Candace McCarthy (12 page)

“I’m Black-Hawk-Who-Hunts-at-Dawn” the brave said, “warrior of the
Anishinaabe,
friend to Daniel Trahern.”

Amelia relaxed and let out a breath of relief. “Black Hawk,” she said. “Yes, Daniel had told me about you. In fact, we have been waiting for your return.”

He nodded. “As you can see, this man has returned.” He glanced about, as if searching for his friend. “Where is my friend, Dan-yel?”

“He’s gone to the mission,” Amelia said. She explained about the attack, her missing father, and Daniel’s part in rescuing her. “He said it was the Sioux.”

Black Hawk’s face darkened. A hard glint had entered his dark eyes. Suddenly, Amelia could see that he would make a formidable enemy. She was chilled, but not overly scared by the change in him.

“I must go to my village,” he said. “Tell Dan-yel that he can find me there.”

Amelia nodded.

The brave’s expression softened as he returned his attention to Daniel’s child. “You must come for a visit.
En-yan
? “

Beaming, Susie nodded.
“Enyan’”
she said.

The warrior smiled.
“Mino
, Little Flower.”

Then the Ojibwa met Amelia’s gaze. “Until I see you again, Woman-with-Eyes-of-Deer.”

Amelia started, then felt inordinately pleased by the Indian’s name for her. He left her thinking, reevaluating her feelings once again about the red people the white men called savages.

Daniel paused on the threshold before entering the cabin. He had come back without the two men from the mission. Allen Whitely didn’t want to leave Will Thornton, and Will wasn’t fit enough to travel even a small distance yet. Amelia was going to be disappointed, he thought. He had questioned both men so he would, at least, be able to bring news if there was any, but he knew she wouldn’t be satisfied. The attack had been so quick, so unexpected, that neither the minister nor his young friend remembered seeing what happened to John Dempsey, Miriam Lathom, or any of the other missing people.

He didn’t see Susan or Amelia as he entered the cabin and quietly closed the door. Either they were in their bedchambers or in the kitchen work area in the back. He headed toward the kitchen first and was rewarded by the sound of their voices.

“It’s important to wash your hands before eating, Susie,” he heard Amelia say. He didn’t hear Susie’s answer.

“You don’t want to become ill, do you?”

“I won’t get sick just because my hands are dirty,” Susie replied. Daniel frowned as he heard the obstinacy in the child’s tone. “Everyone knows that a person gets ill when he washes too much.”

“That’s not exactly true,” Daniel said as he entered the
room. He saw Amelia’s look of gladness and gratitude. “You know that the Indians bathe daily, and none of them, Conner included, suffers any ill effects.”

Susie turned to him with a closed look. “That’s not the same thing.”

Daniel arched an eyebrow, and his niece blushed. “What’s the matter, sweeting? Why are you giving Amelia a hard time?”

Her mouth firmed. “I don’t need to learn all these things.”

“All what things?”

“How to dress ‘like a lady.’ “ She scowled. “I’m already a girl. Why do I need lessons to be what I already am?”

“We know you’re a girl, Susie,” Amelia said softly. “I just thought you might like to know what to do if you’re ever forced into polite society.”

Susie, ignoring Amelia, asked Daniel, “What’s polite society?”

Daniel had to stifle a smile. “There are people in the world who have certain expectations. They wear the right clothes, and they act the way others of their class expect them to.”

“What’s a class?”

Amelia thought about it and realized that she didn’t know how to explain without making “polite society” sound like a terrible thing. She and Daniel exchanged glances. She looked at him, her expression relaying the silent message that the telling would be up to him.

“Pa?” The child looked from one adult to the other.

“Susie,” he began with patience, “I asked Amelia to teach you a few things about what it is to be a woman, things your momma would be teaching you if she were here.”

Susie narrowed her gaze. “She’s not my momma.”

“No, I know that,” Daniel said. He met Amelia’s gaze. “We both know that.”

“No one can take the place of your mother,” Amelia added gently. She didn’t know why the child’s statement bothered her, because Susie had just been speaking the truth. She felt bad that the relationship between her and Susie which had started out well had suddenly become fraught with tension.

“Don’t be angry with Amelia because she’s doing what I asked her to do.”

Susie firmed her lips. “I don’t need to be no lady,” she replied stubbornly.

Daniel flashed Amelia a helpless glance. Amelia offered Susie a smile. “We’ll forget the lessons then, shall we?”

