Vow Unbroken

by Caryl McAdoo

  Levi laughed. “Bitty Beck may be worse.”

  Henry’s hands didn’t want to swing the ax anymore, but he swung it again. For sure, his back and arms and shoulders had had enough, but he willed them to swing that ax, again and again. Halfway through the tree, the boy stepped up and traded the canteen back for the ax.

  On his first swing, he bent into it, and the ax blade totally missed the tree. The handle hit it instead. Its crack reverberated. The head went flying.

  “Stupid ax!” He went after it and picked it up.

  “Broke?”

  “Yes, sir. I’m sorry.” He hung his head.

  “You do it on purpose?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Then don’t worry about it.”

  The boy stood a bit taller. “Yes, sir.”

  * * *

  SUE AND BECKY HAD STAYED busy dampening loads of leaves and putting them on the fire all afternoon. If anyone was anywhere in the vicinity, she couldn’t imagine them not seeing the billowing smoke. She loved working with her daughter better than about anything. Becky always had a thousand questions, so the talking never really died between them.

  But the girl took after her daddy in that she could go to sleep in a breath. Late afternoon, she’d gone under the wagon and lain down on the furs. A minute later, she was sound asleep. Sue thought seriously about joining her, but no way did she want Henry to come back and find her napping. Sometimes Andy’d slept for only fifteen minutes, but he always said a nap refreshed him to finish whatever the day held.

  If she dozed off, though, she’d probably sleep until someone woke her.

  Besides, Blue Dog lay right beside Becky with his head resting on her hip. Sue sure had come to love that hound. She wondered how old he was, and if Henry might ever think of selling him. She’d have to wait for the right time and ask. The thought of parting her daughter from him at the end of the journey hurt Sue’s heart.

  It wouldn’t matter what he asked, whatever the price, she’d pay it. Henry might not be willing to sell him, though. Best dog he ever had, he’d said. She sighed. She’d just have to talk him into it. After all, he seemed to really care for Becky. Except he never called her that; he called her Rebecca or little miss. Sue had loved the name when she gave birth, Rebecca after Andy’s mother and Ruth after her own. Her daughter carried both her grandmothers’ middle names.

  Maybe it was a good sign.

  Just then, Blue Dog lifted his head off Becky and stared past the wagon. Sue followed his gaze. A mean-looking Indian warrior stood not fifty yards away. The sides of his head were shaved, leaving a streak of black hair from his forehead back. His bare chest glistened in the sun, which also glinted off large silver earrings.

  He wore only a breechcloth and moccasins, and his nakedness embarrassed her, but she couldn’t look away. Her heart beat double time, and her pulse throbbed against her temples.

  Blue Dog growled low in his throat, then stood and positioned himself between the savage and his little girl.

  Oh, great. Where was Henry?

  CHAPTER

  THIRTEEN

  HENRY SPOTTED THE CADDO standing on the north side of the clearing, staring at Sue and Rebecca, who sat near the fire. Blue Dog had claimed a point between the visitor and the girl. That dog would die before he let the stranger get to her. His hound had taken to Rebecca almost as much as he had, maybe even more if that was possible.

  Shame the boy hadn’t broke the ax four trees ago.

  Henry raised his hand palm forward and walked toward the man. The Indian mimicked the sign and came toward him, closing the distance and leaving the lady to the side of the path. Levi followed a little behind and to his left, carrying his long gun. Henry gestured eating by bringing his fingers pinched together to his mouth. “Hungry?” He pointed at the guest and repeated. “You hungry?”

  The man shook his head and extended his clay pipe. “Tobacco?”

  Henry nodded and headed toward the wagon, proud he had traded for the tobacco and had it available now. He retrieved a small leather pouch from his kit, then turned, but Sue blocked his way.

  “It’s all right. He’s Caddo. Friendly.”

  Her voice was shaking. “I’m so glad you got back when you did. I know we called him with the fire and all, but I hated him coming with you gone.”

  “You stay with Rebecca. I’ll deal with him.”

