Taya: Daughter of Jacob

By Loraine Scott

In the days of the Nephite Judges, one man decided he wanted to be King. Two political parties emerge–the Kingmen and the Freeman. Taya’s father, Jacob, is called to head-up the Freeman. Moving his family to Zarahemla did not go as planned. First, Lamanites attack his countryside compound, intent on killing Taya and her older brother, Kai, but even that did not compare in magnitude to what happened once the youngest members of the family are safely behind the walls of the famed city of Zarahemla. Sixteen-year old Taya falls in love with Micah, the son of Pachus, the man who would be King. Equally concerning to Pachus is that Micah returns her affections and converts to her beliefs, turning from obedient son to avowed enemy. Taya and Micah’s lives are filled with happiness and sadness, adventure and peril, joy and tragedy while each struggles to maintain their grip on their relationship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Loraine Scott
• Release date: Aug 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463068908

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TAYA

DAUGHTER OF JACOB

Loraine Scott

Taya, Daughter of Jacob

Copyright © 2018

Loraine Scott

Cover Design by Loraine Scott

Cover Photograph by ShutterStock

Smashword Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Author’s Note

About the Author

Chapter One

War hung heavy over the Nephites, but despite the reports of small skirmishes near the southern borders, nothing significant between Lamanites and the Nephites had happened in the past eight years—Zarahemla was certainly untouchable.

With the season’s tree harvest completed, the business end of the family company required some face-to-face communication in Zarahemla. Jacob and Ona, his wife, left three days before, putting their two youngest children in charge of the compound until their return. Kai, their seventeen-year-old son, was to provide food and take care of the work animals. Taya, the youngest, a daughter of 16, was assigned the house and the domestic animals.

Procrastinating his responsibilities, Kai decided he’d enlist his sister’s help in cleaning out the horse stalls. Assigning his sister the job of pushing the dung-filled wheelbarrow out to the manure pile didn’t go as he’d anticipated.

When father left, Taya said, "he was very specific about what we were to do." Her hands, balled into fists, were placed firmly on her hips, her eyes tiny slits, her lips a tight line.

What if they come home tomorrow and this job is not done? Kai said.

You’ll be in trouble—not me. You need to learn to be obedient, Taya said, fixed firmly in her stance.

Kai had moved the foul-smelling wheelbarrow and dropped it in front of Taya. The stench belched up. Come on Tay. I’d help you if you needed me to.

It’s nighttime, Taya said, her fingers pinching her nose closed. You’ve had all day to do these chores. Mine are done, by the way, and you wasted your time fiddling with that arrow thing you do—

"You mean, making them?"

"Whatever. I’m not pushing this cart."

It’s a wheelbarrow. And… oh, never mind. I’ll do it myself.

Fine. Taya flipped her long dark hair with her hand and headed for the stall doors. Reaching the paddock area, Taya abruptly stopped.

Something had moved outside.

Taya looked behind her. It wasn’t Kai. He was still filling the wheelbarrow.

Making herself flat against the structure wall, Taya stood motionless and looked out into the night.

There it was again. A slight movement. A soft footfall she could barely hear. A jangle.

Lamanites.

Turning back toward Kai, Taya tried to get his attention.

Psst.

He had bent over to heft the heavy barrow, his back to her.

Kai, she said, barely breathing his name—he still didn’t hear.

Again looking outside, Taya saw a dark figure lurking against the house wall. The light from the window cast a partial silhouette out into the dirt yard. His hand held some kind of weapon—maybe a club.

Leaving her spot, Taya raced to Kai and grabbed his shoulder.

Gee, Kai said. Jumping and dropping the wheelbarrow, he put his hand on his chest. What?

Taya was waiving her hands, shushing her brother. Lamanites—outside. She stretched her eyes wide and tipped her head toward the opened doors.

Here? What? Where? Kai turned toward the doors and saw a dark shadow—a spot, really, on the packed dirt floor near the entrance, move.

Run, Kai said to Taya, pushing her toward the back of the stalls. A small rear access was hidden behind a stack of hay bundles.

