The Way to Freedom: 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.
The Boone cabin stood silent against the dark night. Only a quarter moon cast any kind of light at all. A hoot owl broke the stillness as it began its tu-whit tu-whoo call. From her bed in the loft, Jemima heard the owl and then glanced at her sleeping brother beside her. Pushing back the blanket, she slipped her feet to the floor, and then covered Israel. After quickly dressing in buckskin trousers, a blouse, and moccasins, Jemima pulled a leather bag from underneath their bed and threw the strap over her shoulder. Glancing at Israel, she blew her brother a kiss and mouthed a goodbye. Without a sound, Jemima descended the ladder. When she reached the cabin floor, she paused momentarily to look towards her parents' bedroom. She wanted to steal a peek at her mother before she departed, but she couldn't risk being seen or heard.
Making small footfalls towards the fireplace, Jemima looked back over her shoulder, worriedly thinking her mother had arisen and was preparing to level a scolding at her for being up at this hour of the night. She lifted a rifle from the hook and then glided to the cabin door. Taking the spare powder horn and shot bag, Jemima noticed the empty hooks where her father kept his jacket and cap. He was away with Mingo checking on trapping possibilities. Come winter, they intended to trap in a relatively remote area where the beavers were so numerous that the pickings would be easy.
Pausing at the door, Jemima looked around. It would be some time before she returned home, if she was able to return at all. Looking towards where her mother lay sleeping, Jemima mouthed a farewell and opened the cabin door as tears welled in her eyes. Once outside, she melted into the darkness.
"Mima! Israel!" Rebecca called as she stirred porridge in the pot over the fire. "Get up now." Only a few times did Rebecca have to awaken her children in this manner. Jemima would usually rise when she did and get Israel moving as well.
Israel bounded towards Rebecca still wearing his nightshirt. His hair was tousled about his head. "Ma, how do I look?" he asked.
Bringing the pot from the fire to the table, Rebecca saw that Israel held strands of straw underneath his nose using only his upper lip to hold them in place. "Oh, Israel," she said, chuckling. "Get dressed and get your sister up."
"She's already up, Ma," Israel informed her as the straw dropped to floor.
"Of course," Rebecca said, rubbing the side of her head with the palm of her hand. "Gone hunting. I had forgotten." Jemima would at times bring meat for the pot when they ran low, or sometimes it was just an excuse to get away. Rebecca thought that her daughter needed a break from her chores and her little brother, so she allowed her to have a day to herself.
"She shoulda taken me," Israel groused.
"She wanted to hunt alone. Your pa will take you when he comes home," Rebecca told him.
"Ma, we could go together. Just you and me," Israel suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea, darling, but Mrs. McGrady is ill and I promised to look after her today. You can play with Andy Rand while we're at the fort," Rebecca said.
"All day?" Israel asked, excitedly.
"All day," Rebecca concurred, leaning down to face her son.
"Criminetly. All day," Israel said with a smile. "Thanks, Ma." He ran to the ladder and hurriedly dressed so he could eat breakfast and get to the fort to play with his friend.
Meanwhile, Rebecca poured porridge into two bowls as uneasiness gnawed at her mind. She was concerned for Jemima. Something wasn't quite right, but she couldn't put her finger on it. What she was feeling wasn't just a mother's heart yearning for her child; it was more than that. Jemima had gone hunting before and she didn't feel discomfited then. Why now? Indeed, last night her daughter had been exceptionally quiet and that was part of the reason. Deciding not to dwell on it, Rebecca would instead look forward to the evening when the three of them would be together and her mind would be at peace. She should be worrying about Daniel and Mingo as they were out together and that usually spelled trouble. Her thoughts weren't on them, however, but on her only daughter. The girl knew her way in the woods better than some men and was sturdy and rock solid like her father. Don't think on that anymore, Rebecca told herself. When Israel rejoined her, she took her own advice as they ate breakfast together in Jemima's notable absence.
Jemima's traveling companions kept the pace well. They continued to move quickly through the forest, although they had journeyed all night with only a few necessary breaks. All of them bore backpacks of supplies that seemed to get heavier for every mile they covered. After treading another five miles, they could rest a few hours before moving on again at dusk.
Turning her head to find her friends directly behind her, Jemima encouraged them as she gripped the rifle with both hands. "You're doing fine. It won't be much longer and we can stop for a spell."
"We'll keep movin' for as long as you say," the man said.
"Don't stop on account of us," the woman agreed.
"We'll have to sleep sometime and there's a good place for that and to hide just up ahead. The land here is pretty flat so the going won't be rough," Jemima informed them.
"This ain't nothin'. We've been through worse," the man said.
"It'll get rougher and more dangerous later on. Until then, enjoy the leisurely walk," Jemima jested and her friends chuckled.
They walked along in silence until they stumbled upon a brown bear with her cub. The trio was too close for the bear's taste and she came after them. "Run!" Jemima screamed, then dashed away from the bear.
