Around the River's Bend

by Aaron McCarver

  ****

  The next morning Sabrina and Hannah were washing the breakfast dishes at the Spencers’. Fox had come over early and was out back showing Sion how to load and shoot a musket. Fox was an expert shot, of course, and as Sion shot, Fox was able to give him a lot of help. “You’re a natural good shot. You have steady hands,” he said. “What you need is practice.”

  “You’ve had lots of that, I suppose.”

  “All my life. There were times when if I didn’t shoot straight, we didn’t eat.”

  The two men shot for some time, and finally Fox said in an offhand manner, “You’ve gotten to know the Spencers very well, haven’t you?”

  “They’re fine people. I’ve never known better.”

  “Aye, they are.” He hesitated, then said, “I didn’t have anything to offer Hannah before, but now that I’ve sold my place, I do.”

  Sion suddenly turned, his eyes open wide. “Oh, is that right! Are you engaged to her?”

  “No, nothing like that, but we’ve always liked each other.”

  “She’s a fine woman. I don’t know as I’ve known a nicer one.”

  His answer brought little comfort to Fox. He yearned to ask Sion what his intentions were but did not know the man well enough for that. He looked up as two men rode in and said, “There’s Caleb Files.”

  “Caleb Files . . . Isn’t he the man who has an interest in Sabrina’s land?”

  “I guess I hadn’t heard that. He’s not too particular about how he gets his land. He’s a big landowner to the east of us here. I don’t care much for him. I don’t know who that man is with him, though.”

  Sion suddenly straightened up and narrowed his eyes. “I know him. His name is Jack Fry.”

  Fox stared at him. “How could you know that?”

  “I had a little trouble with him on the way out here.”

  Fox did not ask any more questions. On the frontier a man didn’t ask those questions unless they were better friends than he was with Sion. But he determined to find out about it. He watched as the two men dismounted and then shook his head. “Miss Fairfax better watch her step dealing with him.”

  Caleb Files nodded to the two women as they rode up. “Hello, Miss Spencer.”

  “Hello, Mr. Files,” Hannah said coolly.

  “I don’t believe you know Jack Fry.”

  Fry pulled off his hat. His hair was shaggy, and he grinned, showing yellow teeth. “Howdy,” he said. “Seems to me we’ve met before.”

  “Is this Miss Fairfax?” Caleb Files asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I came out to have a little business talk with you, miss, if you have the time.”

  “Why, certainly.”

  “I’ll be in the house if you need me, Sabrina,” Hannah said as she turned to go. Sion and Fox watched from a distance in case there was trouble.

  ———

  “I’ll make this brief. I’m buying up land, and I’d like to make an offer on yours.”

  Sabrina remembered what Jackson had said about this man and was cautious. “I’d rather you wouldn’t right now. I just had a house built, and we’ve already planted some crops.”

  “Ma’am, a woman can’t make it out here by herself.”

  “I’m not alone. I have a servant.”

  “You need more than that,” Files said. “Besides that, I don’t know if you know it, but I think I’ve got a claim prior to yours.”

  “You’ll have to talk to Mr. Jackson about that,” Sabrina said. She did not like the man and saw that her answer fronted him.

  “Now, look, Miss Fairfax, let’s get this over with easy. What’s the use of going to court and paying the lawyers a lot of money, and then after it’s over you’ll have nothing and owe them to boot. I’ll make you a good offer on the land, and we can avoid all that.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t speak about it right now.”

  Files stared at her for a moment and then made himself smile. “Ma’am, I’ll get that land. I wish you’d make it easy on yourself.”

  “Talk to Mr. Jackson.”

  Sabrina turned and left the two men standing there. Files glared after her and then went back to his horse. The two men mounted and rode out.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Too Many Suitors

  The water of the creek was almost as clear as air. As Sabrina eased herself into it, she saw a school of silver minnows hanging suspended as if frozen. The water was so clear that they seemed to be hovering in air, but as the ripples she made reached them, they turned as one body and darted away toward the center of the stream.

  I wonder how they do that? It’s like all of them have different bodies but only one brain.

