I own none of these characters - although I feel sort of a fond attachment to them. Please read and review.

If she hadn't looked up just then, the line of movement in the distant trees would never have caught her eye. She often wondered, later, what would have happened if she hadn't seen it- if she had looked up a second later, or earlier, or not all.

"Children!" Rebecca Boone said sharply and they all had miraculously turned to her. Even little Rose sitting in her basket turned at the sound of her mother's voice. They were a mile from their cabin picking blackberries from the thick bushes that grew near the river. The day was warm and all of them had happily left the steamy cabin to spend the early afternoon picking berries. They would make several pies, and she hoped that Daniel would be back from his hunting trip in time to eat one. He had left nearly three weeks ago, and she missed him terribly.

It was as they happily picked the berries that she saw them in the distance. Her body went ice cold as she realized what was happening. All thoughts of pies, and husbands fell away to one all-consuming desire; keep the children safe. She left fall her bucket of berries

"Listen to me. There's a war party coming this way. Can you see them?"

Straining to see, Israel said, "I see 'em, Ma. I don't know what they are. They aren't Shawnee."

"Alright, now, you do as I say. Don't argue. There's no time. Go along the berry bushes. When you get to the river bank, get in. Hide in the reeds. Stay low. Stay silent. Whatever you do, even if they come near, don't run."

"Ma, what are you going to do?" Mima asked worried.

"Remember what your Pa's taught you - hide twice as long as you think you ought. Then get to the fort. Mima, let's tie Rose to you with your apron." Working quickly they made a sling with her apron. She lifted her chubby 1 1/2 year old and handed her to her older sister. Kissing Rose's soft red hair, she said, "Don't worry. God watches us all." Meeting Mima's eyes she said, "Be careful. Keep her head above water. Hurry now. Go children. There's no time." They moved carefully along the bushes. Mima first, followed by Katie Grace, and Israel trailed behind hesitating.

"Ma!" He whispered.

"Don't come after me." She said sternly. "Don't try and protect me. You watch over the girls. Keep them safe." He nodded, his blue eyes wide.

She watched him go, and wanted to run to them all and gather them in her arms. She wanted to bring them all close to her and kiss them. There wasn't any time.

They were still coming. The warriors were much too close and they could all hear them now. The children weren't yet hidden. Fear rising in her, she fought panic and praying, she did the only thing she could to save them- she ran wide out into the open away from the children, and straight towards the war party.

-DB-

She had only one thought and that was to keep the children safe and hidden. Running wide, yelling as she did, she left the bushes and the riverbank behind, praying they would follow her. She felt no terror for herself - only for her sweet children. They came toward her with battle screams, and painted faces designed to intimidate and terrify. She had heard so many languages in her time in the settlement, and had learned some Shawnee, but these words were completely unfamiliar. It was just as well, she found she was incapable of speech; consumed by the twin emotions of relief that they had not found the children and completely and utter fear that they had found her. She still ran, trying to draw them as far from the riverbank as possible, but knew it wasn't a pace she could maintain forever. They were gaining on her. She could hear their voices growing louder and it seemed to her, angrier. An arrow struck a tree to her left and she knew that it was useless to run. She stood still a moment, gasping for air with arms outstretched to balance herself. They were directly in front of her now and she could see one of them drawing his arm back to let another arrow fly. She threw herself down, flat against the dark earth.

Everything slowed to a near stand still. A hand reached down and grabbing her by the arm, jerked her upwards. As they dragged her away, she could see Israel's face peering out from the the thick reeds. His face was red with anger, his blue eyes bright with tears. She wanted to reassure him somehow and felt a deep grief that she wouldn't be there to comfort him as he managed his frustration and guilt at his inability to save her. And then just when she thought she would burst out screaming in grief, fear and terror, a sense of peace and relief overwhelmed her. They are safe. They are taking me away from them. They children are safe. Such a strange sense of joy flooded her heart over this that it temporarily washed away her own terror. The warriors had gathered around her, even as one pulled her to her feet. They were frightening and angry, and yet she couldn't help but smile knowing that she had kept the children safe. It was a mistake to let the smile spread across her face, of course. It seemed to fill them with rage, and they struck out at her. She didn't really feel the sting though, and somehow couldn't wipe the smile away. The small circle parted, a man stepped in. His face was painted completed black with a white line of paint that ran across his eyes. He loomed above her, tall, but not nearly as tall as her husband. Daniel. It was a fleeting thought that cause her a pain that was nearly physical. The smiled faded from her face just as he reached out with his fist and knocked her back down into the dirt. This time she felt the pain, and tears filled her eyes. She lay face down in the dirt, stunned and shocked by the force of the hit, and by the reality of all that had happened. She expected them to pull her up to her feet again and had just begun to turn to rise, when the second blow landed. The last thing Rebecca Boone saw of Kentucky, was the small square of dirt beneath her left eye. Rising over her with his clenched fist high, he struck down at her again and then the world went black.