The thought of moving back home to Virginia where she had friends and neighbors was her only refuge. Living alone in a settlement full of men brought an even greater sense of loneliness. She knew she could never love another man as deeply as she loved Mac.
The bell above the door jangled. Pam glanced over. “Urias.” She smiled.
“Hi, Miss Danner. How are you?”
“Fine, fine. Tell me, what brought you down to Creelsboro? You look like you’ve grown a couple inches. What are they feeding you on that farm?”
Urias grinned and stuffed his thumbs behind his suspenders. “Lots. But it’s hard work, and Mrs. MacKenneth insists on my schoolin’. She taught Mac, ya know.”
“I know.” Pam opened her arms. “Come here; give me a hug. I’ve missed you.”
Urias bounced over the counter and gave her a bear hug.
“How’s Mr. MacKenneth? Mac’s dad,” she qualified. She didn’t want Urias to think she was asking about Mac. Not that she didn’t want to know, longed to know, how he was doing.
The boy hoisted himself up on the counter. “Doing good. He’s gettin’ around with a couple canes now.”
“That’s wonderful. I’ve prayed for him often.”
Urias smiled.
“What did you say brought you down here?”
“Supplies.” Urias crossed his arms and looked around. “Not bad. You own all this?”
“For a little while. I’m selling it and moving back East.”
“Why? I mean, after all it took to get here.”
“It’s a long story really, but I never wanted to move here. It was my father’s dream and my brother’s.”
Urias nodded his head and nibbled his inner cheek.
“Do you have a list for the supplies you need?”
“Oh, sorry. Nope. Mac’s gettin’ ’em.”
“Oh.” Obviously Mac didn’t want to see her. It didn’t matter that she ached to see him.
The bell on the doorjamb jingled. A blast of cold air filled the room.
“Parson Kincaid, what can I do for you?”
He removed his black hat and folded it in his hands. The thin, middle-aged man was dressed in black from head to toe except for the backward collar of white. “Miss Danner, there is a reason for you to come to the church.”
Pamela placed her hand on the counter, bracing herself. What could she have done wrong? “What’s the matter?”
“Truthfully, I’ve never heard of such a thing. But the gentleman insists.”
“Parson, is everything all right?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. In all my years, I’ve never seen it done this way.”
Curiosity was definitely getting the best of her. “All right. Let me gather my coat.”
Parson Kincaid nodded his head and placed his hat back upon it. Pamela slipped to the back room and retrieved her wool coat.
Urias stood by the parson. “Would you like me to come?” His freckled face didn’t hold the same joy it had moments before.
Perhaps it was wise to have him with her. Not that she couldn’t trust Parson Kincaid. He and his wife, Martha, had shown her great kindness over the past couple months. He’d helped her understand that repentance freed her from God’s judgment, that she didn’t have to live in fear.
“Sure.” She slipped the key from the folds of her apron, locking the door after they all exited.
They walked in silence across the hard, rutted street. Winter frost lined the tops of the ruts. When they entered the church, she found it warm and comfortable. “Go to the altar,” the parson instructed. “There’s a message for you there.”
She opened her mouth to speak. He smiled and placed a hand on Urias’s shoulder. “You’ll need a few minutes. I’ll keep the boy with me. Holler if you need me.”
Pamela’s insides quivered like a new fawn trying to stand on its legs for the first time. Working her way down the center aisle, she approached the small oak table with white painted sides and a dark stained top. Carved on the front panel were the words Remember Me. She closed her eyes, knowing the words were Christ’s regarding communion. On top of the table a small oval of white lace accented a small circle of gold. A rolled-up piece of paper rested within the band.
Her hands trembled.
She reached for the band and pulled out the paper. Unfurling the note, she read the words, “Forgive me.”
Mac stood in the shadowed room off to the side of the altar. Pamela dropped the note and braced herself, holding the edges of the table. With her head bent, she asked, “Where are you, Mac?”
Closing the distance between them, he silently stood behind her. “Right here,” he whispered. A whiff of her delicate perfume tickled his nostrils. “I’ve missed you.”
“I don’t understand.” Her profiled body held fast, not turning around to face him. Her knuckles whitened.
Father, help me say the right words here. “I’m sorry for not giving you a chance to speak. Mother’s made it abundantly clear that I was rather hardheaded.”
A gentle smirk rose on her pink lips.
“Please, forgive me, Pamela. I held against you what Tilly had done to me. It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t fair. I can’t blame you for being afraid in a wilderness area with no one to trust. And most importantly, with Jasper hot on your trail. I assumed you were Quinton’s widow. Your decision to simply let me continue with that misimpression was no different from my choice to let Jasper think we were married.”
Her body trembled.
He ached to close the distance between them but didn’t dare.
She squeezed her eyes tighter. “I loved you,” she confessed. “You hurt me.”
He took the final step that remained between them. He could feel the heat from her body. Still she remained resolute, not wavering.
“I’m sorry.” He dropped to his knees and placed a hand over hers.
