Candace McCarthy (14 page)

He froze, then slowly ran his hands along the bed in a search for Amelia’s body, but again, all he came up with was empty air … and an empty bed. Where the hell was Amelia?

Daniel felt a burning in his stomach as he stumbled
across the room and out into the main living area. He stopped and searched the darkness, but there was no sign of Amelia. He went to the kitchen then in the hope that he’d find her raiding the pantry for a late-night snack.

But Amelia wasn’t there. Anger battled with concern as Daniel returned to the great room and went to the exterior door. He threw open the door, expecting to see her on the porch, but her favorite place, the swing, was empty. He knew with a sudden certainty that she was gone.

Foolish woman,
he thought,
didn’t she listen to anything I said?
He should have seen this coming; Amelia had been feeling frustrated. He should have guessed she’d never take no for an answer when it came to her fear and worry over her missing father and friend.

He lit an oil lamp and placed it on the table. He pulled out a chair and sat, but rose again quickly, too agitated, too concerned to stay still. He couldn’t go looking for her; he couldn’t leave Susie alone, and Jack wouldn’t appreciate another late-night wake-up call.

And so Daniel started to pace. The horrific images of his dream played on his imagination, increasing his fear for Amelia’s safety.

How long had she been gone? he wondered. She must have gone to the mission; surely she’d not strike out into the wilderness and the unknown.

He experienced anger, terror, and an emotion he didn’t want to put a name to. He wanted to grab hold of Amelia and hug her close. He wanted to throttle her for taking risks and traveling in the night—a lone woman.

He loved her, he realized. It was more than desire he felt for Amelia. He enjoyed her company, their conversations, even their heated arguments.

He reached his wit’s end when an hour went by, and Amelia hadn’t returned. He prayed to God for the second
time in his life, asking for the woman’s safe return, asking for the strength not to throttle her when she did finally appear.

What if she doesn’t come back? What if she was ambushed by the Sioux
…
or kidnapped by that fur trader, Thomas Kertell?
He couldn’t stand it anymore; he had to do something, find her and bring her home.

He went to his room and put on a shirt, He grabbed his knife, slipping the sheath into the waistband of his pants.

He returned to the great room for his moccasins. Fear made him sick to his stomach as he bent over to put them on. He would have to wake Jack again. His friend wouldn’t like it, but Daniel couldn’t leave Susie alone, and he had to go. It was the only action that would save him from going insane with the worry.

He hurried toward the front door, was ready to open it, when he heard footsteps on the wooden porch planks. He threw open the door and heard a gasp, then the voice that belonged to the woman he loved. At least, he thought it was Amelia. It was hard to tell at first glance. She wore men’s clothing: the breeches and the shirt she’d gotten to work in the smithy.

“Daniel!” she exclaimed. “You frightened me.”

Now that he knew she was safe, anger overtook his concern. “Where have you been?” he demanded. “Foolish woman, don’t you know it’s dangerous to be running about at night unescorted?”

She stiffened her spine. “I’m well aware of that fact, sir. I’m not a complete idiot. I was well aware of the risk I was taking when I left!”

He gazed at her, saw her tears, her trembling mouth, and his anger melted away. “Come here,” he said gently, opening up his arms.

“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

He grabbed her, tugged her into his embrace. “Fine,” he said huskily. “We’ll go to bed then. Yours or mine?”

She stiffened, then gazed up into his face. There was tenderness in his expression … in his blue eyes. She saw something else, an emotion she couldn’t identify. It thrilled her even while it frightened her.

“No,” she moaned. She wasn’t ready for these feelings. She had to think of her father; she couldn’t allow herself a moment of happiness until he was safe.

“Please, Daniel, let me go. I shouldn’t have gone, I know that. But please, please, allow me to go to my room.”

“No,” he said as he began to stroke her arm.

“No? Why not? Why won’t you leave me be?”

“You’re upset. You shouldn’t be alone when you’re upset.”

“You’re the one making me upset. If you let me go, I’ll go to my room and be fine.”

Daniel had no intention of releasing her. He’d just had a hellish time worrying about her, envisioning her injured and even dead. He was going to hold her until he felt absorbed by her presence. She was upset, but not because of him as she’d claimed. No, she had gone to the mission and seen what he hadn’t told her. The row of crosses marking the dead. The senseless destruction of the interior of the mission buildings, including her own.

“I didn’t want you to know yet. Not until I’d found your father.”

Looking dazed, Amelia shook her head. “So many people … men, women, even young children.”

