by Irene Brand
“Fear thou not,” God had promised in the book of Isaiah, “for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”
God, I believe that, Marie thought, and she continued to remember all of the times God had rescued His people from difficult situations.
Daniel in the lions’ den.
Noah, who’d obeyed God in building an ark and trusted that he and his family would survive the largest flood ever known to humankind.
Joseph and Mary, who had obeyed God and had taken the baby Jesus to safety in Jerusalem.
Moses, who had been saved from death as a babe in Egypt and then had been chosen to lead his people into the Promised Land.
And she thought again of the fact that God had saved the life of her own mother from the raging Atlantic, which also saved the life of her and Earl. So, actually, what did she have to fear? The same God still ruled the universe today. In spite of her discomfort, her tension and her fear of death had gone.
* * *
Daniel was sorry for his last argument with Marie, but he was still angry toward her. He hadn’t had a chance to talk to her privately the day before at the school picnic and hike, but he wanted to clear the air. He thought Marie’s attitude toward him yesterday had softened. She didn’t seem angry at him anymore and he wondered why that was. Maybe she had learned the truth about Viola. He sure hoped so because she hadn’t been willing to listen to him.
He had considered returning to the schoolhouse and apologizing after their argument, but had decided it was better for him to delay his apology. If there was any future for them together, she would have to learn eventually that he wasn’t a man who would let a woman boss him around. Although he had to admit that Marie really didn’t come across as a female who intended to have her way, come what may, but he didn’t want her to think that he was a man who could be led around like a pet dog, either. He had returned to his farm, and helped his two farmhands do the evening chores.
After mulling it over, he had cooled off. He knew she’d be at the schoolhouse today cleaning, and he again considered going over and apologizing. He did the morning chores alongside his farm hands, then headed for the house for lunch. He heard the phone ringing the minute he stepped inside the house. He figured it was his grandmother calling because there weren’t many people who ever tried to contact him by telephone. When he took the receiver off the wall and held it to his ear, his grandmother’s voice said, “Is Marie with you?”
The words and the terror in her voice caused him to gasp. “Why, no, I haven’t seen her since yesterday. When was she supposed to come home?”
“She was going to the school for a few hours to start getting ready for next year, but she said she’d be home by noon. She’s an hour late, and that’s not like her. I called Lizzie Crossen and asked her to see if Marie’s horse was still in the stable. It isn’t, but there’s a note on the schoolhouse door that struck terror into my heart like I’ve never known before. It’s addressed to me and you.”
“Well,” he said impatiently, “what’s in the note?”
“How much do you think Vance Bolden will pay to get his daughter back with nary a hair on her head touched? Ten thousand, maybe. Ever day that goes by the ransom mite get a lot bigger. And what Vance hands out, you can make up yore mind to match it.”
Lena’s voice was strained, as she said, “I’m afraid, Daniel. We can raise the money, but I don’t know how soon we can get in touch with the Boldens. And I’m sure Marie is really frightened at what might happen to her in the meantime.”
“I’ll kill any man who lays a hand on her.”
“Oh, Daniel, don’t say such a thing! I’m going to start praying that she’ll be brought back to us unharmed.”
For the first time since he’d fought in the recent war, Daniel was frightened. He could always make up his mind at a minute’s notice, but now he was at a loss to know what to do. When he hung up the phone receiver, he dropped to his knees, his body shaking all over.
“God, it’s been so long since I’ve even given You any thought, to say nothing of calling on You. I’m ashamed, but don’t punish Marie for my shortcomings. What can I do? Where could she be?”
Daniel knew he desperately needed some help, but he was hesitant to leave the area in case there were more messages to indicate Marie’s whereabouts. Choosing a young Cherokee, Bralin, which meant mighty warrior, who was working on his farm, he said, “Do you know where Earl Bolden lives?”
The Cherokee nodded. “I do. Awinta is my sister.”
He quickly explained about Marie’s abduction.
“Not only do I want to get a message to Earl, I want you to have Earl find Mitali and Deerfoot, the best trackers in the Cherokee nation, and bring them back here. If anyone can find Marie, they can. When will you leave?”
“Soon as I go to the bunkhouse and change into my buckskins. I never go to the reservation without looking like a native.”
“I’m going with you,” Daniel said.
Bralin gave Daniel a skeptical look and shook his head. “You’d better stay here, in case other messages come. Besides, it’s every man for himself on a hunt like this, and when those trackers get started, it’s not easy to keep up.”
Daniel shook his head. “I’ll keep up. I’ll go crazy if I just wait here doing nothing. And while we’re waiting on them, I want to go to the schoolhouse and see if there are any clues we might have missed.”
“I’ll go with you,” the Cherokee said. “But first I’ll send someone to find Earl and the trackers.”
Although the two men searched the area around the schoolhouse from one end to the other, they couldn’t detect anything that pointed to Marie’s abduction.
“Too many kids’ tracks, as well as the hooves of horses,” Bralin said. “We’ll have to wait till morning.”
