Daughters of Harwood House Trilogy : Three Romances Tell the Saga of Sisters Sold into Indentured Service (9781630586140)

by Crawford, Dianna; Laity, Sally

  Cal chuckled. “Ruthie, too. That li’l missy could howl louder’n a pack of wolves when she got scared.”

  “Not my—” John caught himself before uttering Lily’s name.

  The aroma of roast pork drifted toward them before they reached the table, and John’s stomach growled. His boys waved him to the place they’d saved between them.

  “Mind hurryin’ along?” Ian stood at the head of the table. “I need to say grace.”

  It was good to have the older man back, even without full use of his left arm. He’d returned last week, after Pat received a three-month furlough from Fort Henry.

  John had hiked one leg over the bench when he heard a dog bark in the distance. Then another. Since all the dogs in the cove had been killed, he glanced across at Toby and his grown sons.

  The other men all disengaged themselves from the benches, and John and Cal bolted for the muskets they’d left leaning against the cabin wall.

  The unmistakable sound of hoofbeats came from the Swatara Creek trace. Before he was able to uncork the powder horn, John heard splashing in Beaver Creek. Whoever was coming would be here in seconds.

  As three large dogs bounded into the MacBride clearing, John swung his weapon around to use as a club.

  On the dogs’ heels came riders and horses.

  “Papa! Papa!”

  John lowered his musket. Davy! And Emma! They were on the first horse!

  And wonder of wonders—Lily!

  Leaning the weapon back against the wall, he blinked hard and looked again. Lily rode right behind the children. She’d come back! And she’d brought his babies! He didn’t know who to run to first.

  Before he could decide, other riders leading packhorses stopped between him and his dear ones.

  “Papa!”

  Dodging around the animals, he found Lily already on the ground. He caught her to him and hurried to the children, but Matt and Luke were already lifting them down. In an instant he had his whole family in his arms. His heart nearly burst with joy amid the excited childish chatter as he kissed his clinging little Emmy, who looked so much like her sweet mother. Wiggly Davy was next. Then his beloved Lily.

  “What’s all this stuff?”

  Matt’s question drew John’s attention from the sparkling gray eyes that held such promise. He set the little ones on the ground, noticing that there were two men and more than a dozen horses, most of which were loaded with goods.

  Neighbors, all talking at once came to join the group.

  Holding Lily against his side, John ambled over to the strangers. “You are most welcome. Thank you for escorting my family here.”

  “Only thanks we need is to share your grub,” the huge backwoodsman with rough features said.

  “Aye.” His stubby partner gestured with his disheveled head at Lily. “Your missus insisted we start out a’fore first light this mornin’.”

  Ian spoke out. “Yer welcome to partake of our vittles. Ye rode in from the Susquehanna?”

  “Yep.” The first one eyed the food-laden table. “A crew of rivermen poled us an’ all this truck up as far as the Swatara.”

  “The dogs, too?” Matt knelt down to pet one that was sniffing around his legs.

  “Yep. Brung them mangy curs right along with us.”

  “Hey, they ain’t mangy,” Davy piped in.

  Lily laughed. “No, they certainly aren’t.” She glanced at John. “If you don’t mind, I thought we’d keep the female and let the Pattersons and MacBrides have the other two for watchdogs.”

  Davy puffed out his scrawny chest. “An’ when Queenie has pups, I’ll give ’em to whoever wants ’em.”

  “Except the prettiest one.” Emma planted a fist on her waist. “I get to keep that one.”

  “Hey, folks,” Edith called from the table. “Food’s getting cold. Come on an’ eat. We can catch up later.”

  Millie and her daughter had already set more places, and everyone found a spot to sit. John still couldn’t let go of Lily. He couldn’t believe she’d come back.

  Directly across the table, Jackson looked at both of them, then grunted and offered a lopsided grin. “Ain’t no never mind. Figgered as much. ‘Sides, I got my eye on the sister of Frank’s gal. Don’t know why he didn’t pick the purtier one.”

