Savage Conquest (56 page)

When the small group arrived at the rented cabin,
Lucas went to fetch the doctor while Miranda was
taken inside by Reis and her sister. She had not
regained consciousness. Unaware the sleep had been
induced by Sitting Bull's healing herbs, Amanda was
terribly worried. They placed her on the bed and
waited for Doctor Starns to come.

Amanda assisted the doctor with her sister's
examination and treatment. Colonel Custer arrived
to question Reis about their curious adventure. Reis
gave him the colorful story which had been agreed
upon by all concerned. Reis was surprised, but not
shocked, to hear of Tom Fletcher's gory murder. He
shrewdly guessed it was the foul deed of Bloody
Arrow to cover his guilt. But naturally Reis could not
reveal his accurate conclusion.

Custer insisted on seeing Miranda and speaking to
her sister. When pressed for answers, Amanda corroborated her husband's story. Then Lucas was
briefly interrogated. Custer could not be sure they
were telling the truth, but they certainly told the
same wild tale.

While he awaited his final orders to ride into the
Black Hills for an extensive survey, Custer directed
his troops to break camp and head for Fort Lincoln.
It was said that Custer often raced off to visit with his
wife just before a new mission was undertaken, and
this new mission would prove to be his ultimate
challenge.

The countryside was curiously peaceful. Custer
was far away with his regiment, the Oglalas had
moved secretly toward the Black Hills, their sacred
Paha Sapa; Reis was completing his final reports;
Amanda was enjoying the serenity of her love, and
the new life growing within her.

Lucas wrote several articles and sent them back
East. He also slaved over two manuscripts, one he
had planned before coming here and one which had
been inspired by recent experiences and lessons
learned.

Miranda was nearly healed after two weeks of
enforced rest and treatment. Only occasionally did a
fading bruise or sensitive area remind her of her
ordeal. But the more her body healed, the sicker her
heart became, until she was in a fever to return to
her love.

Miranda argued and cajoled to no avail. Reis and
Lucas refused to take her back to the camp, and
Amanda protested the idea fervently, relating Blaz ing Star's parting words to her. When Miranda
reached the point of rebellion, Reis told her the
Oglalas had moved west, far from this hazardous
area.

"He's gone?" she shrieked. "No! He wouldn't
leave without telling me good-byl" She desperately
refuted the tormenting words. "He wouldn't leave
until he was sure I was all right."

Reis calmly and patiently went over the circumstances and events of these past weeks. Amanda told
her sister what Blazing Star had said that last day
about the impossibility of a shared life. "I swear he's
gone, Randy. I'm sorry," Reis said and Amanda
concurred.

"Then I'll find himl" Miranda declared stubbornly.

"Do you realize how large this territory is? Do you
realize what dangers await you out there?" Lucas
reasoned. "I know."

Miranda fled in tears to the bedroom. Amanda
looked at Reis, tears in her eyes. Reis shook his head,
indicating there was nothing they could do to
comfort or help her sister. This was one problem
Miranda would have to solve for herself.

A telegram came for Lucas that week from a noted
Boston publisher who wanted to meet with him and
discuss his articles and the two works in progress.
Lucas packed and was gone that same day, promising to contact them with any news, vowing he would
become either an illustrious novelist or famed
historian.

Another week passed. Reis told Miranda they
should begin packing for the trip home to Alexandria. He then told her that after he filed his reports
with President Grant, he and Amanda would be
traveling to Texas to decide where they wanted to
settle and build their home. He said they would sell
the shipping firm and townhouse unless she wanted
either or both. Miranda told them she did not want
anything except Blazing Star.

Even the news of Amanda's pregnancy failed to
lighten Miranda's gloomy spirits. What was there for.
her in Virginia? Or anywhere? She did not want to
work. She did not want to amuse herself frivolously.
She certainly could not marry. Her heart was here
with this land and the love who had deserted her.

Still another week passed. Miranda finally agreed
she would leave with Reis and Amanda if she could
see Blazing Star and be certain he did not want her.
"If he says he doesn't love me, whether it's true or not,
I will return to the plantation. You and Reis can have
everything else."