Stumbling a bit, Taya did start to run but, turning back toward Kai, she saw that he had not. Follow me, she hollered.

Just go. Kai grabbed a hay fork from a hook and stood resolute.

Don’t be stupid, Kai. Just come with me. Taya stopped in her tracks then jumped up and down on her toes. Come on.

Out from the darkness stepped a large muscular man wearing only an animal hide around his waist. He was wielding a stout wooden club studded with sharp bones, his hair shaved except for a long plaited lock hanging over his forehead. Silver discs jangled from the braid. Bone shards and polished rocks hung from leather straps twisted around his wrists and ankles.

A sneer covered his dark face as he swung the club around in slow circles.

Another man, similarly dressed, stepped in alongside him. A crude sword clutched in both his hands, a sheathed knife tied around his hip. They spoke to each other in a language neither Kai nor Taya understood, but their intent was obvious.

Throwing down his improvised weapon, Kai physically pushed Taya toward the back door and followed close behind.

Once outside, Taya ran away from the house. Over here, Kai. Turning, she saw him a few feet behind her. This way. I have a place… Ducking as an object flew over her head, Taya yelled, Faster. Go left. The darkness enclosed around Taya as she drove further away from the light of their home.

Following his sister, Kai ran into the dark, banking on his familiarity with the grounds. He had never before run with as much determination and with as much fear. Crisp leaves crunched under his feet. Vines slashed against his ankles. He reached the trees that surrounded the family’s compound. He could hear the Lamanites behind him. Kai dove into a bramble, then out again on the other side. The trees were thicker. He was hidden from his pursuers, but he could still hear their bare feet pounding against the ground somewhere behind him.

Kai could no longer see Taya. Her voice called out directions—This way—turn right—a little further. She ran like a deer. Light from the toenail moon occasionally broke through the heavy canopy of the surrounding forest, but the light was not enough to be running blind into the trees. He wished she would be quiet.

As if his wish were granted, he could no longer hear his sister’s voice. From out of nowhere she stepped in front of him, nearly knocking him over. Here, she said.

Sliding feet first, Taya disappeared into what looked like a rabbit hole. Stunned, Kai hesitated. Out of the darkness, he heard a thud; felt an ache in his shoulder blade. He thought he’d been hit with a rock, but then a burning pain pierced deep into his body. He fell forward into blackness.

Chapter Two

Taya’s heart pounded in her ears. Her breath came in gasps. Sweat ran into her eyes. Wiping it away, she stilled her breathing and listened.

Leaves crackled outside.

They were looking for them—probably right outside. Taya held her breath, willing her heartbeat to calm. Closing her eyes, she turned her head quickly to her right—the direction the noise had come from—and then, very slowly, to her left. Footsteps were nearby—no more than a few feet away. She opened her eyes slowly—squinting into the darkness. Except for the gauzy moonbeams floating lazily through the thick foliage, it was dark—really dark.

If I can’t see them, Taya thought, they can’t see me. The soft footsteps moved away. Taya breathed again. Men’s voices drifted through the stillness.

She wasn’t sure, but there had probably been more than the two they’d seen in the yard.

Crunching again.

Farther away now.

Sighing, Taya turned her attention back toward Kai. He had fallen head first into her lair and nearly on top of her. He was unconscious; his breathing labored. Attempting to move Kai, Taya’s hand brushed something hard sticking out of Kai’s back. Taya closed her eyes, forced her mind to focus, and cautiously touched the object—metal. Her heart sank.

A Lamanite knife had found its target.

An intricately carved hilt about seven inches long extended from Kai’s shoulder—the blade buried in his flesh. Despair nearly caused Taya to break into sobs. His only hope lie in its position. Pulling together her courage, she calmed her anxious mind. Hoping and praying that it had missed anything vital, Taya unwound the teal sash from around her waist.

Thump.

Her knife had fallen on the dirt floor.

Fearing the noise had been heard by the Lamanites, Taya froze. With her eyes scrunched shut, she listened for any outside movement.

Nothing—not even a cricket chirped. Concentrating, she waited. One cricket began then another and another until the forest air was filled with their comforting song.

