“As you wish.” He handed her his hunting knife and started around the smoldering remains of the kitchen, amazed at how his sweet, shy Lily had taken charge. With no effort at all, she’d dispatched all three of them to do her bidding. Another thought teased his consciousness. Considering Matt’s remark, perhaps she wasn’t quite as spoken for as Jackson Dunlap had led him to believe.
Surveying the confusion around him, John saw Ian’s friends assisting the old man across the creek. His wound had been cauterized to stop the bleeding, and his wife had fashioned a sling for him. Maggie wasted no time getting her injured husband settled on a chair someone brought out from the workshop.
As aromas began wafting on the air from food cooking on open fires, Ian’s wife insisted on seeing to Lily’s arm. “Don’t want no infection startin’ in, you know,” she said, clucking her tongue as she assessed the injury.
The older kids entertained the little ones near the well, and John gathered with the other men around Ian to plan the next move. He squatted down with Bob, his closest friend.
Richard Shaw still held a cloth to his cheek. He glanced at his friends and shrugged. “Still seepin’ a bit. It’ll stop soon ‘nough.”
“I believe the poker those wee womenfolk used on my shoulder’s still hot.” Ian’s chuckle turned into a groan. Despite his pasty look, the Scot never lost his humor.
“Think I’ll pass, if ya don’t mind.” Richard gave a one-sided grin. “Wouldn’t wanna scar up this purty face any more’n I have to.”
“I don’t think those savages’ll tangle with the likes of us again anytime soon,” Toby Dunlap said. “But what with winter breathin’ down our necks, I don’t see we have much choice but to send the women downriver to whatever family or friends’ll take ’em in for a spell. Meanwhile, me an’ Jackson’ll stay here with our livestock an’ get our place built back up.”
“So ye plan on stayin’,” Ian said thoughtfully. “I’d be obliged if ye’d look after our animals. With Pat still up at the fort an’ me winged, we’ll have to leave here for a while. Leastwise, till I’m fit again.”
Cal met his gaze. “Would you mind takin’ Nancy an’ my young’uns down to Baltimore with you, Ian? I’ll be stayin’ here, too, with my oldest boy.”
Bob kneaded his beard and focused his hazel eyes on John. “What d’ya say, my friend? You game? We could turn that workshop of yours into a barrack till we get some roofs up.”
“You men really want to start all over?” John looked from one to another.
Bob shrugged. “I ain’t got nothin’ to go back to anyplace else. Took all I had to buy my piece of land here an’ bring in my family. Donald’ll stay with me, won’t you lad?” He gave his second son, crouched on his other side, a hug.
“We built our places up from scratch the first time,” Cal added. “Nothin’ says we can’t do it again. Fact is, it should be easier this time. Our fireplaces should still be good. An’ think of all the clearin’ an’ fencin’ we already done.”
Richard eyed them with a bit of hesitance. “If we had some real assurance the redskins wouldn’t be back, I’d stay around. I’m not sure I’ll be able to convince Ruthie to come back till it’s safe, otherwise.”
John glanced over his shoulder at the women busily cooking over what were normally the washtub fires. Several of them, Lily included, slanted inquisitive glances his way. If he agreed to stay, he and the boys would be separated from her again. No, it would be just him and the children this time. Lily would be returning to her own family.
Disheartened, he turned his attention to the men grouped around him. “I’ll stay. Me and my boys—if they want to. I came here to provide them with a future, and I intend to see it through.”
“You mean you’re gonna send all the womenfolk away?” Young Donald shot a plaintive look at Cissy Dunlap.
John started to smile. Then he saw Jackson lean past Richard to get a gander at Lily.
The young man rose to his feet. “If everything’s settled, I’ll—”
“It’s not.” John blurted out the words. He waited, watching until Jackson crouched down again. “There’s still the matter of the rafts we’ll need to build for transporting the women and children, to say nothing of supplies. They’ll need as much as we can spare. We can build cabin shelters on the rafts and hire river men to take them from the mouth down the Susquehanna.”
