Authors: Janet Cooper
"Sit
. Eat thy breakfast," she said then smiled.
Taking the mug, she warmed her hands with the hot earthenware container
.
Oh, for 21st Century central heating,
she thought, hoping the liquid might chase her chills. She took a seat near the boy. The outfit he wore resembled Benjamin's, except not as well made. His thin, comely face cast shy glances in her direction. She wondered about her relationship with this teenager.
"Doeth
thou recall the Indian that stayed last evening?" Benjamin asked, interrupting her thoughts.
She nodded
. Remember? Luke had made the night bearable and had occupied her thoughts several times this morning.
"British soldiers burned his family's barn and stole much of their crops and livestock
. I had planned to sell our excess crops in Chester, but hearing of Mr. Keenan's needs, I have decided to donate a wagonload
of corn to Long Meadow. With winter coming, they can use the food. Daniel will mind the tavern if thou would like to go with me. Thou might be able to help the women."
The idea of seeing the tall, dark, dangerous-looking man pleased yet worried her
. He had been too much on her mind. She didn't want her feelings for this man to deepen. If she saw him again, they might. No, she corrected herself, they would. She feared any emotional tie with the 18th century. Yet, the thought of seeing an authentic Lenape village tugged at her historian soul. "When do we leave?"
"After we finish our chores, we'll load the wagon and depart early on the morrow," Benjamin told her
.
Sarah
frowned. Now, that she had agreed to forego her apprehension, the image of raven's eyes burned her soul. She could hardly wait to depart and hoped today would speed by. One thought jarred her… would she still be in this century tomorrow?
Sarah
spent the entire morning working inside the inn. While she worked, her thoughts continually returned to Luke Keenan. What a mysterious man he was, unlike anyone that she had ever met. He puzzled yet challenged her, and she longed to solve the enigma of who and what he was. If only all the chores could be wished away. She and Benjamin would leave, and she could start to unravel the mysterious Lenape. The only other glitch to her plans occurred when her logical mind questioned her leaving the only know link to the future. Sarah kept pushing these thoughts aside.
Since her wish about the work vanishing failed, she labored on and completed her major tasks just in time to prepare lunch for Benjamin, Daniel and herself
. After she had cleaned up the kitchen, again, she felt confident that the time had come for them to load the wagon. Benjamin, however, had other ideas.
"Daughter, the herbs must be pulled before the frost gets to them
."
Wearily, she grabbed a basket and headed out to the garden
. Sarah stared at the neat rows of herbs with disbelief.
By the time I finish harvesting the entire field, all I'll want to do is take a nap!
Then thoughts of Luke sprang to mind.
Well, perhaps not.
She smiled to herself.
She surveyed the herbs and sighed as she recognized another problem, some of them she could identify, but others left her clueless
.
Their smells might help,
she thought.
Otherwise, I'll be preparing some very strange dishes, if I’m still around.
* * * *
Sarah scarcely remembered going to bed. Her whole body ached and she barely stripped down to her gown before falling on the bed.
A loud knock resonated in her room, jarring
her out of a very sound sleep. “Thou must arise for we have chores to do before we leave this morning,” Benjamin called through the closed door.
“
Chores? I thought since we were leaving early, we would forget about those?”
“
Sarah, we have an Inn to run. Daniel cannot cook. Thou must prepare food for any guests that chance to stop by. When everything is completed, we will leave.” His voice brooked no further questions.
She groaned as she rolled out of bed
. The only good thing about getting up was later she would see the handsome Lenape brave. A negative thought invaded her mind and pushed all other aside. While had she not returned to her own century? Could she ever go back?
* * * *
As they drove, the bite in the air cooled
Sarah's face, but the excitement she experienced at traveling along an 18th Century road headed for a Lenape farm and a certain good-looking guy far outweighed the chill. She tried to take in all she observed as they drove slowly by. The path and the shrubs that line the trail reminded her of the small, unpaved lanes that still dotted Chester County. Occasionally, she glimpsed a farmhouse or saw a newly harvested field. In many ways the area had not changed in two hundred years, and Sarah felt quite at home.
As she and Benjamin drove over the rise and approached the yard at Long Meadow Plantation,
Sarah could see a small crowd standing near a burned out structure, in the center of the group stood Luke. Her heart pounded harder. He appeared to be directing all those around him. She forced herself to take in the scene. Nearby a small boy was leading a horse away. Several other braves nodded before taking their leave. The last to turn away was an old man. He headed toward the house. Still no one appeared to notice them. Sarah wondered at their strange behavior. When they were less than a thousand feet away, Luke acknowledged their presence by facing them.
"We will empty our load and start back," Benjamin said to
Sarah as they drew closer. "I wish to return home this evening."
"But it will be full dark before we get to the inn,"
Sarah replied, wanting to spend a little time with Luke Keenan. "A British patrol might be out."
"We will be quite safe
. The English know the Quakers have not taken sides in this war. "
Sarah
looked at him in a questioning manner.
"Although we may not attend Meeting, we continue to follow the ways of our ancestors," he responded
.
Sarah
could not believe how naive he was. She considered challenging his comment, but remembered his reaction to her welding a poker for protection. He truly believed his words. She sincerely hoped God wasn't busy elsewhere when they rode back.
