“Close the gates! Close the gates!” Edmund yelled the instruction as he spun his horse in a circle once they had entered. Samson loped the final few paces as the gates were quickly closed behind them. Jacob and Edmund slid from their mounts and glanced around, but there were no arrows, battle cries, or bullets.
With his deer still laid over his saddle, Edmund led his horse over to the men who were working the gates. “We are surrounded. Do not let anyone in if you do not know who they are.”
“Surrounded?” The man’s eyes widened, but Edmund did not wait around to supply additional information. He headed straight for the corner turret where the station master, Elijah Craig, lived. The door opened before he arrived. A young boy came out to take the horses from them so they could enter immediately. Elijah must have heard the raucous.
Jacob glanced around, then placed his bouquet of flowers on the ground beside the door. He followed Edmund into the dim cabin.
As Elijah entered the room, Edmund pulled himself tall and gripped his hands behind his back, all business. “We must prepare for imminent attack. The fort is surrounded.”
“Indians?” Elijah stopped in his tracks.
Jacob gave a nod from where he stood next to Edmund.
“How many?”
Edmund exchanged a look with Jacob. “Difficult to tell.”
“And they let you pass?” Elijah leaned forward and put his hands on the table before him. “What are they waiting for?”
Jacob shook his head. “I know not. The cover of night, perhaps?”
Elijah’s frown deepened. “Alert everyone. I will send for reinforcements.”
Jacob and Edmund both dipped their chins to signal their understanding before they turned from the table. “Dawn should keep Mary tonight,” Edmund advised as they stepped back out into the afternoon sun.
“I agree.” Jacob dipped his chin.
Without another word, Edmund strode off to warn families. It was strange, though—in the safety of the fort with the August sun spilling sunlight over everything, it appeared as though there were no threat at all. If only that were true.
With Samson and the deer taken care of, Jacob retrieved his flowers for Dawn and headed toward their cabin. He needed to speak with her first and foremost.
When he arrived, the smell of venison cooking over the fire drifted out the open door, as well as Mary’s soft giggle mixed with that of Dawn’s. His chest constricted thinking of them in danger. No matter the obstacles that he and Dawn still needed to tackle, he loved her and Mary both dearly. If only the three of them could be a true family.
Jacob pushed a smile onto his face as he stepped up onto the porch and into the room. Dawn glanced up from where she tended to the meat in a pan over the fire. Her mouth dropped open at the sight of the flowers in his hand.
“Oh, Jacob, those are beautiful.” She stood and came to him, Mary on her heels. Dawn took the flowers and lifted them to her nose, inhaling deeply.
Jacob scooped Mary up into his arms. “What are they?”
She gave him a demure smile. “Cardinal flowers. Lobelia cardinalis. Thank you.” She pushed onto her toes and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. Then she drifted across the room, petticoats swaying as she retrieved a cup of water to place the flowers in.
“You are welcome. But Dawn, there is something I must tell you.”
Dawn turned, the smile falling from her face.
“There are Indians surrounding the fort. We must prepare for an imminent attack.”
Dawn’s eyes rounded, and she gripped the chair back beside her.
A knock sounded on the doorframe behind Jacob. He turned to find the same man in black from the day they arrived at the fort, Morgan.
“We have a problem.”
Jacob’s stomach dropped to the floor. What could be worse than being surrounded by enemy troops?
August 16, 1782
Dawn glanced around at the familiar faces stricken with fear as they stood just inside the station gates. Most she recognized, but few of the people had ever spoken to her outside of when Mrs. Abbott had taken her around and made introductions when she first arrived. Though no one at Bryan’s Station had ever outright scorned her, many still seemed reluctant to approach her. Even now, with the danger they were about to face, several shot glances her way, their eyes going to her missing hand before they turned back.
