They now had three children, but it was their oldest son, John, who was the focus of Elijah’s interest. Hannah compensated by being especially attentive to the two girls. She had considered Elijah to be overly concerned about possible Indian attacks, but now appreciated his insistence that she and John become expert in the use of the family rifle.

Two weeks after the barn burned, their closest neighbor, John Dooly, came to visit and they naturally talked about Alamance and the hangings in Hillsborough.

“That’s not the end of it,” said Dooly. “Tryon has moved most of his militia into this territory and they are looking for anyone who has been active in the Regulators. Every man in this part of the colony is being ordered to come to his local courthouse and swear an oath of allegiance to the government.”

“Well, I’ll swear before God I won’t do it,” said Elijah, and turned to Hannah. “We’ll just have to move.”

•  •  •

A year later, the Clarkes were struggling to make ends meet on their small farm in South Carolina, still living in a tiny log cabin that was in no way equal to the one they had left behind. Elijah’s kinfolks had not been generous, and gave him land in hilly country on weak and rocky soil. He and Hannah were quite discouraged and talked every now and then about returning to North Carolina, especially to the Watauga Valley in the far west, where many of their neighbors had gone.

Unlike his wife, Elijah didn’t make friends easily. He was a strong-willed and confident man, seldom doubtful once he made up his mind, and not inclined to admit having ever made a mistake. Hannah had learned to accommodate these traits and to accept his making major decisions without consulting her, but other men preferred not to suffer his domineering attitude nor to be around him except for casual conversations. The one exception was Aaron Hart, who saw in Elijah the characteristics that he himself lacked.