The snow had begun to melt in earnest now. The world was muddy and Tom Walker trudged through it to the Boone cabin. He hesitated just outside the door. He hated to disturb Daniel who seemed to prefer to be left alone. He never went into the fort and few people even saw him anymore. He knocked and eventually the door swung open.
"Tom." Daniel said. Tom was surprised by the grey beard that changed Daniel's face so much that he seemed much older. "Come in." He said and Tom followed him. Evidence of Becky's absence was everywhere. The cabin was clean but lacked the warmth and beauty she had brought to it. Just looking at the table filled Tom with inordinate sadness. There were no flowers or even evidence of a quilt or knitting, as there always had been. Instead a pile of papers, a broken beaver trap and a bowl of porridge sat on it.
"The beard is new." Tom said.
"Oh, I kept forgetting to shave and after a bit I had a beard." He rubbed his chin absently.
"Where are Rose and Nathan?" Tom glanced around.
"They went to Israel's and Anna's for their supper. I'm not much company." He shrugged absently.
Tom scanned the cabin again. "Rebecca'd have your hide, Dan." He hadn't realized he'd said it aloud until he saw Daniel's face darken. "I'm sorry, I spoke without thinking."
"No, Tom. Don't fret over it. I know you are right. Trouble is I can't seem to do anything about it. I'm swallowed up with sorrow and I can't slog my way out of it."
"I've no right to judge. If my Anna were gone, I can't imagine how I'd fair."
"You know, I keep thinking if things were the other way around, she'd manage just fine. She'd never fall in a hole so deep." He rose. "I think maybe I have some tea around here somewheres."
"Don't worry about me. There's something I need to talk to you about, but Daniel, I was here when you got hit by those British soldiers a few years back. Remember that? I was here when they told her you were dead. She didn't manage it and she wasn't just fine. We couldn't even get her to eat. You've a right to your grief. That's why I hate to even bother you now. I know that you've sort of given up your holdings to the fort. But we need some help." Tom hoped Daniel would be interested.
"I'm not much help to anyone these days." He said. "What is it?"
"Well, we are missing a shipment of supplies. It never got here. You remember Elisha's boy, Joshua? He was supposed to bring the wagon in, but he arrived a few days ago on foot. Says he got robbed right after he left Salem. He thinks there's a gang coming out of Clement Station, that new settlement. They took everything."
"What do you want me to do?" He asked.
"I was, well we, were hoping, you'd go along and help find out what happened. We were gonna make a trip directly there, see if we can find our missing goods. We're out of most everything, and no one knows Kentucky like you do." Tom waited.
"I don't know. Surely, there's others that can go along. I've never cared much for Clement Station. Is that the plan? To travel back there and see if the goods are there?"
"I reckon so, unless you've some other idea. Like I said, no one knows Kentucky like you do. We only want to be able to remain supplied here. We want those folks to know we will not be trifled with, and that we can and will defend ourselves."
Daniel sighed and rose and looked out the window into the blue Kentucky sky. "I don't know Tom. I'm liable to be no help at all. What if I wander off? I've been forgetful of late. I know you are here because Israel and Katie-Grace came to you. Don't bother denying it. And I know that it is right for you to try and help me. I just don't know if I can be helped. Who would I be traveling with?" He turned and looked at Tom.
"Matthew will go if you are willing. I might be persuaded myself." He smiled at Daniel. "It is time the old folks show the youngin's how to get things done."
Daniel studied Tom thoughtfully. He knew that his family was worried about him, and he knew that they were right to be worried. He had heard the quiet conversations when they thought he wasn't pay attention, and had seen the worried looks of Katie-Grace and Anna. He couldn't think of more loyal and faithful friends than Tom Walker and Matthew Bradley, but the thought of trying to care about Fort Boonesborough and the people in it, filled him with weariness.
"I'll think on it, Tom. That's the best I can promise right now. You best come back and ask me about again tomorrow. I'll avoid it if you don't."
"Thank you, Dan. I'll come back around supper time. Oh, that reminds me. Anna sent over some pie for you." He turned and retrieved a the pie he'd set on the table near the door. Handing it over he said, "We only want to help you. I can't imagine how you've been able to even stand up under it all. We only want to find a way for you to have some peace. I know the Fort must seem unimportant to you these days, but you and Rebecca both worked so hard to build it. It would be a shame for it to fail now. I'll wait for your answer." Tom nodded his head and turned to go.
Daniel sat silent lost in thought. He was suddenly overwhelmed with the sharp memory of Rebecca laughing and helping to build the walls of what would later be the tavern. She worked as hard as him, harder really because at the end of it all, he would rest and she would cook. And always, whatever she did, she smiled. He had been captivated by her endless joy. His heart ached for her now, but it seemed wrong to let something she'd worked so hard for to end in ruins. Tom was right. He hurried out to the porch and called out to Tom just as he'd reached the edge of the yard. Tom doubled back and waiting for him to speak.
"Tom! I just wanted to say thank you for trying to help. I'll go with you and Matt. Tell Israel and Katie. I don't know if there's hope for me, but I hate to think of them so worried and grieved over me, on top of everything else. I'll go for their sake, and for Becky's too, I guess. You are right. She'd be furious if she could see how things are now." He swallowed down tears that came all too easily these days. "Besides, I can't let Fort Boonesborough fail; we named it for her, didn't we?"
Tom was overwhelmed with a giant wave of sorrow and it took him a moment before he was able to smile sadly and say, "We named it for her, and no one else."
It was the oldest story told about the fort and supposedly the biggest secret kept. They all joked that poor Daniel Boone had no idea that they'd never named the fort for him, but rather for his wife who worked endlessly, tirelessly to keep them all together. It had been a joke, but over the years, it seemed more and more true - without Rebecca Boone, there would be no Fort Boonesborough. As he turned back inside his empty cabin, he paused at the looking glass he had brought back from Salem for Rebecca one Christmas, and he could see it was true. Staring into the lost eyes of the grey-beared man before him, he knew that not only Fort Boonesborough would disappear without her, but perhaps even Daniel Boone himself.