  Down the way, Millie wagged her salt-and-pepper head. “We’re still talkin’ about them German gals. I’m not sure I like the idea of you boys bringin’ home wives that can’t hardly speak English.”

  “Wait’ll you see ’em, Ma.” Frank angled his head toward her with a lovesick expression. “They got hair blonder than the sun an’ eyes bluer’n the sky.”

  Ian’s voice boomed along the length of the table as he looked straight at John and Lily. “Since we’re on the subject of courtin’, I reckon we’ll be needin’ us a weddin’ today, soon as we finish the cabin.”

  Beside John, Lily stiffened slightly.

  “Either that or our Miss Lily will be spendin’ the night at the Randalls’.”

  John’s mouth fell open. How could the old man be so crude?

  “Well…” Lily relaxed against John again. “Since those Randall children are simply too noisy to abide, I suppose I have no choice.”

  Everyone laughed and started talking at once.

  Amazed beyond words, John drew Lily’s sweet self so close, he couldn’t tell if it was his heart or hers beating with such incredulous joy.

  Chapter 39

  Is that the men coming?” Lily gasped the words over the happy chatter as Edith tightened the laces on the corset Mariah had insisted on sending.

  Millie opened the bedroom door of the new Waldon cabin that still smelled of fresh-cut wood and peeked out. “Aye, they’re ridin’ in now.”

  Cissy and the twins tittered behind their hands as Cissy shook the wrinkles from the exquisite gown of brocaded emerald silk Lily would wear on this, her wedding day. Their eyes grew wide as they admired the white satin stomacher with its vertical row of tiny bows, an underskirt adorned with double flounces of fine lace edged with silver, and the dropped neckline with a matching flounce. “Even puffed sleeves,” Cissy breathed.

  “With lacy ruffles,” Gracie added, hesitant even to touch the lovely creation.

  “And satin bows to hold back the skirt,” Patience said softly. “I’ve never seen such a beautiful gown.”

  “Thank you.” Lily smiled at the threesome. “My sister insisted on having it made for me.”

  “This’ll be the first weddin’ in the cove, and mine’ll be next,” Cissy declared.

  Overflowing with happiness, Lily wanted everyone to share it. “We shall start a new tradition. Every bride in Beaver Cove must wear this gown on her wedding day—should she choose to do so, of course.”

  “You mean it?” Holding the frock against herself, Cissy whirled around, fluttering out its glory as a dreamy expression lit her eyes.

  “Of course.” Lily bent to pick up a package from the bed and handed it to one of the twins. “Patience, would you please take this out to John and tell him it’s my wedding gift to him? It’s a new outfit, since all of his clothes were burned in the fire.”

  “Your sister must be very, very rich,” Gracie said, regarding the trunk of new clothing they’d lugged into the room.

  “Her husband’s family is. They are also wonderfully generous people. When they heard of our sad plight, not only did they provide crates of clothes for everyone, but bed linens, quilts, kitchen towels, and fabric for curtains. And the other packhorses are loaded down with grain and corn to help feed our livestock this winter.”

  “I declare.” Millie wagged her head in wonder. “It’s a real blessin’. I brought some grain back with me, too, but not nearly enough. We figgered before winter was through, we’d have to butcher most of the animals.”

  Lily stepped into the gown’s pool of silk and ruffles, and Edith drew it gently up so she could slip her arms into the sleeves. Then Edith tightened the back laces. “I’ve another bit of
good news. Mr. Gilford, the children’s grandfather, is sending a barge-load of bricks and slate shakes next spring, enough for a fireproof two-story house. So should the Indians ever come again, they won’t be able to burn that one. We’ll all be safe inside.”

  Straightening the generous skirt over the petticoats, Edith glanced up. “Bob tells me he don’t think the Injuns’ll be back. Ever’time they came here, they lost braves. They like easy pickin’s.”

  “That’s comforting.” Lily gazed down at the ruffles and bows. “Mr. Gilford says his friend, the governor, plans to pressure the British commander into capturing Fort Duquesne in the spring. If that happens, all our men will be able to come home for good.”

