Chapter 1
The midsummer moon was just beginning to rise in the east. Mingo carefully placed his feet in the slippery, soggy soil of central Kentucky. The summer thunderstorm that had separated the five people continued to retreat to the east, grumbling. Behind him he could hear Jemima and her mother brushing against the various shrubs and bushes. They were stumbling with weariness.
They had waited out the storm inside a tiny cave. The three people squeezed together as the lightning streaked overhead and the rain sluiced down for nearly an hour. When the storm stopped they immediately struck out to find Daniel and Israel.
It was now an hour later and they were still searching.
Mingo glanced behind himself to watch the two women as they slid down the little incline to stand beside him. Becky's skirt was torn where she'd caught it on a blackberry bush and wet to her knees. Jemima's skirt was likewise wet, and her pretty face was smeared with soil and spotted with bug bites. Gnats buzzed around their heads as the last rays of the sun left the sky.
"Rebecca, I strongly suggest that we look for a drier place and make camp. It will be fully dark in an hour." Mingo jerked his head toward Jemima, who though standing was giving every evidence of imminent collapse. The tall red-haired mother turned to her daughter and linked her arm through the girl's. She nodded to the Cherokee beside her, her pretty blue eyes cast to the ground to hide her own fatigue.
"Sit here and rest, ladies. I will scout the immediate area and return once I've found suitable shelter." Mingo smiled at his two weary companions and disappeared into the darkening forest. He returned nearly an hour later, his face indicating his distress. Quietly he bent to Rebecca Boone where she sat dozing against a tree and murmured into her ear.
"There's no cave that I could find. There is a little rock overhang about a half-mile from here that would at least provide some overhead protection. I suggest that we hurry there and I pull evergreen branches for you and Jemima to serve as a bed. I'm sorry, but that's the best that I can do." Becky looked up into his troubled eyes and nodded.
"Don't worry, Mingo. I know you're doing all you can under the circumstances. We'll be fine." Becky's lips lifted into her typical smile, warm with affection for her Indian friend. Mingo stood and slipped into the forest. Becky pulled herself to her feet and helped Jemima stand. Wearily the two women followed Mingo. Soon they could hear him snapping small branches from the evergreens interspersed among the hardwoods.
The rock overhang was visible through the trees. Gratefully Becky and Mima sank onto the dry ground beneath it and leaned against the cold limestone behind them. Becky sat watching the tall Cherokee prepare their springy wilderness bed beside them. He wedged the supple branches together to keep them tight. After a half-dozen trips into the forest he was satisfied. He turned to Becky.
"That shouldn't be too uncomfortable for you." He bent to lift Jemima to her feet and supported Becky with his free hand. In the thin light of the moon she glanced at his face. His obvious distress caused her to hold his hand tightly.
"Mingo, it's not your fault that the stream rose and separated us from Dan and Israel. It's not your fault that the Shawnee picked the same path through the forest as we were traveling. You did what you had to do. So did Dan. We'll get over when the water goes down. Dan will find us. You know that." Once again she smiled into his taut face. He looked into her trusting eyes and nodded.
"But it is my fault that you and Jemima aren't with Daniel. If I hadn't suggested we go the round-about way the Shawnee wouldn't have been between us, and the storm wouldn't have caught us on this side of the stream."
"No Mingo. If I hadn't slipped and wrenched my knee we could have gone much faster. The storm wouldn't have stopped us over here." Becky saw him shake his head and smiled. "See, you won't let me accept the blame either. No one is really at fault for any of this. It's just a series of circumstances. That's all. Besides," her blue eyes sparkled in the brightening moonlight, "you wanted to show us the rock that looks like a nesting bird. It was rather special. You were right."
Mingo shook his head. "If I wasn't so full of fancy you'd be much safer and much more comfortable right now!"
Jemima chimed into the conversation, her soft voice filled with anxiety. "Mingo, I like seeing unusual things. I'll always remember it. Please don't feel bad because we're over here and Pa is across the stream." She smiled a sweet smile into Mingo's downcast face. "Let's forget that we're wet and tired and just enjoy being together."
Becky's voice was filled with affection as she spoke. "Besides Mingo, we like it that you're 'full of fancy'!"
Mingo smiled at them both. "You're right, both of you. I am glad that you are here with me." His expressive face drew itself into an impish grin. "I may even have a story or two with which to entertain two such charming ladies as yourselves. But first…" Mingo reached into his pouch and produced a piece of jerky, handing it to Jemima with a flourish.
He handed another to Rebecca with a deep, courtly bow. Becky entered into the jesting mood and made a deep curtsey, her heavy skirt draping wetly around her legs. The three friends laughed together before Mingo melted into the forest to look for firewood. Mother and daughter tested their springy bed.