  She heard a noise in the woods behind her, and she turned quickly, her eyes wide with alarm. She had come down to the creek to bathe, being tired of dirt and grime that could not be washed off in a basin. She had left her clothes on a nearby tree stump and was enjoying the warmth of the sun as it filtered down through the leaves of the sweet gums that lined the bank. She almost ran back to get her clothes, but then a large bird, the likes of which she had never seen, came down a tree upside down. It had ladder-like stripes on its back, a red head, and an enormous beak—sharp and pointed like a chisel. She watched it for a minute, the anxiety flowing out of her.

  Sabrina reached for the small jar of soap she had left on the bank and scooped out a handful of the soft soap. Putting the top on awkwardly, she tossed it back to the bank, then holding her hand up over her in the air she submerged herself. The water was deliciously cool. The first three weeks of June had been very hot and humid, and the refreshing water seemed to go down into her very bones. She lay there on the sandy bottom of the stream, holding the soft soap up, savoring the coolness and the comfort of the water. Then she rose and lathered herself all over. Hannah had made the soap, and it had a sweet smell of some kind of perfume. It lathered well, and soon she had covered herself, almost like an ointment, with the fragrant soap. Finally she lay down in the water and let the stream rinse away the suds. She watched them as they were carried downstream swirling around a bend, and her eyes stopped on a turtle she had not seen. He had crawled out on a stub of a log extending over the water and was sunning himself. His wise old eyes regarded her, and she said, “Hello, turtle,” then felt foolish and laughed. “I’m going crazy out here in the woods—talking to turtles.”

  Reluctantly she removed the last of the soap and then waded out of the water and back to where she had put her clothes. She dried off, dressed, and gave one last look at the creek, wondering what she would do in the wintertime when it was too cold for such bathing.

  Making her way along the serpentine path that twisted its way through the woods, she stepped out into the clearing and saw that Hannah’s mare was tied to a sapling. She hurried forward and as she approached the cabin, Hannah stepped out.

  “Hello, Sabrina. I’ve been waiting for you.”

  “I went down to the creek to have a bath. I couldn’t stand being dirty any longer.”

  “You’re lucky to have a nice creek like that so close.” Hannah smiled. “I have to go nearly three miles to find a sheltered place.”

  “You’re welcome to use my creek,” Sabrina said. “Come on in. We’ll see if we can make something to eat.”

  “I’ve come over to give you a cooking lesson.”

  “Well, I can use it,” Sabrina said ruefully. The two entered the cabin, which seemed dark and dreary after the bright sunshine. “I miss windows,” she said suddenly. “If I ever build a house—a real house, I mean—I’m going to put ten windows in it. One in every room, at least. This one window doesn’t let in nearly enough light.”

  Hannah opened the cotton sack she’d brought and showed Sabrina the contents. “This was part of our corn crop.”

  “How did you grind it up?” Sabrina asked, letting some of the fine meal run through her fingers. “Is there a mill here?”

  “Oh, no, we have to grind corn in a hominy block. .
. .” She went on to explain how to make a mortar and pestle from a section of a large hardwood tree. A hole was burned in the top of the log, then corn was placed in the hole that was created, then a huge pestle made of hardwood would be used to crush the corn.

  “It must be very hard, lifting that pestle and dropping it.”

  “No, you attach it to a long sapling with a rope. When the sapling bends, the pestle hits the corn in the hole, then the sapling pulls it up again. I’m sure Sion will make a good one for you.” She broke off and said, “Someone’s coming.”

  “You have good hearing.”

  “I think you get cautious living out here.”

  The two women went to the door, and Sabrina groaned, “Oh, no, it’s another one!”

  “Another what? It’s just Silas Bone.”

  “It doesn’t matter what his name is. I know why he’s come.”

  Hannah stared with surprise at her friend. “Silas lives about ten miles down the river. Do you know him?”

  “Not yet,” Sabrina said grimly, “but I will. He’s come courting.”

  The two women waited until the man wearing buckskins stepped off of his horse. He pulled off his floppy hat and grinned at the two. “Howdy, ladies. How are you, Miss Spencer?”