Toby nodded, his face set with determination. “Let’s get started right after we eat. Shouldn’t take more’n a day or two. I’m sure there must be wood we can salvage at the MacBride place.”
“So, is that it?” Jackson stood up again. Without waiting for a response, he made a beeline straight for Lily.
Chapter 35
Who do you think should say the words over our sweet Robby?” Agnes bent over a skillet to flip a sizzling ham slice, the steam adding roses to her cheeks. “Ian shouldn’t have to climb that hill, wounded like he is.”
Lily only heard her friend’s comments on the edge of her consciousness as she tended another slice of meat. Jackson was heading straight for her.
Millie straightened, a stir spoon in her plump hand. “Toby’s the next oldest here. I’ll speak to him about it.”
Edith, quiet once more, with her hair curls neatly brushed, moved closer to Millie and gave her a self-conscious hug. “I–I’m plumb sorry I went so crazy there for a spell. I just couldn’t—”
As if he’d overheard and didn’t want to intrude, Jackson stopped in his tracks.
Millie returned her friend’s embrace with loving pats on the back. “We were grievin’ right along with you. Now we’re tickled to have you back. We were all prayin’ for you.”
Agnes stepped away from the fire, sincerity in her hazel eyes. “God answered our most fervent prayers. I shan’t ever doubt Him again.”
Lily knew she’d have to face Jackson any second, and though the answer to her friends’ prayers had been obvious, Lily had yet to receive the direction she sought from God. The only thing she felt was dread every time she had to deal with Jackson, and now he was upon her again.
His glance swept the group, then focused on Lily. “Can I have a word with you?”
Mille gave her a nod. “Go ahead, dear. I’ll watch your skillet.”
“Thank you.” Trying not to show her reluctance, she placed her spatula on one of the stones surrounding the fire pit with the reminder that Jackson’s plump little mother was a sweet-natured woman no one would mind having for a mother-in-law.
Jackson led Lily away from the women at the cookfires, from the men still clustered at the woodshop, and away from the noisy children playing a game of drop the handkerchief. He steered her behind the tall hickory tree that had shaded many a Sabbath dinner last summer, then turned to her, his dark eyes intense.
She peered over her shoulder and caught John’s steady gaze. What would he want her to say to Jackson?
“Lily.” Jackson took her hands in his. “The men are gonna send all you women and young’uns away till we can get the cabins rebuilt. I can’t wait no longer. I need your promise now. I need you to promise to return to me when I send for you.”
Lord, what should I say? Please give me wisdom.
“I know your family’ll try to persuade you to stay in Virginia with them. But like I said before, you belong here with us, with me. I know it, an’ you know it.” His grip tightened.
Be honest.
Had that come from God? How simple…yet somehow frightening. Lily eased her fingers from his and took a breath as she prayed for courage. Unsmiling, she looked him in the eye. “I’m afraid I cannot give you the answer you want, Jackson. I do not have the deep feelings for you that you profess to have for me. Nevertheless, I’ve honored your marriage proposal by praying for the Lord’s leading, and He has not given me peace about making a commitment to you. You’re a wonderful young man, and you deserve someone who can love you with her whole heart. That is not me. I am truly sorry to hurt you, but my answer must be no.”
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His demeanor hardened with confusion. “But I thought with Robby gone—”
“God never directed me to accept his proposal, either. And now the Lord is removing me from the cove altogether. Leaving here will be very hard for me. I shall miss all of you so very much.”
He caught hold of her arm. “Then don’t miss us. Marry me. I’ll make you love me. Give me a chance.”
Regarding him in silence, she stepped out of his grasp. “I must get back to work now.”
As she turned away, Lily felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her. She’d probably hurt Jackson, but he was young and would realize in time her refusal had been for the best. And even though it was inappropriate, she couldn’t stop her lips from curling into a wondrous smile. The Lord had answered her. Be honest.
John felt deflated as he watched Lily return to the cookfires wearing a happy smile.
She’d only covered half the distance when Matt broke away from the children’s game circle and ran to her. John would have given anything to do the same and run to her, tell her not to marry Jackson, to marry him instead. But that was not possible.