Daniel knew how many crosses, how many dead, for he’d searched the area during his last visit. He’d helped the Reverend Whitely bury the dead. He hadn’t spoken of
it to her or to anyone for that matter. It had been a painful, horrifying few hours.

“Oh, Daniel,” she wailed before she melted against him in acceptance of his comforting presence. “Anne Rose and her child. Pete … and Mr. Grutchly.”

“Promise me you’ll never leave that way again. Promise me,” he growled.

She jerked back in surprise of his harsh tone. “I shouldn’t have gone.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” he said. “Promise me, Amelia. Swear it on my mother’s Bible.” He released her to fetch the book from a shelf beside the fireplace. He thrust it in her direction.

“Promise me, Amelia.”

She stared at his face then lowered her gaze to the book in his hands. “I—”

“You scared me, Amelia, more than I’ve ever been scared in my life.”

Amelia accepted the book as she looked into his anxious blue gaze. She placed her right hand on the book. “I promise I’ll never leave the house as I’ve done tonight,” she vowed softly. She handed back the book.

“I dreamt about you,” he said. “A nightmare. Then I woke up and thought you were safe, only to find you gone.”

She saw in his face the pain and fear he’d experienced because she’d been foolish enough to go out into the night. She touched his jaw. “I’m sorry, Daniel.”

“Don’t ever do that again,” he said, trembling in the aftershock of what he’d been through that night.

Amelia, feeling terrible for what he’d suffered, rose to her toes and kissed him on the mouth.

The forest was rich with the scents and sounds of late summer. From high up in the treetops a bird sang to its mate. Below on the ground, a squirrel rustled the leaves as it ran, squawking, from its friend.

Amelia followed the trail behind Daniel and Susie, noting the landscape and wondering what lay ahead. They were on their way to the Ojibwa village, and she was excited but nervous. Black Hawk had issued the invitation for them to come; Amelia wondered whether or not the brave had received word of her father.

She’d never been to an Indian village before, and remembering the tales circulating back East about the savages, she was curious about how they lived, whether or not their living conditions were as crude and terrible as she’d been led to believe.

They had entered territory where Amelia had never been. Daniel and Susie seemed relaxed, so she wasn’t overly concerned about safety. Daniel wouldn’t have put his child at risk—or herself, for that matter. Besides, she had absolute faith in Daniel’s ability to protect them should they encounter wild animals—or worse yet, unfriendly men.

Daniel paused, then moved off the path, and Susie followed him. Amelia stopped to wipe the perspiration from her brow with a handkerchief, then moved to join Daniel
and Susie. Her gown bodice clung to her like a damp second skin. Amelia wondered what had possessed her to wear a gown when it would have been easier to wear the trousers she’d worn previously for her trip to the mission. Daniel and his daughter looked comfortable in their buckskins and beaded moccasins, more appropriate apparel for the journey.

About midmorning, Daniel called a halt for a meal and a brief rest. They had entered a small clearing, warmed by sunlight filtering through the trees, a cheery place, a beautiful haven for them to stop.

Amelia found a rock in the clearing and sat down to take the weight off her feet. Her toes felt cramped and her leather boots were chafing at her heels. She sighed with relief as she pulled off her footwear and wiggled her stocking feet.

She watched Daniel search through a satchel to pull out some bread and dried venison. He tore a hunk of bread for Susie and told her to sit and eat. He unearthed a tin cup from his pack and removed the waterskin that was strapped to his shoulder, then he filled the cup and gave it to the child. When Susie was seen to, he approached Amelia.

“How are you holding up?” he asked as he sat next to her on the large rock.

She managed a weary smile. “I’m doing fine.” He handed her some bread and a portion of the dried meat. She accepted both with a murmur of thanks, then she proceeded to take a bite of bread.

He filled a cup for her and set it between them on the rock. “It shouldn’t be too long now.”

“I would have thought we’d already be there,” she said. Daniel had made the trip there and back in a matter of a
few hours. Today, they’d been walking all morning and part of the afternoon.

“Last time I borrowed Jack’s horse,” he said.

“I’ve heard that some tribes move from place to place. Do you know why?”

“For better hunting grounds and other food sources. They trap beaver. The pelts are prized, both by red men and whites. When beavers become scarce, they move in search for a place where the animals are more plentiful.” He leaned back, stretching, his eyes closed. Amelia tried not to look, but her gaze was drawn to his muscles as they flexed, to the long line of him sprawled on the rock surface beside her.

“The Indians also move with the seasons. We’re heading to their summer location. In the winter, they move deeper into the forest.” He opened his eyes and smiled at her. She blushed that he’d caught her looking at him.

