Savage Conquest (37 page)

Miranda was so ecstatic about her quest the next
morning that she could hardly sleep that night.
Miranda felt that both Jane and Tom were trustworthy; both had been told of her goal. Jane had teased that the North Pole would melt before either of
them betrayed her to a single soul. Both found her
secret intriguing and stimulating. It was rare to have
a daughter of an Indian princess and granddaughter
of a famous chief as a friend. Miranda recalled how
Tom's dark eyes had glittered with excitement, and
she was very aware of his rugged good looks and
powerfully built frame. Finding Tom charming
and bright, Miranda wondered why he was called
"that half-breed trash," and why the soldiers found
Tom repulsive. If Tom was such offensive and undesirable company, why had the Army hired him? As
she lay in bed, Miranda's mind wandered back to
tales her mother had told her ...

Joseph Lawrence had come to this wild and
rugged territory in 1850 to seek adventure before
taking control of his family's shipping firm on the
Potomac River. Soon after his arrival, Joe met and
fell in love with a Sioux princess named Morning
Star. She was the daughter of Chief Sun Cloud,
second son of the legendary and powerful Gray
Eagle. Joe won the heart of Morning Star, a beautiful
girl with doe eyes and ebony braids. When neither
side would accept their love and Joe was called home
because of his father's death, Joe convinced Morning
Star to elope with him to Virginia.

Those first years in "civilization" were made easier
for Morning Star by Joe's mother, who adored the
young girl from the first. Joe gave his new wife his
mother's middle name, Marie. Before Annabelle
Marie Carson Lawrence died, she taught Marie all she could about her new role in the white society.
While Joe traveled between the Alexandria townhouse, the shipping firm, and the plantation which
he considered his home, the two women stayed on the
plantation-later renamed Morning Star-to complete Marie's cultural training.

Marie learned how to converse and to conduct
herself as a lady. She fooled everyone she met; most
thought her of Spanish descent, for they never would
have accepted an Indian. Her broken English flowed
correctly after the months of Annabelle's gentle
tutoring. Secretly Marie was taught to read. She was
taught geography and history. and she was trained in
manners and customs. She learned about theaters,
plays, literature, and politics. She was shown how to
dress properly and how to wear her flowing dark
hair. She was trained in household tasks and
instructing servants. Marie Morning Star Lawrence
was bright and quick; she learned enough to join her
husband in Alexandria after Annabelle's death in '53,
sliding smoothly and unsuspected into the elite
society there.

And now, if all went as planned, Miranda would
finally be meeting her mother's people and observing
their way of life in a matter of days. She tried to recall
all her mother had told her about her Indian family.
Marie had had one brother when she left her people;
his name was Night Stalker. He had married a Brule
Sioux called Touched-a-Crow and they had had a
male child. As far as Miranda knew, she had a cousin
here whose name she could not recall. But since the time for his "vision quest" must have already passed,
he doubtlessly had taken another name. Her grandfather, Sun Cloud, had had a brother named Bright
Arrow who had wed Rebecca Kenny, a white girl;
both had died before Morning Star's birth. For that
reason, Sun Cloud had assumed the chief's bonnet
after Gray Eagle.

Gray Eagle-that name stirred memories for
Miranda of tales of immense bravery and cunning.
He had wed Alisha Williams, a girl he believed to be
white and his captive. But the Oglalas discovered her
to be the missing Blackfoot princess, Shalee. Their
love story was beautiful and bittersweet, and it
thrilled and warmed Miranda's heart when she
reflected upon it.

She wondered if the Oglalas would accept her, for
her mother had dishonored herself and her people by
choosing a white man over a Sioux or other Indian
warrior. She had been banned from the tribe. As the
hostilities between whites and Indians increased over
the years, she had realized her people would never
forgive her.

Miranda could not imagine what she would
confront within the next few days. But as she drifted
off to sleep, visionsof a tall, lithe warrior with a silver
star around his neck stayed with her.

Miranda was dressed and waiting eagerly when
Jane and Tom appeared before dawn. Beneath its
shadowy protection, the three rode away from Fort
Sully toward the Sioux camp, galloping swiftly
across the terrain. Their stops were brief, merely to rest and water the animals. To avoid trouble, they
wanted their trip to be as short as possible.

It was the end of June and the days were longer and
warmer. Miranda did not know she was entering the
Sioux territory during the same month Alisha
Williams had in 1776. Neither could she know what
tragedy had struck her mother's people in the year of
her birth. Nor could she imagine what horrors this
same month would bring in 1876.. .

At dusk, Jane and Miranda hid while Tom rode
into the Sioux encampment under a white flag of
truce. They were to wait two hours for him, then ride
for the fort if he had not returned. Jane attempted to
draw Miranda from her silent and apprehensive
state, but she failed to do so because Miranda was
feverishly praying her grandfather would not refuse
to see her. To prove her identity, she had sent a locket
to him, one which contained a miniature painting of
Morning Star in the white doeskin dress, matching
moccasins, and headband which Miranda was now
wearing. For years, Joe had kept the locket hidden,
fearing someone would find it and guess his wife's
secret.

Miranda paced back and forth in the coulee while
Jane reclined on the grass. Scattered thoughts floated
across Miranda's mind. She tried to imagine her
mother living in this vast and arduous territory. She
tried to picture her parents riding across the Plains.
She could not help but recall the mysterious warrior
had spoken Sioux. Yet, there were seven divisions
and numerous tribes and bands. The unknown warrior could belong to any of them ... Miranda
forced herself to concentrate on meeting her relatives.

