A Journey of the Heart Collection (17 page)

“My, my, you do have an exalted opinion of me, don't you? Well, you just run on back to your precious Rand and let me take care of my own affairs. But don't think this is the last of our discussion.” He caught her by the wrist and pulled her into a tight embrace. She fought to get away, but he pulled her closer and tipped her chin up. “I mean to have you, Sarah. One way or the other. Things will never be over between us.”

When he released her, she dashed for the door. Isaac had dismounted. His gaze searched hers, and his lips tightened. “Did he hurt you?”

Her eyes burned, but she shook her head. “Let's go home.”

The next day Sarah watched the parade ground from the window as Ben arrived with five horses to take possession of his bride. In a beautifully beaded dress bleached to a pale yellow, Morning Song was seated on a horse almost the color of her dress. Her unbound hair, rippling past her waist, gleamed in the weak sunshine as she followed her new husband out of the fort. Sarah wept as she saw her friend's glowing face look back one last time.

The next day the weather made one of its drastic changes. The temperature plummeted, and the wind picked up. Then the blizzard Rooster had predicted struck in all its fury. The wind howled and blew snow through cracks around the windows. They all had to fight to keep the fires going in the fireplace. Jacob finally gave up the fight in the bedroom and dragged the bed and their belongings out into the kitchen.

They hung blankets over the doorway into the hall to try to block the flow of cold air. By the time
the storm had vented its full fury, there were drifts of snow over the windows. Jacob opened the door only to be met with a column of snow completely covering the opening. They were effectively buried until the enlisted men dug them out. Sarah spent the day making loaves of bread while Amelia worked on a quilt. It was evening before they heard the scraping of shovels and friendly hellos from outside the door.

Sarah stood beside Jacob as he opened the door and two half-frozen men stumbled inside, their faces, beards, hair, and clothing all packed with snow.

“Glad to see you all are all right,” the youngest private sputtered as he complied with Sarah's urging and took off his coat before staggering toward the fire. “The colonel said to tell you to stay inside tonight. We got a path dug out pert near all around the post so we can get from building to building. And the wood detail will be here with a load soon.”

Amelia poured them all a cup of hot coffee and offered them bread and jam, which they accepted with alacrity. “Much obliged, ma'am.” The young private got to his feet when the last crumb of bread was devoured. “We best be heading back to check with the colonel.”

They saw their deliverers to the door and peered
out the narrow path left by their busy shovels. “It looks like a maze,” Sarah said, unable to believe what she saw. The snow towered over twelve feet in many places. The narrow path trailed down the steps and around the corner toward Old Bedlam.

Jacob saw her shivering and shut the door. “You girls had better stay in until the weather breaks. Feels like it's at least twenty below. Exposed skin freezes in seconds in this kind of temperature.”

The weather didn't break for days. There would be a couple of days of bright sunshine, but the temperatures were way below zero, and the wind howled and blew the snow into ever-changing drifts. Those days would be followed by more snow and yet more snow. Sarah and Amelia took to pacing around the tiny quarters when Jacob and Rand were gone on duty. Jacob was sent out on telegraph duty several times, he was officer of the day three times, and he took his turn guarding the cattle and horse herds. They all tried to keep busy. Sarah played endless games of checkers with Joel and Amelia while Jacob and Rand saw to their duties.

Mail hadn't been able to get through either. Sarah longed for news from home. Surely Rachel had delivered the baby by now.

Jacob kept them informed of the goings-on at the post. Big Ribs had returned with the Corn band of Brulé ready to make peace. Then Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses trudged in with his band of Oglala. The winter had been hard on all of them.

Sarah was forced to discontinue the lessons with the Indian children. The weather was too cold for the little ones to be out, but she intended to start again in the spring. Her thoughts turned often to Morning Song. How was Ben treating her? She continued her lessons with Joel, in spite of his protests. But no amount of activity could distract her long from her worry about her friend.

EIGHT

T
he weather finally broke and with its usual capriciousness turned unseasonably balmy. Sarah slid a plate of eggs in front of Jacob. “I heard you tell Amelia you were going to the trading post today. Could I come along? I want to visit Morning Song.”

He hesitated, then nodded. “I'll have to take a couple more men along for protection. Make sure you dress warm.”

She hurried to do his bidding. About an hour later, she hurried across the open parade ground
toward the stable. Jacob and Isaac, along with five other soldiers, were waiting with a mount for her, and they set off for the Indian encampment around the trading post.