The man and woman didn't know where to run to so they followed Jemima. The bear was gaining ground and Jemima knew she'd have to get her friends to safety somewhere. As soon as she thought it, she saw the perfect tree. She ran towards it with the man and woman close behind.
Once there, she took a stance to protect her companions. "Climb the tree! Quickly!" She raised her rifle, but didn't intend to use it unless she had to. She couldn't leave a rotting bear carcass for any followers to find nor could she orphan a cub.
The man and woman ascended the tree with relative ease. The bear was closing. Jemima climbed the tree as quickly as she could while carrying a rifle. The bear swiped its paw at her, and missed by inches. Jemima was spurred into scaling the tree that much faster.
Sitting on one branch, the man wiped his brow. Next to him, the woman did the same. "That was close," the man said. "That bear barely missed takin' a piece of your hide."
"A miss is as good as a mile like my pa says," Jemima said, taking a seat on an upper branch from her companions.
"How long do you think we'll have to wait," the woman asked, watching the bear circle the tree.
"No telling. The bear may figure her cub is safe and leave soon or stick around awhile," Jemima explained, laying her rifle across her lap.
"I don't mind the rest," the woman admitted. "It feels mighty good to sit down for awhile."
"We've made good time. You both are excellent travelers," Jemima said, complimenting them. "At this pace, we'll be at the forks of the Ohio before you know it."
The man smiled and tapped his wife's shoulder. "We'll get there together," he told her.
"We will," she agreed.
"Hey there! You ole bear!" Jericho Jones yelled, as he approached both the tree and the bear.
"Criminetly," Jemima said. "That's all we need is that big mouth Jericho Jones showing up."
Frightened, the woman began to visibly tremble. "Will he take us back Boonesborough?"
"No, he won't," Jemima said. "I'll get rid of him. Just wait here and don't make a sound." Jemima began a slow descent as Jericho continued to speak loudly to the bear.
Jericho began to wave his arms and shout to the bear. "Go on home, mama bear, and take baby bear with you!" Then he began whistling at it.
To Jemima's surprise, the bear took off running, gathered her cub, and left the area. Then she wondered why she was amazed. Anyone or anything would hastily flee when they saw Jericho Jones coming. Jemima dropped out of the tree in front of the startled young man.
"I thought I saw someone climb the tree, but I thought it was a man. You look real pretty in those buckskin breeches," Jericho said, sarcastically.
Their relationship was strained now that Jemima had taken an interest in Flanders Callaway. Jericho had become jealous and childish. Jemima wondered what she ever saw in him. Flanders was handsome, strong, quick with a smile, and intelligent. Attributes so different from those Jericho possessed. In her opinion, Flanders was everything Jericho wasn't and couldn't hope to be. "What I wear, Jericho Jones, is my own business not yours," Jemima said testily.
"Does Flanders like you wearing buckskin breeches?" Jericho asked.
"Again, that's no business of yours. Why don't you go your way and I'll go mine," Jemima suggested as she placed a hand on hip in a gesture reminiscent of her mother.
"Once you're hitched, I reckon it'll be you who'll wear the pants in your family, not Flanders." Jericho laughed at his joke, which Jemima didn't find the least bit amusing.
"Did you know that you don't look good in green?" Jemima retorted. "You're dripping in jealousy and envy, most unbecoming characteristics."
"You think I'm jealous of Flanders?" Jericho snorted. "Flanders. What kind of name is that?"
"Jericho. What kind of name is that? Oh, let me think..." Jemima paused. Her eyes were cast skyward as if the answer were written in the heavens above. "Oh, yes, a name for a walled Biblical city, which met an end when the Israelite trumpet blasts caused the walls to collapse. The city was laid waste and a curse was placed upon it. Yes, your name is noble and proud," Jemima said snidely and quirked her lips in a faint imitation of her father.
Jericho scrunched his face in a way that Jemima recognized as an indication that he didn't understand she had just delivered a verbal insult on his name. "Oh, yeah," Jericho said, then changed the subject. "What are you doin' out here? You're a far piece from home."
"Do you realize that you keep asking questions which are none of your business?" Jemima asked, quite annoyed with him.
"I'm makin' it my business," Jericho said. "You shouldn't be out here alone."
"And why shouldn't I?" Jemima retorted.
"It's too dangerous, for one thing," Jericho replied. "And for another, with you dressed like man, you're bound to get into trouble."
"I don't know why I'm telling you this, but I'm not alone. Pa's about," Jemima said, knowing she was misleading him. Her father was several days away, but couldn't that be considered 'about'?
"Is he now?" Jericho asked skeptically. "He just upped and left you alone to face that bear all by your little self?"
"It seems my pa trusts me in the woods more than you do. He knows I can take care of myself. Besides, it's none of your business!" Jemima yelled. "Why don't you make tracks elsewhere and go bother someone else? I grow bored with this conversation."
"All right. If you want me to leave, I'll go. But before I do, I'm tellin' ya, you're makin' a big mistake seein' that Flanders fella. He ain't all you think he is. He ain't for you," Jericho said.