  She hurried back to her daughter, and he strolled toward the Indian, handing the pouch to him as soon as he got there.

  The Caddo untied the leather laces and held it to his nose. The sweet aroma of Virginia mild wafted on the air. The visitor smiled and nodded. “Good tobacco.” He pinched enough to fill his bowl, and then picked up a little stick off the ground and made his way to the fire. Blue Dog followed him. Sue moved backward, scooting and clutching Becky to her.

  “Is he a savage, Mama? He doesn’t act so mean.” She turned to the Indian. “Are you? Are you a savage?”

  “Becky! He probably doesn’t even understand what you’re saying, but still, that was rude! You shouldn’t ask a question like that.”

  The Caddo smiled and nodded at her daughter. He bent, held an end of his stick in the fire until it caught, then lit his pipe and headed back over to Henry.

  “He didn’t mind, Mama. Even if he did understand, he knows I’m just a little girl.”

  Walking back, he grinned like a kid with a new pup. He sat cross-legged on the ground, so Henry squatted in like fashion in front of him. The guest offered his lit pipe. Henry took it and pulled hard on the stem, puffing the tobacco. The bowl glowed. He inhaled, then let the smoke curl from his lips and nose. He wanted to cough, needed to, but, by his will, kept his peace and smiled at the man.

  “Tobacco good.”

  * * *

  SUE’S RACING HEART had resumed a more regular rhythm. From startled to curious to amazed, she studied the not-so-savage visitor. It amused her that Henry played his game so well. He shared the pipe, then offered food. She heaped two plates of supper for them at his request. The men ate and laughed and talked and signed until their plates were empty. Then Henry insisted that their visitor have a piece of her cake.

  He hollered and instructed her to put a heaping spoon of honey on both pieces as well. Sometimes he could be so exasperating. His being over there having such a good time with his new friend and totally ignoring her and the children just irritated her to no end. Then he had the gall to boss her around as though she worked for him! She fed her children and fixed her own plate, wishing she cared less about his disregard.

  She’d stop this nonsense if her wagon wasn’t stuck. That savage could help. Or could he? Was he only here to smoke up Henry’s tobacco and eat all her cake? When would he ever make the deal to get her wagon unstuck? He stood and walked toward her.

  She held up her hand. “If he wants more cake, he can forget it!”

  Henry grinned, which only served to upset her more because she knew he was laughing at her. “No, we just got around to how much he’d charge to help us.”

  “Oh, really? Finally?” She gazed past him to the Indian enjoying the last crumbs of his cake. Or should she say her cake? “Please do tell. What does he want?”

  “The long gun that Levi’s been holding on him.”

  Well, that was never going to happen. There was no way she could ever replace that gun.

  “A bag of powder and some shot for it.” He looked at her straight-on. “A pound of my tobacco.”

  Well, that wasn’t so bad; she had no use for the smelly smoke.

  “And three of your mules, but not the snake-bit one.”

  “Well! Is that all? What a generous soul. Looks like your signal fire worked about as good as your fulcrum!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That crazy Caddo! What did you say?”

  “Nothing yet, wanted to speak with you first.” He moved closer, almost touching her, like he didn’t want the Indian to hear or something. “It’s your wagon, and you’ll be the one paying hi
m.”

  At least he had that right. “What do you consider fair? What are you thinking of telling him? We certainly cannot give him three mules. If we did, we might as well dump the cotton.”

  “How about we offer the snake-bit mule?”

  She turned and looked at the grazing animals. Mabel still appeared to be feeling under the weather. Sue loved her mules. They weren’t just working stock to her. “But I’ve had her over ten years. She’s like a family member; they all are.”

  “Well then, how much of my tobacco would you like me to offer him?”

  She hated that she was going to have to give up any of her profit, but they’d tried everything else. “What’s tobacco going for these days?”

  “Two years ago, the price was only five dollars a hogshead. But it’s been steadily rising. I was hoping to get between eight and ten.”

  “A hogshead? What kind of measurement is that? How much in pounds?”

  “Well, it’s a wooden barrel that holds about a thousand pounds.”