The child looked at her with mistrust, before transferring her gaze to Daniel. He nodded.

“If the lessons bother you, then we’ll forget about them for now.”

With a jerk of her head in agreement, Susie informed them that she’d prefer that the lessons were forgotten indefinitely.

With that discussion between them over, Susie left for her room, leaving Amelia and Daniel alone.

“Did Reverend Whitely come with you?” Amelia asked, looking beyond Daniel’s shoulder as if she expected the man to suddenly appear.

“No, Allen didn’t want to come. Will isn’t well enough to travel or be left alone.” He studied her closely. “I’m sorry. I did question them, but neither one of them remembered seeing your father or Miriam that morning.”

Amelia looked dejected by the news. “I thought—I’d hoped—that they’d remember something, anything, that might give us a clue to where we should start searching.”

“There is no ‘we’ about the search. I’ll look for your father and your friend. You will stay here where it’s safe.”

Her brown eyes flashed with anger. “He’s my father.”

“And you’re my responsibility!” he replied with growing heat.

“Since when am I
your
responsibility?” she exclaimed.

He scowled. “Since the minute I saved you from that Sioux warrior!”

The reminder made Amelia pause. Daniel saw several emotions cross her face—anger, gratitude, frustration, and finally resignation.

“I must learn what happened to my father,” she said, sounding choked up. Her gaze fell as if she didn’t want him to read her thoughts.

His own anger with her dissipated. “I know.” He moved closer, placed his hands on her shoulders, and drew her near. “I’m not insisting on this because I want you to feel frustrated or angry. The simple truth of the matter is that I won’t be able to do what I have to do to find your father if I have to worry about you and Susie.” He nudged her chin upward with his finger, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I was hoping you would take care of Susie for me. I know she seems resentful right now—”

Amelia brushed his concern aside with a shake of her head. “She and I got along quite well at first. She’ll come around once she realizes that I don’t really want to change her.” She smiled, but he could see it was forced.

“I’m not sure that Susie needs to learn all those things that ‘polite society’ put so much stock in,” she said. “Most of the folks back East have no idea what it’s like to live out here, out anywhere beyond their city life. I can’t see Susie ever wanting to live in the city. It’s obvious to me that she loves it here in the wilderness.” She hesi
tated, biting her lower lip as if she had something to say, but she wasn’t sure she knew how to say it.

“Daniel, there is nothing wrong with Susie just as she is. She’s a bright and inquisitive child. The thought of her in the midst of most people I used to know back in Baltimore frightens me. She’s a sweet little girl, and you’ve done a wonderful job with her.”

He felt an infusion of warmth as he held her gaze. “You mean that, don’t you.”

She nodded. “I do.”

Daniel felt himself sway closer to her. He reminded himself that it wasn’t wise to become involved with this woman, but argument and reason seemed to have escaped him in the face of his desire.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

Her smile was tentative as she pulled back and put distance between them. “Are you hungry? I made you something to eat.”

He was surprised. “You fixed me breakfast when you didn’t know when I’d be back?”

She met his gaze with a grin. “I baked. Baked goods hold well for hours after they’re done.” She gestured toward the worktable. “Of course, I baked enough for three men, so I guess the three of us will be eating enough for five.” She smiled crookedly. “Unless we share with Jack.”

“If only Black Hawk would come,” Daniel said. “He’d not say no to a baked pastry.”

Something flickered across Amelia’s expression. “Your friend—Black Hawk—he’s back.”

“Oh, did Rebb tell you?”

“Rebb?”

“Rebb Colfax? A grizzly bear of a man? Gray hair and whiskers? You met him when you first came.”

She looked confused. “Oh, was he here? I haven’t seen
him.” She paused. “But I did see your Indian friend.” She looked embarrassed. “In fact, he scared the wits out of me when I opened the door this morning and saw him standing there.” She appeared reflective. “I’m not sure who was more surprised by the encounter—Black Hawk or me.”

Daniel frowned as he envisioned the scene. “Rebb promised he’d stay and watch the house.”

“If Susie hadn’t woken up and recognized him when she did, I’m afraid I might have done something to cause a war between you and your Indian friends. I thought he was Sioux.” She shuddered.

Daniel looked at her with regret. He understood about her fear after the attack. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. I didn’t think he’d come himself. I figured he’d send Rain-from-Sky, and I’d be here when he came. You’ve met him, haven’t you?”