"Now you know who is right for me and who is not. The Good Book says gray hair is a sign of wisdom. With the wisdom you have, your hair should be as gray as Cincinnatus' beard," Jemima said sarcastically. "I can trust my judgment to choose the right man to spend the rest of my life with. Yours is in question."
Jericho frowned and pursed his lips. "You'll know I'm right...someday," he said angrily and left her on the run.
"Only in your dreams," Jemima mumbled. When Jericho was out of sight, Jemima called to her friends and they came down quickly out of the tree. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. Jericho brings out the worst in me."
"It's all right. It's obvious he's taken with you and can't have you. That's what makes him mad," the woman said.
Jemima nodded. "We must get going. Jericho could come back and we can't be anywhere near if he does. Let's go."
Traveling for a time, they took one hurried step after another. Jemima thought of home. She knew how worried her mother would be when night fell and her whereabouts were unknown. If there had been some way to tell Rebecca without implicating her in the plan, Jemima would have done so. No one knew what she was doing except herself and her two companions, and that was the way it had to be. It didn't sit well with Jemima that she would be causing her mother distress. She had seen Rebecca worry, mostly for her father, and had once awakened in the middle of the night to watch her pace the floors in silent prayer. Her lips had moved, but no sound came forth. When Jemima asked her about that later, Rebecca told her that she felt Daniel needed God's protection at that moment. She needed that protection now and hoped her mother would pray for her as she did for her father.
Stepping outside Mrs. McGrady's cabin, Rebecca watched Israel playing with his friend for a moment before proceeding to tavern. It was a quiet day at the fort. In fact, the only noises that could be heard came from the blacksmith as he worked a piece of metal, and from her own son and his friend as their laughter filled the air. It brought a smile to Rebecca's lips, knowing Israel was enjoying himself.
Lifting the latch to the tavern door, Rebecca moved inside to find a few patrons sitting at the tables drinking, and Cincinnatus cleaning the counter. She approached Cincinnatus still wearing the smile that Israel caused without him even realizing it
"Afternoon, Becky," Cincinnatus greeted, smiling back. "Somethin' I can get for you today?"
"Tea, please, Cincinnatus" Rebecca responded.
Cincinnatus withdrew a small bag of tea from a shelf and set it on top of his now clean counter. "Anythin' else?" he asked.
"I suppose that's all I need for now," Rebecca answered.
"How's Mrs. McGrady doin'?" Cincinnatus asked, knowing Rebecca was caring for her.
"She's getting better. A little brewed tea will work wonders," Rebecca said, holding on to the bag of tea and shaking it.
The tavern door came open and Howard Fox stomped towards Rebecca. He was livid. "Mrs. Boone, has your husband returned?" he asked angrily, his eyes shooting invisible flames.
"Not yet. Why?" Rebecca asked.
"Then who's the law around here?" Fox asked, looking about the tavern.
"Whatcha need the law fer?" Cincinnatus asked.
"Help in recovering my property," Fox replied. "I've been robbed."
"What was stolen?" Rebecca asked, wondering why Fox just didn't explain his problem fully rather than trying to draw bits of information from him a little at a time.
"My slaves!" Fox screeched. Fox and his family had moved to Boonesborough three months ago and had brought with him his two slaves.
"How do you know your slaves didn't run off?" Cincinnatus asked.
"Where would they run to? We're on the frontier. They know nothing about living off the land. They were taken. Mrs. Boone, your husband must help me find them," Fox stated.
Rebecca knew Fox's concern for his slaves wasn't based in human compassion, but only as he had stated - property to be recovered. She recoiled at such blatant insensitivity. "Mr. Fox, you know my husband's stand on slavery. He will not help you," Rebecca said.
"As the leader of this community, Daniel Boone is bound to uphold the law. And as Daniel Boone's woman, I would think you would want the same. Those slaves are my property. They've been stolen. I demand those responsible be brought to justice," Fox commanded, knowing he didn't have Rebecca's support or concern like he wished.
"You can take this up with Dan when he returns, Mr. Fox. But I can tell you this much, Dan will not cooperate with you," Rebecca said, who knew her husband very well.
"Then I shall see your husband brought up charges and imprisoned," Fox said sternly and stomped out of the tavern.
"Reckon he means what he says?" Cincinnatus asked.
"He means it. Mr. Fox is not the kind of man to be taken lightly. And Dan won't go after nor return Fox's slaves even if it means facing trial and imprisonment," Rebecca said as she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Daniel could be counted on to stand for what was right no matter the consequences. If Fox's warning succeeded, Daniel might be confronting dire circumstances in the near future. "I better go and get this tea brewed for Mrs. McGrady," Rebecca said, stepping towards the tavern door. She stopped and turned to face Cincinnatus. "If you should learn anything more about Fox's problem, you'll be sure to let me know. Won't you, Cincinnatus?"
Cincinnatus nodded and Rebecca left the tavern with an additional burden to bear other than the small bag she carried in her hand.
