“Yes, this is exactly what I am asking you. Miss Abagail, do you not already know how much I love you? If not, let me tell you again and again and for the rest of our lives. I love you. I love you. I love you, and I wish to keep you by my side from now and until, in body, we can no longer be together. I admit now that this is what I wished to tell you days ago when we were in the cave, but I dared not ask you then, being afraid I would scare you away from me.”
Abagail didn’t answer him in words. Instead, she threw herself into his arms.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, yes, yes and yes again! I love you so much, Skenan, and when you were gone for several days here recently and I didn’t know why you had gone or where, I realized I never wished to ever be parted from you. But, you must realize I do not know how to be your wife properly. I know nothing of your people. Perhaps”—she glanced shyly up at him—“you could teach me?”
“It will be my pleasure, you sweet, darling woman of mine.” And, then he kissed her again, once, and then over and over, as if to seal their pledge.
On this very night, they married. Colonel Gansevoot performed the ceremony, there being neither a priest nor a Protestant Reverend available to do the honors.
“I had hoped,” said Skenan, “to spend the night in the Oneida village of Oriska, but the town is now gone, burnt down by the Mohawks in revenge for the Oneida taking sides with the Americans.”
“It’s gone? It’s burned?”
“It is so,” he answered. “But, do not fear, my family lives in another town we know as Kanonwalohale. Perhaps if we leave here tonight, we will reach it in two days. Or maybe three.”
“Three days?”
He nodded. “Depending,” he said, “on how long we will decide to stay at the cave.”
She grinned, and, raising up onto her tiptoes, she kissed him. Then, looking up into his eyes, she whispered, “Do you think the pine bough will still be there?”
He laughed. “I think so, but if not, perhaps we can find another. I can think of no more perfect place for our first night together. Do you agree?”
“Oh my darling, I do agree with you…that is, if the bear has not already claimed the cave.”
Bending his head, he kissed her and said, “Then, we shall find another, and perhaps better, cave.”
Before leaving Fort Stanwix, Colonel Gansevoort stopped both Abagail and Skenan at the gate, inviting them to accompany him to his office, if only for a moment. Of course, both she and her husband agreed.
“What do you think this is all about?” asked Abagail of Skenan.
“I do not know,” he answered, shrugging. “But, of this I am aware. Colonel Gansevoort is a good friend, and so, although I am curious about what he intends, I am certain whatever he has to say will be helpful.”
As soon as the three of them stepped into the colonel’s office, Skenan was surprised to see the Rev. Samuel Kirkland standing toward the back of the room. And, he was holding the white man’s Good Book in his hands.
Said Colonel Gansevoort, “After I had married the two of you, I knew I could not let you leave this fort without asking Reverend Kirkland to come here to the fort as quickly as he could. His mission is, you see, to marry the both of you properly, within the eyes of God, or as you often call Him, my friend, The Creator.”
Skenan smiled. Then he said, “Both my wife and I are honored by your gesture, Colonel Gansevoort, and both my woman and I wish to thank you for causing this to happen.”
Reverend Kirkland cleared his throat before saying, “Then, if all is in order, I would ask you both to hold hands and to come stand here in front of me. I will conduct the wedding ceremony.”
Smiling down at the beautiful woman at his side, Skenandoah took Abagail’s hand into his hand, whereupon he led her toward the reverend, there to take their vows.
As soon as the wedding ceremony was completed, Colonel Gansevoort escorted both Abagail and Skenan, as well as the reverend, into his office where he invited the three of them to sit before him. And, when they were properly seated, Colonel Gansevoort gazed at Abagail and then at her husband, there being an odd look upon the colonel’s countenance. He hesitated for a moment, then said, “And now, I think I should tell the both of you, Miss Abagail, and you, Skenandoah, that I have found another compartment in this locket you brought to me.”
“Another compartment?” asked Abagail.
“It is, indeed, another chamber in it, though it is hidden behind the lining of the necklace. Strangely, I found a note there, perfectly folded.”
““Oh, my! You found another note?” asked Abagail. “Within the necklace? Has it to do with the war? I mean, is it also in code?”
“No, it is perfectly readable,” responded the colonel. “I think you both might like to see what is written there. Perhaps, after you read it, we might all decide upon the meaning of it. And so, Mrs. Skenandoah, might I give you this locket so you can see the note? I am very interested in your opinion of what this all might mean.” The Colonel handed Abagail the locket, which she proceeded to open with the clasp. Then, pulling back the lining of the jewelry, she brought the small, perfectly folded paper out of its hiding place and into the light. Unfolding the paper, she read aloud:
My Dearest Girl,
This locket would not exist but for my beloved. He entreated a trusted friend to fashion it for me, yet it is far more than a common ornament. It was born of love, wrought in silver, and shaped by steadfast devotion.
As you have now discovered, to awaken its wonder one need only place the locket upon her heart, and love shall surely find its way to you, thus fulfilling the locket’s true and intended purpose.