The little settlement was full of Indians and trappers when they arrived. Sioux women stood around smoky fires patiently, but Sarah didn't see her friend. Isaac pointed out Ben's cabin, set off in a grove of trees by itself.

“I'll keep Ben busy,” he promised.

Sarah dismounted and hurried toward the cabin. No one answered her first knock, so she rapped harder. Finally the door opened, and Morning Song peered around the door.

“Sarah,” she gasped. She started to shut the door, but Sarah saw the marks on her face and pushed her way in.

“Oh, Morning Song,” was all she could say for a moment. The young woman's face was marred by ugly purple and yellow bruises. One eye was swollen almost shut, and her lips were split and puffy. Morning Song cried softly as Sarah took her in her arms.

Morning Song pulled away and wiped at her eyes gingerly with the hem of her apron. “Do not look at me.”

Sarah brushed the hair out of her friend's face.
“Why have you stayed? Didn't you know I would take you in?”

Morning Song lifted her hands, palms upward. “Ben is always watching me. He says if I leave, he will make me sorry. He says he will hurt you.”

Sarah gathered the young woman back into her arms. “Don't you worry about Ben. He can't hurt me. The blue coats won't let him.” She released her. “Get your buffalo robe and any possessions you want. You're coming with me.”

When Morning Song was ready, Sarah opened the door cautiously and looked around. No one seemed to be paying any attention to the little cabin. “You stay in the trees. We'll meet you just over the knoll.”

Morning Song nodded and slipped away soundlessly. Sarah hurried along the path and quickly mounted her horse. She told one of the soldiers to wait for Jacob while she took the others and started for home. Her heart pounded. If Ben looked out and saw her, he'd know for sure that something was up. She looked back as she rounded the bend. There was no hue and cry, so she began to breathe easier.

When she crested the knoll, she heard a scuffle and a cry to her right. “Morning Song,” she called.

She urged her horse through the frozen brush with the soldiers following her. As she crashed through the thicket, she saw Morning Song struggling with a man. “Let go of her, Labe.”

He looked up, his eyes startled. “Ben will have my hide,” he whined. “I'm s'posed to see she doesn't get away. It's nothing to you, Sarah.”

“Look at her, Labe. Go on. Look at her. Do you honestly think Ben has a right to beat her like that?”

Labe glanced at the Indian girl's battered face and dropped his eyes. “You know how Ben can be.”

“I know. Now let go of her.”

Labe's hand fell away, and Morning Song picked up her bundle and scurried toward Sarah. Sarah reached out a hand and helped her swing up on the back of her horse.

“Ben's going to be mad.”

“You tell him to stay away from me and Morning Song.” She nodded to the privates who had followed her, and they all crashed back through the thicket to the trail.

Isaac and the detachment were just rounding the crest of the knoll as they arrived. Isaac whistled when he saw Morning Song's face. “Ben do that?”

Sarah nodded, her lips tight. “Thanks for keeping him busy.”

“No problem. We'd better hurry, though. He'll be after us any minute. He said something about going home for lunch. As soon as he sees she's missing, he's going to be hunting for her.”

“He'll know where to look. Labe saw us.” She quickly told him and Jacob the full story as they kicked their horses and galloped toward the safety of the fort.

When they reached the fort, Morning Song insisted on going to the Indian encampment. “I must see my father. He will wish to know.”

Sarah and Jacob exchanged a long look. This could cause a major incident.

Sarah helped Amelia hang up clothes on a line strung around the living room. The scent of lye soap stung her eyes, and she rubbed her reddened hands in the folds of her skirt. “I think I should go check on Morning Song. She should have been back by now. What if Ben waylaid her?”

“Jacob had a couple of soldiers watching. I don't
think he could get her.” Amelia put on her cloak. “I'm going to the sutler's store for a few things. Want to come?”

She shook her head. “I want to wait here for Morning Song.”

With the house empty, she paced the floor and waited. The cannon boomed as the soldiers went through the flag-lowering ritual. Maybe Ben was going to let Morning Song leave without protest.

Then a fist came down on the front door so hard that a picture on the wall by the door fell to the floor. Ben bellowed from the other side. Sarah picked up the picture. She just wouldn't answer. Maybe he'd go away. Her gaze went to the doorknob. She didn't remember locking it after Amelia left.