The trio settled in for a time of sleep in the early afternoon. A large rock formation surrounded them, which Jemima thought offered the best protection from anyone that might be on their trail. She checked the charge in her rifle and then leaned it against the rock. Nearby, her seated companions ate jerky in silence. She smiled at them when they looked her way.
"Do you think anyone is followin' us?" Harry asked.
"The only one that could is my pa, and he's away," Jemima replied, taking a bite from her jerky and not telling them that he had taken almost the same direction as they, but she hoped they missed each other. She knew what would happen if her father caught her.
"Then we're safe for awhile," Alice said.
Nodding, Jemima said, "For awhile. There's always the Shawnee to look out for though."
Harry looked at his wife and Alice nodded to him. "Alice and me just want to thank you for what your doin'. We know the trouble you'd get into on account of us."
"As my pa says, if'n you don't do what's right then you may as well be dead," Jemima said. "You're taking a risk too. Mr. Fox will punish you both if you're found and forced to go back."
"We won't go back. Master Fox was about to sell Alice, and I won't live without her. She's my wife. The only family I have left, and she has only me," Harry said convincingly as he squeezed Alice's shoulder and smiled in her direction.
"I won't let that happen. I promised you I'd see you to the forks of the Ohio, and Pa's friends will take you by flatboat to Canada from there," Jemima explained. Although she had already told them that when they planned their escape, she thought it needed to be reiterated.
"And sweet freedom after that," Alice said happily.
"Yes," Jemima agreed. "Once you're in Canada, you need only look up Pa's friend, Gideon, and he'll help you get settled and all."
Chuckling, Harry asked, "Does your pa have friends everywhere?"
"It seems that way," Jemima said. "Pa has always been good at making friends."
"We're fortunate you learned from him. You made friends with us even though we're slaves - not much better than animals," Alice said, her brown eyes showing her sadness.
"You're not slaves. Not anymore. You're free," Jemima told them.
"She's right, Alice. We are free," Harry stated. "No masters for us anymore. We decide how we will live our lives. And if anything should go wrong, we'll die free."
"Nobody's going to die," Jemima said. "I'm determined to get you to Canada - alive and well. I won't let you down."
"We know that, Miss Boone, and grateful for it," Alice said.
"Now, that's another thing we need to take care of," Jemima said firmly. "I'm not Miss Boone. I'm Jemima."
"You look more like Master Boone in those buckskin trousers," Alice commented.
"That I do," Jemima agreed, laughing and looking at her pants. "They make traveling easier than in a dress. But no matter what I'm wearing, you're still to call me Jemima."
"That'll be a habit hard to break, but we'll try, J-J-Jemima," Harry stammered. It would be difficult for them to address her other than formally. It had been ingrained in them since childhood not to speak to white people without using a respectable title.
"You see, you did fine," Jemima said with a nod of her head. "We better get some sleep. Night will be here before you know it."
The trio ceased their conversation and settled in for sleep. Jemima only took a few minutes before she fell asleep, but in those moments, she thought of the action she had taken. Freeing slaves went against the law of the land, but certainly not against God's moral declaration that all should be free. Jemima took that to mean free from having any masters but God. She thought of Peter and John who stood before the Jewish authorities and stated they could not stop preaching the Gospel, and that they must obey God rather than men. In Jemima's view, that's what she was doing - obeying God rather than an immoral law. With that on her mind, she succumbed to a peaceful sleep.
Near the Ohio River, Daniel and Mingo studied a stream with beaver dams. They wore smiles on their faces knowing they had found the area they would trap this winter. It was secluded and not easy to get to, but that was perfect for them. Their cache and cash would be plentiful when they went to sell their pelts the following spring.
"Well, Mingo, this is the place," Daniel said as his shiny green eyes took in every aspect of the scenery. He leaned heavily on his rifle then pushed his coonskin cap to the back of his head.
"Indeed, Daniel," Mingo agreed. "Only five days travel northwest from Boonesborough and we have found our beaver paradise."
"This season has to be a very good one. Becky seems to think Mima's interest in Flanders Callaway is growing. She says she expects them to court soon," Daniel explained.
"What do you say about that?" Mingo asked as the wind blew his long black hair into his face. He deftly pulled it away so it lay against the back of his shoulder and awaited his friend's answer.
"Becky approves, and so I reckon I do, too," Daniel said. "Flanders has a good head on his shoulders and uses it. Mima has chosen well."
"How could she do otherwise? She is your daughter," Mingo stated as the wind blew one of his feathers on the back of his head down so that it came to rest at an angle. He set about straightening it.
"If'n they should get hitched, I'll want to set Mima up right when she begins her new life," Daniel said. "Household goods is what she wants. I wanted to give her land, but after that incident at Shenowa, she decided against that idea."
"Do you blame her?" Mingo asked, still trying to align the errant feather. "You horrified her by making like a tree and notching your own leg with an ax."
Daniel ignored the comment. "She didn't have to take that particular section of land. I could have found her another that didn't have a haunting memory attached to it," he said.