  “Do you think he’d help for twenty pounds?”

  “I can ask. Anything else you want to offer?”

  She sighed. “I don’t know. Can’t think of anything.” He turned to go, but she grabbed his arm and stopped him. He met her eyes. “Make the best deal you can for me.”

  She had to trust him, but it surprised her how easy it seemed, especially after knowing him such a short time. What had it been? Only five days! It seemed that she’d been on the way to Jefferson for a month or more. Anyway, she’d known of him for years, but had carried that bad, terribly wrong opinion from listening to those gossips.

  And even though he wasn’t a Christian, trusting him was comfortable. He was a moral and honorable man.

  He returned to his negotiations with the red man. Sue sighed and glanced toward the darkening sky. A little of Your favor for Henry would be appreciated. She watched the Indian as the sun sunk behind the tree line.

  The private confab seemed to go on forever. Was he planning on spending the whole night in camp? At last, Henry came back to her. “He says the only way he’ll help is for one mule, one rifle, and ten pounds of tobacco. Plus the powder and shot.”

  “That’s out-and-out thievery!” She crossed her arms again and tapped her foot. “But. The only. Option. I see. At this point.” She shook her head and huffed out a heavy sigh. “Will he guarantee to get it unstuck?”

  “We won’t pay him anything until he does. He’ll be traveling back to his village to fetch relatives and friends to help him, so getting it out should be a done deal.”

  She hated to even ask since it was her wagon and all, but she couldn’t imagine parting with one of her mules. “How will I ever decide which one?” Her eyes watered full, and she swiped at an escaped tear.

  “He can have my mule.”

  “Oh, could he?” She looked into his eyes. “I’d pay you top dollar for him, of course. You wouldn’t mind? I’d be so grateful. I just can’t think of giving up one of ours.”

  He nodded. “No problem. What about the weapon?”

  “Well, I can’t ask Levi to give his up. That was his daddy’s long gun. And mine was Andy’s, but . . .” She looked at him. “I guess I could let it go.”

  “Sue, everything I’ve got is for sale. I don’t mind letting him have mine.”

  That statement thrilled her in more ways than one. “Excellent! Thank you! So what are Brown Mule and your musket and ten pounds of your tobacco going to cost me?”

  “I did turn down seventy dollars for the animal, but I’ll sell him to you for sixty. And how about I loan you the rifle, and you can buy me a new one when we get to Jefferson?”

  He looked at the sky, so she did, too, following his gaze. The first star shone bright. The depth of the man’s integrity impressed her. In a position to easily gouge her, he instead had made her an even better deal than he’d already turned down.

  “I’ll tell you what. You can just replace the mule, too, and let’s forget the tobacco. I’ll throw that in.”

  “Why, thank you, sir. You’re a true gentleman.”

  He smiled a you’re-welcome, tipped his hat, then returned to his new friend.

  A dreadful heaviness she hadn’t even realized was weighing her down suddenly lifted. She could breathe easy again. It really was going to happen. They would be on the trace tomorrow morning. She wished she had thought to ask Henry to get a commitment on how quick the Caddo would return with his friends, but he was already deep in conversation with the man, making her the best deal he could.

  In almost no time, Henry stood and walked back long faced. “He wants one more thing.”

  “Oh, my word!” She’d already agreed to pay so much. Why couldn’t God make him accept what he said he would take? If she agreed to whatever this latest demand was, would he ask again for more? “What else could he possibly want?”

  “The rest of your cake.”

  She laughed with relief at the request.

  “He wants to carry it home to his wife and children. He has three little ones.”

  “Fine, fine then. Did he happen to say how soon he could get back here?”

  “In the morning.”

  “Early?”

  Henry shook his head. “He has a way to go, so probably more like midmorning.”

  “And he’s certain he can get us unstuck?”

  “He’s sure. Evidently, he’s done it plenty before.”