She pretended an interest in her surroundings. “Daniel, why did Black Hawk include Susie and me in his invitation?”

“Susie’s been longing to visit the village again, and Black Hawk wanted you near in case he found your father.”

She felt a bubble of excitement. “Is that possible? Do you think he’ll find Father?”

“If anyone can find him, Black Hawk can.”

“And you,” she said with a smile.

His grin lacked humor as he picked up her cup from the rock and handed it to her. Amelia gratefully took a drink, then set the cup down.

Susie sat several yards away and made no effort to approach or join in their conversation. Amelia studied her with a frown. The young girl was still angry with her.

Daniel followed the direction of Amelia’s gaze. “She still mad at you?”

Amelia nodded. “I don’t understand. We were getting along fine, then suddenly she resented me. I thought it was the lessons, but now I’m not so sure.”

She met Daniel’s concerned gaze. “Has she had any more nightmares?”

“One.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t hear her. Maybe I could have helped.” She studied Susie. “Perhaps not. Given her feelings for me right now, it’s possible my presence would only make matters worse.”

Amelia took her first bite of the venison jerky, tugging a piece free with her teeth. She’d never had dried meat before. It had a strange flavor, but not an unpleasant one. She paused to sip from her water cup, before continuing with her meal.

While she ate, she worried about her relationship with Susie. She thought back to the day it had seemed to go wrong. She realized that it was the day she’d asked Susie why she didn’t have any dolls to play with.

“Daniel?” She turned to find him studying her with an odd expression. She blushed and looked down at her plate.

“Yes?”

She gathered her composure and met his gaze. “Why doesn’t Susie have any dolls?”

He looked thoughtful. “She hasn’t had any dolls since the day her mother was kidnapped.” He frowned. “She’d had a doll then, but the Indians or whoever had attacked the cabin took Susie’s doll and tore the head off.”

Amelia felt a jolt. “The doll,” she said. “She remembers that doll.” She experienced a glimmer of excitement. “Daniel, Susie became angry with me after I asked why she didn’t have a doll.”

A look of understanding entered Daniel’s expression. “Her nightmares,” he said.

She nodded. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

He studied Susie with concern. “I’ll talk with her about it later. For now, let’s pretend we never had this conversation.”

“But Daniel—”

He looked at her without expression. “Amelia, I appreciate your concern and your help, but please let me handle her, all right?”

Struggling not to feel hurt, she agreed. His smile was genuine and instantaneous. She was immediately appeased.

“How’s your meal?” he asked her as he held up a piece of the dried meat.

“It’s good, thank you.”

Amelia glanced over and saw that Susie was studying her with a sour look on her face. Amelia caught her gaze; with a set look, Susie looked away.

“Are you ready to go?” Daniel asked.

She sighed. Everything was ready but her sore feet. She reached down for her boots. Her movements caught Daniel’s attention, and he grabbed a boot from her hand and studied it. “Let me see your feet,” he said.

Embarrassed, she tried to take back her boot. “I’m fine, Daniel. Let me have my shoe.”

His mouth firmed. “Not until I’ve seen your feet.”

With her cheeks flaming, Amelia lifted her foot for his inspection. Daniel grabbed her heel, and she gasped as he noted the abraded area. He shifted his grip and frowned as he saw the raw skin exposed by a hole in her stocking.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

She was taken aback by his gruffness. “I didn’t know myself how bad it was until just a few minutes ago.”

He held her foot cradled in the palm of his hand. She
could feel the warmth of his grip on her arch. Her skin tingled and burned, the sensation stronger than the pain of her heel.

Daniel turned to his daughter. “Susie! Bring me your bag.”

“But Pa—”

“Now!” He carefully set Amelia’s foot down.

The little girl rose to her feet with a frown, picked up the satchel she’d been carrying, and brought the bag to her father.

Daniel accepted the pack with a murmur of thanks. He rummaged through the bag until he came up with a pair of moccasins. “You’re not going to wear those boots.” He placed the moccasins on the rock between them and pulled out a shirt. To Amelia’s astonishment, he tore two strips of cloth from the garment and set it on top of the moccasins. Then, he took hold of her right leg and foot and pulled down her stocking. Tugging the stocking free, he bound her foot with one of the fabric strips before he showed the same attention to her left foot. When he pronounced her heels sufficiently cushioned for the rest of their journey, he slipped the moccasins on her feet, then began to repack the satchel so they could leave.

Amelia was conscious of Susie’s displeasure as Daniel worked on her feet, but she was powerless to say or do anything, for Daniel had insisted that he be the one to deal with his daughter. She wanted nothing more than to make peace with the child, for she had enjoyed Susie’s company from the start. Susie’s change of heart regarding their friendship was upsetting to her.

