Chapter 20
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
Above Jacob, the stars were tiny pinpoints of white in a black midnight sky above Raccoon Springs.
Sleep eluded him, but it could only be attributed to anticipation.
As much as he had desired to leave his family and make a name for himself, now he could not wait for their familiar faces.
For his mother’s warm, accepting embrace and Joseph’s optimism and teasing.
He could not wait to unite the family that he had grown up with to the family that had found him, the one God had created for him.
He turned to see Dawn’s face, barely more than a foot away from his, her eyes closed in a peaceful sleep, with the light of the full moon washing over her beautiful features.
How incredible that God had brought her back to him.
That He had blessed Jacob with someone so wonderful, inside and out, as a wife.
In contrast to the dark of night that shrouded them, his future seemed brighter than ever with her by his side.
He knew not exactly where they would abide besides near his family.
And he knew not how he would provide for Dawn and Mary.
But all of that would work itself out—Jacob was sure of it.
And he no longer held any hesitation at doing whatever it took, even if it meant following his brothers into business or living in their shadows.
For he would not be alone in that shadow.
Pulling a hand from where it had been tucked beneath his head, he pushed a stray lock of soft blond hair from Dawn’s face, which had regained its healthy glow.
Then he did the same for Mary, who was nestled between them.
Her white-blonde hair was even softer than Dawn’s, with more curl.
In her sleep, it stuck out at all angles.
What a privilege it would be to watch her grow.
Thank You, God, for blessing me with these two. Thank You for bringing Dawn back into my life and keeping us safe and together through these past months.
“So precious.” Dawn’s whispered words floated to him on the night air.
Jacob opened his eyes and met her smile with one of his own. “Yes, she is,” he agreed before he reached across and took Dawn’s hand. “You have no idea how grateful I am for the opportunity to be her father. To be your husband.”
“I still cannot hardly believe God brought you back to me. You know, I never apologized for disappearing on you.”
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Dawn, it is in the past. God brought us back together. And He will see us through whatever comes next. That is all I need to know. I see that now.”
“Me too. Though, I guess I should apologize for making us travel to Bryan’s Station at all. I thought things had to be a certain way, and I was wrong. I could have saved us from all of those dangers. All of those close calls.”
“We never would have made it here if we did not go through what we have. I believe I would have loved you and Mary, but I do not believe I would have seen how truly important you were to me without the battles we faced. Or have found the peace and contentment that I needed to be able to live this life with you. I am afraid I still would have done something drastic in the end.”
His wife shrugged a shoulder. “As hard as it was, God brought us on the journey we had to take, I suppose.”
“Yes. And it all started here. Do you remember?”
Dawn smiled. “That night, I knew I recognized your voice. Whatever were you doing in the woods then?”
“Following you. I did not want you to get hurt…even though I did not know it was you.”
She laughed. “You scared me instead.”
“I suppose I did. What took you into the forest that night?”
“I was foraging for dandelions so Mary and I did not starve.”
Jacob shook his head. “I still cannot understand how someone could be as vile as they were to you and Mary. But that was the best day of my life, you know. The day your stepfather cast you out. It was the day God brought you back to me.”
Dawn tilted her head with an affectionate smile.
“It was a dream come true when He brought you back into my life.” Then she frowned.
“Only, it was difficult for me to open my heart to that blessing. After the way my stepparents treated me, I no longer believed anyone except my parents, anyone except for blood family, could love me. That is why I was so adamant about taking Mary to her uncle.” She sighed. “If only I had known.”
Jacob rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “I suppose we were both blind to what was right before us, to the blessing that had been handed to us.”
“In many ways, yes.”
“At least we were both wise enough to open our eyes.”
Dawn chuckled softly. “True.” Her gaze fell to Mary. “I could not imagine my life without either of you.”
“Me either.”
Mary rolled over, her flailing arm landing on top of his. Her little brow furrowed before blue eyes blinked open. “Time to wake?”
Jacob smiled down at her. “No, sweet one. Go back to sleep.”
She nodded and nestled closer, curling up against his chest. “Night, Pa,” she whispered, so quietly he thought he might have imagined it. But a little gasp came from Dawn’s direction, and when he met her gaze, she held a look of pure wonder.
Though Mary had seemed elated to have Jacob and Dawn as her parents, she had yet to call either of them as such.
But now, here they were, less than a week into their travels and in her sleepy state, she had given him the best reward she ever could have.
Finally, it did not matter what battles he had fought or what accomplishments he held to his name.
All that mattered were these moments with the ones he loved, and all the firsts they would share.
For nothing could be better than the sense of wholeness that to love and be loved offered.
* * *
August 29, 1782
“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.
He pushed the door open slowly and stepped in. Dawn and Mary followed, closing the door behind them.
“Jared, can you—” Mrs. McFadin stopped in her tracks as she turned from a washbasin. The towel and the plate in her hand fell to the floor with a clatter. Her face crumpled as tears came to her eyes and her hand went to her mouth.
“Jacob!” Jemimah cheered as she charged toward them, her mending landing in the floor as well.
She threw her arms around him in a hug while Jonah and Joseph came over, their jaws hanging open.
When Jemimah relinquished Jacob and moved on to Dawn and Mary, Jonah took his turn.
Each of the siblings embraced the prodigal son before also sharing a hug with Dawn and Mary.
Joseph even whisked Mary into his arms and twirled her about the room, eliciting girlish giggles. “Mary, you came to see us!”
Finally, Mrs. McFadin approached Jacob slowly, tears glistening on her cheeks. She placed a hand softly on his cheek. “You came back,” she whispered.
“I did.” Jacob nodded.
Mrs. McFadin wrapped her son in a hug. Her body shook as she shed her silent tears. When she pulled back, she graced him with another smile before turning to Dawn.
“And I brought my family,” Jacob added with a proud grin.
Mrs. McFadin hugged Dawn, squeezing her tightly. “I knew God would bring you all back to me. I knew it.”
Tears sprang into Dawn’s eyes as well, for this woman was not only praising her son’s return, but hers and Mary’s as well.
When Dawn had doubted that a single person could love her, that anyone could love Mary except for a blood relative, here was all the love in the world waiting for them.
Not only did the connection flow between Dawn and Jacob and Mary, but it spread to Mrs. McFadin and Jacob’s brothers and sister as well, as expansive as the star-speckled sky outside the cabin.
Never again would she or Mary want for love.