“Why didn’t you come to the store? Why haven’t you tried to contact me? A letter, a message, something … I don’t understand. You couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.” She turned and looked down at him.
“I wanted to. I really did. But I didn’t know how. I’ve been praying and waiting. Honey, the waiting has been the hardest part. I wanted to come before now. But Father needed me. The farm couldn’t be left unattended for that long a period. I even thought of sending Urias. But God said no. He said to wait. I love you, Pamela. I know it seems rather late to say that, but I do with all my heart. I never thought I could love another woman. I put myself in an area where few women lived. And the ones who were nearby were married. I tried, I really tried to avoid women. But God had other plans. I know that now. But I fought Him every step of the way.”
Tears fell down her face.
Mac stood and pulled her close. “I’m so sorry. I love you. I want us to be together. I’ve even arranged for us to be married.”
She placed her hands on his chest and pushed out of his embrace. “You what? This ring is for today?”
He looked down and scuffed the floor with his right foot. “Uh, yeah.”
“You are really something, Mac. You come into my life and expect me to just drop everything and go running off with you.” She placed her hands on her hips. “I have responsibilities, you know. I guess you expected me to just marry you and ride off into the sunset, forgetting any responsibilities I might have.”
That had been the plan. It had sounded good before he heard it from her lips. Now he wasn’t too sure. “Yeah.”
A whistle went streaming through her teeth. “Have you heard of courting?”
“Yes, but …” How could he word this without losing her?
“Mac, there’s a lot we have to know about each other before we talk marriage.”
“Like what?” He sat down on the front pew. She came up beside him and sat down.
“I don’t know. But we don’t know each other all that well.”
“We traveled together for almost three weeks, isn’t that enough?” His voice rose.
“Shh,” Pam admonished and placed her hand upon his.
This is not going the way I had planned. He sighed.
“Mac, I …”
He turned, embracing her, and captured her lips.
She moaned. Or was that him?
Pulling away, she gasped, “Mac, stop.”
“I love you, Pam. I want you.”
“I love you, too, but …”
Joy filled him. He placed his finger on her lips. “Don’t, not just yet. Let me enjoy what you just said.”
Pamela shook her head from side to side and laughed. “It wouldn’t be boring.”
“What?”
“Marriage to you.”
“Please, Pamela. Please marry me. I brought Mother and Urias as witnesses. I even convinced Parson Kincaid that you’d agree.”
“No, Mac. Not here, not now. Not like this.”
“I don’t understand.” He slumped back into the pew.
“Let me try to explain. I have a business. Are you planning on staying in Creelsboro?”
“No, I thought you’d come back to the farm with me. I know you didn’t want the business.”
“You’re right. I don’t, and I’ve put it on the market.”
“See.” He felt like a little boy.
“See what? That I should be irresponsible and just lock up the business and not sell it first?”
“It’ll sell.”
“Yes, it will. But if I simply closed the store, I’d lose money on the sale. I’m certain you are aware that an active, successful business is worth far more than a closed one.”
“I don’t care about money.”
Pamela chuckled. “I know. And I’m not as concerned as you think. But I do believe the Bible tells us to be good stewards of what we have. And I don’t believe it’s being a good steward to simply walk away from one’s obligations. In the same way that you couldn’t walk away from your father’s need for you on the farm.”
“Very well, you’ve made your point. But I still want to get married.”
Pamela chuckled. Seeing Mac pout sent an image of a young boy, their son, and how he would behave in years to come. “I do, too,” she confessed.
“You mean it?”
“Yes.” She smiled.
“Yahoo!” he shouted.
“But not today.”
“When?”
“In time. A woman needs to plan her wedding, make her dress, prepare, you know?”
“Honey, I don’t understand women all that well. You, for one, know that. But if you need time, I can wait.”
“Mac, where will we live? On the farm? In the wilderness? Where?”
“The farm. Dad will never be able to run it again. He’ll get around and all, but he won’t have the strength. However, we’ll need to take a trip back to my cabin in the gap. There are some items I’d like to keep.” He leaned up beside her. “I thought we could make it a romantic getaway for just the two of us.”
“Oh Mac.” She threw herself into his arms and kissed him. “I’d love that. There is one thing you should know.” She whispered into his ear.
“You traveled with that much?” His eyes bulged.
“Yes. Can you handle the dowry?”
“I guess. What are we going to do with that kind of money?”
“Building our own private house might be nice.”
Mac laughed. “Anything you’d like. Just promise me you’ll marry me?”
“I promise.” His sweet lips were upon hers before she could say another thing. Thank You, Lord, for the night it rained fire.
Hogtied
Dedication
I’d like to dedicate this book to my granddaughter, Hannah Elizabeth.
Having four older brothers will present some challenges in your life as well as great blessings. All my love Hannah, and Grandma loves your beautiful smile.
Chapter 1
Jamestown, Kentucky, 1840
Urias, please reconsider.”
“Mom, I’ve prayed. I’ve got to go.”
Dad came up beside her and massaged her shoulders. “You go, son. Do what you have to do; but remember, we’ll need you in time for the spring planting.”
