The Newcomer by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Author:Suzanne Woods Fisher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC053000;FIC042040;FIC027050
ISBN: 9781493406043
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-12-22T05:00:00+00:00

15

Jacob’s Cabin

October 31, 1737

The old Indian spoke not a word. He walked into the cabin, looking curiously at everything the immigrants had brought with them, opening up the large wooden trunks, pulling out clothing, blankets, books, examining them, then dropping them back in the trunk. He was drawn to the pots and pans that were grouped on top of a trunk for easy access for cooking, most of which took place outdoors over an open fire. Maria ran toward where Catrina lay, protecting her with her body. Barbara gathered her toddler boys and huddled them against her. Anna remained where she was, watching the old Indian as he lifted up a metal spoon and held it in the air.

“Anna, run and get Christian from the meadow!” Maria hissed.

Anna felt as wary as a deer, but she didn’t sense the Indian posed a threat. The last thing she wanted to do was to make an enemy out of this old man. Besides, he must have some answer for them about Jacob and Dorothea. Something. She picked up a loaf of brown bread, recently baked over the fire in a crocked pot, and slowly walked over to the Indian. She held it out to him with both hands, hoping he wouldn’t notice that they were trembling. The Indian looked her up and down, staring at the cap that covered her hair. Other than mild curiosity, she couldn’t read anything in those eyes.

The Indian took the bread from her, sniffed it. She realized he didn’t know what it was, so she pulled off a corner of it and ate a bite. He did the same, chewing it slowly and thoroughly, as if bread was an entirely new thing to him. And perhaps it was.

As he chewed, Anna relaxed a little. Clearly, the old Indian wasn’t dangerous. He had no weapons on him, none that she could observe. He was alone. He was hungry—that was obvious by his interest in the bread. She could see that he was missing most of his teeth; no wonder it took him so long to chew. She wondered how old he was—possibly in his seventies or eighties? He wore leather skins for pants and shoes. He had a strong, unwashed scent, but it was combined with another scent—something like animal grease. His chest was bare under the red Mutza.

The red Mutza was big on him, but then Jacob was a big man. The edges of the coat sleeves were dirty, but the coat didn’t look worse for wear. She doubted he’d been wearing it for long.

“Do you speak English?”

He ignored her.

“The coat. It belongs to Jacob.” She reached out to touch the sleeve of the red coat, but the Indian misunderstood and thought she wanted it. He jerked away from her, backing up until he was out the cabin door. “Wait!” She ran to the door, but he had already disappeared.

Maria had come up behind her and held her arm in a viselike grip, gasping for breath. “He’s killed Jacob and Dorothea.

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