Exhaling, Taya cautiously wrapped her sash around the base of the knife—crumpling it as tightly as she could. She rolled her tongue over her dry lips and clenched her teeth tightly together.

Pressing her left hand tightly against the wad of silk at the base of blade, Taya grabbed the cold hilt with her right hand and slowly tugged.

Ahh, Kai moaned deeply, his breath quickening. He jerked his arm toward the source of the pain, groaning again.

Shhh, Taya said as she covered her brother’s face with her body, listening again for any noise from outside her secret hiding place. The crickets were still singing. Good. Pressing her lips against Kai’s ear, Taya breathed out, Do not make any noise. I’m going to pull the knife out. You have to be quiet.

Taya pulled again—steady and deliberate.

Kai was quiet, but his muscles went taut. His back arched. Sweat flooded his skin. Gasping, he quivered once.

Taya again licked her lips, ignoring the single tear that rolled down her cheek.

The steel blade came out from Kai’s shoulder with slight sucking sound. Feeling the warm, thick blood ooze from the wound, Taya pressed all her weight over her left arm, pushing her sash and her palm directly over the wound. She remained that way for several seconds while she dug with her other hand into her medical pouch.

Why didn’t I think to make this before I took out the knife? thought Taya, scolding herself. Taya struggled with the small flask but finally, using her teeth, popped the cork, and poured the dried herbs onto the fresh, trumpet-tree leaf just as she had seen her mother do on many occasions. She replaced the bloodied sash with the leaf poultice and resumed her pressure.

Holding the sash up to a stream of filtered moonlight breaking in between her foliage ceiling, she examined the stained areas. Not too much blood. No major damage then.

But definitely ruined, she thought, as she wrapped the bloody sash around Kai’s shoulder and around his chest, gently rolling him to reach around his muscular body.

Kai, barely conscious, reached around with his weakened arm and lightly touched his sister’s leg. Thank you, his said, his voice barely a whisper. Thank you.

Shhh, Taya breathed out. Taking his hand, she placed it next to his body, trying to relax the muscle that had been damaged by the sharp steel. Barely above a sigh, she said, Rest now. We’re safe here. Taya stroked her brother’s black hair. His body was hot. The fever had begun. Taya knew the Lamanites dipped their knives in venom. One way or the other, the knife was meant to kill.

Taya’s heart beat faster. Think, she thought. What did Mom say—what herb? Keeping pressure on the wound, Taya began searching her memory for the right medicine to save her brother’s life. She had it written in her journal, but she could not reach it tucked away in the corner of her hiding place.

Heavenly Father, she pleaded quietly, help me.

Her plea had barely left her mind when another thought took its place as gently as a butterfly lighting upon a leaf. A weight, that’s what I need. Afraid she had spoken too loud—she knew that sounds carried in the forest—Taya repeatedly tapped her forehead and shook her head slightly. Stupid, stupid.

Listening again for the reassuring sounds of the night critters, she knew it was safe. Acting on her prompting, Taya removed her shoe—soft brown leather embroidered on the sides with delicate red flowers—and scooped dirt into it. Twisting the ankle strap around the top made a solid weight pliable enough to mold to Kai’s shoulder. Estimating that it was heavy enough to do the trick, Taya whispered, Thank you, Father.

Kai had fallen into a deep sleep. His breath was light but steady. His body, drenched in perspiration, lay perfectly still. Taya could not let him slip away too far. Too far, and she would be helpless to bring him back. The poison would slowly snuff out his breath; his life would float away, with her unable to stop it.

Taya could not risk lighting a candle. She stumbled in the darkness toward the corner of her bower. Her fingers touched the book. Holding it toward the moonlight, she turned the pages carefully. If she could just make out the words, just make out one or two and maybe jog her memory.

Witches bane, that’s it, she thought. I have it in my bag.