Amelia nodded. “Black Hawk’s brother. I must admit I’m confused about my feelings toward the Indians. I realize some of them are friendly. In fact, I’ve met those who are …” Her eyes fell, and her voice lowered. “But the attack on the mission … I’ll never be able to forget that. I’m afraid I’ll feel terrified whenever I see an Indian now. I wish it were different. Father and I came here to help.” She trembled and hugged herself with her arms. “I wonder how Father feels now.” She closed her eyes as her features contorted with grief.

“Please,” she whispered, “don’t let him be dead.”

Daniel pulled her into his arms and held her. “He’s alive, Amelia. You must believe that. He’s suffered no harm.”

She leaned against him, burrowing in his arms like a child. He enjoyed that she trusted him. With his face buried in her hair, he hugged her tighter.

“Daniel,” she said softly after a while.

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

In answer, Daniel kissed the top of Amelia’s head.

“This man knows what happened to the mission. Your woman told me.” He paused to accept a bark bowl of steaming rice from his sister, thanked her with a nod, and passed it to his friend. “Your woman said it was our enemy, the Sioux.”

Daniel stared at his Indian friend and nodded. He watched Black Hawk’s face darken. The warrior had been long seeking vengeance on the Sioux people, since he was a boy and a band of Sioux had ambushed an Ojibwa hunting party and murdered his father. It had been Black Hawk’s first hunt, a memorable day—and a dark one. The young boy had witnessed his father and another adult member of the hunting party being tortured and killed slowly … and painfully. Black Hawk had managed to escape, taking with him a hatred of the Sioux and a need for revenge. The bitter hatred toward the Sioux that lay in the brave’s heart continued to this day.

But Black Hawk picked his battles wisely. He was a respected Ojibwa war chief, and he was Daniel’s good friend. Daniel recognized what drove the warrior and hoped that someday Hawk would know peace.

“There has been no sign of them since, but I’ve asked for your feelings on this.” He trusted Black Hawk. They’d met as children at the settlement at Michilimackinac when the young Indian had come to Robert Trahern’s blacksmith shop with his uncle.

“I have sent men to scout the area. If there are Sioux in hiding, my people will find them.” There was a glint
in Black Hawk’s eyes. A look that said the man made a formidable enemy. Daniel was glad Hawk was his friend.

“So, Woman-with-Eyes-of-Deer resides in your lodge now,” Black Hawk said.

Daniel raised his eyebrows.

“Woman-with-Eyes-of-Deer … the one Little Flower calls Am-e-lia.”

“You gave Amelia an Indian name?” Daniel was surprised. He studied his friend and saw a man who attracted female attention. He began to wonder what Amelia thought of Black Hawk. Had she been drawn to the intelligence, the fire in his dark gaze? He narrowed his gaze, noting through the open doorway the way a passing Indian maiden stared at Hawk with unconcealed longing. There were several women in his community who would take Hawk as husband, but so far, Hawk had preferred a solitary life.

“You don’t like my Ojibwa name for your woman?”

My woman.
Daniel felt a burst of gladness at the thought. He quickly fought his feelings, knowing that it was the wrong time for him to have a woman. He recalled her glistening brown gaze, realized that Hawk’s name was an appropriate one for Amelia. “It suits her.” He turned his attention to the food before him. He ate a spoonful of steaming meat and wild rice. It tasted delicious.

He felt Black Hawk’s continued gaze as he chewed and swallowed his food. He glanced at the brave questioningly. “What?”

Black Hawk eyed him thoughtfully. “You have another Indian name for Woman-with-Eyes-of-Deer?”

Daniel started to shake his head, but then he smiled as another name came to mind that accurately portrayed her. He was sure that of the two names Amelia would appreciate only Black Hawk’s.

“Tree-That-Will-Not-Bend,” he said finally. He grinned.

“Eya’,”
Black Hawk said with an answering grin. “She is beautiful like a tree but stubborn.”

Daniel wasn’t sure he liked the fact that his friend had noticed that Amelia was beautiful. Hell, he’d been blind to her true beauty at first. To realize that Black Hawk had seen something special in Amelia from the start bothered him.

Then he remembered that Black Hawk had also called Amelia “your woman,” as if he recognized and understood that Amelia belonged to Daniel.

“You are wise for an Ojibwa,” Daniel teased.

“And you are all right,” Black Hawk began in a perfect imitation of the white man’s English, “—for a
Wyaubishkizzidinin ‘e.”