  That night while lying next to her daughter on Henry’s plush furs, she considered that at four cents a pound, or twenty dollars a bale, she’d just spent almost four bales! She wholeheartedly regretted not having thought things through sooner. She should have just let Henry dump the cotton, or even thought of it herself the first day. She would have at least saved the two days and most likely been with the train by now, visiting with Shannan and Mrs. Foglesong, and Becky could be playing with Sassy.

  Poor Henry, giving up his musket and mule and tobacco, too. He was such a good man, so unselfish. She liked that; most would have told her she needed to pick a mule no matter what. She so appreciated him for considering her sentimentalities. If she only got four cents in Jefferson, after paying him back she’d barely have enough to buy Blue Dog for Becky. That was her one ray of hope.

  He did say out of his own mouth that everything he had was for sale, so that meant she could buy the dog. But what if it meant selling some land? Was Blue worth that?

  CHAPTER

  FOURTEEN

  THE INDIAN AND HIS ENTOURAGE showed up later than Sue expected, more midmorning than early, just like Henry had said, whooping and hollering. But her heart still rejoiced that her wagon would soon be freed from its hole. By the end of the day, she’d be on the trace again and on her way to Pleasant Mound. There was still a chance she could catch up with the train and be so much more at ease the rest of the way to Jefferson.

  Six Caddo rode in on three horses that all wore collars. The man who’d showed yesterday and one other came afoot. Henry and Levi got the four mules hitched to the wagon. Brown Mule, Henry’s rifle, and the tobacco were set off to the side ready for payment once they successfully pulled her wagon out of the creek.

  The Indians quickly fastened a rope to each side of the three horses’ collars, for a total of six ropes. One Caddo stayed on each of the ponies. Henry and the five other Indians waded to the back of the wagon—she supposed to lift and push—and Levi drove the team. Sue and Becky watched the show from shore. Everything was packed and ready to go.

  It was quite obvious the Caddo had done this before; they worked with amazing precision and teamwork until all sat at the ready. One of the riders gave what sounded like a victory whoop, and everyone went into motion.

  Levi slapped the mules. “Go! Go! Pull, Dex; come on, Mil!” Leather popped and wood creaked. The men heaved and groaned. The animals snorted and strained against the weight of the load.

  For half a breath, nothing happened. Only a lot of effort exerted with no results.
<
br />   “Lord, help, please.”

  Then suddenly, the wheel came free, and the load rolled across the creek all the way up onto the dry shore. She and Becky held hands and jumped up and down together cheering. The Indians hollered and held their arms in the air celebrating with her. Levi’s smile stretched wide. Then tears blurred Sue’s vision, and she couldn’t see more than the men’s forms.

  “Thank You, Lord, thank You.”

  To her amazement, Henry sloshed out of the water and to the wagon, where he retrieved two handfuls of his jerky. He passed it out to the savages as though the high price she had already paid wasn’t enough. They all kept on eating and talking and celebrating way too long, definitely past the time that he ought to have been seeing to getting her back on the trace.

  “Levi!” She called her nephew from the group of men, where he was laughing and obviously enjoying himself.

  He ran over. “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Looks to me like Henry might just party the whole day away, and I do not intend to spend one more night here. I want you to start hitching Dex and Daisy back to the other wagon. Maybe he’ll take the hint.”

  “But, Aunt Sue—”

  “We’ve lost two full days and most of this one sitting on the bank of this forsaken creek. The wagon’s unstuck now, and I’m ready to go! I can’t believe Henry isn’t.”

  Levi turned and got busy doing what she said. She knew he loved her all right but also that she tried his patience. As soon as he was old enough to build himself a cabin and be his own boss, she figured she’d lose him for sure.

  * * *

  BACK ON THE TRACE, Henry drove the second team and pondered the Caddo. He really liked the lot of them; they were his kind of people. Drove a hard bargain, laughed a lot, and worked hard at keeping their word. If he’d been willing to call their bluff, he might’ve struck a better deal, maybe all the tobacco to keep his long gun. He did hate to part with it since Old Hickory himself had given it to him. But no way would he have asked Levi to give up his daddy’s or Sue to let go of her late husband’s.