* * *
By the time the two scouts and Earl arrived the next morning, Daniel had gathered all the weapons they could carry easily, along with enough food to keep an army for days. Thus supplied, the group headed for the mountains. The next three days were the most miserable hours that Daniel had ever spent. Not only did climbing the mountains and keeping up with the three agile Cherokees test his physical endurance to the limit, he was so concerned about what might be happening to Marie that he was frantic. Mentally he came up with all kinds of possible scenarios that she might be enduring until he thought he would lose his mind. He ate food, not because he was hungry, but because he wanted to be physically able to keep up with the others.
Late in the evening of the third day of their searching, Deerfoot held up a cautioning hand when they topped another hilltop and looked into a rocky ravine. Imperiously, he motioned to his companions to follow his example and drop to the ground.
“I just saw two men come out of a cave across that ravine,” Deerfoot said. “They’re probably holding Marie a captive in that cave. They had their bow and arrows, so I figure they’re going to look for food before nightfall, but wouldn’t use their guns for they don’t want to alert anybody to their whereabouts. I’ll go down and investigate the cave, and if Marie is there, I’ll bring her out. If the men come back before I bring her to safety, shoot to warn them away.”
Daniel nodded acceptance, as did Earl. Although Daniel chafed at the inactivity, he realized that the Cherokee would be more help to Marie at this point than they would be. Daniel took his watch from his pocket and monitored the time as Deerfoot walked cautiously down the rugged terrain. Every minute seemed like an hour to him, and he knew without a doubt that he loved Marie. For the first time in his life, he’d found a woman he wanted to marry. But could he ever live up to the standards that Marie expected in a husband? Although he loved his grandmother devotedly, he’d always thought she was too strict in her reli
gious beliefs. For a moment he considered bargaining with God.
If You’ll bring Marie back safely to me, then I’ll mend my ways and follow You!
No, that wouldn’t do. From his childhood when he’d attended Sunday school, he remembered that one of his teachers had said, “You can’t bargain with God.”
He had gone further to explain, “Just keep in mind what the Scriptures say. ‘He that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.’”
Many times since then, Daniel had tried to forget that admonition, but at the most unexpected times, it popped into his mind.
Was he, Daniel Watson, man enough to admit that he wasn’t perfect and take upon himself the yoke of servitude that was expected of those who served God? He didn’t know.
So quietly did the Cherokees move that Daniel didn’t even know Deerfoot had returned until he touched Daniel on the shoulder. He was so tense that he jumped like a rabbit, and Deerfoot said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“What did you find?”
“Nothing except this.” He took a white silk scarf from his pocket. “Could it belong to Miss Bolden?”
“I think I’ve seen her wear that scarf, or one like it, but I’m not sure.”
Cautioning Daniel to walk carefully and keep his eyes peeled in case one of the kidnappers should be stalking them, the Cherokees started descending the mountain path. “She’s probably in that cave right below us. Walk carefully and watch for anything and everything. No talking,” Mitali said.
Although Daniel thought the walk would never end, it wasn’t more than a half hour when they reached the level spot in front of the cave.
Mitali held up a hand for silence and motioned for Daniel to come to his side. “Since your friend doesn’t know us, it might be well for you to go into the cave and let her know we’re here. She’ll probably be tied, or the men wouldn’t have left her alone.”
“And it’s possible that there might be more than two kidnappers—with one in the cave watching her, so be cautious,” Bralin warned.
When they reached the mouth of the cave, using a piece of flint, Mitali started a flame on a cedar branch. “This isn’t a deep cave,” he said, “so she’ll be close to the door. I’ll follow you and hold the light. God go with you!”
Daniel nodded, and his pulse accelerated until he was breathless as he stepped into the cave and paused until his eyes adjusted to the dim light.
“Marie,” he whispered, “are you in here?”
He listened carefully, and when she didn’t answer, Mitali moved closer to Daniel, and he said, “Maybe this isn’t the right cave.”
Daniel flashed the light around the cave. It was a small area, and one glance proved that Marie was no longer in the cave.
“So what do we do now?”
“Wait for daylight, and then we hit the trail.”
“I can’t stand to think of her being alone with them tonight.”
“I’ve prayed that God will protect her through the night,” Mitali said. “I believe God answered the prayer. We’ll go back to the Cove, pack anything we need and hit the trail as soon as daylight comes.”
“Can’t we look around a little more now? I spent a lot of time climbing these mountains when I was a boy, and there’s more than one cave on this mountain.”
Daniel sensed that the Cherokee thought it was a waste of time, but he nodded agreement, and Daniel picked up a lantern and they moved forward cautiously. The terrain was rugged, and progress was slow; when the eastern sky lightened with the rising of the sun, Daniel said, “You were right, of course. We need to be more men than this. Let’s return to Cades Cove and organize a larger party.”
Disillusioned, as well as frightened, Daniel walked dejectedly down the trail. A sound distracted him. He looked into a small cave and saw Marie writhing on the ground in front of him. Her hands and feet were tied and a gag was in her mouth. So angry at her attackers for treating her that way that he almost choked, Daniel dropped to his knees beside her and pulled the gag over her head.