"Certainly, you could have, but you didn't mention that to her, did you?" Mingo continued, as he finally got the one feather pointed skyward as the other fell on its side. With a sigh, he worked to adjust it.
"No, her mind was made up about gettin' household goods. No use dippin' a bucket into a dry well," Daniel said, pushing his cap back so that it rested square on his head.
"That well may not be dry," Mingo commented as he continued coaxing the rebellious feather back into place.
"That well is so dry, it's parched. Mima's just like her ma. Once she makes up her mind, she isn't about to change it," Daniel said.
"Like her ma?" Mingo asked incredulously after succeeding in getting his feathers to stand proud and tall. "Like her pa is the more accurate statement."
"Mingo, I'm surprised in you. Questionin' me like that when you know I'm right," Daniel said, then displayed a crooked smile. "We best find a place to camp." Daniel headed off in the direction he thought would hold the best possibilities.
As Mingo followed the tall frontiersman, he felt his feathers droop from his head until one pointed one way and the other the opposite.
Daniel stopped and turned around to see his friend removing the feathers from his hair. "Havin' trouble keepin' your feathers on straight?" Daniel asked, then broke into laughter as he resumed walking.
Mingo glared at Daniel's back, not liking that he wasn't sympathizing with his travail. He wanted to grab Daniel's coonskin cap and spin it around his head so that the tail hung over his face. After thinking such a thought, Mingo felt guilty for entertaining the idea. Daniel was his friend, and he shouldn't be wanting to inflict misfortune upon him even if it was in fun. As Mingo shook his head at the offending feathers that lay crumpled in his hand, he decided to enlist Daniel's help in obtaining new ones to adorn his head. There would be plenty of time to do that on their journey back home.
As he followed Daniel, Mingo noted a particular odor in the air, a stench that was worse than the streets of London. He would have to make sure Daniel didn't pick a campsite downwind of that foul odor. The woodsman didn't seem to notice it as he walked ahead of Mingo, so he decided not to mention it to him. Perhaps, it was only his imagination anyhow.
Night had fallen and Rebecca peered into the darkness from the open door of her cabin, looking for her daughter. Jemima should have been home hours ago. It wasn't like her to stay out longer than she was permitted. The uneasiness that Rebecca experienced that morning returned with greater force. There wasn't anyway to be rid of it.
Closing the door, Rebecca joined Israel at the table as he was just about to finish eating supper and sat beside him. Picking up her fork, Rebecca took a couple of bites, but that was all.
"What's the matter, Ma?" Israel asked, noticing Rebecca's lack of appetite. "Ain't you hungry? Supper's real good."
"I guess not," Rebecca admitted, laying her fork onto her plate.
"You're worried about Mima, ain't you, Ma?" Israel asked, coming to her side and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"For one so young you are very wise," Rebecca said, covering her hand over his. "I'm sure she's fine. Perhaps, she met up with Flanders."
"Don't reckon she could do that," Israel said. "Flanders went to Salem and isn't back yet. I heard Cincinnatus say so at the fort today."
Rebecca knew that as well, but it had slipped her mind. "She must be on her way home," she said, trying to convince herself of that and not succeeding.
"Sure she is," Israel said by way of comfort.
A knock at the door brought Rebecca and Israel immediately to answer it. "Mima!" she cried in relief, swinging the door open to find not her daughter standing there, but the tavern keeper. "Oh, Cincinnatus, it's you." Her disappointment was heard in her voice. "Come in."
Stepping inside, Cincinnatus doffed his hat, thinking Rebecca was expecting Daniel and that was the reason for her letdown. "Sorry to barge in on you, Becky. I just thought you'd like to know that Fox and a couple of trappers are goin' lookin' for his slaves in the mornin'. He said that since Dan'l wasn't here to keep the law, then he would do it hisself."
"Fine, Cincinnatus. That's fine," Rebecca said distractedly and walked towards the table.
"Something wrong, Becky?" Cincinnatus asked, stroking his graybeard.
"Mima ain't home," Israel piped in. "Ma's worried."
"She went hunting this morning and isn't back," Rebecca said, absently drawing circles on the table as her eyes stared straight ahead.
"I'm sure she's all right," Cincinnatus said, trying to ease Rebecca's concern.
"No, Cincinnatus. Something's wrong. Dreadfully wrong. I felt it all day. It isn't like Mima to go hunting and not return before dark," Rebecca explained emphatically. She whirled around to face Cincinnatus and Israel, both of whom continued to stand by the door. Tears stood in her eyes. "Mima's in grave danger. I know it. If only Dan were here..." she said, wringing her hands.
"Becky, how do you know she's in danger?" Cincinnatus asked, looking for something more tangible than only a mother's worry for her daughter.
"I don't know. I just know it," Rebecca answered, but that didn't give Cincinnatus anything more to go on than moments ago.
"Maybe whoever stole Mr. Fox's slaves took Mima too," Israel suggested. He had heard what had happened from all the talk among the people at the fort.
