Jacob cleared his throat and shifted his booted foot in the trampled-down grass and clover. He glanced at his family and back. “I suppose I should start.” He raised his voice as he turned back to their audience. “Everyone, this is Dawn. Once upon a time, she was my best friend. We spent most every afternoon together for two years, fishing and exploring.”
“I remember that.” One brother spoke up, one with freckles and a shock of red hair. “Jared kept riding you, trying to force the truth out of you because he knew there had to be a girl the way you went around smiling all the time. But you kept to the story that you were going fishing every afternoon.”
Dawn’s heart plummeted. Jacob had hid her presence in his life from his family? Was he embarrassed of her? He had always seemed so accepting. Though she had kept their escapades a secret as well, for fear that her parents would consider them improper and ban her from seeing him without a chaperone.
Jacob chuckled, interrupting her spiraling thoughts. “Yes, I did. I had no desire to become the family’s source of entertainment. I saw how you all harassed Jonah when he was sweet on Jane Wilson, down the lane.”
“Aw, that was all in good fun,” the same brother protested.
“Yeah, well, just when I was ready to introduce Dawn to you all, she disappeared from my life without an explanation.” Jacob’s attention turned back to her, his mouth settling into a line. Seven years’ worth of guilt bore down on Dawn along with the intensity of the summer sun.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. She sucked in a breath before beginning again. “My father passed away. I tried to find a way to come to you and explain, but my mother needed me. I…I did not feel I could leave her alone under the circumstances.”
“And you could not send word?”
“How?” The two had never divulged the location of their homes. Perhaps she could have sent someone to their meeting place, but it had been a secret shared only between them. How could she break that confidence?
“I know not,” Jacob whispered as he gave a slow shake of his head. The pain of their parting was as a wound upon her heart being reopened, and she saw the same reflected in him. Finally, he glanced away, toward where her stepparents’ camp sat at the base of the hill. “Who are those people?”
“Our stepparents.”
“Stepparents? The man called you his servant.” Jacob’s voice took on a defensive edge as his gaze snapped back to her.
“My mother married as soon as it was appropriate, for she wanted to secure our future.” If only her mother had known what would happen. “However, my stepfather did not believe I should be allowed outdoors, and three years ago, my mother passed away. Without her protection, my stepfather relegated me to a life of service. When he married Mary’s stepmother two years ago, she was made to become a servant with me.”
“But she is just a child,” Jacob’s sister protested.
Dawn nodded.
“Why did your stepfather believe you should be kept indoors?” Apprehension laced the voice of the sibling who appeared to be the eldest. Like his brothers, he peered at her from beneath the rim of a hat, but his eyes were a deeper, darker brown than those of the others, almost black. And even through his fiery red beard, she could tell he set his jaw after speaking.
Dawn’s shoulders sagged, and she looked at Jacob. No matter how accepting his mother had been or what truths had already been shared, this would be the genuine test of his family’s hospitality and tolerance. Jacob gave her an encouraging dip of his chin.
Dawn used her right hand to unclasp the cloak from around her neck, then let both it and her gaze fall to the ground. Multiple gasps sounded, both male and female. She sighed. That was always the reaction.
“Does it hurt?” Another incredulous question from the younger sister.
“Jemimah,” Mrs. McFadin scolded gently.
Dawn gave yet another shake of her head. “I was born this way.”
“Why did your stepfather hit you?” There was anger in Jacob’s voice, but not directed at her. No, he simply wanted the full story. To the point at which he intervened on her behalf and found himself her appointed guardian. Everyone here needed the full story before they decided on how to proceed. And how would they proceed was the question. Though she was out from under her stepfather’s thumb, she was no closer to having a way to get Mary to Bryan’s Station than she had been an hour ago.
“I learned of his deception, and I…I was disrespectful to him. Mary has an uncle at Bryan’s Station, to the north of Boonesborough. We found out about him in a letter that he wrote to Mary’s father shortly before his passing. In order to encourage us to come west with them and keep us on as servants, our stepparents told us that we were heading north, to the station. Once we arrived, we were hoping to unite Mary with her uncle. But it was all a lie. As I am sure you well know, we are headed on west, not north. When I learned the truth, I dropped the dishes. He was furious and raged at me, making it seem as though they were doing it all for our future, for our best interest. I scoffed at him and questioned that future.”
Dawn kept her gaze fastened to the grass at the toe of Jacob’s boot. She could not bring herself to face him, to face his family, and the judgement that she would surely find there. What if they cast her out as well? All the hope that she had felt at the beginning of the journey now rested in Jacob’s hands, and much like a seedling plant, he had the power to pinch it out or nurture it into something beautiful.
CHAPTER 5
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
PSALM 121:5
The pain shooting up Jacob’s jaw alerted him to unclench his teeth. How could anyone treat another human being as Dawn’s stepfather had treated her? Her precious spirit had been broken. Even now, she stared at the toe of his boot rather than looking him in the face. All because she had defended herself? “Dawn.”
His voice drew her gaze, and his chest tightened at the worry that was written across her face. “You did nothing wrong.”
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, then settled back down into a frown, as though she were unconvinced. Jacob sighed. What could he do to reassure her? To bring an authentic, joyful smile to her winsome face?
