Rebecca leaned against the back wall watching the dancers turn and spin across the dance floor. She sighed and took a sip of the punch in her hand, glancing around for Jemima who was dancing with Peter.
"You always look so beautiful when you are sad. It is unfair." Grace Bradley said coming alongside her.
"I suppose that's flattering." Rebecca said. "You look lovely yourself."
"Well, thank you. So, how are you managing things?" Grace asked her.
"Oh, as well as ever. It isn't a new experience." She shrugged her shoulders.
"That's true." Grace sighed. "You don't think he planned this whole trip to avoid this dance?"
"No. Well, not entirely." She grinned at Grace. "You've seen him dance."
"He tries hard for your sake, that's for sure." Grace said laughing.
"Good evening, ladies." A voice startled them, and they turned to see a stranger. He was dressed in brown, his dark eyes hidden by a mop of unruly black hair.
"Can I help you?" Matt Bradley asked stepping in front of his wife and Rebecca. Rebecca turned to see Cincinnatus standing to her left.
"Oh, no offense meant." He said holding up his hand. "I'm just a stranger to these parts, and saw the lights of a party. Is there a place that I can get some lodging?"
"We've got rooms." Cincinnatus said stepping forward, and in front of Rebecca. "What brings you here?"
"Just a quest for adventure." He said. "And to see some lands that I've only read about. Is it true that the great Daniel Boone himself lives here?"
There was something in the way he said the name that made Rebecca's stomach churn and she reached out to hold onto Cincinnatus' arm. He glanced back at her, with concern.
"He does." Cincinnatus answered flatly.
"I had always wanted to meet him." The stranger said.
"He's out." Matt said cautiously. "He's on a trip. I didn't catch your name."
"Oh! Forgive my manners. My name is Rufus, Rufus Bennedict." He held out his hand which, Cincinnatus reluctantly shook.
"Cincinnatus." He accepted the handshake. "I own the tavern."
"Matthew Bradley, and this is my wife Grace. And this," He indicated Rebecca with a sweep of his hand, "is Rebecca Boone."
"Oh! I am pleased to meet you!" Bennedict said. "I've read of your husband and admire him so much, but now," His eyes roved up and down, "I've another reason to admire him."
"I'll show you to your room." Cincinnatus said abruptly and led the stranger away.
"I don't like him." Grace said immediately.
"Grace, you are mistrustful!" Matt said laughing and kissing her cheek. "But I don't like how he spoke to you." He wrapped his arms around her possessively.
"Well, I'm glad you agree about that. Now, be nice and dance with Rebecca." She said pushing him away. "That stranger startled us both. Give her a spin on the floor."
"Rebecca?" He asked with a hand outstretched. "Unless you think, Daniel would mind?"
"Daniel's not here." She said with a wink at Grace and followed Matthew onto the dance floor.
***DB***
The moonlight spilled down through the bedroom window where Rebecca lay, alone in the long bed that Daniel had built for them. She sat up with arms resting on her bent knees, and resigning herself to the fact that she wasn't able to sleep, tossed back the covers and stepped out into the front room. She knelt and stoked the fire, glancing up at the loft where her children slept. Restless, she opened the door and sat on the front step of the porch, thinking of all the times that she and Daniel had sat here together in the moonlight.
A sound from inside, startled her, and she turned to see Jemima hesitate in the doorway. She smiled at her daughter and patted the space beside her. Jemima sat down and rested her head against Rebecca's shoulder.
"You miss Pa?" 'Mima asked.
"Always." Rebecca said honestly.
"Why do you let him leave then?" Jemima asked.
"Let him?" Becky turned and laughed. "Have you met him?" She glanced at Jemima. "Oh, sweetheart, he was wanderer when I married him. I knew what I was getting into."
"But he loves you."
"He does." Rebecca said happily, pleased that her daughter was confident of this.
"So shouldn't he stay?"
"He's a long hunter. He has to provide for us." Rebecca said.
"Lots of other folks are too. Mr. Bradley is, and so is Mr. Walker, but they are home more."
"They aren't the leader of the settlement. Your father has added responsibilities. And exploring is part of who he is. How could I say I love him, if I demand that he be something different than he is?" She turned her head to the side so she could see her daughter's face.
"I guess that wouldn't be fair." 'Mima sighed. "You are both happier when you are together. I don't see why he leaves."
"When we were first married, I'd go with him sometimes." She said wistfully.
"You did?" Jemima sat up surprised.
"Yes. We didn't want to be apart, and if it was relatively safe, he'd bring me with him. I cut down a pair of his buckskins and put my hair up, and off we'd go. The ladies in the fort frowned on it."
"I bet! Oh! Ma! That is so romantic!" 'Mima smiled.
"Well . . ." Rebecca said blushing. "There's more to marriage than romance. There's lots of ordinary, everyday things too."
"Like?" Jemima asked.
"Dishes. Laundry. Ironing. Arguing."
"And kisses, and laughing." 'Mima said with eyebrows raised.
"Well, yes, there is that too." She wrapped her arm around Jemima's shoulders. "You grew up too quickly. I'm not ready for you to be thinking of being someone's wife just yet."
"Ma!" Jemima blushed. "By the time you were my age you . . ."
"That isn't the same." Rebecca said sharply, cutting her off. "I want so much more for you than I had."
"Yes, Ma." Jemima said softly, rebuffed. Her head down. Rebecca sighed guiltily.
"I'm sorry, 'Mima. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I just . . .I can't think of you having my kind of life. I would . . . it would break my heart. I want you to be a child as long as possible. I want you to have happiness, and be loved."
"Were you scared?" Jemima asked her.
"Oh, I don't remember." Rebecca lied. "I was sad. My mama had just died and then I was with strangers, and I had to work; so I worked."
"It wasn't right. Pa would never, ever let . . ."
"That's right. That's why I married him." She smiled at Jemima. "He would die before he would allow you to bound over."
"You either." Jemima said kissing her mother's cheek.
"That's true too." She smiled. "But it is late. We better get some sleep. You know Israel's gonna be up soon as light hits the earth."
"Night, Ma." Jemima said rising and turning to go inside.
"Goodnight, my darling." Becky said kissing her once more.
She turned to go inside but glanced back over her shoulder into the dark night. She had the strange feeling that she was being watched.