Cincinnatus and Rebecca stared at Israel knowing his idea had some validity. Jemima missing the same day as the slaves was no small coincidence. They were linked together. "Cincinnatus, you don't think she..."
"She could have," Cincinnatus agreed. "Her workin' for me is making sense now. I paid her in foodstuffs. It's what she asked for. Just what she'd be needin' for a long trip."
"When the Foxes first arrived, she inquired in depth about their slaves. She said how wrong it was for them to be owned like animals and treated only a little better. They ought to be free like the rest of us. There had to be a way for them to be free even if they had to find it far from Kentucky. I didn't think she would take this drastic of a measure," Rebecca surmised.
"She must have done it and planned it in my tavern. I didn't think much of it at the time, but she would try to speak to Fox's man out of everyone's earshot when he and Fox came for supplies," Cincinnatus said.
"Not only there, but at the Fox's place too. We made a few visits there where she spoke with both of them," Rebecca added. The evidence they had led to only one conclusion.
"Ma, what did Mima do?" Israel asked, failing to make the connection that Rebecca and Cincinnatus had.
"Mima is taking Mr. Fox's slaves someplace where they can be free," Rebecca answered.
"She shoulda taken me," Israel complained, wanting to be included in this grand adventure.
"Israel," Rebecca said sternly, coming to his side and taking his upper arm firmly. "You mustn't say a word about this. If anyone learns what your sister has done she could be..."
"Could be what?" Israel asked, when Rebecca paused.
"The penalty for aidin' runaway slaves is hangin'," Cincinnatus said bluntly.
"Nobody's goin' to hang my sister," Israel declared angrily, his fists clenched tightly and held up as if he were already prepared take on any who would try to harm Jemima.
"No one will," Rebecca said firmly. "Only the three of us know, and it won't go beyond these cabin walls. Understood?"
Israel nodded emphatically. He threw a hand across his mouth to demonstrate that nothing and no one would learn anything from him about what Jemima had done.
"I reckon I'll go along with Fox in the morning, Becky. I'll keep him from finding Jemima. If we should come across her, I'll protect her like my own," Cincinnatus promised.
"Thank you, Cincinnatus. I hoped you would say that. I'll watch the tavern while you're away," Rebecca said, placing a hand on his arm. "Mima's probably used every trick she's learned from her father. I doubt Mr. Fox and the trappers will be able to pick up her trail easily. She's probably headed north, but they won't know that. Cincinnatus, if you can lead them away from traveling north, then that would give Mima a chance."
"I'll do it," Cincinnatus agreed.
"Dan's up that way and I can only pray that they meet," Rebecca said, turning back towards the table. "She's taken such a risk. One girl alone with two people who know nothing about wilderness survival. They are in terrible danger either from Fox, the Shawnee, the woods itself, or exposure."
"That girl you're talkin' about is Daniel Boone's daughter," Cincinnatus said, joining Rebecca by the table. "Like you said she's learned much from her father. She knows how to survive out there, Becky. They have a better odds than most."
"Perhaps, you're right, Cincinnatus. You better get some rest. You'll need it when you lead Fox on a merry chase," Rebecca said.
"Try not to worry, Becky," Cincinnatus said, patting Rebecca's shoulder. "Israel, you take care of your ma," he ordered, heading towards the door where Israel still stood.
"Pa already told me that, and I do, don't I, Ma?" Israel asked.
"Yes, you do and a very good job you do, too. I am taken care of by none better than my Israel," Rebecca proclaimed.
"See, I told you," Israel said, his chest puffed out.
"Just see that you keep on the job. Good night, Becky. Israel," Cincinnatus said, and then opened the cabin door.
"Good night, Cincinnatus," Rebecca said, coming to the door. She watched him leave and when he was out of sight, she closed the door behind her. Good night, Jemima, Rebecca thought. Do take care, my sweet little girl. Dan, please find her. Find our daughter before something awful happens to her.
Climbing the rocky face was difficult in the daylight and in darkness, it was practically impossible, but Jemima led her small party onward anyway. One careful step after another brought them closer to the forest floor. "Just a little farther," Jemima whispered to Alice who in turn told her husband. After she did so, Alice's feet went out from under her and she began to slip. Harry was able to grab her arm to prevent her from crashing to the ground. Pulling her upward and then lifting her to the level area where they stood, he knelt beside her.
"Alice, are you all right?" Jemima asked with concern, coming to her side.
"I'm fine," Alice told Jemima. "Thank you, Harry. You saved me from gettin' hurt badly."
"There's a place over there," Jemima said, pointing ahead, "where we can get down to the ground. It gradually slopes downward. The going shouldn't be difficult. "
"Or we can always take Alice's way," Harry joked, helping his wife to her feet.
"I prefer the path Jemima pointed out," Alice declared.
"We better get moving," Jemima said, stepping towards the slope. The other two followed her and after some time they stood on solid ground. "We'll rest here for a moment," Jemima said, sitting on the hard earth that was accumulating dew.
"How much farther are we going tonight?" Harry asked who sat beside his wife.