  “Oh, I’m fine. I don’t believe you know Miss Fairfax here.”

  “No, I don’t believe I’ve had that pleasure.” Bone came forward. He was a weather-beaten individual showing the effects of a lifetime of labor. He had shaved recently, for his face glowed, and his hair was cut rather roughly.

  “I’m might proud to know you, Miss Fairfax. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “I’m glad to know you, Mr. Bone. Won’t you come in? I think we have some tea.”

  “That’d go down right well.” As he entered the cabin, Bone said, “I come lookin’ for a horse that strayed away. Got a bay with three stockin’ feet. I don’t reckon you’ve seen her?”

  “No, I haven’t, Mr. Bone,” Sabrina said. As she prepared the tea, she listened as Hannah talked to the man about the affairs of the community. When she brought the tea, Bone picked his up and drank it without stopping, even though it was boiling. “That’s right good sassafras.” He nodded with approval. “Well, Miss Fairfax, I’m not a feller to waste time. I heard you was here and you didn’t have no man. So I’ve come to tell you that I’d like to join all them fellers been comin’ to make you an offer.”

  Bone reached into his greasy shirt pocket and pulled out a paper. “I got here a list of my ownin’s, and I know you’d be interested in that. I got four hundred acres, over a hundred of it cleared, the rest in good timber. I got three milk cows, four beef critters, a fine flock of dominiquer chickens . . .”

  Sabrina glanced over at Hannah, who was trying to cover up a smile while the two women listened to Bone’s voice drone on.

  Finally he finished his list, saying, “I lost my woman two years ago, and I got three young’uns—one boy twelve and two girls younger. I’d be mighty happy if you’d consider my offer.”

  Sabrina cleared her throat and kept her face straight as she said, “It’s very kind of you, Mr. Bone. I certainly will keep you in mind.”

  “Well, I’ll be moseyin’ along. Good to see you, Miss Spencer, and good to meet up with you, Miss Fairfax. I hope we’ll be seein’ lots of each other. I think we’d team up together right nice.”

  The two women went to the door and watched as Bone jammed the hat on his head, mounted his horse, and rode off with a cheerful wave.

  “These men are going to drive me absolutely crazy!” Sabrina said, gritting her teeth. She crossed her arms across her chest and shook her head as she stared at the retreating man. “They show up at all hours of the day and night. All of them have got an excuse for coming. Some of them to bring a gift—more than a pound of butter or a quarter of a deer.”

  “Are all of them as businesslike as Silas?”

  “No. Some of them are very shy. One of them came two days ago and stayed half a day. I finally had to just say that I had work to do, and he blurted out, ‘I’d like to marry up with you if you’re willing,’ and then ran as if I had pulled a gun on him.”

  Hannah laughed. She had a good, deep laugh that made her eyes crinkle shut. “Too many suitors! That ought to make you happy and proud.”

  “Well, it doesn’t! I wish they’d leave me alone. I have no intention of getting married.”

  Hannah shook her head. “It’s hard on a single woman out here. As a matter of fact, most of them don’t stay single long. When a woman becomes a widow, the unmarried men come flocking to her. Women are so scarce out here.”

  “Well, I’m going to lock myself in the cabin the next time one shows up.”

  “Let me help you,” Hannah said, a smile on her lips.

  “Help me how?” Sabrina asked as she sat down on the front step.

  Hannah sat down next to her. “I can give you some advice on which man you need.”

  Sabrina could not help smiling. “I suppose you’ve been besieged like this also?”

  “Oh, yes. You get used to it. Let’s see, now. Who would be a good man . . . ? There’s Ben Scroggins. He’s the best looking. Oh, he’s a handsome man! But he’s flighty. Here today and gone tomorrow. You don’t need him.”

  “Cross out Ben Scroggins.”

  “Yes. Let’s see. Well, there’s Daniel Ellencourt. He has a real good claim of over eight hundred acres and buying more. He lost his wife, May, over a year ago. He came courting me right away.”

  “You recommend him?”

  “No, he’s got three children who are devils.”

  “All right. I won’t have him, then. Who else?”

