A Journey of the Heart Collection (16 page)

Morning Song nodded. Her lovely face glowed with such joy and zest for life Sarah found all her angry thoughts fading away. She untied her apron and hung it on the peg by the door, then went to fetch her bonnet and cloak from the front hall.

The wind was a gentle whisper instead of its usual gale force. Mountain chickadees chittered in the trees
along the riverbank, and the sound was soothing. The last few days had been unusually warm, above freezing for a change. Morning Song skipped along beside Sarah while Ah-ho-appa eagerly led the way. They passed several groups of soldiers felling trees for firewood, the heavy thunk of their axes comfortingly familiar.

For Sarah, it brought back memories of her father and brothers clearing the back pasture the summer before the war began. Those were happy days, days of laughter and contentment. In those days, Rand hurried over every evening after his work was done on the farm to take her for a buggy ride or just a walk by the river.

A small sigh escaped her, and Morning Song looked up, her face clouding. “Why are you so sad, Miss Sarah? Blue coat with holes in cheeks make you unhappy?”

Sarah smiled at her friend's reference to Rand's dimples. “How did you know that?”

“Your cheeks are red like an apple, and you look like this when I come in.” Morning Song scowled. “Eyes sparkle like dew on leaf. Miss Sarah love blue coat?”

Sarah nodded. “Very much. But sometimes he makes me so mad.”

“You marry blue coat?” Ah-ho-appa asked.

“I was engaged to him before the war, long before he ever met Jessica. But now he is going to marry Miss DuBois. Do you know what engaged is?”

Ah-ho-appa nodded. “Promised to marry. My mother wishes me to promise myself to Red Fox, but I say no. I want to marry blue coat and live in fine house like Miss Sarah's.”

Sarah looked at her in dismay. “Oh, Ah-ho-appa, you don't mean that. It would be best for you to marry one of your own people.”

“You think I am not good enough for blue coat?”

“You're a treasure, Ah-ho-appa. Any man would be lucky to have you. But it's complicated . . . You don't understand how hard it would be for you with a white man.”

“My friend River Flower marry blue coat and live at edge of fort. She have baby boy.”

Sarah knew she referred to the common-law marriage where the soldier paid the girl's father a few horses and “married” her. When he moved on to another fort, he generally left his woman and any children behind. “You deserve more than that. Those marriages aren't legal in the sight of the white man's
laws. You should look for a man who will love and take care of you always.”

Ah-ho-appa shook her head, her face set with determination. “I marry blue coat or no one.” She turned and started back toward the cabin with Sarah trailing behind.

Morning Song looked at Sarah sadly. “I did not know Miss Sarah does not like our people.” She turned and walked stiffly back toward the Indian encampment.

Sarah's heart sank as she followed the girl's erect figure. What had she done? And how was she going to fix it?

SEVEN

S
miling officers were decked out in their dress uniforms, their brass buttons and black boots shining. When Sarah arrived to the dance, she and Amelia were claimed for dances immediately. As an awkward lieutenant whirled her around the dance floor, Sarah found her gaze straying to Rand's dark head in the throng. He was so tall, he was easy to spot. His chin rested on Jessica's gleaming red head, and she was snuggled close to him. Sarah dragged her eyes away and forced herself to make polite conversation with poor Lieutenant Richards.

The evening became a blur as one officer after another claimed her for a dance. Would Rand ask her to dance? Such a foolish hope. Jessica wouldn't allow him out of her sight, she was sure. She danced twice with Isaac, Rand's bunky, then whirled on to the next soldier.

When there were only two more dances left, Jessica's father insisted on a dance with his daughter. Rand glanced Sarah's way, then made his way determinedly through the throng.

“Are you promised for this dance?” His voice was too polite.

“Not really. I don't think Joel will mind if he doesn't have to dance. I told him he had to dance with me so he could begin to learn. But his lesson will wait.” She slid into his arms, and he guided her onto the floor.

She eyed his tense face. “You were right.”

“About what?”

“Ah-ho-appa wants to marry a soldier and live in a home like mine. When I objected, she and Morning Song both thought I didn't think they were good enough to marry a white.”

He nodded. “I'd heard Ah-ho-appa refused her father's choice for her. But don't beat yourself up over
it. It may have happened anyway. There are a lot of Indian women who jump at the chance to take a soldier. And their families are well paid for them.”

“That's awful!”

“I know, but it's the way things are out here. A woman doesn't have much value. Although as pretty as your friends are, they'll probably fetch a high price.” His mouth twisted with distaste. “That will be a strong incentive to their fathers.”

“Isn't there anything we can do?” Sarah couldn't stand the thought of her young friends sinking into that kind of life.

“Not really. Just be a friend to them. It's probably too late to do anything else.”

The dance ended, and Rand escorted her to her chair. He stared down at her with a curious look on his face. It seemed almost tender. He opened his mouth but was interrupted by Jessica's arrival.

“There you are, darling,” she cooed. “Be a dear and fetch me some punch.”

“Of course. Would you care for some, Sarah?”

“No, thank you.” She tensed as he walked away.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Jessica turned to her furiously. “Just what do you think you're going
to accomplish by staying here? Why don't you just go home?”