Matt gave Lily a quick hug then ran back to the game, all smiles himself.
A frown knitted John’s brow. He could’ve sworn his son didn’t want her to marry that young man any more than he did. Matt must have decided her returning to the cove at any price was better than having her go to her sister’s and never come back.
His gaze remained on Lily as Millie walked up to the men seated in a circle. “How are you feelin’, Ian?”
The older man glanced down at his sheathed arm. “Me shoulder’s still burnin’ some, an’ I’m weak as an ol’ dishrag. But I dunna’ want ye to be frettin’. I’ll be fit again in a few weeks, Lord willin’.”
“You know you’ll be in all our prayers.” Millie rested a hand on the back of his chair. “The reason I asked is because we’re fixin’ to take Robby up the hill after noonin’. We don’t think you should hustle up that grade whilst you’re feelin’ poorly. I was wonderin’ if maybe Toby could say the words over the boy.”
Toby’s brown eyes flared wide, and his face went almost as pale as Ian’s. “I ain’t no good at that sort of thing.” He rubbed his balding head.
John scanned the group. None of them appeared willing to take on the chore. The cove had always relied on Grampa Mac to oversee all things religious.
“John had hisself a lot more schoolin’ than the rest of us,” Toby hedged. “He could read the words without stumblin’ over ’em.”
All eyes turned to him.
He felt panic begin to rise.
Bob’s gaze was the most beseeching. “I’d be much obliged if you’d say the words over my son.”
How could he let his best friend down? John smiled and nodded. “I’ve got my New Testament in my saddlebag. Maybe Ian will show me the passage to read.”
“Don’t mind a’tall, laddie.”
“Well then, I’ll go see if I can catch my horse.” John stood to his feet.
“They all wandered in awhile ago,” Cal said. “I had my boys put ’em in the pasture an’ unsaddle ’em. Your gear should be hangin’ over the fence.”
“Thanks.”
John left the men and started across the barnyard toward the pasture. On his way, he noticed Jackson striding fast for the creek, his head sagging. He didn’t look like a man who’d just had his marriage proposal accepted.
Matt, still grinning from ear to ear, came running. “Where you off to, Pa?”
“Going after my Bible. For the funeral service.”
The lad’s smile faded. “I forgot about that. I sure am glad Lily ain’t gonna marry up with that Jackson.”
John slowed. “She told you that?” He let go of the breath he held.
“Yep. Now she won’t haf’ta leave us.”
Reining in his foolish joy, John wrapped an arm around his son. “Walk with me to the fence. We need to talk.”
Once they reached his saddlebag and John removed the New Testament, he turned to Matt. “Son, the other men and I have decided it’s best to send the women and children downriver while we rebuild. You’re welcome to stay and help out, or you can go with them. But this you must understand. When Lily leaves here, the only logical place for her will be with her family. And once she reaches her sister Mariah’s and gets some much-deserved pampering, I doubt she’ll want to give up the luxuries of plantation life to come back to the hardships here. She’s a lovely young woman, and she deserves the best.”
“But she loves us.”
John averted his gaze across the heat waves rising up from the stable, to where Lily was busy spreading out blankets from the blockhouse for sitting. So much of her hair had worked loose of its pins, she’d finally allowed it to hang free. The silky waves shimmered like molten gold in the sunlight with her movements. He had to will his eyes from the glorious sight. “Yes, she does. She loves you children very much.” He laid a hand on Matt’s shoulder. “And if you love her as much as you say you do, you should think about her and what’s best for her.” As I am trying to do.
Matt jerked away, his jaw set. “We are what’s best for her. If you were around more, you’d know that.” He wheeled away, leaving John gaping after him.
Obviously, Lily’s leaving would be as hard on the boys as it was for him. With a defeated sigh, he started back to Ian. First things first. Right now he had a funeral service to prepare.
As John neared Ian, he saw the women in the distance handing the children whatever containers for food they could scrounge and sending them to the blankets. Lily chatted happily to each little one as she forked out pieces of fried ham. He drank in the sight of his beautiful Lily…loved by one and all.