Turning her attention from Benjamin to another puzzling man,
Sarah watched and observed the tall, dark Lenape. He made no move to approach them, nor did his face show any recognition. He appeared to wait for them to come to him.
Such arrogance!
When Benjamin stopped the wagon a few feet from where Luke stood, the Lenape strode over
. While Luke stared at the wagon filled with corn, Sarah let her eyes feast on him. He was nothing like the man she had seen last night at the inn, even his hair style had changed. If she were a Quaker lass from the 18th century, his clothing, or lack thereof, might have embarrassed her. Since she had no such inhibition, she enjoyed viewing his bare chest. Although Sarah sensed Benjamin's eyes on her, she refused to look in his direction, fearing the old gentleman would condemn her forthright manner. Instead, she continued to survey Luke Keenan.
He wore moccasins and a breechcloth held in place with a deerskin belt
. Her gaze traveled down the length of his body. The strong muscles of his legs and especially of his upper thighs caught and held her attention. Above his slender waist, no clothing concealed his well-defined assets. His broad shoulders and smooth biceps proclaimed his masculinity and heightened his appeal. Black marks scarred his strong face, but in no way deterred from his good looks. Enjoying her perusal, she noted that his compelling, secretive eyes were still as she remembered them. He looked at her.
Having been caught examining him, she tried to cover her less than proper scrutiny by saying, "We heard what happened
. Since we have extra provisions, father wanted to share our bounty with thee." Although she tried, her attention returned to his head. Instead of the thick, black mane of hair, only a small, scalp lock remained. The new style suited him, yet she wondered,
why had he cut and shaved his head?
"We will pay," Luke said, his eyes hard
.
"Nay," Benjamin replied
. "In times of need, Friends give."
"I am not a member of your society," Luke countered
.
"Thou and thy people are children of God
."
"Even if we call God,
Kitanitowet
?"
"Names mean nothing to God," Benjamin responded
. "Only our acts."
Luke hesitated
. He looked from Benjamin to Sarah, then to the wagonload of corn. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "I accept your gift for my people. I am in your debt. If you need me or any Lenape, simply ask and we will fulfill your request."
"That is not necessary," Benjamin said, as
Sarah climbed down off the seat.
"For my people and myself it is
." He signaled to three young lads who had drawn near. "Unload the cart and take care of the horses." The boys led the wagon near the fenced-in meadow and began working.
A same white-haired Lenape that
Sarah had seen earlier approached. The deerskin jacket and matching leggings almost matched the color of his complexion. His face announced his kinship with Luke, only their ages and Luke's lighter skin differed.
"
XhanXhan
," Luke said, "may I present Benjamin Stone and his daughter Sarah? I broke my journey at their tavern last evening."
The older man's pitch black eyes closed momentarily as if acknowledging them
. Age lines crossed his chestnut colored face, enhancing his regal status.
"Benjamin Stone,
Sarah Stone," Luke continued, "White Owl, my grandfather. They have brought a gift,
XhanXhan
." He motioned toward the wagon.
"We appreciate your generosity and your coming," White Owl said
. "Will you join our feast and stay the night?"
Before Benjamin could answer and possibly refuse,
Sarah said, "We will be honored."
White Owl glanced at her
and then looked to her father for confirmation.
Benjamin smiled
. "As my daughter has said, we are pleased to accept thy generosity."
"Silver Wolf will act as your host
. He will explain our ceremony."
Wolf gritted his teeth
. He did not want any whites watching their funeral rites. Too often, he had heard their laughter and experienced the contempt in their voices when they observed his people and their rituals. So far, Sarah had not shown such disrespect, but the idea that she might tore at him. He would rather she left and he remembered her as he had seen her two nights before.
When Luke faile
d to respond, Sarah said, "Doeth thou mind?"
He glanced at White Owl, his jaw stiff and unyielding
. A moment later, he said, "What my grandfather asks of me, I will do."
She would probably never have another opportunity to see and participate in an authentic Lenape burial ceremony
. Despite Benjamin's disapproval, Sarah refused to allow him to spoil her day. With great interest she observed the comings and goings of the people.
White Owl walked closer to the stone mound
. Traces of burnt wood and the heavy smell of a recent fire pitted the freshly raked ground and scarred the air. Half-buried boulders formed the skeleton of a barn. In the center, a stone pyramid rose. A freshly cut tree lay on the ground directly in front, appearing to protect the site.
Sarah
and Benjamin edged closer. She glanced at Luke, hoping for an explanation.
"My father was murdered here
."
The quiet way he spoke the words shocked her
. His impassive face showed no emotion. "I am sorry," she said.
"Thou has our prayers," Benjamin added, solemnly
.
"Thank you," said White Owl
.
"The British soldiers?"
Sarah asked.
"Yes
. One of Cornwallis' patrols."
"I am not surprised
. He is known for his cruelty."
Everyone stared at her
.
Oops,
she thought.
His cut-throat reputation didn't really develop until the Southern Campaign--several years in the future.
"I…I have heard tales."
The curious looks remained focused on her
.
She flushed, unable to think of any way to dig herself out of her mistake
.
"Would you feel the same if colonists had done this?" Luke asked
.