Taya struggled to recall the way her mother had prepared the antidote. Soaking the leaves until they became a thick, sticky gel, drinking a full cup—not just a sip—was important. The body had to be covered with the goop and wrapped tightly to keep in the heat the medicine would create. After the gel dried to a greenish crust, the skin had to be sponged clean taking the poison with it. Taya had stored some water in her cache but not enough to cover her brother’s body. He was so tall.

Struggling with Kai’s 200-pound dead weight—which proved no match against her determination—Taya dragged his body into the middle of the hiding place. His legs threw dust into the air from the dirt floor. She fought against coughing.

The small shoe weight fell off. Kai groaned. Taya wiped her face with her tunic sleeve, and replaced the weight. Touching Kai’s face tenderly, she whispered, It will work, Brother.

Moving some of her possessions to other areas to give her working room, she re-secured the bandage and hunted for a clean cloth. Finding a small spongy towel, she dipped it in the cool water and placed it at the nape of Kai’s neck. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Rest—just rest.

Taya peeked out the entrance of her refuge. All she saw was darkness, separated by the shafts of moonlight. Poking her head out, she listened for any signs of movement.

Nothing.

Stillness.

Crickets in the distance.

The night was beautiful. The moon was high above the tops of the trees. Spreading apart the thick ferns covering her hiding place, Taya crawled out and crouched in the shelter of the ancient trees.

Slowly and noiselessly, she made her way back to her home, the lantern’s glow visible behind the shuttered windows. Taya willed herself to look neither right nor left. Fear forced her to stop several times before she reached the back door. Looking back toward her secret bowery, Taya thought of Kai burning with fever, slowly dying. Standing a bit taller, she pushed open the door of the house.

Inside the hallway was a voluminous clay vessel filled with cold water. It was too heavy to move, but on a nearby shelf, Taya found leather pouches, each one ample enough to hold a day’s supply of drinking water. Taya took five pouches and filled them. Slinging them over her shoulders, she looked around for a heavy cloth. Taya’s mother was a weaver, so Taya knew there would be lots of cloths, but which one would be the best? It had to be tightly woven to keep in the heat. Most of the clothing fabric was loosely woven to stay cool in the summer heat.

In the storage room, Taya found the cupboard where the tablecloths were kept. These will work; they are woven tightly, she thought. Taking two of the largest pieces, Taya grasped them to her chest, and silently retraced her footsteps.

As she reached the back door, she felt something brush her legs.

Her heart stopped. Looking down, she saw a hairy ball of fur.

Oh… oh, Mango, she whispered. You scared me. Taya picked up her orange-colored dog. The animal, who could not bark, whimpered and wagged his stubby tail.

Mango, poor thing, you are shivering. Are you scared? Everything will be all right. Taya snuggled the dog close to her face and scratched his ears. Putting him back on the tile floor, Taya said in a whisper, Follow me. We have to get back to Kai. Remember, we have to be quiet.

Laden with water pouches and tablecloths, Taya slowly opened the door part way. A warm breeze touched her face. She stood silently, listening.

The dog started out the door from between Taya’s feet. Then, with a questioning look, he turned back toward Taya. All right—I’m coming, she whispered. She took two steps out into the yard and cautiously closed the door. Looking around, she scoured the trees and nearby outbuildings for shadows that might not belong. Taya’s ears were listening for out-of-place noises. Finally, feeling safe, she followed the secret path back to her shelter, Mango at her side.

Taya had discovered her shelter when she was ten years old. Then her home had been filled with many sisters and brothers—Taya was the youngest of six. Three sisters and another brother—the eldest—made up the rest of her siblings. Now, everyone but Taya and Kai were married and away from home. She had shared a room with her oldest sister, Sariah, who had been preparing for her marriage. In those days, the entire household had been in constant turmoil. Taya had had no place to think, to prepare or plan her life—no place to just be.

The day she discovered her bowery, she had been walking in the woods with Mango’s mother, Olive, and had thrown a stick for the dog to fetch. Taya’s aim was off, and the stick hit a thick clump of ferns. Olive had chased the stick into the ferns but did not come out again.

Taya had pushed her way into the lush growth, following the eager animal and fell headlong into her den. There, surrounded by the dense greenery, Taya felt a peace unlike she had ever before known and discovered a perfect hiding place—a sanctuary. It was almost a cave—C-shaped.