  “Jude Hellings. Now, there’d be a good man. He’s got lots of money, but he’s tight.”

  “How many children does he have?”

  “Only two. Nice, well-behaved children. Jude might be a good man for you.”

  “Is he handsome?”

  “Oh, no! Mercy no! He’s downright homely. But he’s a good man.”

  “I won’t have him. The man I get will have to be handsome, dashing, and charming, have a sack full of money, and have a beautiful house all built ready for me to become mistress of it.”

  “I don’t think you’re going to find anybody like that around here. You’ll have to go east for that. New York or Boston.”

  “Then I’ll just stay single.” Hearing a rustle, the women looked up to see Sion coming out of the woods. He had a rifle over his shoulder and he was carrying a leather bag. “Sion went hunting early this morning. I hope he got something good to eat.”

  The two women waited until Sion was close, then he shifted his rifle and said, “Well, I shot something. If you can cook it, I can eat it.”

  He leaned his rifle against the wall of the cabin, opened the bag, and dumped out the contents. “Six squirrels!” Hannah exclaimed. “Why, that’s great, Sion!”

  “The woods are full of the creatures. I won’t tell you how many I missed, though; I can’t hit them in the head like Josh or Hawk can. And I don’t know how to clean them very well.”

  “I’ll show you how to do that. I’ve cleaned a thousand of them, I suppose. Do you have a sharp knife?”

  Sion pulled the folding knife from his pocket, then loaded the squirrels back into the bag.

  “All right, then. Come along.”

  The two went to the stump that had been sawed off at waist height to make a worktable. Sion put the first squirrel on the stump, and Hannah went straight to work. Sabrina stayed in front of the cabin, but she kept her eye on them. She noted that the two of them always seemed to enjoy being together, and for a moment felt a pang that she had no one herself she felt that free with.

  Finally the squirrels were cleaned, and Hannah said, “Do you know how to cook squirrel, Sabrina?”

  “I suppose I could fry them in grease.”

  “Let me show you how to make squirrel and dumplings.”

  “Well, there’s more than en
ough for all of us. You stay and show me how, and we’ll have a good supper tonight.”

  ****

  The day had gone quickly. Hannah had taught Sabrina how to make squirrel and dumplings, and as the three sat down at the table, there was a moment’s pause. Sabrina said, “I suppose you’d better ask the blessing.” She smiled at Hannah. “He makes me feel like a heathen. We never said anything like blessings while I was growing up.”

  “It’s a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, especially for a good dinner of squirrel and dumplings.”

  The three bowed their heads, and Sion prayed, “Lord, we thank you for this food, and for every blessing. You’re the giver of every good gift, and I thank you for this home and for Miss Spencer and her family. Watch over us and guide us. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  “Amen,” Hannah said. She dipped into the large bowl of dumplings, helping herself, and then passed it to Sabrina. Sabrina took out a sizable portion and then Sion did the same. She had made fire bread, which was simply cakes baked in front of the fireplace.

  “What’s that?” Sabrina asked curiously as Hannah took something out of the pot.

  “Why, it’s squirrel brains.”

  Sabrina stared at Hannah. “You’re going to eat the brains?”

  “Best part of the squirrel. You have to crack the skulls to get ’em.” Hannah grabbed the hammer she had found earlier and cracked the skull to extract the gray matter. “Help yourself, Sabrina.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do if I had to eat a thing like that!” she shuddered.

  “How about you, Sion?”

  “Well, I’ll try almost anything once.”

  Sabrina watched as the two seemed to enjoy the feast. She had learned to eat many things she had never heard of before coming to America, but squirrel brains were a bit too much. She knew that the settlers treasured pork brains and she’d also heard of eating the tongues of beef cattle and buffalo.

  As they ate, they talked, and Hannah mentioned the creek being handy. “Sabrina’s lucky,” she said to Sion, “to have a creek to bathe in so close.”

  Sabrina glanced at Sion, who was watching her. “I guess you miss city life a lot.”

  “Well, I do miss having a bath. My father had a copper bathtub made for me at our home. The servants would fill it up with hot water every day in the wintertime, and I’d just soak it up. Oh, that was delicious!”