Miranda left the cabin for some fresh air and
serious thought. She could not force Blazing Star to
love her. She could not deny the perils here. But there
had been just as much danger back in Virginia, in socalled civilization. She could not intrude on
Amanda's and Reis's lives. But no matter what
decision Blazing Star might make, she would hear it
face to face!

When Miranda returned to the cabin, the sight
which greeted her was so totally astonishing that she fainted in shock. When she recovered, she found
herself face to face with her parents! After an
abundance of joyful embraces, Joe and Marie told the
incredible tale of how they had been found and
rescued by Reis's search party.

Amanda and Miranda stared at Reis Harrison. He
explained how he had learned of their attempted
abduction on the sloop and the disappearance of the
"bodies" after the shipwreck in the South Seas. He
revealed a conversation he had overheard in which
Weber worried over the sinking of the vessel which
had been taking them to the Far East where they were
to be sold as slaves. Weber had ranted at McVane that
he had not wanted to kill them mercifully but had
wanted them to be tormented as slaves. Knowing
how much they loved their daughters, Weber had
known they would endure more anguish alive than
dead.

McVane had declared that no survivors had been
found, and he gave Weber the location of the sinking.
On the chance Joe and Marie had survived and made
it to an island, Reis had hired men to search the entire
area. Joe and Marie had been located and returned to
Alexandria where they learned of the recent events
concerning Weber Richardson, Amanda's marriage,
and these two trips west. They immediately followed
their daughters, hoping to find them in order to
deliver their joyous news in person.

The five talked for hours, exchanging tales. Every
so often, the girls would jump up to hug their
parents. It was a happy occasion despite the problems and dangers all had faced. But Marie
Morning Star Lawrence was particularly intrigued
by the dramas involving them and her people. Again
and again, she insisted on hearing them.

Marie tried to envision the warrior whom she had
not seen since he was four, the man who caused a
mixture of joy and sadness in her daughter's eyes.
There had been so many changes since she had left
her father's teepee to marry Joseph Lawrence. She
was pained by the deaths of her mother, brother, and
so many relatives during the 1854 massacre. She
asked Miranda countless questions.

Miranda's heart fluttered wildly when Marie asked
Joe if she could see her father and her people before
their return home. Marie cast her dark eyes upon her
daughter's face and smiled. "There are those Randy
and I must bid farewell one last time."

Miranda went to her mother and hugged her, for
perhaps only Marie could truly understand her inner
conflict. There were no words to express her love and
appreciation. Marie looked down into the face which
so closely resembled her own and teased, "You do
wish to go with me? Since my father has smiled upon
you, perhaps it will lessen his anger and bitterness
toward me. He will be shocked to hear I am alive."

For everyone's protection, Reis suggested that he
go to the new camp and bring Sun Cloud and Blazing
Star to the old one to visit with them, if the two
warriors agreed. Miranda glared at Reis when she
realized her brother-in-law had known their location
all along. He confessed contritely that he had promised not to reveal it to anyone, including and
especially her.

Marie witnessed the devastating effect of Reis's
enlightening words and unexpected admission on
her chestnut-haired daughter. The tawny gaze which
focused on Reis was filled with accusation, anger,
sadness, and disbelief. Miranda hurriedly excused
herself before she could verbally or physically attack
her brother-in-law. When she left, Marie demanded
to know the extent of the relationship and the
problems existing between the warrior and her child.
When Amanda and Reis completed their stories, she
knew how Miranda must be suffering.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have suggested she go along
to see him. I did not think of the impossibility of the
situation." Marie looked at her husband, who smiled
at her with love and tenderness. "We know her
suffering and confusion, don't we, my love?" she
whispered.

Joe nodded, recalling that complicated and arduous path too clearly. "This is different, Marie. You
must understand that. War is costly and bloody. We
can't allow her to remain here."

"I know," Marie concurred sadly. "It won't be easy
for her. Perhaps we should return home in the
morning," she generously suggested, her tone exposing her turmoil.

