Beyond the Quiet Hills (27 page)

“How do you like my new dress?” she asked, looking at herself in the mirror.

The two girls admired the dress, which was indeed beautiful. It was made of soft white cotton, loosely fitted and surrounded at the waist with a delicate flowered sash trimmed in light blue ribbon. It had a rounded neckline edged with white lace, and the sleeves stopped just above the elbows with a light blue ribbon between two rows of white lace.

Sarah said, “It's fun having parties and getting to dress up.”

“Let's go outside,” Abigail said. “It's too hot in here. Besides, we're going to play some games before we eat.”

The three returned to the party, where they found Elizabeth, Iris, and Deborah greeting Rhoda Anderson and a woman they had never seen before. As they approached the group, Rhoda was introducing the woman to everyone. Diana Baxter was a slender woman in her mid-forties. Her light brown hair and blue eyes set off a face that was very attractive. Her dress and demeanor revealed a past that included higher social circles, but she showed no signs of feeling superior to those around her.

Rhoda continued her introduction. “Diana and her husband, Arthur, and their son, Philip, moved into the area a couple of months ago. Paul and I met them as we were returning from our last missionary trip.”

“It is so nice to meet you,” Elizabeth said as she took Diana's hand in a gesture of friendship. “What brought you to this area?”

“Well, I guess you could say that Arthur and I got a little restless. Our two older daughters are married and settled in homes of their own back in Virginia. We were tired of the ‘single' society circle in Richmond and decided to see what was over the hills. Philip was only too glad to leave the city to come out to the ‘wild' frontier. I was a bit nervous at first, but I'm really starting to fall in love with the area now.”

“It is special here, and the people are wonderful, for the most part,” Deborah said. “George and I feel that this is home now.” She then turned to the three girls and said, “Why don't you three see if you can round everyone up to eat while we finish getting the food ready to serve.”

As the girls moved away, Deborah said to Diana, “Come join us. We have all learned to just pitch in and work together here on the frontier. It makes everything more enjoyable that way.” A sly smile crossed her lips as she added, “And while we work, we can fill you in on all the ‘news' of the area.”

Diana laughed along with the women and replied, “It sounds good to me!”

The women finished putting the food out on the tables that had been set up. People crowded around and served themselves from the heaping platters of cooked wild game and fresh garden vegetables. Some ate at the tables, while the overflow sat in homemade cane-bottomed chairs and used their laps as tables.

After the meal was over George Stevens said, “All right. Let's have some music.” Soon the air was filled with the sound of music, which included a banjo, a fiddle, a mountain dulcimer, and a flute. The sun shone down on the group, and George Stevens at once advanced toward Abigail and said, “I claim the first dance by right of being your father.”

Abigail's eyes danced with pleasure and she put her arms up. The two of them waltzed around on the dance platform, and soon other couples began to join in. When the dance was over, George said, “Now you can go have fun with your friends and not have to put up with an old man like me.”

“There's nobody here that'll be a better partner than you, Pa.”

“Well, I see you're learning to tell the type of lies that sound good to an old man.”

He moved over to where Hawk, Sequatchie, and Paul Anderson were talking to Arthur Baxter. Baxter, a large man with thinning black hair and brown eyes, was telling the others about their decision to come to the frontier.

“I found myself heading toward fifty, and I was bored out of my head with ‘civilized' life. I had it rough growing up and wanted my son to experience a bit of rough life himself. I must say it has invigorated me and Diana, and Philip seems to love it, too.”

“We are glad you came, too,” Paul replied. “It is always good to have another fine, God-fearing family move into the area.”

“Speaking of God-fearing, is there a church in the area? I'm proud to say that all of my family have accepted the Lord as Savior, and we are hoping to join in and worship with others.”

“We don't have a church yet,” Hawk answered. “We have tried to talk Paul here into becoming our pastor, but he still feels called to preach to the Cherokee Indians. He does lead us in worship services as often as he can when he is in the area.”

“Well, be sure to let me know about those services.”

On the other side of the dance platform, Jacob and Andrew were talking to Philip Baxter, Arthur and Diana's son. Philip, a tall, slim young man of sixteen, had lots of questions for Jacob and Andrew about life on the frontier.

