said, sitting back down on the ground and lifting the jug of rum to his lips.
Daniel narrowed his eyebrows. He hadn't told the two men his name. Of course, they might have known him by reputation. He had often been stopped in places by someone exclaiming 'You are Daniel Boone, aren't you?' He would inquire about how Luke knew him, just to satisfy his own curiosity. Since there didn't appear to be anything more to be learned by lurking in the shadows, Daniel rose and entered their midst. "Supper's here," he announced, holding the pot up high.
"Thank you, sir!" A delighted Barney rushed towards him.
Stooping, Daniel poured the stew on two flat, but large pieces of bark. "I reckon you'll have to eat it with your fingers."
"I'd eat it with my toes if I had too," Barney said.
"By the way, what are you fellers’ names?" Daniel asked just to see if they were lying.
"I'm Luke. He's Barney," Luke declared, picking his meal up from the ground.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance," Daniel said.
"Thanks for the food," Luke said. "We're much obliged."
"You're welcome. Aren't you going to ask who I am?" Daniel asked.
"I already know. You're Daniel Boone. I've seen you a few times in Salem. Never had met you though until now. Didn't know you had a drinkin' problem either. I would never have guessed that. Your reputation says you're a sober man," Luke stated.
"Yes, well, I-I-" Daniel stammered. "You'll keep my secret, won't you? Even my wife doesn't know about it. A reputation like mine is mighty hard to live up to."
"I don't know who we'd tell," Luke frowned as Barney finished his meal and licked his fingers with relish. "He's a slob,” he said to Daniel. “Be glad he's not your friend."
Daniel nodded and left their presence. He chose a circuitous route as he had before, in case the two men followed him. As he proceeded towards his own camp, he reviewed the conversation he had with the two men and thought about the way they had handled themselves. Luke didn't smile once. Barney was too busy complaining or eating to smile. Of course, that might mean nothing. Daniel also wondered who Jay Cobb was, and what these men were doing meeting with his wife. Too bad, he wasn't going to be nearby tomorrow night. He had supplies to deliver or he’d have stuck around to find out.
Even though he broke into a run, Daniel still moved quietly and quickly through the woods. He slowed to a jog when he wasn't far from their camp. Suddenly, a woman's scream pierced the silent night. Daniel stopped dead in his tracks. Was it Rebecca? Or Hattie? Without further hesitation, Daniel raced for the camp, fearing the worst.
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