CHAPTER 15
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
AMOS 5:24
August 17, 1782
“We cannot simply let them go without doing anything!” A man named John spoke up from the crowd that had gathered near the front of the station. Although their assailants had tucked tail and ran in the middle of the night, men had begun to gather at Elijah’s at first light to discuss what should happen next. Tensions were high and opinions divided, and the discussion had quickly poured out of the little cabin into the bright morning sunlight. Jacob stood next to Edmund to the right of the crowd with his arms crossed.
At the front, Daniel Boone raised his hands. Though he wore an unassuming brown waistcoat over his linen shirt and breaches, his sharp nose lent to his air of authority as well as his gray hair, earned through experience here in the Kentucky wilderness. “We are too far outnumbered. It would be unwise to follow them. I know William Bryan’s loss was devastating, and that many of you want revenge for the destruction that occurred outside the fort walls and for the three men that were injured. But you would lose far more in a pursuit than you have as it is.”
Every structure outside the fort had been burned to the ground while the siege was fought. While a few of the men such as Boone and Elijah Craig attempted to talk peace, men were outraged, including those who bore injuries. One man stood in the crowd, supporting the move to send a party after their attackers, despite his arm hanging in a sling after having sustained a shot.
“We could ambush them, attack them while they are on the run,” another man yelled out.
“They are not on the run. They have retreated because they realized they could not penetrate our station walls. The element of surprise is not a given.”
Jacob spoke up. “What if it could be?” He had to admit, sitting back and allowing the men who had attacked them to go free did not sit right with him either. When that bullet had ricocheted, Dawn’s life had flashed before his eyes. And when he saw Mrs. Abbott’s cabin on fire… How could he do nothing? “We could scout out their location, keep a safe distance away, and attack when they are least expecting it.”
“As though they will not be sending scouts out as well? I cannot condone this.” Elijah crossed his arms.
“I would certainly caution against it.” Daniel Boone’s face was grim.
“Well, I cannot sit idly by! Sometimes decisions should not be based on what is safe but what is right. Anyone that wants to fight, come with me!” Jacob knew not the name of the man who yelled out, but his face was nearly as red as the hair on his head, possibly more so. Shouts of agreement resounded.
Boone and Craig seemed to have lost control of the meeting as men marched off toward the magazine room. Morgan led the group, but would there even be enough ammunition left to adequately supply an attack party?
Jacob frowned and waited. Edmund remained at his side rather than heading after the others had Boone’s and Craig’s words of caution swayed him? If Jacob were a single man, he would not hesitate to follow the others, but he had not only himself to consider. Was it in Dawn’s best interest for Jacob to stay back and defend them from the fort or to put his life in danger in an effort to eliminate the threat? He must do all in his power to ensure her and Mary’s safety. “I will go.” Edmund finally spoke up. “These men cannot go unpunished.”
“I will go as well.” Despite Elijah’s earlier rebuttal, an experienced scout could still be needed on the trip.
Edmund frowned down at Jacob, his blond brows lowered over his blue eyes. “I am not sure that is wise.”
Jacob stretched taller. “What do you mean?”
“It may be advisable for one of us to stay behind with Mary.”
Jacob’s fists clenched at his sides. “And it is better for you to go than I?”
“You have Dawn as well.”
“Most all of the men going will be leaving wives behind.” He flung his arm in the direction of the group moving toward the magazine room.
“They have no one else to go in their stead. You do.”
Here he was all over again, being asked to stay behind with the women while everyone else pursued the noble fight. Suddenly, the choice was clear.
“If it is right for them, then it is right for me.” Jacob lifted his chin and leveled his gaze at Edmund.
The older man’s jaw worked before he dipped his head in a nod. Perhaps he had grown to feel protective over Jacob? After all, they had all become an odd family of sorts. Jacob had never held it against his father for trying to protect him either. But he could not allow his future to be dictated by someone else. Or to stand by and allow others to take action in his place.
Jacob followed Edmund to the magazine room where a large crowd had gathered. It seemed that the majority of the men, including the reinforcements Elijah had sent for, believed pursuit was the best course of action.
Morgan did his best to see to it that each man was equipped with two guns, whether they were their own or the fort’s, as well as a substantial amount of shot supplies. Hang fires, when the trigger was pulled but the gun did not fire, were not uncommon with the black powder rifles that each man carried. During battle, one could not take the time to find what was wrong with the weapon. Instead, it was best to switch to another rifle if multiple hang fires happened consecutively. Thankfully, the only time Jacob had dealt with such was in training with the Continental Army. Additionally, he already carried both a rifle and a pistol, so he had no need of additional arms.
Still, as he assessed the crate of supplies Morgan had handed him, a fission of fear wound its way through his middle. Jacob tamped the sensation down. This battle he prepared for was like nothing he had faced before. But was that not what he had wanted?
“Bad men gone?”
