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Authors: Candace McCarthy

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BOOK: Wild Innocence
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Clouds-at-Morning had been released. While she applauded Black Hawk's honor in keeping his word, she wondered whether or not the Sioux had such honor. Would he stay away from her as he'd promised Black Hawk?
She hesitated outside the sickroom, waiting until she garnered enough courage to go in.
This is ridiculous! You can't be afraid all your life!
She'd told her father that she liked it in the Wisconsin Territory. He'd never believe her if she didn't stop jumping at shadows or gasping at every sound.
Drawing a sharp breath, she opened the surgery door and stepped inside ... and saw nothing. Then, she heard the noise again and realized that it had come from the waiting room. She scolded herself for being silly. A Sioux warrior intent on kidnapping wouldn't remain in the waiting room until she came out.
She moved toward the open doorway and saw a young man in one of the chairs. “May I help you?”
He looked up and stood. He seemed surprised to see her. “I'm sorry, I thought that I'd find Miss Lathom here. Has she gone?” He seemed uncomfortable as he glanced away.
“Miriam is still at the mission,” she told him. “Are you hurt?”
Meeting her gaze, he nodded. “Just a scratch really, but Miriam—I mean, Miss Lathom said it's best to be careful about such things.” He wore a white linen shirt and pale blue pants.
Rachel recognized his clothing as U.S. Army-issued when she spied the navy blue jacket on the seat next to him. “You're a soldier?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Would you like me to take a look at your wound?” she asked. “Then, if you'd like, I can tell you where to find Miriam.”
The man looked pleased. “I don't wish to be an imposition.”
She shook her head as she extended her arm to lead him inside. “It's no trouble. And Miriam is right—the smallest cut can fester and become a problem. It could even kill.” She glanced upward and noted by the angle of her neck that he was very tall. “My name is Rachel Dempsey. My father is the doctor here.”
“Robert Barning,” he said. “Private.” He bowed slightly. “It's nice to meet you, Miss Dempsey.” His smile was genuine.
If her heart hadn't been otherwise engaged, she might have found this soldier attractive. But interestingly enough, despite his good looks and pleasant manners, Rachel realized that she wasn't interested.
She gestured toward the examining table and waited patiently while he hopped up.
“Now where is this cut?” she asked.
He rolled up his shirtsleeve and held out his arm. A red scratch about two inches long marred the white flesh.
“Well, now, that doesn't look too bad,” she said. “But, it's a good thing you came. It's starting to swell. I'll clean the scratch, then put some salve on it.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled at him. “You're welcome.”
She had just finished applying the salve on Robert's arm when her father entered the surgery. Rachel explained about the man's injury and what she'd done for it. John Dempsey checked the wound, pronounced Rachel's choice of treatment correct, then with a beaming smile for his daughter, he discharged the patient.
“You'll find Miriam in the building two doors down from the church,” Rachel told the young man. Watching him leave, she bit her lip, wondering if she'd done the right thing in telling him where Miriam was. What if Miriam didn't want to see him? She mentioned this to her father.
“Not to worry, daughter,” he said. “Miriam will get rid of the fellow if he's a nuisance.” Then he looked at her oddly. “Are you all right? No tears? No crying over Jordan Sinclair?”
“I told you. I'm finished with him,” she said, meaning it. “If I'd wanted him back, I wouldn't have sent him away.”
If only I could dismiss my feelings for Black Hawk as easily.
“If you're certain you're fine ...”
“Yes, Father, I'm fine,” she said. At least she would be once she knew whether or not Black Hawk was well.
As if her prayers had been answered, Rachel finally heard news of Black Hawk a few days later. It came in the form of his sister when Spring Blossom came to trade with the missionaries.
At the Indian maiden's request, Miriam Lathom brought her to the infirmary to see Rachel.
“Spring Blossom!” Rachel cried when the young woman entered the building. She hurried forward to greet her. “How are you? Are you ill?”
Had she come to the infirmary for medical treatment?
“She's fine,” Miriam said. “She's not here for treatment, Rachel. She came for a silver cross.” She smiled at the maiden, who grinned back. “Spring Blossom asked where you were, and I told her I'd bring her.”
Rachel saw the lovely silver cross hanging from a chain about Spring Blossom's neck. “It's beautiful,” Rachel said sincerely.
“I'll leave you two alone to talk,” Miriam said, and departed.
Pleased to see her friend, Rachel invited Spring Blossom into the kitchen at the back of the infirmary building.
“Would you like something to eat and drink?”
Spring Blossom shook her head. “I tasted a cake at Miss Miriam's house.” She smiled as if the memory was a pleasant one. “It was good.”
“I have some cakes that you can take back to the village,” Rachel offered.
“Miigwech,”
the maiden said. “I'd like that.”
Seeing Black Hawk's sister again made her memory of Black Hawk sharp. She couldn't stop thinking of him, worrying about him. Should she—dare she—ask?
“Spring Blossom, about Black Hawk—”
“Ah, it is good, yes?”
“What's good?” Rachel asked. Her heart started to pound.
“That Black Hawk has returned.”
“Black Hawk's back?” Rachel said.
Spring Blossom frowned. “You did not know this?”
Rachel shook her head. How could she have known?
“I thought Dan-yel—”
“Daniel?” Rachel's tone sharpened. “Daniel knows Black Hawk is back?” She had seen her brother-in-law only yesterday. Daniel knew how she felt about Black Hawk. Why didn't he tell her that the Ojibwa brave had returned safely?