Sarah forced a smile. “Jessica, we're just friends. And I'd like to be your friend too.”

Confusion spread over Jessica's face, and she shook her head. “I have all the friends I need.”

What more was there to say? “Very well.”

Isaac Liddle approached the two women. “There's only one dance left.” He extended his arm to Sarah. “May I?”

Rand was heading back, and the last thing she wanted was to be a hanger-on. She put her hand on his arm. “I'd be delighted.”

He grinned down at her. “I know this might sound abrupt, Miss Sarah, but I figured I might as well throw my hat in the ring. With your permission, I'd really like to call on you.”

Sarah hid her surprise. She'd seen Isaac hovering close over the past few weeks, but she had thought he was just being kind because he knew how hurt she'd been. “I don't know, Isaac. You're a good friend, and I'd hate to ruin our friendship.”

“How could we ruin it? We could become even better friends.”

Sarah was tempted. Isaac was a good Christian man and she had a lot of respect for him. “All right. But I can't make any promises.”

He nodded. “I understand. Let's just get to know each other better and take it from there.”

The next morning, Ah-ho-appa was absent from school, and Morning Song refused to even look at Sarah. Sarah's heart ached as she saw the stiffness in her friend's demeanor. Everything seemed such a hopeless tangle.

“Don't go, Morning Song,” she said as the Indian girl stood to go home. “I want to talk to you.”

The girl almost seemed like her old self as she nodded and motioned her brother to go on without her.

“You seem to be avoiding me. I can't stand for you to be upset with me. Won't you please forgive me if I hurt you when we talked last? I really didn't mean I didn't think you were good enough for a soldier. Any man would be very lucky to marry you or Ah-ho-appa.”

“I was very angry, but no more. I know you not wish to hurt me. And I have new friend.”

Sarah's heart sank at the glow on the girl's lovely face. “A man?”

The girl nodded. “He is very handsome. Very light hair with eyes like a stormy sky.”

Sarah tried to think of a soldier who fit that description, but she couldn't think of who it might be. “What's his name?”

“He is the new fur trader. Ben Croftner.” Morning Song smiled a secret smile as she said his name.

Sarah stepped back as from a blow. “Oh, Morning Song. Not Ben. He's a very wicked, evil man.” She caught the girl's arm. “Please, please stay away from him!”

Morning Song shook her hand off. “He told me you will say this. But he loves me. He is a good man. He offered my father five horses for me. We will marry tomorrow.”

“Please, Morning Song. I beg you. Don't do this. It isn't a legal marriage. Ben won't stay with you.”

The girl just gave her an angry stare and stalked off. “I thought my friend be happy for me, but I was wrong,” she called back over her shoulder. “You are my friend no more.”

Sarah clasped her hands and paced the floor. What
could she do? She couldn't just stand back and let Morning Song make a mistake like that. She caught up her cloak and hurried to the door. There just might be one hope.

She had borrowed a horse from the stables and found the trail leading to the trading post across the river. Isaac was crossing the parade ground, so she had asked him to escort her. He commandeered a private, and the two soldiers rode with her across the river.

The trading post was almost deserted when she arrived. A few Sioux hunkered around a fire in the front and looked up as they rode into the yard.

She slid off her horse and handed her reins to Isaac. “Wait for me here if you would.”

He frowned. “I'm not sure you should go in alone.”

“I'll be fine. He knows you're out here.”

Labe was just coming out the door as she approached the building. “Sarah! What are you doing here?”

“I'd hoped you hadn't followed Ben out here, Labe. I need to see him. Is he here?”

He nodded. “He's in his office. I'll show you.” He opened the door and led her across the dirt floor to a battered door. He rapped on it once, then swung it open for her.

Ben looked up when he heard the door open. “Sarah?” He rose to his feet eagerly, but his smile faded. His expression masked, he motioned for her to sit on the crate across from his crude table. “To what do I owe the honor of this call?”

“I want you to leave Morning Song alone.” She didn't have time for any pleasantries, even if she was inclined to offer them, which she wasn't. “We both know you don't really care about her. She's too sweet for you to ruin.”

He stroked his chin. “She'll be a lovely addition to my home, don't you think? And Indian women really know how to treat a man. I just don't see how I can agree with your request.”

“Please, Ben. Don't do this.” She leaned forward. “I can't bear to see her hurt.”

“You're begging now, are you? Well, I might agree under one condition.” He smiled gently. “You could take her place.”

Sarah flushed. She should have known he'd suggest something like this. “You know how I feel about you.”

He stood and thrust his hands into his pockets. “You're just angry, and I'm not saying you don't have a right to be. But anything I did was only because I
loved you. And you haven't had any luck with Rand, now have you?”

“Maybe not, but I couldn't marry a man I couldn't trust.” Sarah stood. There was no more to say. She loved Morning Song, but it was out of her hands.

“Then the wedding proceeds tomorrow as planned.”

“You know it's not a real wedding! You'll just send her back to her family when you're tired of her.”

Ben sneered. “She's just a savage, Sarah. That's all Indian women are good for.”

“She's sweet and good. You'll take that and destroy it!”