“We should be getting close.” A wrinkle marred Jacob’s brow, and his mouth pinched as he looked from the map to the land around them. The Green River was a day’s travel behind them, and the land had begun to level. From where they stood on a rise, they could see for miles and miles. Yet all that greeted his gaze was the green upon green of the tree canopies.
Dawn laid her hand on his arm. “We will find them,” she reassured him.
“I never should have strayed. We have acres and acres of land between all four of us. Even if we find the land, they could be anywhere on it.”
“As we discussed that night at Raccoon Springs, all happened as it should have, in accordance to God’s will. We cannot doubt that. Do you remember at all where they said they might settle?”
Jacob lowered the map and surveyed their surroundings. God, please lead him, Dawn silently prayed. Suddenly, the map was up again and Jacob was examining a certain area. He turned to use the saddle as a table and ran his finger along the page. “There was a river. Joseph wants to start a mill. Here.” He pointed.
“Then that is where we will go. Right, Mary?” She looked to the child where she sat atop Samson.
The little one nodded, her grin as wide as ever. What a blessing it was that the child was always so willing to travel into the unknown. But perhaps that was the way. After all, they were her parents now. And really, had been all along. Had Dawn not trusted her own parents so wholeheartedly? Did she not trust her heavenly Father so willingly even now?
Dawn grinned and tilted her face heavenward, allowing the warmth of the sunlight to wash over her. God, lead us.
When she opened her eyes, a large bird swooped down from above them and veered to the left. As she took in its bright white head and dark-brown body and wings, she gasped. “Do you see that?”
Jacob grunted. “Incredible.”
“A bald eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.” In June, the bald eagle had officially been chosen as the bird for the national seal of the United States of America. For all, it was a symbol of strength and freedom. And it was no wonder, for Dawn had never seen a more majestic animal in all her life.
As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared back into the trees below. Jacob took Samson’s reins in hand and held out his other for her to take. This was their favorite way to travel now, she and him hand in hand, with Mary perched tall atop Samson.
Together, they mounted the hill before them, heading down into the valley and one step closer to their future.
The sun drifted low over the horizon, nearly lost behind the tree line, and dusk threatened to fall around them. Dawn halted and waited for Jacob’s gaze to meet hers. “We need to stop for the night.”
Jacob sighed, his shoulders sagging. “You are right. I should not have pushed everyone this long as it is.” He glanced to the sliver of orange painting the edge of the sky. “We will be eating the evening meal in the dark.”
“We will have the light of the fire. But we do need to eat and rest so we may resume our search tomorrow.”
Jacob nodded, then looked around. “There.” He motioned to where four large cedars formed a shelter of sorts. He led Samson over, and within the hour, camp was set and salted pork sizzled over the fire. The meat could have easily been eaten without being warmed, but the fire and warm food were a blessing in themselves. Because the threat of attack still loomed when they left Bryan’s Station, it was several days before they had been brave enough to risk starting a campfire and alerting anyone around them of their presence.
While Dawn kept the meat from burning, Jacob sat beside her with Mary in his lap, telling of one harrowing experience from when he had served as a messenger in the War of Independence. He exaggerated each tiny detail, and Mary’s eyes were wide, her little mouth hanging open as she soaked up every word. Dawn smiled.
A branch cracked out in the blackness of night, drawing their attention. Jacob settled Mary on the ground between him and Dawn and knelt, listening. The sound had come from the opposite direction of where Samson was tied for grazing.
“Who goes there?” A deep voice shouted through the darkness.
Jacob sat up straighter, his hand slipping from the holster at his side. “Jared?”
Footsteps crunched closer until a sizeable man appeared at the edge of the cedars, his head nearly touching the lower limbs as the firelight flickered on his scarred face. His gaze swept over the camp, encompassing each one of them. “Jacob?”
“Yes! Yes! We found you!” Jacob took off across the camp and tackled his brother in a hug. Jared grunted as his brother’s body impacted his.
“It appears you have.” Jared managed to eek out the words as Jacob squeezed his chest. He stiffly returned his brother’s hug, patting his back as he did so. After several moments, he finally pushed at his shoulder. “That is enough, now.” Evidently, the eldest brother’s demeanor was still as grizzly as it had been when they separated ways.
Jacob stepped back.
“Put out your fire and come along. Ma will be glad to see you all.”
Dawn extinguished the flames and kicked dirt over the embers while the men gathered their packs and haphazardly loaded them onto Samson, carrying some instead of taking the time to secure them to the saddle. Despite the darkness surrounding them, their steps were lighter than ever as Jared led them toward their future home.
After about twenty minutes, they stood outside a clearing which held a log cabin twice the size of the homes at Bryan’s Station, as well as a generous plot for herbs and vegetables. A split-rail fence stretched behind the house and garden. “Here, I will put your horse in the corral. You go on in.” Jared took Samson and led him around the side of the cabin.
Jacob paused outside the door and took a deep breath, as though he was unsure how his mother would respond.
“Go on,” Dawn whispered.
