Around the River's Bend (19 page)

“It wasn't a killing matter.”

Hannah Spencer was sitting in the front seat, facing Sion. She had been frightened by the incident, and now she said, “Thank you, Mr. Kenyon.”

Sion was surprised that she knew his name. “No trouble, miss. I didn't fancy riding on the same coach with him. He's not fit company for ladies like you and Miss Fairfax.”

Josh Spencer said, “He'll try to kill you. Killing means nothing to men like him.”

Sion smiled and winked at Hannah. “Well, now, he couldn't kill me but once, could he?” He apparently put the matter out of his mind and looked out the window as if he had already forgotten the incident.

Chapter Twelve

Welcome to the Frontier

“There's Nashville.” Josh smiled at Sabrina. “Not much like the big cities you're used to, I suppose.”

“Not quite,” Sabrina said. Indeed, she was disappointed in Nashville, which seemed to be nothing more than a collection of houses scattered haphazardly about. The main street was broad, and now as she looked at it, she realized how rough this country really was. She reflected on the journey she had made and once again was glad that Joshua and Hannah Spencer had been there to help.

“I don't think we could have made it without you, Joshua.”

Josh turned to the woman who sat next to him on the wagon seat. “Why, of course you would.”

“Well, perhaps, but you have been such a help. I don't know how to thank you.” Sabrina smiled. Indeed, the Spencers had been sent from heaven, or at least that was the way Sion put it. They had traveled together as far as the coach went, and then it had been Josh who had supervised the purchase of a wagon and four animals and tools. Sabrina had been troubled about spending money for a project that might never be realized, but Josh had assured her, “Supplies are scarce in our territory. You can sell these for more than you paid for them. Don't worry about that.”

They had joined with other wagons, a small train of six families, and had come through the South Pass with no trouble at all from Indians.

“Why don't you room with Hannah while we're getting the legal business done,” Josh said. “Sion can room with me if he wants to.”

“That would be wonderful.”

She looked ahead to where Sion and Hannah had ridden on ahead of them on the two extra horses. “Your sister's such a fine young woman.”

“Well, I think so,” Josh said with a smile. “Come along. We'll get settled in, and then we'll go find my boss.”

“You said his name is Andrew Jackson?”

“Yes. You'll find him a little rough, as far as manners are concerned, but he's the smartest man I know.”

****

The small party soon drove up to an inn, and the two women went inside to get cleaned up. As they were making themselves presentable, Hannah asked, “Have you known Sion long?”

“No, not very.”

“He's an unusual man. His speech is so—musical.”

“That's the Welsh strain in him,” Sabrina said as she finished fixing her hair, then changed the subject. “Do you really think Josh can help me?”

“If he can't, then Andrew Jackson can. You'll find he's a very forceful man.”

The two women left the room and found Sion and Josh standing outside the inn. “What are you going to do, Hannah, while Sabrina and I find out about the title?” Josh asked.

“Oh, I think I'll just show Sion around Nashville.”

“We may be a long time,” Josh warned. “You know how busy Andy gets at times.”

“That's all right. We'll wait.” Hannah waited until the two had started on their way and said, “Now, Sion, let me show you the town.”

“That will be my pleasure, Miss Spencer.”

“We don't stand on titles much around here. Hannah is fine.”

“I'm not sure about that. Indentured servants are supposed to show respect.”

“I don't think calling anyone by their first name shows a lack of respect. Come along.”

For the next two hours Hannah and Sion roamed the streets of Nashville. In truth, there was little enough to see, and Hannah remarked once, “After London this must seem like a wilderness to you.”

“I like it,” Sion responded. “It's a big country. A man can get some air into his lungs and not be crowded in by buildings.”

“When you get out on Sabrina's property, you'll be longing for the sight of a building or two.” Hannah smiled. She found herself liking Sion Kenyon a great deal. After she had shown him the town, the two of them went back to the inn where they took a table, and she ordered tea.