  “Mercy me. Wouldn’t that be fine.” Millie began arranging Lily’s hair into fancy swirls and pinning them in place. “Then our husbands can get back to why we came here in the first place: makin’ a future for us an’ our young’uns.”

  Lily turned to her. “Speaking of the future, I brought another present for John he’s sure to be thrilled with…a box filled with fancy hinges and drawer pulls for the furniture he’ll be building for us all. I can hardly wait to see his face when he sees them.”

  Millie wrapped her arms around Lily and sighed. “I’d hoped you’d marry my Jackson, you know, but havin’ you back, wedded to John, is almost as wonderful.”

  Lily returned the embrace. “And so is being back here with all of you. To be quite honest, I feared you wouldn’t approve of our marrying so soon after Susan’s passing.”

  “Not at all, dear. I think she would be the first to wish you happiness, you and John.”

  “Truly?” Lily’s eyes misted over.

  “Now, now,” Edith scolded. “Stop the huggin’. We don’t want to crush that gown.”

  Lily reached around and hugged the petite woman. “I’m simply too happy to care about the gown. I’m getting married today.”

  John flicked an imaginary piece of lint from his fine suit of clothes, feeling both dashing and thankful as he waited at the far end of the front room. His sons were attired in finery as well, the rich colors of their outfits making up for the lack of flowers for this winter wedding. Matt looked quite grown-up in sapphire, Luke in copper, and Davy in burgundy, all of which complemented John’s café-au-lait frock coat and dark brown britches.

  But where was Lily? He could hardly wait for her and Emma to emerge from the bedroom.

  The guests, mostly men and their sons, fidgeted, too, as they sat on hastily set-up rows of benches, with Bob’s daughters sprinkled about.

  When John and the others first arrived from the MacBrides’, his friends prevented him from going in to Lily. Bad luck, they’d said, though he couldn’t imagine anything dimming the joy of this day. To think she loved him so much she’d chosen him over all the luxury that could’ve been hers. At long last, he’d have his life back, and so would his family.

  He gazed again at his boys, flanking him on either side. They, too, watched for the door to open, knowing that from this day forth, laughter and good times would fill this home. Lily had a way of bringing such things with her.

  The door cracked open.

  John started forward, but Ian caught his shoulder from behind. He eased back on his heels. She was coming to him.

  With a darling little giggle, Emma emerged and started past the rows of guests with practiced steps. She looked like a porcelain doll in a ruffled gown of gold silk, her red hair caught up at the crown with a matching satin bow and trailing down her back in ringlets. Her eyes fairly danced as she smiled up at him.

  John bent to give his sweet daughter a kiss, then guided her beside him.

  Next came Cissy in a fine gown of royal-blue taffeta that Lily undoubtedly had loaned her. Her head was bowed a little, and her shy smile was for no one but Donald.

  An eternal moment later, out strolled Lily, and her glowing gaze met his and stayed there until she reached him. Looking every inch the angel she was, Lily made a breathtaking vision in emerald and white that John could hardly take in. Her hand trembled slightly as he took it in his, and he gave it an encouraging squeeze. When she looked up at him, all the love he felt for her was reflected in her eyes. What a gift she was. A gift from God.

  Lily could hardly breathe for happiness. Lost in John’s tender gaze, surrounded by well-wishing friends, she knew she would never forget this wondrous day. Ian’s blunt but welcome words had laid the last of her fears and doubts to rest, and an indescribable sense of peace enfolded her as she looked up and met John’s smile. The love they shared had been part of God’s plan all along, and she knew the life they would build together would honor Him. Papa would be thankful to know that in coming to this new land, the Lord had blessed all three of his daughters with happiness and love. Rose first, then Mariah, and now His hand of blessing extended to Lily. Returning John’s promise-filled smile with one of her own, she turned with him to face Ian and repeat the sacred vows that would bind them together for all time.