"It wouldn't help her if you sacrificed your desire
to see your father," Joe answered. "Should we let her
go with us? Won't it hurt too much to see him? You
think he'll return to see her?" He addressed this last question to Reis.

"I honestly don't know, sir. He is in love with her.
But he loves her too much, too unselfishly. He would
lose her rather than risk her life," Reis confided to
them. "He wants her to leave as much as he wants her
to stay. He could be afraid to see her, afraid of
weakening in his decision."

"I can understand the pain of that dilemma,"
Marie stated softly. "I will speak with her. Perhaps I
can persuade her not to go."

The mother-daughter talk failed to deter Miranda
from making the journey. How could Marie convince Miranda a mixed marriage would not work
when she and Joe were living proof that it could? But
times had changed; antagonism had increased. Life
was precarious here. But love did not see such
obstacles. That night, the women shared the bedroom and more conversation, while Reis and Joe
bunked in the living area.

Two weeks later, four people rode from the cabin
to the campsite deserted by the Oglalas of ter the death
of Bloody Arrow. Marie and Reis had insisted the
pregnant Amanda remain behind at the cabin in
safety and comfort. Reis had contacted Sun Cloud
and set up this crucial and emotional meeting. When
they arrived at the assigned location, there were four
men waiting for them. Three braves were sitting
around a campfire as protection for the elderly exchief, and Sun Cloud was sitting alone not far away.
When Marie dismounted, she hesitated only moments before racing toward her father. After em bracing affectionately and filling the quiet air with
joyful laughter, they sat down upon buffalo hides to
talk. Sometime later Reis, Joe, and Miranda joined
the reunited father and daughter. After Miranda had
had a chance to speak with her grandfather, she
insisted on taking a walk alone. Knowing their
daughter needed privacy to master her warring
emotions, Marie and Joe did not try to stop her.
Obviously, Blazing Star had not come; his painful
decision was evident to all.

When Reis tried to comfort Miranda, she pulled
away from him. "You're the last person who should
try to console me. You lied to me, Reis; you used me
and betrayed my trust and friendship. It wasn't your
right to withhold the truth from me. My destiny isn't
in your hands. You can't make my decisions or
control my life. I'll never forgive you for duping me. I
need time alone, away from traitors. Please don't
follow me. I'll return before Mama's ready to leave."

"Please listen to me, Randy," he entreated earnestly. "I promised Blazing Star I would hold silent,
What kind of man would I be if I betrayed a promise?
I had no right to interfere either way."

"Aren't you forgetting how I assisted your romance and conquest of my sister? When you pleaded
for my help and interference, I didn't hold silent or
keep my promise to her. You know why, Reis?
Because I knew you two loved and needed each other.
I doubt you two would be happily wed right now if I
had retained my honorable silence," she sneered
sarcastically. "After all I've done to help you with my people and my sister, you damn well owed me your
help! Whether you agree or not, you have interfered
in my destiny! You're selfish and insensitive."

When Reis made no attempt to justify his
behavior, Miranda fled into the forest to the stream
and followed its winding bank until she was assured
of privacy. She halted, staring into the swirling water
just below a small cascade. He was not coming. Did
he even know or care if she was alive; she had left this
camp injured and unconscious. He had not checked
on her. He had not sent word to her. He had simply
ridden out of her life as if she meant little or nothing
to him.

Anguish assailed her. Tears silently rolled down
her cheeks. She removed the wanapin and stared at it.
"What a stupid, blind fool you are, Miranda
Lawrence. Blazing Star never loved me. He never
cared about me. I could have died by now for all he
knew or cared. It was all lies to trick me to his mat.
How he must laugh at me now. Why did he have to
be so cruel? Why did he want to hurt me and punish
me? How he must hate me to do this to me. Oh, God,
it hurts so much," she cried out, flinging the necklace
into the stream.

"Damn you, you traitor! You could have the
decency and courage to tell me the truthl You never
loved me! You were only using me. You didn't even
care enough to say good-by," she sneered sarcastically. "Why, Blazing Star? Why must you
punish me for loving you? You owe me the truth.
Damn you, you owe me the truth!"