“Do Americans drink a great deal of tea?” Sion asked as he sipped from his cup.

“That and coffee. Tell me about yourself, Sion.”

“About myself? Well, indeed, there's little to know, Miss Hannah.”

“I don't believe that. Sabrina tells me you were a farmer and a coal miner and a pugilist.”

Sion laughed and shook his head. “I hope I never again am either a miner or a pugilist.”

“Well, tell me about it. I want to hear.”

Hannah sat there listening as Sion began to talk. She did love the musical sound of his voice, and she drew the story from him. Finally she exclaimed, “So, you rescued Sabrina and nearly went to prison for it, and then she rescued you from prison!”

“You make it sound like a fairy tale or a storybook of some kind.” Sion smiled. “It didn't seem quite that romantic at the time.”

Hannah laughed. “It does sound almost like a novel, doesn't it?”

“What about you, Miss Hannah? Tell me about your family and about yourself.”

“Well, my father and mother are the finest people I know. My father has been called Hawk Spencer for a long time. That's his Indian name. My mother's name is Elizabeth. She's very beautiful, and my father's very handsome. My father married when he was very young, but his first wife died. He has a son named Jacob, who is now married to a fine young woman named Amanda.”

Sion listened, sipping his tea from time to time, and then finally he said, “It sounds like you're very close to your parents and your brothers.”

“Yes, I am. As a matter of fact, out here on the frontier we have to be very close. We depend on one another.”

“I'm surprised you've not married.”

Hannah suddenly colored. “Why should you be surprised?”

“Well, not to be forward, but you're such an attractive young lady. Back in Wales you would have been snapped up before you were seventeen years old. I'll warrant you've had many gentlemen callers, though.”

Hannah hesitated, and Sion did not miss it. “There must be a young man you're interested in.” He laughed and said, “I don't mean to pry.”

“It's all right. There is one young man I've gotten close to. His name is Nathanael Carter, but his Indian name is Fox. He's half Cherokee.”

“Do you tell me that!” Sion exclaimed. “I'm surprised.”

Hannah shook her head. “I know you've heard stories about how terrible the Indians are, but they are not all that way. You'll meet a man named Sequatchie when you get to our house. He's Fox's uncle. He's married to a fine lady named Iris Taylor. You will like him a great deal. He's my father's closest friend. Sequatchie taught my father how to live in the woods when he was a young man.”

———

As Sion listened to Hannah, he became more aware of how attractive she was. Her lips curved in an attractive line, and her green eyes were pools of emotion. Her honey brown hair was piled on top of her head with feminine ringlets framing her face. He admired the smooth roundness of her shoulders and the womanly lines of her body. Her face was a mirror that changed as her feelings changed. She was a woman, he had learned, capable of robust emotion, and when she smiled a small dimple appeared at the left of her mouth, and the light danced in her eyes. He wanted to ask more about the man that she was interested in, but he felt it would be out of place.

He said, “Tell me about the land where we'll be going.”

For a long time she talked about the land, and then a troubled look crossed her face as she said, “It's so rough I'm afraid Sabrina will be out of her element.”

“Maybe at first, but she has no other choice. Is there a church near our land?”

“We have a fine church. The pastor's name is Paul Anderson. I hope you'll come.”

“That I will.”

Sabrina and Josh stepped into the inn at that moment, and Sabrina stopped abruptly. Her eyes fell on the two, and a frown came to her forehead. As the two advanced to the table, Sion stood up, and there was a moment's awkwardness. Sion understood it at once for what it was. Back in Sabrina's old world she would never sit at a table with a servant, but this new land was making the old ways difficult.

****

Sabrina had come outside for one last look at the night sky before she went to bed. Josh and Hannah had already gone, and now she went to the stable, where she found Sion rubbing the soft nose of one of the horses. He turned and said in surprise, “I thought you'd be tired and in bed, miss.”

“I am tired.”

“God blessed us by bringing the Spencers our way. It would have been a hard thing without them. Do you really think the title is good?”