The inside walls were created by the roots of three closely-growing mahogany trees as they twisted and knotted together deep into the soil. The entrance sloped down, but the floor was level—covered with smooth hard-pan. Full-leafed ferns surrounded the opening; the branches from the trees formed the roof.

That summer when she was ten, Taya had stood in the center, had raised her arms over her head without touching the thick boughs against the ceiling, and inhaled the odor of the fragrant earth below her. As she had stood there, eyes closed, she realized she could make this haven her very own.

Taya’s secret place was far enough from the family’s back yard to block out the noisy chatter from the house but close enough to hear her father call her name. Every day, Taya spent time there. When her sisters would ask where she had been, she’d shrug her shoulders and say, Around.

In the back of the bowery, away from the light of the entrance, was a small niche in the walls of the shelter. It became Taya’s cache and was soon filled with her favorite things. A wall hanging made for her tenth birthday by her mother was proudly hung from the roots of one of the mahogany trees.

Combining candle bits into a forgotten jar, she created her own lamp. Dishes and pots her mother had discarded because of a small chip or two found their way from the garbage into Taya’s cache. Discarded wood scraps became shelves in the shelter. A wobbly stool became a chair. Old fabric became bedding.

It was not long before Taya had a fully-furnished hideout. At first, she had played house or dolls in her hideout, but as she grew older, she used the time there to read and to write in her journal. As the years went by and Taya became a young woman of sixteen, the haven took on new significance. It was her place to dream of her future.

Jacob, Taya’s father, was a tree harvester. His father and grandfather before him had been harvesters. From them, Jacob had inherited hundreds of acres of wooded lands covered with many varieties of trees. For each tree that was uprooted, a new seedling was planted in its place. The trees—all varieties—were then delivered to a cutter who made them into lumber for building materials. Taya’s oldest brother, Ethem, worked in Zarahemla selling the trees and providing Taya’s father with new orders for harvesting.

Kai was learning the art of harvesting—reluctantly since his heart was set on joining Moroni’s army and defending the country.

Jacob was highly praised for his expertise in selecting the correct tree at its ideal age so the lumber production would be of the highest yield and the evolution process of nature would not be disturbed.

Resolute in his thinking, Jacob would not discuss the possibility of his youngest son joining the army. He had lost three of his brothers to the war, and Jacob hoped to spare Kai from the grim realities of battle. The past several months had fostered a breach between father and son. In his anger and frustration, Kai was like a volcano about to erupt.

Taya, a little over a year younger than Kai, and in spite of being just a girl watched anxiously as her father and brother moved toward an inevitable blow up.

Happily, Jacob and Ona’s trip to Zarahemla postponed any confrontation as the parents left Kai in charge of house, barns, animals and his very-relieved sister, Taya.

Now, as Taya cared for Kai in her bowery, she realized it was for this very situation that she had been preparing her secret hiding place. It had been several months since the last Lamanite attack and that had taken place more than fifty miles to the east. The villagers had been certain they were now safe, so it was with great surprise when Kai and Taya saw the marauders approaching their house.

Taya reached the haven’s entrance seconds after Mango who, without hesitation, rushed inside. Standing just beyond the entrance, Taya waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She could hear the whimpering of Mango; the labored breathing of Kai. She wondered if she should light a candle but then quickly dismissed the idea since the light might be seen for miles away though she had no idea how far away the Lamanites had gone.

Don’t lick Kai, Taya said softly to Mango, who was busy washing Kai’s face with her tongue. He’s going to be all right. Lie down on your blanket and let me go to work.

Haltingly, Mango wandered to the corner where Taya had tossed an old blanket. After circling the area several times, the dog plopped down on the rumpled pile, letting out a deep sigh.

Taya began mixing the ingredients she had collected and dumped them into a chipped onyx serving bowl. Once she started on the formula, her mind recalled every detail of the recipe—how well to mix and how long to wait until the mixture became a gel.

It was ready. What seemed like forever to Taya had really