Sounds of the night frightened Beth so much she couldn’t sleep. Even with the warmth of the skillfully-prepared skins wrapped up around her, she still felt the cold. Carl held her close in an effort to comfort her, but comfort never came. It was hours before the women outside settled down after doing their nightly dancing and socializing. Often laughter rang out from them, but neither Carl nor Beth could understand what they were saying. The glow of a fire only a few yards away seeped in through the slightly parted skins hanging over the entrance of the tent. A wolf howling in the distance made Beth shudder and close her eyes.
Finally stillness settled on them, but it only made it worse for Beth. Her imagination went wild for a time until she gradually began to relax and close her eyes in her sleeping husband’s arms. The two rested silently in a time, a time in the past they knew little about.
* * *
The sound of restless horses outside signaled morning had arrived. From the loud commotion, they assumed it was others who came into the fort on horseback. Carl sat up but held his hand on Beth’s chest to keep her down until he could look out to determine what was going on. She lifted her head just enough to also see out the narrow opening. Both had their hearts up in their throats and beating fast. Beth grabbed his hand.
“What is it? Is it more Indians?”
“No, it’s soldiers and Indians.”
They rose up on their knees. Carl stuck his head out to have a better look. Four horses were being tied to the hitching post by two soldiers and two Indians. The one soldier wore a uniform with a long coat of dark blue trimmed with white down, the front lined with brass buttons. He looked like he was giving the others orders of some sort. Carl strained to hear what was said, but the noise of the Indian women crowding around them made it impossible. The other white man, dressed in old torn clothes of what could be heavy wool and linen, held a black hat in his hand as he stood next to the Indians who were busy tying the horses to the post. They wore Indian gear of stretched skins pulled together with strings of leather that hung from their pants and ponchos. Their hair hung long in braids, topped with bands around their foreheads with one feather at the back.
Beth sat back on her heals. “Do you think that’s Chief Paul?”
“It’s a good possibility. One of them looks like he’s in charge—a little worn-out looking, but with a stature of authority. They all appeared to have been in some kind of battle. The one had a cloth wrapped around his leg, with blood on it.”
“How can you tell with all the dirt? These guys look like they haven’t had a change of clothes or a bath in months. How do they avoid infections?”
“I’m sure they haven’t cleaned up in awhile, but where would they get a tub? Maybe they wash in the river.”
“This is just what I worried about all night. I cannot go without bathing.” She pointed at the men. “Look at them—how gross.” She turned to Carl, “We have to get out of here.”
“Beth—remember, this is a war. They are not worrying about bathing or clean clothes. I’m sure the most important thing to those men is food, enough equipment and plenty of ammo for the guns—and, I’m sure, staying alive. After that, I can’t imagine them thinking about anything else.” He took her by the hand. “Let’s go. I want to talk to them. Don’t know if they can tell us how to get out of here, but I’ll ask anyway.”
With the wind coming straight at them, blowing swift and cool as they made their way across the open area to the log building, the smell of the horses struck them square in the face.
Beth tucked her hands inside her jacket pockets and let out steam from her mouth while they hurried toward the cabin.
Halfway across the open area, the older Indian woman who had been so kind to them the day before came from her tent and waved to them with a smile, showing off the empty space between her very yellow front teeth. Beth took one hand out from the front of her jacket and waved back, but she was not smiling.
The curiosity about these two strangers had the men standing in front of the cabin watching them come toward them. Beth was sure they had been informed of strangers wandering into the fort and how odd they were. The men seemed hesitant to greet them, but the old Indian woman came running up. It was obvious how much interest she had in them, and rightfully so—she had never seen a woman like Beth before. Not unless there were others from the future that had been catapulted back to those early years. Beth was sure she was used to women settlers who wore homemade clothes and had rough hands like the men. It was almost comical the way the Indian woman made such a fuss over her, yet a little embarrassing.
Carl approached the men with his hand out, “I’m Carl Jenkins, and this is my wife, Elizabeth.”
The soldier in the uniform extended his hand to him but had a watchful eye on every move Carl made.
“We are hoping you can help us. We are lost in a time other than our own.” He stepped back. “You see, we are from a time in the future, and somehow we were sent back here. I don’t know why; I only know we would like to get back.”
“How do we know you’re not a spy for the Brits?” The man began to walk around them—eyes scanning as he slowly circled them, his hand up to his unshaven chin. Carl and Beth stood still. “We can’t be too careful around here, you know.” Then he came back front and center to face them once again. “I don’t know anything about this time thing. How could you come here from the future? You will have to talk to the chief. He gets into all this magic and voodoo stuff.” He looked Carl right in the eyes. “If we can’t trust you—if you do anything to make us not trust you—there will be consequences. Do you both understand?”
“Yes, of course. We don’t expect you to just believe us right off, but we are telling you the truth. We’ve been through a lot, and my wife is having a very hard time with this.” He put his arm up around Beth’s shoulder. “All we want is some help—some shelter, food, and someone we can talk to. There has to be a way for us to go back where we came from.” The soldier made a gesture for them to come inside.
The men, not all in uniform, stood by the fireplace, along with a tall Indian, all with tin cups in hand. The fire blazed inside the large open stone wall as they gathered there to keep warm. At the long wood table sat several other men, only one in a uniform—some wrapped in a wool blanket, while others wore torn, heavily-soiled shirts and pants. A long rod hung over the top of the fireplace, strung with several pairs of knitted wool socks, drying. Two young Indian girls brought a plate of the flatbread and set it on the table. The long dresses made of animal hide looked like suede and fit them loosely. For early October, the weather had turned colder than usual.