“I hope so, Sion. Mr. Jackson wouldn't say definitely. He says things are too upside down right now.”

Sion left the horse, patting the animal on the shoulder, and the two walked outside. “Sion, I must warn you about something.”

“What's that?”

“I don't mean that anything's wrong, but when I came in I saw you and Hannah talking. . . .”

“She's a fine young lady.”

Sabrina blurted, “I don't think you should get too friendly with her, Sion.”

Sion turned to face her. The moonlight was full, and he saw the marks of strain on her. “I had no idea of doing anything unseemly.”

Sabrina felt she had made a fool of herself, but she said, “You're my servant for five years, Sion. It would be difficult if you . . .”

“I think you need not worry about that, miss.”

Sabrina bit her lip. She felt she had handled the matter badly. Her whole world had changed, and what was appropriate in England was completely out of place in this new land. She knew there had always been a basic selfishness in her, and she did not want to share Sion Kenyon with anyone else. He was her security. She wanted to express these feelings but wasn't sure how to go about it.

“I suppose I sound like a fool.”

“No you don't. Not in the least. We have a hard way to go to carve a home out of the wilderness. I understand that very well.”

Sabrina turned to face him and saw again the lean strength that was in him and the honesty in his eyes and felt a surge of gratitude that this man was here. “You always know how to lift me up, Sion.”

He put out his hand, and Sabrina took it. She felt the strength of it, and he said, “As long as this hand has strength, I'll use it for you, Miss Fairfax.”

Sabrina was moved by his words and the touch of his hand. His hand was strong and warm, and it gave her a comfort.

Sion released her hand and gave her a good smile. “God has brought you here, Miss Sabrina Fairfax—He won't abandon you.”

Part IV

The Earth Breakers

April-October 1792

Chapter Thirteen

Learning New Ways

The sun was high in the sky as Josh pointed forward and said, “Well, there it is. There's our home, Sabrina.”

Sabrina had been riding beside Josh in the front seat of the wagon. Sion and Hannah had preferred to ride the extra horses they had bought and had trailed behind for most of the way through the winding trail that made a serpentine pathway between the towering trees. Sabrina followed the direction of Josh's gesture and exclaimed, “Why, it's so pretty, Josh!”

“It is, isn't it? My folks have put a lot of work into this place.”

The cabin that Sabrina looked at was much more attractive than most she had seen on her journey. For one thing it had been painted rather recently, it seemed, and the white gleamed against the background of the fields and the green trees. It was situated high on a rise of ground that overlooked its surroundings, and there was an air of serenity and permanence about it. As Josh urged the team forward, Sabrina said, “That's the prettiest cabin I've seen since we left Nashville.”

“Be sure you mention that to my folks. As I say, they worked hard on it.”

A pack of dogs came boiling out as they approached, and Sabrina smiled. “Every house we've passed has had dogs. I believe you Americans have more dogs than anyone I've ever heard of.”

“Dogs are good companions, and they make good watchers for keeping track of the Indians too.”

Sabrina turned with wide eyes. “Were you ever attacked by Indians?”

“No, there's been trouble enough, but it's passed over us for the most part. Of course, we have to go out when the militia's called to fight them, but that war is pretty well over now.”

“That's good. I'd hate to think of being attacked by Indians.”

“It could happen even now,” Josh said. “A lot of the Cherokee and the other tribes, too, are pretty angry at the way they've been treated. They feel like white men have robbed them of their land.”

“Have they?”

“I guess they have. I'm not proud of it. One of my best friends is half Cherokee; his name is Fox Carter—his real name's Nathanael. His uncle Sequatchie is Pa's best friend.”

The conversation ended when Josh pulled the wagon up near the front porch. He leaped down as Hannah and Sion rode up and lifted his hand to help Sabrina to the ground. As he did, the door opened, and he turned to smile. “Folks, this is Miss Sabrina Fairfax. She's coming to settle on that tract of land over to the north of us.”