"I'd like to go a few hours more," Jemima answered. "Are you up to it?"
"We are," Alice replied.
"Good. The farther we travel north, the less likely we'll be followed by anyone from Boonesborough," Jemima said.
"I thought you said your father was the only one who could track us," Harry stated.
"He is, but there could be others who might try," Jemima answered. "We left a trail at the Fox place that should throw them off. It will look like we're headed east, and by the time they figure it out - if they figure it out - that we didn't go that way, we'll be that much closer to the forks of the Ohio and beyond their reach."
"So all we have to worry about is the Shawnee," Alice said.
"Mainly. My pa's out here somewhere, but even if he discovers us, he won't send you back. He's a good man," Jemima said.
"How do you know he won't?" Harry asked, skeptically.
"I know my pa. He'll be greatly upset with me, and then help me get you to freedom because it's the right thing to do," Jemima explained.
"God bless you and your pa," Alice said. "Without you, we'd be frettin' over bein' separated from one another for the rest of our lives."
"God will bless us all, and He'll see to our safety," Jemima promised.
"No doubt. We've come this far and nothin' is goin' to stop us," Alice proclaimed.
"Nothin'," Harry agreed.
"That's what I like to hear - confidence," Jemima said. "Pa says if you believe in something hard enough, and work hard enough, it's bound to come true."
"Then our dream for freedom will come true," Harry said. "Because I'm believin' like I ain't never believed before."
"So am I," Alice added.
"Me, too," Jemima added, smiling. She got to her feet as her companions followed her lead. "Let's go." Winding through the woods traveling in a northerly direction, Jemima kept a swift pace. A little before dawn, she called for a halt and they settled in to eat and sleep. They were another day closer to their goal, and Jemima found satisfaction in that.
Cincinnatus, the two trappers, and Fox followed a trail that led to the east. Cincinnatus had told them that whoever took Fox's slaves were probably headed towards the Cumberland Gap, intending to sell the slaves in Salem. They had found signs starting at the Fox place that indicated an easterly direction. The trappers agreed with Cincinnatus' assessment. It made the most sense.
With Cincinnatus and the trappers spread out looking for more signs, Fox lagged behind at a loss as to what to do. Cincinnatus knew Fox wasn't far from him, so he silently broke a branch on a bush and planted a vague partial footprint in the soft ground. He waited a few moments before calling out as he appeared to be studying sign intently. "Hey, over here! Over here!" Cincinnatus yelled, motioning them with his arm over his head.
The trappers and Fox quickly joined him. "What did you find?" Fox asked.
"Broken branch," Cincinnatus said, showing it to them. "And this." Cincinnatus took a few steps then pointed to the faint footprint.
"What does it mean?" Fox asked.
"It means whoever made that print is the one who stole your slaves, and that they passed this way not that long ago. They're definitely headed east," Cincinnatus said. "We could probably cut them off by makin' a path through the brush and thick woods rather than followin' their trail."
The trappers agreed, and knowing nothing about tracking, Fox decided to trust the tavern keeper. He seemed to know what he was doing.
"Lead on," Fox ordered.
Cincinnatus plunged into the thick woods with a smile on his face. Fooling Fox and the trappers was child's play. This was the most fun he had had in a long time, and he intended to make it last for hours if not days.
As soon as the sun was high in the sky, Jemima and her companions were on the move. They followed a stream that flowed clear and cool. Earlier, the water did much to soothe their parched throats. Then Jemima and Harry managed to catch some fish, which Alice cooked over a small fire. It was their first hot meal in two days. They filled their canteens and pushed onward.
Behind her, Jemima heard a thud and turned to find Alice sprawled on the ground.
"I'm sorry," Alice said apologetically as Harry helped her up. "I'm so clumsy."
"Ma'am, couldn't we rest a spell?" Harry asked, seeing his wife's fatigue.
"No," Alice said angrily. "I can go on. I can."
"We'll take some time to rest. We all could use it, but not here," Jemima told them as they were in an open area and could be seen. "We need to find a better spot. Follow me." Jemima moved from the stream to a wooded area that offered concealment.
Sitting close to one another, Jemima looked at Harry as he held Alice in his arms. She saw the love they had towards one another and wondered how anyone could even think of separating them. Why, God? she prayed silently, why can't all your people live in peace and treat each other like you would have us to?
Thinking she heard something, Jemima slowly rose to look around, but found nothing. She sat back down beside Alice. "You're doing fine, Alice," Jemima encouraged her. "Kentucky is rough country. I'm surprised I haven't fallen yet. We can slow down a little bit as long as I don't think we're being followed."
"You don't know that for sure," Harry said.
"No, but I don't see how anyone could, except for my pa, and we have nothing to fear from him," Jemima said.
"It's too bad not all white men are like your pa," Alice said.
"The world would be a better place that's for certain," Jemima agreed. "I remember when I was little and I had made fun of an Indian child. Pa set me on his knee and asked me who God loved more, me or that Indian child. I told him neither, that God loves us all the same. That's right, he said. Then he asked me what gave me the right to make fun of one of His children that he made and so loved. I didn't have an answer, but I knew what Pa wanted me to understand: God loves us all and we ought to do the same."
