“Yes, my dear.” Thankfully, when they had awakened that morning, the air had been blessedly quiet, and Jacob had been lying beside Dawn. She had hoped that the enemy’s retreat meant the end of the fighting, the end of the nightmare, but the quiet had been so easily shattered when the men of the fort had met to discuss the next course of action. Discussion had quickly turned to shouting.
At length, that had subsided, though it was unnerving not knowing what was decided, and Jacob had yet to return.
Still, Dawn had taken solace in Mary’s presence and the simple rhythm of homemaking, putting her newly learned bread-making skills to use. It was an incredibly satisfying feeling, to do something for those in her care simply because she wanted to, not because she was made to do so.
When Dawn heard Jacob’s boot steps on the porch, her heart lifted. She wiped her hands on her apron and turned to the door with a smile. But the face of the man who entered was grim, mouth set in a line, and he carried one of the very crates she had spent the prior day delivering to the men. Suddenly, it was as though she could be knocked over with the slightest of breezes.
Jacob walked over to where she stood, now gripping the edge of the table. “We are going after them.”
“What?” Her voice sounded as though she was in a tunnel. She settled into the chair beside her.
Jacob glanced at Mary, then back at her. “Not Craig or Boone, but the majority of us.”
“Why are Elijah and Daniel not accompanying you?”
“They do not believe we should go. The group that is going is more than a hundred strong, though.”
“Why do they believe that you should not go?” Why did it not reassure her to know they would be in such numbers? That did not seem to negate the danger.
“They believe that it is too dangerous.” His jaw worked, and his glance flicked to Mary again.
Dawn stood and took his arm, steering him outside, onto the porch. “Why is it too dangerous?” Somewhere along the line, her fear had transitioned into anger.
Jacob seemed to deflate a little. “Because we will still be outnumbered. They believe we will sustain losses. Possibly many.”
“Then why are you going? If we are safe here, why are you going in pursuit of a fight?” Dawn searched the face of the man she loved, with his familiar brown eyes, but found no answers.
“Because they attacked us. They attacked the people I love. Either of you could have been killed.” He threw his hands in the air.
“So you are going to go and get yourself killed instead?” Dawn regretted the words as soon as they had left her mouth. Most likely, Mary could still hear every word they said.
Jacob’s jaw set. “Edmund is going too.”
Dawn sucked in a breath. “You are both leaving us? What will Mary do if something happens to both of you?” Tears rimmed her eyes.
Jacob avoided her gaze. “I…I will not let that happen.”
“You cannot guarantee something like that. You cannot.” Her voice cracked. “What will I do if I lose you?”
Jacob took her hand and squeezed it. “I will do my best to come back to you. But they may need a scout. And I cannot just sit by and do nothing.”
“You would not be doing nothing. You would be taking care of your family.”
“I will be taking care of my family. Just not in the way you believe I should. We did what was right when we fought in the War of Independence, and I have to do what is right now. No matter the risk.”
Dawn’s face heated. There was nothing she could do to sway her husband. He was leaving her, after all, and far sooner than she had ever imagined. Their marriage was not consummated and might never be. That thought hit her like a punch to the stomach.
And Mary’s uncle was leaving her too. The girl’s only flesh and blood. Of course, he had not been around much since her arrival. Instead, she had still spent much of her time in Dawn’s care. But what was she and Mary to do if neither of them returned?
Dawn turned and headed back into the house. Inside, she shoved her hands into the dough and began to knead it once more. It did not matter that she was overworking the dough and the bread likely would not turn out. She needed a way to harness the frustration and pain that bubbled inside. And her husband would not be here to impress with the loaf, anyway.
Jacob silently entered and started to pack. With a sigh, Dawn abandoned the dough and prepared him a pack of food to take. Her heart ached with every morsel that she added, every morsel that he may or may not live to eat, but at least he would not die of starvation.
Finally, Jacob stood at the door, laden down with supplies, with his pistol strapped to his leg and his rifle over his shoulder. “Goodbye, Dawn.” He spoke softly.
“No go!” Mary squealed and ran toward him, attaching herself to his leg. Jacob knelt and hugged her little body.
Dawn fought the tears that pricked at the backs of her eyes as she went to retrieve the child. “He will be back, my dear.” She barely managed to whisper the words as Jacob handed her over. Then her voice broke, and she buried her face in Mary’s soft hair. She wanted to turn, to cling to Jacob and beg him not to go, but comforting Mary had to come first. Jacob’s hand came to rest on her back.
