Daniel Boone turned away, refusing to watch her leave. When he was a boy, his grandmother had told him if you watched someone you love walk away, you were sure to never see them again. Troubled times like this always brought his oldest habits; like the formal speech of his Quaker youth.
"Get thee hidden!" He whispered fiercely to Rose who was peering over the ledge of the loft.
"But I heard Ma say . . ." She began.
"Margaret Rose! Now!" His tone and manner made her jump and turning teary eyed she said, "Yes, sir."
It pained him greatly that he'd brought her to tears but having her alive, safe and hidden while crying was a sight better than . . .
He turned his head sharply. He was sure he'd heard the creak of the loose board on the porch. He was glad now he hadn't fixed it. He braced himself against the door to the cabin and soon was pushing with all his might. Someone struggled to get in. He heard voices now. He stood thoughtfully, calculating the odds. He was outnumbered. He realized that trying to fight them was ridiculous. He figured it would take Becky maybe ten minutes to run to the fort, and another five to explain things. He expected to hear the alarm bell any second now. He could try and keep things calm until then. Glancing briefly toward the loft, he whispered a desperate prayer his youngest would remain hidden, and swung the door wide.
"You lookin fer somethin?" He asked forcing himself to sound relaxed even as hands grabbed him shoving him to the ground.
"Get down!" It was Grey Wolf, an old friend of his. He hunched down himself. "The woods are full of Chickasaw. Where's your woman and little ones?" He asked glancing inside the empty cabin.
"Becky ran to the fort for help. The children are hidden." He said stunned.
"Well, I sure hope that she's fast on her feet. We only just beat them here. We were following deer this direction when we saw them coming this way. It looked like they were headed straight here. I thought I'd better warn you."
"I appreciate that, Grey Wolf, but could you take your foot off my chest?" Daniel asked grinning.
Grey Wolf's eyes grew wide as he realized that he had not only shoved Daniel to the ground but had indeed pinned him, as though he were an enemy.
"My braves and I can lead you to the fort, and then we had best return to the village. Get the children."
Daniel quickly helped Nathan and Rose free from their hiding place. Wrapping them in warm blankets they headed to the fort leaving their home behind.
He kept his eyes surveying the area, looking for Chickasaw, but never saw them, and all the while he listened to hear the bell that meant Becky had made it safely to the fort. It never rang.