"We're learnin' that too," Harry said. "Until you came along, we wouldn't trust any white people, but you've proven yourself a friend."
Smiling, Jemima said, "I'm honored to have good friends such as yourselves. I couldn't find any finer in all the colonies or anywhere else."
"That's the way we feel about you," Alice said. "I only regret that we'll never see you again once we settle in Canada."
"I don't know about that," Jemima said. "I reckon I can find you in Canada. The way can't be any rougher than what it is in Kentucky."
Harry and Alice chuckled. "When you come to visit, you'll always be welcome in our home," Harry said. "We'll always be grateful for what you've taught us. I know how to fish now. I know how to hide tracks. And soon you'll teach me how to find and kill game. With these skills, we'll be able to live off the land in order to survive."
"Well, then," Jemima said, coming to her feet, "we'll scout the area and look for something for Alice to cook. Alice, you stay put and rest. We'll be back directly."
Alice nodded her head as Jemima and Harry went looking for game. Not straying too far from where Alice was hiding, they were fortunate they came across a rabbit. Jemima showed Harry how to take aim and squeeze the trigger. She fired and the rabbit went down. Jemima and Harry went to retrieve the game. Harry grabbed it and looked it over. "A fine catch," he stated as he passed it to her for her inspection. "You handle that rifle well."
"Pa taught me. He said I'd never go hungry knowing how to handle a rifle," Jemima said.
"Was it hard to learn?" Harry asked.
"It takes some practice. Don't fret, Harry. I think you'll be an apt student. You'll probably take to it like ducks to water," Jemima stated.
"I have to. I won't go all the way to Canada just to watch Alice and me starve once we settle there just because I can't shoot straight," Harry said.
"With that kind of motivation, Alice may have more game than she'll know what to do with," Jemima concluded with a chuckle.
"A nice problem to have," Harry stated.
"This rabbit's a might small, but it'll feed us, and that's all we need," Jemima said. She thought she saw some movement in the woods ahead of them. Then she knew she did as she recognized Shawnee braves running in their direction. "Criminetly," she said. They must have heard the rifle shot. She cursed herself for taking such a chance in broad daylight. "Harry, go to Alice quickly. Stay there until I come for you," Jemima ordered. "Hurry, Harry. There's no time to waste. The Shawnee are coming."
Reaching the intercept point, Cincinnatus and the rest of the group searched for evidence, but found nothing. Cincinnatus studied the earth looking for the passage of people that didn't pass this way. They gathered to discuss strategy. "Nothin' here," Cincinnatus said, scratching his graybeard. "If they came through here, they left nothing to find."
"Keep looking until you find their trail," Fox demanded.
"If there ain't nothin' to find, there ain't nothin' to find," Cincinnatus argued.
"There has to be something," Fox said, looking around.
"It ain't here. Maybe back where we found that broken branch and bootprint. They could have turned a different direction, but I'm sure they headed east," Cincinnatus said.
"We'll have to pick up their trail at the point before we turned off," Fox decided.
"It'd be a waste of time," Cincinnatus told him. "We should just head east and maybe we can catch up to 'em."
"No," Fox said. "We have to know for certain where they're going. They could have been fooling us all along by going east. They could be going north now."
"Why would they do that?" Cincinnatus asked skeptically. "All they got to do is get to Salem, sell your slaves, and take the money and run. If they turn north, it'd be months before they could sell your slaves." Cincinnatus was stretching the truth a little, but he could tell it was effective. The trappers nodded their heads in assent. Would Fox be convinced?
"They might not mind taking a few months. Perhaps, they can get a better price for them in the northern colonies rather than the southern colonies," Fox reasoned.
"Thieves usually like to get rid of stolen property quickly to avoid being caught," Cincinnatus said. "These thieves will most likely do the same."
"You have a point," Fox agreed. "But them turning to the north is also possible. We have to explore every possibility."
"All right. I reckon we'll backtrack and see what we can come up with," Cincinnatus agreed, knowing he could plant more evidence that would lead to the east and not to the north.
Fox waited for Cincinnatus and the trappers to lead the way and Cincinnatus obliged him.
Harry did as Jemima commanded and quickly walked to where Alice was waiting, wondering how they would make a stand against the Shawnee with only one rifle.
Knowing if she ran, the Shawnee would be sure to follow and discover Harry and Alice, so Jemima decided she would have to confront them here. She was sure they hadn't seen Harry. With a plan already formulated in her head, she prepared for its execution. If she succeeded, then she and her companions would be on their way without any trouble. If it didn't, her life would be forfeit as well as her friends because they couldn't survive without her.
The Shawnee surrounded her and circled her like vultures waiting for their turn at the prey. She watched them silently and wished her father was here. She wasn't as confident in her plan as she was moments ago. Jemima cringed as one brave approached her, raised his tomahawk over head, and brought it down forcefully.
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