  Author’s Note

  The area surrounding Blue Mountain in Pennsylvania continued to suffer random attacks in 1758 from Fort Duquesne, the southernmost French fort. In random raids, nine more people were killed, three captured, and three went missing. The fort’s influence seriously waned during the year. The British naval blockade near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River stopped most of the flow of supplies and trade goods coming into Canada. Any goods that did trickle in were inflated in price and sold mostly around Quebec. None reached as far south as Fort Duquesne. Most of the Indians refused to fight without the payment of trade goods and returned to their villages.

  In October 1758, the British command, along with representatives from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, invited the chiefs of thirteen tribes to a meeting. There the Treaty of Easton was signed. The Indians were given superior English trade goods in exchange for remaining neutral in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and along a portion of the Ohio River for the remainder of the war. This brought peace to the region.

  William Pitt in England was given charge of the war effort in North America. His directives changed the course of the war:

  July 1758 – The British regulars and Colonial militias arrived by sea and laid siege to the French Fort Louisbourg at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, defeating the French along with a number of their warships.

  August 1758 – Lieutenant Colonel John Bradstreet defeated the French at Fort Frontenac at the east end of Lake Ontario with 150 British regulars and 2,850 colonials.

  October 1758 – The Treaty of Easton (as mentioned above).

  November 1758 – Only a small garrison of French was left at Fort Duquesne when they learned an English and Colonial force of six thousand was approaching. They abandoned and burned the fort.

  July 1759 – The English and colonials captured Fort Niagara (La Belle Famille).

  September 1759 – General James Wolf defeated General Louis Joseph Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham near Quebec City.

  1762 – In the Treaty of Fontiubleau, France ceded Louisiana to Spain (an ally of England in the Seven Years’ War, in which the French & Indian War was included, along with conflicts over colonies in India and Africa).

  1763 – The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years’ War. France traded all her possessions in North America for the lucrative sugar cane island of Guadeloupe.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Lily journeyed to the colonies with her sisters, expecting to remain with them in the new land. But the girls had barely set foot in America before they were auctioned off and split up. How do you think Lily, as the youngest, was able to accept her fate without a protest?

  2. Lily admired her older sister Rose all of her life and hoped one day to emulate her. Do you think she succeeded? In what way?

  3. John Waldon deeply loved his wife, Susan, and it broke his heart to watch her dying by inches, yet he never allowed himself to feel bitterness toward God. Why do you think some people find it easy to blame God for circumstances b
eyond their control?

  4. Susan Waldon gave up the comforts of a privileged life to elope with John when they were barely twenty. She had every reason to regret missing out on the good things in life, yet her love for John remained constant. Do you know anyone who possesses that kind of sweet spirit?

  5. In her four years of servitude to the Waldon family, Lily became quite attached to Susan and the children. She also grew a little too fond of Susan’s husband. She knew that coveting was a gross sin—one she confessed again and again. Did she do an adequate job of keeping her attraction hidden?

  6. John watched Lily turn from a frightened, wide-eyed waif of a bondservant trembling on an auction block to an engaging young woman. Even though he loved his wife dearly, he had to fight against a growing attraction for Lily. Do you think he remained completely faithful to Susan despite those unwanted desires?

  7. Lily was only fourteen when John purchased her indenturement papers. Later, Mariah’s husband was willing and had the means to redeem her, but she chose to stay with the Waldon family. Did you ever face a life-changing decision? How can a person know for certain that the right choice was made?

  8. The little settlement of Beaver Cove was situated in an area vulnerable to Indian attacks. Only a stalwart soul would choose to live under the constant threat of danger. What qualities did Lily possess that made her want to make her home there?

  9. Both John and Lily were staunch believers who lived their faith. Even though God worked in quite a roundabout way to bring them together, they eventually did find their happy ending. That doesn’t always work for everyone, however. Why do you suppose that is?

  10. Lily and the Waldon family prayed fervently for Susan’s health to improve, yet she grew increasingly weak and finally died. Sometimes it’s hard to accept that Christians aren’t always protected from the bad things that happen. What promises of God comfort you during the trials of life?