HEART OF HONOR

Opening Scene

Fort New Echota, Georgia ~ May 1837

“Abigail, the matter is settled.”

Abby Locke drew in a defiant breath at her father’s tone and lifted her chin. The soldiers under Colonel Ephraim Locke’s command jumped when he spoke, but Abby wasn’t one of his troops. Did he think her fragile and defenseless merely because she wore skirts and petticoats instead of a uniform? She was a capable, grown woman, nineteen years of age.

“I still don’t understand your reasoning, Father. Why must I leave the fort? You know I despise living in the city. The first thing Aunt Charlotte will do is plan a cotillion to parade me in front of every eligible bachelor she can find within the rolls of Raleigh society.” Abby didn’t even try to suppress the peevishness in her voice. “She’ll drag me to her garden parties and teas so her friends can match me with their sons or nephews.”

Her father turned to face her, displeasure forcing his thick eyebrows into a V. “Your aunt has done a great deal for you. You wouldn’t have had the opportunity to attend Salem Female Academy were it not for the benefit of her connections. You should be grateful.” He clasped his hands behind him and glowered at her.

She bit her lip. Admittedly, she’d resisted going to Salem at first. Some of the friendships she formed there carried her through the lonely times when she longed to be at the fort with her father and couldn’t understand his insistence in sending her away. Had he known her best friend at Salem Female Academy had been Jane Ross, daughter of Cherokee chief, John Ross, he wouldn’t have been pleased.

His gruff lecture interrupted her reminiscing. “My sister has tried her best to mold you into a proper young lady.” He shook his head and took a few steps away from her, reducing his voice to mutter, as though his private thoughts took control of his tongue. “Heaven knows I didn’t know what to do with you after your mother died.”

Her father’s comment, whether meant for her ears or not, seared her heart. Despite longing for his approval and affection, circumstances continually created differing opinions to divide them. Between her disagreement with him over the government’s orders to remove the Cherokees from their land, and her resistance to travel all the way from Fort New Echota to Raleigh to live with her aunt, she and her father found little common ground on which to agree. Just once, couldn’t circumstances offer her a way to make her father love her?

“Why can’t I stay here with you?” The words slipped out before she could stop them, but once they were out, she had no desire to snatch them back.

Her father plucked his hat from the rack and straightened the cock’s feather on the side. “You know perfectly well why. Couldn’t you for once in your life comply with my wishes without an argument? There is no point to this discussion. You know as well as I that tensions between the government and the Cherokee are becoming dangerously strained. I don’t feel it’s safe for you to stay here. I’ve made my decision and I’ll not tolerate this debate.” Father placed the hat atop his head and twisted the end of his mustache. He stood with his polished boots spread and one hand tucked behind his back. His typical posture gave the appearance of a fortified stone wall.

“I’ve already received a letter from your aunt and she is expecting you by the middle of June.”

Abby itched to stamp her feet in frustration but such action would only strengthen her father’s argument. What if she simply refused to go? Surely Father wouldn’t bind her and forcibly toss her on the wagon. Would he? No, he’d never do anything so undignified, and the embarrassment she’d cause him with her refusal would only add to the long list of criticisms he kept in his head. She’d exhausted every plea. Nothing would change his mind.