“Are there lots of wild animals? Do Indians attack a lot?”

Andrew could see by the look on his stepbrother's face that he was about to launch into many hair-raising stories about frontier life to have a bit of sport with Philip, so he quickly answered, “There are lots of wild animals, but they leave you alone if you don't bother them. And as for the Indians, the Cherokee do live not too far from here, but they are friendly for the most part.” He pointed toward Sequatchie and said, “There's one talking to your father. He's a close friend of my pa. He taught me a lot of things about how to hunt and fish and live in the wilderness. He's really a great man. Most of the Indians that I've met are like him. I think you'll like living here. I certainly do. I used to live in Boston, and I wasn't too sure I'd like it when we first moved here, but now I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.”

Philip turned to Jacob. “Do you like it, too?”

Jacob didn't want to say too much about his real feelings about living in Watauga. “I haven't lived here as long as Andrew, but it is a pretty good place to live.” He saw Abigail, Amanda, and Sarah approaching and took the opportunity to change the subject. “Philip, meet the three loveliest ladies in all of Watauga. This is Abigail Stevens, Amanda Taylor, and my sister, Sarah MacNeal.”

Sarah found herself at a loss for words as she looked upon Philip Baxter. She took in his slim yet muscular build. She especially liked the handsome face framed by dark hair that curled slightly around his ears and neck. His brown eyes seemed to sparkle as he smiled at her. Sarah vaguely heard Abigail telling Philip that they had met his mother earlier and were glad to meet him now. She barely noticed that the band had struck up another song, until she heard Philip speaking to her.

“Would you like to dance, Sarah?”

Sarah finally found her voice enough to say yes. She allowed Philip to escort her to the dance floor. She had dressed with particular care today. Her dress was light green cotton with gray stripes. The square neckline was edged with white lace, and the sleeves ended just below the elbow with a white cotton ruffle. The dress set off her fiery red hair perfectly. She was delighted when Philip complimented her appearance. As they whirled around dancing, Sarah felt like one of the beautiful ladies she used to see in her home in Boston during one of the many balls held there. She lost herself in the wonder of the dance in the arms of Philip Baxter.

“Come on, Abigail,” Jacob said impatiently. “Let's dance.”

As the two went off, Amanda said, “Andrew, why didn't you ask Abigail to dance?”

“She wants to be with Jacob.”

“You don't know that.” Amanda had hesitated about coming because her face still showed the mark that her father had left there, but she had put aside her reservations and now was wearing her prettiest dress. The dress was made of light mauve cotton with a square neckline edged in a white ruffle. The dress itself was rather plain, but Amanda had added a “pinner”—a flowered apron that was pinned to the dress. The pinner had a white background with small mauve, blue, and yellow flowers decorating it.

“If you don't mind dancing with a girl with a black eye, Andrew, you could dance with me.”

Andrew swallowed quickly and took his eyes off of Abigail and Jacob. “Why, sure,” he said. He made an effort by saying, “I'd like to dance with one of the prettiest girls here.”

After the dance was over, the girls all gathered together and the boys went for lemonade as Abigail said with some surprise, “I didn't know Andrew could dance.”

“I didn't know it, either,” Sarah said. “I wonder how he learned.” With a quizzical expression, she asked Abigail, “I wonder why he didn't ask you to dance?”

Sarah now drew aside with Amanda and whispered, “I think Abigail just wants to be with Jacob.”

Soon the music started up again, and Abigail was aware that Jacob was heading toward her, about to ask her to dance again. Quickly she turned to Andrew, saying, “Aren't you going to ask me to dance?”

“Why sure, Abigail.”

Philip Baxter grabbed Sarah by the hand, and soon the two of them joined the dancers as they whirled around the platform. Jacob and Amanda were left standing alone. He was watching Abigail and Andrew, and suddenly Amanda asked, “Are you having a good time, Jacob?”

“Sure,” Jacob mumbled, not even turning his eyes around.

Somewhat embarrassed by his answer, Amanda asked, “Do you like the frontier now? Are you feeling more at home?”

