The Characters from Daniel Boone belong to 20th Century Fox and Fespar Productions. All other characters belong to the author. She makes no money off of any of them.
The Visit
Chapter 1
"Mingo!" The high-pitched voice raised in excitement echoed through the Cherokee village. Everyone in the town turned to look at the little light-haired boy skipping across the log bridge with his tall father following closely behind. Ducking under the bearskin at his door, the owner of the name strode forward to meet his exuberant visitor.
Israel ran to the tall man and hugged him excitedly. All over the village faces split into smiles as they watched the affection flow between the man and the child. Daniel walked to Mingo's side and slapped his friend on his back.
"Remember last winter when you told me to bring Israel on a visit? Well, my friend, here we are. Me 'n Israel are on a long hunt and just happened to be goin' in this direction. So I brought him to see you. Couldn't hardly keep him from runnin' the last mile or two." Daniel's face was bright with his lopsided grin, his fatherly pride obvious in his sparkling green eyes.
"Mingo, Pa says you got a e-normous bear hide nailed to your wall! He said the bear 'most killed you, but you got it with your knife. Did you? Did you kill it with your knife? I remember fixin' you up in our cabin. You was sure clawed up. Can I see it? Please?"
"Of course you may see it Israel, and everything else that my lodge contains. I am pleased to show you my home." Mingo's brown eyes glowed with love as he squeezed Israel's thin shoulder. Thirty seconds later Israel was pushing back the bear hide door and slipping into Mingo's small Cherokee lodge.
Daniel strode in right behind him to prevent his rambunctious younger child from rifling through all of Mingo's possessions willy-nilly. But for once Israel was too stunned to move. In the light of the unshuttered window his bright blue eyes sparkled. He took in the stacks of books, the child's buckskin leggings and beaded shirt, the willow frame bed covered in hides, the willow chair, and the fire pit. On a small shelf was folded the flannel shirt Rebecca had made for him last Christmas. Beside it sat Jemima's gift of a small flat rock painted with an owl. His own gift of a semi-round rag ball sat beside it.
In the corner near the door stood Mingo's rifle, his shot pouch wrapped around the barrel. His whip hung coiled on a peg above it. His buckskin pack lay on the floor beside the rifle. As Israel slowly turned his eyes fell on the bear hide tacked beside the door, just as his father had told him. He stared at it several seconds, the two men in the doorway exchanging looks of amusement.
"Geminy, Mingo, that sure was a big bear," Israel whispered in awe.
"Yes, Israel, he was the largest bear I have seen in a very long time. And he looked even larger while he was trying to kill me!"
Israel looked up into Mingo's face, his own face lit with horror at the thought. He rushed into Mingo's arms and hugged the Cherokee so hard that the buttons on his jacket pressed into the tall man's leg uncomfortably. Mingo released the child and stepped back a pace.
"What are your plans now, Daniel? Are you and Israel tracking a particular animal or are you just on a lengthy jaunt into the woods?" Mingo's smile indicated that he had fairly caught the tall frontiersman. Daniel's smile wordlessly admitted Mingo's assumption. Just then Monlutha entered Mingo's lodge, his bright dark eyes alight with happiness.
"Israel, did you come to see my village?" Menewa's tall son glowed with pride.
"Sure did, Monlutha. Pa's been promisin' to show me Mingo's lodge forever, and now we fin'lly came. Can I see your house?"
Monlutha nodded and Israel turned to look up at his father. "Can I Pa? Can I?"
Daniel nodded, then called after his scampering son, "Don't go touchin' everything in Menewa's lodge, Israel. Remember your manners or your ma'll skin me when she finds out. And she'll skin you too!"
Mingo's eyes watched the two boys trot across the distance and disappear into Menewa's lodge. Then he turned to the friend at his side. "Why don't you leave Israel with me for a few days, Daniel? Then you can have your 'long hunt' in peace and get it out of your system."
Daniel looked into Mingo's dark amused eyes. "You're getting' to know me too well, Mingo. I think I'll accept your offer though. I'd like to have a few days alone in the woods. Israel tends to chatter worse'n a squirrel on a chain."
Mingo laughed at Daniel's description of his son, remembering the many times Yadkin had expressed frustration with Israel's tendency to ask unending questions. The two men ducked under the door and stood before Mingo's lodge watching Monlutha show Israel how to shoot his bow. As they watched Taladu joined them, his little body animated with excitement as he surveyed the light-haired visitor. The boys were standing a short distance away aiming at a square of cloth they'd tacked to one of Menewa's lodge poles. Both of Israel's shots went wide and the three boys scrambled to retrieve the arrows.
"He'll be safe with me Daniel. You know that."
Daniel turned to his friend. "I do know that. I should be back inside a week."
"No rush. I had no immediate plans that Israel will disrupt. Enjoy your time alone."
Daniel spoke a few words of farewell to Israel, who waved his hand carelessly and returned all his attention to Monlutha and the bow in the Cherokee boy's hands. Daniel lifted his hand in farewell to Mingo, turned and was quickly over the bridge and gone. Mingo created a target for the boys on a large sycamore at the edge of the forest, then sat down in the shade behind his lodge to watch as the little boys entertained themselves. The afternoon passed slowly and pleasantly into evening.