They were invited to sit at the table. The conversation revolved around supplies, and it didn’t sound good. Carl asked the soldier sitting next to him, “What kind of things will you need?”
“Just about everything from household needs to guns and ammunition.”
“Where does it come from?” Carl asked.
“From many places, but it’s scarce, and what comes in usually goes to the Continental Army. We get what we can. Even the trading posts are in need.”
These must be patriots, Carl thought as he listened to the man’s tale of woe. “How long ago did you take over this fort?”
“Just a few weeks ago, and the army helped, along with our friends, these Indians. We lost many of our men, but we pushed the Brits right out of here and sent them north.”
“I was told about the chief. Do you know anything about him and when he will be here?”
“He’s a great warrior who has fought with us magnificently. He may be around soon; we never know for sure. Why do you ask?”
“I would like to speak to him.” Carl reached for the bread on the table.
“You better get a cup of water or rum to go with the bread; it’s better that way.” Then he laughed along with the others who were listening with great interest, their eyes glued to the strange couple sitting with them.
Carl looked the situation over and shrugged his shoulders. “I guess you’re right. He then reached for a tin cup at the end of the table alongside a pitcher of what he thought was water. He poured the liquid into the cup and noticed its brown appearance. His nose twitched as he held the cup up to it. “Well, this is something—rum.” He poured the cup half full, not wanting to take too much, knowing how low they were on supplies, and handed it to Beth. Her soft white hands around the handmade vessel brought attention—eyes from all fixed on her wedding ring. She caught the looks and quickly took her left hand down from view, setting it in her lap and only using her right hand which had no glitter for them to gaze upon.
After they ate, they strolled outside again to see if they could locate the whereabouts of Chief Paul by asking more questions.
A tall, thin man with a strong build and a smell that would knock your socks off walked up to them. Beth moved slightly behind Carl to avoid the body odor he presented when the wind was blowing their way. The horses also contributed to the aroma surrounding the outside of the cabin as they pranced in their deposits on the ground. A smaller log building to the left held two more soldiers and an Indian, who had nothing on but pants and a poncho. They stood at the open door peering at them as they talked to the interested sergeant.
“I don’t think it’s best for you two to stay here. There is a settlement not far from here. We can take you there. The folks who live there will put you up until you can figure out what you can do about your situation.” The tall sergeant adjusted the long sword hanging at his side.
“How far away is this place?” Carl asked.
“About a day’s ride on horseback.”
“On horseback?”
“Of course, how else do you want to travel? I’m sure you don’t want to walk.”
“Will someone show us the way, and…will you give us the horses?”
“Yes.” The sergeant pulled a piece of dry beef from his pocket and held it up to inspect. “We will give you horses. I’ll see to it that one of my men escort you.”
“What about the chief you told us about—will he be here soon or can we expect him some time at this settlement?”
“That’s hard to tell. We never know when he will come around, but his family’s not far from the settlement, so I suspect he will go by there sometime. Why do you want to see him anyway?”
“I was given the impression he might be able to help us.” Carl stepped back when the man moved closer. Beth had to move back also and almost backed off the long porch where they stood several feet above the ground.
The older Indian woman who liked them so much ambled up the stairs to the right of them. She had been standing close by, listening to them talk. Her hand on Beth’s arm got their attention. “Chief Paul will come there—it’s best for you to go. You will be safer there.” She looked into Beth’s eyes with concern for her and then let her hand drop to her side.
Carl turned his head to face her and saw the look on her face. He turned back to the sergeant. “That settles it. We’ll go to the settlement. How soon can we leave?”
“It would be best to leave today before noon. I’ll get things ready for you. Have Hiya here take your wife to her tent to help her get ready. She will need something to cover her legs, those pants she has on will not keep her warm. It’s a long ride, and the air is cool.”
“We haven’t ridden on horses for a long time. I hope this won’t be something we regret.” Carl was skeptical but agreed with the man.
Threatened by the thought of venturing out into the wilderness on horseback had Beth clinging to her husband’s jacket. “It’s okay. Go with the Indian woman and don’t be afraid. I’ll help with the horses. Go.” He waved her on.
Inside the kind woman’s tent, Beth found it to be very neat. A folded, colorful blanket sat on a bed of skins, a wooden box the size of a shoe box next to it. Hiya hurried to the back of the tent to retrieve a pair of pants made of skins with soft fur on one side a smooth surface on the other. She held them up to Beth. “Here, you wear this, it keeps you warm.”
Beth took the pants in hand and looked them over. They seemed like the right size. “Are these yours?” she asked.
“No. My small son who is with the moon now.” A sad look came over her face as her eyes filled with tears. “They are yours now, take them.” Beth could only stand there speechless, holding the pants in her hands and staring at the old woman with a feeling of sorrow. Hiya bent down and opened the wooden box. Her old wrinkled hand reached inside to bring out a long brown strand of leather about a half inch thick. An object dangled from it and swung around in a circle as she held it up high above the box. At a closer look, it could be seen the object was a long sharp tooth, maybe from a bear or a large wild cat. She walked up to Beth and lifted the neckpiece up over her head, holding it high in the air.
Beth reached up and held her hand, “What is this?”
“Big cat’s tooth. It scares bad spirits away.” She then slipped it down around Beth’s head. Her aged hand then touched Beth’s cheek, padding it gently, and she smiled.
There was no arguing with the woman. She was set on giving this relic to her no matter what.
Beth just smiled even though the woman’s breath hit her smack in the face with her being so close, but she saw the need in the woman’s eyes and was tolerant.