To her surprise, she found the moccasins easier on her feet. In fact, they were quite comfortable, and would be even more so, she decided, without the extra cloth bindings. She decided that she would find out if Jack could
acquire a pair for trade as soon as they got back to the trading post.

They had traveled what seemed like an hour to Amelia. They had left the brush for a well-worn path. Suddenly, she smelled the scent of roasting meat.

Susie turned to her father with a grin. “We’re here, Pa!” In her excitement, she included Amelia in her smile. Pleased, Amelia smiled back.

“Can I run ahead?” Susie asked.

“You’d better stay with us.”

“Ah, Pa …”

Daniel reached out to ruffle Susie’s unbound blond hair. “Honey, there’s been some trouble with other Indians. Black Hawk and his men will be expecting trouble, not a little girl.”

Susie nodded in understanding. “Will I be able to stay with Swaying Tree?” she asked.

“If she wants you.” He grinned, then turned to Amelia. “Swaying Tree is Conner’s grandmother. She took to Susie from their first meeting. She loves it when Susie comes to stay.”

Amelia thought how wonderful for the motherless little girl to have a woman who cared for the child as much as the Ojibwa grandmother apparently did.

Her first sight of the village was through a small break in the forest where she glimpsed a wisp of smoke, which she decided came from the cook fire. As Daniel and Susie hurried ahead, Amelia lagged behind, unsure of herself and of what she’d find once she entered the village.

Noting her hesitation, Daniel paused on the path and waited for her to catch up. He took her hand as she came abreast of him, and she flashed him a grateful look as they entered the Ojibwa village together.

Amelia studied the encampment with interest as they
left the woods and entered the yard. Their houses were dome-shaped and covered with tree bark. Their doors were covered with flaps of animal furs. Each house had an open hole in the roof where small spirals of smoke curled up to dissipate into the air. There was no set pattern to the setup of the village. The houses were scattered about the clearing at the forest edge.

She didn’t see anyone at first, but then movement to the right caught her attention, as a small group of children burst out of a wigwam, laughing and chasing one another in wide circles. Amelia gaped in shock as a bare-breasted Indian woman came out of the lodge to scold the boys before returning inside. A group of half-naked women and totally naked children appeared on the rise of a hill that sloped down from the village to water, a small glistening lake. Giggling and chatting among themselves, they walked together, carrying garments and waterskins. Amelia tried not to stare or feel horrified at their nakedness. She pretended, instead, that she was used to such sights.

As if hearing the noisy approaching group, a man stepped from a wigwam to greet them but spied the white newcomers instead. He gave a shout of welcome. Daniel called something back, and suddenly more Indians seemed to come out of nowhere. Amelia, Susie, and Daniel were surrounded by excited villagers. Amelia and Susie got separated from Daniel, who was encircled by the men. Fearful without his calming presence, Amelia grabbed Susie’s hand, but the little girl pulled away in her gladness at seeing her old friends.

A woman ran her fingers through Amelia’s hair. Amelia gasped and tried to pull away, but found herself in the same situation, being touched and pawed by the older Indian matron behind her. Amelia panicked as their half-naked
bodies pressed close, stealing her air, blocking her in. “Susie!” she gasped.

“They will not hurt you,” the child called back.

She flinched as someone touched her cheek. “What do they want?”

“They’re curious is all.”

A young Ojibwa maiden grabbed hold of Amelia’s skirt. The woman began to speak rapidly. Another maiden answered her. They seemed to be having an argument. The first woman wouldn’t release the fabric.

“Susie?”

“They like your gown. Little Turtle said it should belong to her. Morning Cloud says no, the white woman’s garment should belong to her.”

The Indian woman who had first taken hold of the gown stepped back from Amelia, giving her breathing room, as the two maidens continued their argument. She found Susie studying her thoughtfully.

“What are they saying?” Amelia asked anxiously.

“They are wondering which one you’ll choose to give the gown to,” she asked.

“No one.” Amelia’s throat tightened as she eyed the half-naked women. “I have no intention of giving my clothes to either one of them.”

Eyes twinkling, Susie nodded. She said something in Ojibwa to the two women. The matrons stopped arguing to glare at Amelia. Then one woman said something to the other, and the argument started again.

Amelia looked to Susie for an explanation. To her astonishment and delight, Susie grinned at her. “They are arguing about something else now. They are sisters,” she said.

A smile broke on Amelia’s face. “I see.”

Her answer brought another thoughtful look to the little girl’s expression.