It seemed hours before Tom returned alone, but it
was actually less than one. His solemn expression
and lax stance said everything. Miranda cupped her
face and cried. She had known this could happen but
had refused to consider it. Her weeping ceased
abruptly and her head jerked upward as she questioned Tom. "You explained who I am and why I
must see him? You showed him the locket? He refuses
to see me?" Tom nodded after each question, then
shook his head at her next two. "Can I disobey? Can I
ride into the camp as you did?"

"It is not done. When you make a request under a
truce flag, you must honor the answer. To defy it
would make you look foolish and arrogant, not
brave. It would stain your honor in their eyes. Let
him think on this matter for a time, then we'll try
again. You must accept his refusal, at least for now,"
Tom replied.

Miranda inhaled raggedly. It was her moment of
truth. Did she leave without meeting Sun Cloud, or
did she dare to defy his wishes? She fused her gaze on
Tom's face and asked seriously, "Will they shoot me
if I go there and demand he speak with me?"

"He forbids you to come. He says his eyes must not
touch upon the evidence of his child's betrayal. He
says he no longer has a daughter; he denies you are of
his blood. If you go, others will prevent you from
seeing him. They will be angry with you for forcing
yourself upon their old chief. They might order you from the camp or ignore you until you leave. But I
don't think they will harm you. I could be wrong."

His meaning was clear to her. Anger and courage
flooded her. She had come so far and faced many
dangers; he was cruel to reject her without an
explanation. Could he do so if she personally
presented her request? Without thinking twice,
Miranda willfully declared, "Let's go. I will make the
selfish coward disown me to my face. After I've come
so far, let him reject me himself."

Before Jane or Tom could protest her actions, she
was racing toward the village, muttering to herself,
"Mandy wouldn't yield to such a crushing blow, and
I won't either!" But if she had known what was
happening in Virginia, she would not have made
that statement.

Two weeks had passed since Weber's band of
daring and misguided traitors had been arrested.
When it appeared their leader was long gone, Grant
called off the extensive search for Weber Richardson,
assuming someone had warned the villain to flee the
country. Reis was positive a vengeful Weber would
return, and he was furious to think that Weber was
still free after committing so many crimes. But he had
received his new assignment and would soon have to
leave.

When Reis told Amanda where his next mission
was, she could hardly believe her ears. They were
going to the Dakota Territory where Grant's civilian
son, Frederick, was working under George Custer, a
man who was rapidly becoming another thorn in
Grant's tender side. If Grant had merely suspected
what menacing role his own son would play in the
tragic history of this territory, he would have summoned Frederick home as hastily as possible.
Reis explained that this investigatory mission was
also secret, so Amanda did not question her husband
further.

Actually she was delighted to be heading for a
reunion with her sister and cousin, as they were in the
same area. That very night, she wrote a letter to them,
telling of their plans. All they needed to do was make
arrangements for the Alexandria townhouse, the
plantation, and the packing. Amanda Lawrence had
learned that social status, wealth, and beauty did not
compare with love and happiness. She knew she
would sacrifice all she owned and would challenge
any danger to be at Reis's side, for he was the only
man to stir.her heart to overwhelming love and her
body to fiery passion.

Reis's friend was already managing her firm, so
she felt content with the plans to leave home and
Virginia. Since Weber was still on the loose, she was
thrilled to be traveling so far away.

During the next week, Reis completed his reports
and took care of business matters for his wife.
Amanda kept busy preparing for their exciting trip.
When Reis was not home by seven one night,
Amanda fretted. It was not like him to be late without
sending word. When the meal was beyond saving and
serving, she placed the pots on the sink, biting her
lower lip in mounting worry. She was alarmed when
a note arrived from George Findley at eight-thirty
which stated her husband had been injured and she
was to come with the messenger at once. She left everything as it was to accompany the man to her
warehouse.

Upon entering the large structure, she was seized
from behind and held tightly. Her captor laughed
satanically as he whispered, "I bet you're glad to see
me, my sweet. Did you think I'd forgotten about my
fiancee? It was wrong of me to leave you in that
Yankee's grip."

At the sound of that familiar voice, Amanda
nearly fainted in paralyzing fear. After her hands
were bound, Weber flung her aside where she
tumbled over cotton sacks and landed on the hard
floor, bruising and scratching herself. She hurriedly
came to a sitting position and leaned against another
pile of sacks, gazing at him through shock-filled eyes.
Her hair was in wild disarray and her clothes were
mussed and soiled.

"Weber? Whatever are you doing in Alexandria?
Don't you know there's a warrant out for your arrest,
for treason? Where have you been all this time? Why
did you send that note? Where is Reis?" she asked
fearfully.

"Your beloved husband is fine for the moment.
You could say he's a bit tied up, but fine," he joked
devilishly. "I didn't know your blood was so hot that
you needed two men to cool it. You amaze me,
woman; romancing two men at once. Before I decide
what to do with you two, I might show you what
you've been missing."

Comprehending his lewd meaning, she warned
carefully, "You're in terrible trouble, Weber. Sur render before they kill you on sight. McVane's dead,
but you could find another smart lawyer to help
you." Let your mind work faster than your mouth,
she told herself.

"I never surrender, my sweet. Ask your husband.
After I killed his family and burned his stinking
ranch to the ground, he chased me for months, but I
was too fast and clever. Too bad my aim wasn't truer.
As to them killing me, you needn't fret about my
safety, my sly vixen. I've managed to avoid them thus
far. And if I still wanted you, I could take anything I
please. In fact, you'd be begging to comply to spare
your love from torture. Might be educating to that
Yank to watch how a Reb pleasures a woman."