He put his arm around her waist and helped her stand, then untied her hands. Holding her close, he whispered, “Have they harmed you?”
“Oh, no,” she said weakly. “No, they left almost as soon as they brought me here, but they’ve checked on me a few times. Oh, Daniel, I’ve been so scared.”
“So have I,” he said. “I love you so much I couldn’t bear the thought that they might have assaulted you.”
Sobbing, Marie said, “Oh, nothing like that, but the gag hurt my mouth, and my hands are tied so tight that they’re numb. I’ve been miserable.”
Bralin, carrying a pine torch, entered the cave and Marie clung to Daniel.
“Who is it?” she cried, fear in her voice.
“Friends, my dear. Cherokee friends of Earl’s and mine. If it hadn’t been for them, we might not have found you.”
* * *
Later, warm, safe and well fed at Lena’s house, Marie talked over her long ordeal with her parents and friends. She had been frightened and uncomfortable, but her faith had kept her going through her trial, and she realized she was braver and stronger than she ever imagined.
After everyone had heard the entire story, Earl related how he and the Cherokee had waited for the perpetrators and caught them going back to the cave shortly after Marie was rescued.
Vance said, “I’m glad you’re coming home, Marie, where I can look after you.”
“Oh, Dad. Bad things can happen anywhere.”
“Well,” her father replied, “you were never kidnapped in Canaan. I don’t think you’re safe here, an unmarried woman alone in that schoolhouse.”
Daniel said, “Mr. Bolden, the kidnappers were just a couple of hoodlums from Chestnut Flats looking for a quick way to make a lot of money. Fortunately they weren’t very smart and didn’t plan very well. They didn’t have any ill will toward Marie and they didn’t try to hurt her. They just wanted money.”
“Still,” Vance said, “they scared three years off my life and I am glad my daughter is going home with her mother and me.”
Daniel took Marie’s hand and led her to the front porch, leaving everyone else to discuss the matter. They sat down in the rockers and Daniel said, “Marie, I’m sorry about our last argument. We never resolved it and I’ve felt terrible that we didn’t clear the air. I don’t like it when we’re mad at each other.”
Marie smiled and said, “I don’t like it, either. Daniel, Lena told me what really happened with Viola the night she stayed at your house. I’m sorry I didn’t listen when you tried to explain. I’m even sorrier that I listened to gossip. I know better. It’s just that Viola is so infuriating.”
“Then you won’t be surprised to hear that she was the source of the gossip. Some people have no shame.”
“Wasn’t she concerned about tarnishing her own reputation?”
“Viola plans to leave here. She probably doesn’t care what people think.”
Daniel scooted his chair closer to Marie’s and took her hand. “Let’s not talk about Viola. She’s already in the past. Besides, we have other things to discuss.”
Chapter 9
Marie eagerly awaited Earl and Awinta’s wedding because she had never attended a Cherokee ceremony. When Awinta and Earl arrived for the wedding, Marie thought she’d never seen a more beautiful bride. The dress she wore was a family heirloom—a dress made from the skin of an albino deer, which had also been worn by Awinta’s mother and grandmother on their respective wedding days. Although Earl generally wore buckskin garments year round, in deference to the feelings of his parents, he wore a dark blue knee-length coat with check-tweed trousers, a single-breasted waistcoat, a stiff shirt with studs and a small white bow tie.
Marie wore a dress her mother had ordered from Charleston
especially for the occasion. Her garment was made of dark blue cloth trimmed with bands of gold embroidery on the bodice and sleeves. She wore a matching velvet hat trimmed with a feather and a blue ribbon.
The traditional Cherokee wedding ritual took place first in the churchyard before a group of Cherokee and a large crowd of Cades Cove residents. The pastor, who was broadminded, had been willing for the Cherokee spiritual leader to use the church sanctuary, although the leader politely refused, saying that it was not traditional for the wedding service to take place in a building.
The bride was represented by both her mother and brother. Awinta’s oldest brother, Atohi, stood beside them as Earl vowed to accept the responsibility of teaching any children they had in spiritual and religious matters.
Marie was pleasantly surprised when the ceremony turned out to be such a solemn and meaningful occasion. To start the festivities, the couple drank together from a Cherokee wedding vase that had been used by the bride’s family for years. The vase was filled with tart grape juice, and it had two openings for the couple to drink from at the same time.
Instead of exchanging rings, the bride and groom exchanged food. Earl brought a ham of deer meat, as an indication that he would provide for his household. Awinta provided several ears of corn and some bean bread as a sign that she would provide nourishment for her household. These traditional gifts indicated that the groom was associated with hunting and providing, while the bride’s offering showed her intention of giving life and nourishment to her family.
The sacred spot for the ceremony had been blessed for seven consecutive days before the ceremony started. Awinta and Earl approached the sacred fire and were blessed by the tribal priest. Traditional songs were sung in Cherokee before the bride and groom were covered in a blue blanket at the beginning of the vows. At the close of the ceremony, they were wrapped in a white blanket, indicating the beginning of a new life together.