“Yes sir. You two mean the world to me. I promise I’ll be back.” Mom and Dad MacKenneth had opened their home to him seven years ago. They’d become his family, and he now looked differently on life.
Pamela MacKenneth stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around him. Urias embraced her tenderly. “I promise, if I can’t find her this year, I’ll leave her in the Lord’s hands and trust that she’s all right.”
“I understand. I’ll miss you terribly. Don’t forget to say good-bye to Grandma and Grandpa,” she encouraged.
“You think I’d be able sit again if I didn’t say good-bye to them?” His adopted parents laughed. Well, that helped lighten the mood a little, Urias mused.
“Did you pack all the items we went over, son?” his father asked.
“Yeah. Thanks for all the help.”
“You know I would love to be hiking up those mountains with you.”
He knew all too well. His father loved the mountains, but he loved his family more. When Urias had first met up with Pam and Nash “Mac” MacKenneth, they’d been working their way through the Cumberland Gap area along the Wilderness Road. Somehow it seemed far more than seven years ago. Grandpa Mac had an accident, and Urias’s adopted father took over the care of the family farm. Of course, he and Mom weren’t married at that time, and it took a bit before Dad came to his senses and asked her to marry him. But he finally had, and now they were a family of six—including Urias.
But Urias needed to find his first family now. He’d heard rumors that his younger sister was living in the Hazel Green area around Mount Sterling. He’d gone last year and hadn’t found her. In 1837, Urias and his family had attended an Association at Hardshell Baptist Church. That’s when he heard someone mention they once knew an O’Leary—and she had red hair just like him. Of course, red hair and Irish names seemed to go hand in glove. But he’d been searching for Katherine every fall right after the harvest ever since. This year he’d stay through the winter and give it one final look. It didn’t matter that he’d given every merchant he met his name and a message as to how he could be reached in Jamestown.
Unfortunately, Jamestown was several days’ travel from the Hazel Green area.
Sucking in a deep breath, Urias broke the merriment. “I gotta go. Pray for me.”
“You know we will, Urias.” Pam wiped the tears from her eyes.
Urias choked back his own. These two people loved him so much. He never felt anything less than a part of their family.
“Urias,” Nash Jr. called out from behind him. Urias turned toward the young boy’s voice.
“Hey buddy, what ya got there?”
“A present.” Urias remembered the first time he held Nash when he was only a few hours old. It didn’t seem possible that people could start out that small.
“Is it for me?” Setting his Kentucky long rifle against the wall, Urias knelt on one knee to put himself at a more equal footing with the boy.
“Uh-huh.” Nash handed it to him with a smile that lit up the small child’s face. It was wrapped in a scrap of cloth he recognized Mom had been working on a few days before.
“Thank you.” Urias opened the cloth and found an old arrowhead. “This is wonderful, Nash. Thank you.”
“If your powder gets wet, you can use it to fight off a bear.” Personally, Urias hoped he wouldn’t have to fight off any bear, ever. The scars on Mac’s back were enough of a warning to stay clear of those critters as much as humanly possible.
He reached out and ruffled the boy’s thick black hair. It was so much like his father’s. “I’ll remember that.”
Dad winked.
Mom held back a chuckle at the boy’s naiveté.
When the MacKenneths and Urias first met, he had a minor run-in with a bear. Thankfully, it was more interested
in their ham than in them.
“Urias,” his sisters said in unison. Molly, the older of the two, smiled. Her first two adult teeth were just beginning to show in the empty space. Sarah was two years younger than Molly, but she kept trying to wiggle her front teeth, hoping they’d come out soon like her big sister’s had. Molly had long, dark, curly hair like her father. Sarah had straight brown hair like her mother.
Molly held a hand-wrapped package with a bow around it. “We made these for you.”
“They’re your favorite,” Sarah added.
“Thank you, ladies. They smell wonderful,” he said as he took the bundle of cookies and placed it in his pack.
He hugged and kissed each of his siblings, said his good-byes, and headed to his grandparents’ house. He and Mac had built it after Grandpa Mac’s accident—a single story, with ramps to go in and out of the place. Grandpa had been in a wheelchair for seven years, and Grandma tended to his every need. She also attended to Urias’s education. After a brief but cheery good-bye, he headed out on horseback toward the mountains. “Lord, please let me find Katherine this time.”
“Kate,” Prudence called as she entered the darkened barn. She’d seen her retreat there once before. “Kate,” she called once again.
“Pru?”
“Yes, it’s me. Where are you?” Prudence blinked as her eyes adjusted to the lack of sunlight.
“Up here in the loft,” Kate whispered.
Prudence climbed up the rustic ladder and saw Kate sitting there with her knees up to her chest. “Are you all right?”
Kate closed her eyes and her gorgeous red curls—which Prudence had envied more than once—bobbed as she nodded.
Prudence knelt in front of Kate and pushed those lovely locks from her friend’s face, exposing the most beautiful green eyes one could wish for. But something overshadowed the beauty she’d seen in this servant gal. “You’ve been crying. What’s the matter?”
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