Ian’s voice brought him back to earth. “Hold on there, laddie, b’fore ye run into me.”
John turned his head forward. “Sorry. My mind was somewhere else. On…the need for lots of trenchers and wooden spoons.”
Ian’s mouth twitched up at the corner. “An’ furniture, I ‘spect. An’ mebbe a wife?”
John’s breath caught. The old man knew exactly where his focus had been.
“Time’s runnin’ out, ye know, laddie. She’ll be gone tomorrow.”
“But…how…?” His feelings couldn’t have been so obvious. How many others were aware? He crouched down before Ian and spoke in a low tone. “You know it wouldn’t be proper. Decent, I mean. It’s barely two months ago that we buried my wife. Besides, Lily was entrusted to my care. I’m supposed to provide for her, not lust after her.”
The Scot cocked a brow. “That all ye feel for her? Lust?”
“No, of course not. There are a thousand reasons to love her. All anyone has to do is look at her, be around her for any length of time, to know that. Her sister in Alexandria probably has several suitable men in mind for her already—men with the means to give her anything she wants.”
“They canna’ give her you or yer children.”
John eyed him for several seconds. “What exactly are you saying?”
“That wee lass has been secretly moonin’ over ye ever’time ye come home, just as ye do her. This watchin’ an’ longin’ betwixt the two of ye has been goin’ on for months now. I know ye’ve both tried to ignore those feelin’s, but they’re plain as the nose on yer face. Why do ye ‘spose me Maggie insisted on stayin’ at yer place that time?”
John felt heat rising up from his collar and climbing to his hairline. So those knowing looks Maggie had given him weren’t merely his imagination. “Does anyone else suspect? Does Lily?”
He shrugged. “I canna’ say. But even if folks did, ever’ one knows what a fine wife an’ mother she’d make ye. ’Twould be a perfect fit. Besides, nobody wants to lose her any more than you do. We’ve all come to love the lass. ‘Specially those young lads of yours. They’d move heaven and earth for her if she asked them to.”
It all sounded good, but John wasn’t easily convinced. “But…so soon after Susan?”<
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Ian tipped his grizzled head. “All of us know the years of sufferin’ yer whole family, includin’ Lily, has been through. An’ the way Susan loved ye, she wouldn’t want ye to be lonely for the rest of yer life. Part of ye will always belong to her, but that don’t mean there’s no room in yer heart for another love. There’s not one among us who wouldn’t be pleasured by seein’ yer family experience a season of nothin’ but blessin’s.”
John couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Then he remembered Dunlap, and gave a small huff through his nose. “No one, maybe, except Jackson.”
“Lily doesn’t love the lad, John. An’ who would wish a loveless marriage on her after the selfless, lovin’ care she gave Susan? Now, hand me that Bible. We need to take care of another piece of sad business now.”
Chapter 36
Lily could not have been more impressed by John as he gave a heartfelt Bible reading over Robby’s grave, then offered a prayer expounding the lad’s qualities and expressing the sadness of everyone who’d known him. She could tell Bob and Edith felt comforted as they stood in a solemn cluster with their remaining children, drinking in his words. Even at this sorrowful moment, Lily sensed John’s sincerity and the respect his neighbors had for him. He was a man whose faith never faltered despite his trials, who’d never wavered in his love for his wife through all the years of her illness. A man who had sacrificed two years of his life in the militia to keep the residents of Beaver Cove safe.
Throughout the graveside service, she reveled in the opportunity to gaze freely upon him without worrying that someone might notice. He stood tall and confident as his rich voice offered comfort to the mourners, and Lily feasted her eyes on his strong, handsome features, the square jaw that softened whenever he smiled, the compelling blue eyes that slanted downward when he was troubled, the nicely shaped lips that had once melded to hers in a heart-stopping kiss. Knowing she was gazing upon him for what could be the last time in her life, she memorized every feature, so she could draw upon those memories in the long years to come.
Daughters of Harwood House Trilogy : Three Romances Tell the Saga of Sisters Sold into Indentured Service (9781630586140) Page 91