Again Jacob mumbled something absentmindedly, his thoughts on the dancers.

“Do you see that bear around behind you there?”

Unthinkingly Jacob mumbled, “Yeah, sure.”

Amanda gave him a rather sad look. Hurt by his attitude, she turned and walked away.

Suddenly Jacob realized he had been speaking in monosyllables, but he couldn't bring himself to apologize to Amanda. He watched her leaving, then turned back to gaze longingly at Abigail.

Sarah had taken time out from the dance to get some refreshments from the long table. She had observed all of this, and now she walked over to Jacob and said, “You are awful!”

“What?” Jacob stared down at her. Sarah usually admired him, but now he saw that she was furious. “What are you talking about?”

“You're the rudest human being I've ever seen! What made you treat Amanda like that, especially after what she's gone through?”

Abruptly Jacob swallowed hard and shrugged his shoulders. He was really a sensitive young man, and it hurt him to think that he had behaved so badly. “You're right, Sarah,” he nodded. “I'll make it up to her.” Turning, he walked over to where Amanda was standing watching the dancers and said, “I'm sorry I was so stupid, Amanda.”

“That's all right.”

“No, it isn't, but I'll make it up to you. How about a dance?”

“I promised this one to Joseph Foster.”

At that moment Joseph came up and smiled. “Are you ready, Amanda?”

“Yes. Thank you, Joseph.”

Jacob suddenly felt alone and left out. All the others were dancing, including Sequatchie, who had escorted Iris to the dance floor, and Helen Foster, who was dancing with a young man Jacob didn't know, so he flopped down under a nearby tree to sit by himself.

Having spotted Jacob looking a little forlorn, Elizabeth came over and said, “Maybe you ought to ask Amanda for the next dance.” She had not missed the exchange between them and said quietly, “I think she needs all the encouragement she can get.”

“All right, I'll do it.”

Moving across the yard, he approached Amanda. “If you're not busy, I'd like to dance with you.”

“All right, Jacob.”

As all the couples began the next dance, no one noticed Zeke Taylor emerging from the shadows. Over to his left he saw his daughter smiling and dancing with Jacob Spencer. Anger seethed within him as he rushed forward and grabbed Jacob's arm, spun him around, and shoved him into a table laden with food.

“You get your filthy hands off my daughter!”

Whirling around, Zeke saw Iris and Sequatchie, and his bloodshot eyes filled with fury. “I can't believe you'd dance with a filthy Indian! You're just a common woman! That's all you are!”

Taylor had grabbed Amanda's arm and now was twisting it. Jacob was furious at the man's attack, and rage boiled over in him. He leaped at Zeke before anyone else could react and struck him a blow to the jaw.

Zeke Taylor was driven backward a step, but he planted his feet and threw a punch that caught Jacob on the forehead. Everything seemed to spin, and Jacob felt himself going backward. He struggled to get up, but his head was still spinning. He felt someone kneeling beside him, touching him, and knew it was Amanda. When his eyes cleared he sat up, shook his head, and saw that Zeke had thrown himself at Hawk. It was a futile effort, however, for Hawk stood off while Taylor windmilled a few blows, then stepped in and struck him in the stomach. Taylor's face turned pasty as he doubled over. By now the crowd was standing in stunned silence, hearing only Zeke's painful attempts to catch his breath.

Hawk reached down, jerked Zeke to his feet, and said, “You're not fit to be loose.” Hawk's eyes were filled with a warning, and Taylor tried to speak.

“Shut your mouth, Taylor!”

Everyone's eyes were on Hawk as he hauled Zeke down the dirt road leading away from the village square to the community jail, keeping a firm hold on the back of Taylor's neck.

****

After her father was arrested, Amanda had immediately gone to her mother. The two had taken refuge inside the nearby community cabin for a time, where Amanda comforted her mother as best she could. Stepping outside, she saw Jacob and walked up to him quickly. “Thank you for taking up for me.” She looked up and her eyes were brimming with tears.

“It was nothing,” Jacob said. “I didn't do a thing.”

“It wasn't just nothing. I'll always be grateful.” Without thinking, she lifted her hand and touched his face where her father had hit him.