Calming herself, Rachel realized that she might have jumped to conclusions about Daniel. Daniel did know of her feeling for Black Hawk. With their new relationship based on trust, how could she be so quick to judge?
“Is your brother well?” she asked.
Spring Blossom nodded. “He was hurt in the fight, but not bad.”
Rachel felt her stomach burn when she heard he was hurt. Then she realized that Spring Blossom had said he was fine. She felt lighthearted all of a sudden. “I'm glad.”
“You come soon to visit our village?” Spring Blossom asked.
“I'd like to, but I don't know when I can leave here.”
She continued to rejoice over Black Hawk's safe return. Thank God. She felt as if her whole body had released several weeks' worth of tension.
“I must go,” Spring Blossom said. “Thunder Oak is waiting for me.”
“Thunder Oak is here?” She would like to see the brave. She'd like to see all of her Ojibwa friends.
“Thunder Oak went to Keller's,” the Indian maiden said. “He'll be here soon.”
Rachel nodded. “Let me wrap some cake for you.” She cut a huge chunk of cake and placed it in the center of a clean linen towel. “Here you are. The next time you come to the mission, stop in and I'll give you some cookies.”
Spring Blossom looked puzzled. “Cookies?”
“They are treats like cake, but smaller. Hard, but sweet. Good to eat.”
“Ah,” the maiden said. “Good to eat.”
“Yes, that's right.” Rachel grinned. Her smile vanished as she gazed at her friend. “I miss you,” she said.
“Miss?”
“It is not the same when I don't see you.”
Spring Blossom was nodding her head. “Yes, miss. It is not the same with you gone.”
Rachel hugged her, and Spring Blossom hugged back. “Good-bye, Spring Blossom.”
“Giga-waabamin. ”
I'll see you, too,
Rachel thought when Spring Blossom had left. Tears filled her eyes as she thought of Black Hawk.
Please give my love to your brother.
Chapter 26
Rachel started to fret when days went by and there was no sign of Black Hawk. Why did he not visit her? Had he stayed away because he wanted her to get over her love for him?
Closing her eyes, she fought a wave of pain. Surely, he knew how worried she'd been while he was gone.
Why hasn't he come?
She had made every effort to get on with her life by putting her energy into her mission work. Besides her work at the infirmary, she helped Miriam make the silver crosses that Spring Blossom and the Indians liked so much.
Amelia had been after her to visit, but Rachel hadn't wanted to leave the mission. What if Black Hawk came and she wasn't there? She refused to go far. She wanted to be here for Black Hawk.
Another week passed without an appearance from Black Hawk. Rachel realized that she'd never be able to forget Black Hawk without seeing him one last time. With the idea implanted in her mind, she accepted a dinner invitation from her sister. She needed to speak privately with her brother-in-law. She had to convince Daniel to take her to Black Hawk.
Rachel pretended cheerfulness during her visit with the Traherns. She knew Amelia was concerned about her. With her advanced pregnancy, her sister didn't need to worry, so Rachel laughed and smiled as she ate her meal.
Because she had a new plan of action, Rachel found enjoying herself easier than she'd thought. She was glad she had come. It had been worth the effort to see the pleasure on her family's faces.
But I can't fool Daniel,
she realized. He acted as if all was well, until she caught sight of him studying her thoughtfully. Twice, she'd met his gaze and raised her eyebrows comically to lighten his mood. Both times, he chuckled, apparently convinced, until the next time she'd found him staring.
Through the late afternoon and early evening, Rachel waited for an opportunity to talk with Daniel alone. It seemed as if she'd never have a chance without arousing the rest of the family's suspicions. Then, Daniel mentioned a project in his smithy, one he wanted to show Rachel.
“A project?” Amelia asked with a puzzled look. “What kind of project?”
Daniel smiled at her. “Sorry, my sweet, but you're not to peek. It's a gift for you. You don't want to spoil the surprise, do you?”
“No,” she replied with a frown. “Of course not.”
John Dempsey remained silent. Either he wasn't interested or had seen it, or perhaps he suspected that Rachel and Daniel needed to speak alone.
The inside of the shop was dim, until Daniel fired up the forge fire from the embers that had been left from his workday.
Rachel was silent as she watched him add fuel to the fire, then blow air into the flames with the forge's bellows. As the flames grew, Rachel turned her attention to her surroundings.
As she wandered around the forge area, she wondered how she was going to broach the subject of Black Hawk to Daniel. Would her brother-in-law take her to the village? Or would he try to convince her to stay home and forget his Ojibwa friend?
“You don't really have anything to show me, do you?” Rachel said.
“I do, but it's not the reason I asked you here,” he admitted. “I wanted to talk with you.”
She'd thought so. “I wanted to talk with you, too.”
He smiled as he leaned back against his work block. “I could tell.”
She regarded him with skepticism. “How?”
“Just a feeling.”
Rachel was alarmed. “My sister doesn't share that feeling, does she?”
Daniel shrugged. “I doubt it. You've given a brilliant performance all day. If I didn't know about your secret, I probably wouldn't have noticed anything amiss either.”
Blushing, she turned away. “I see.” She sensed his approach.
“Rachel—”
She spun to face him. “I have to see him, Daniel,” she said before he could argue. “I know you won't think it wise, but I have to know. I have to see with my own eyes that he's all right.”
Daniel opened his mouth to object. “I don't know if that's a good idea.”
“Please,” She pleaded. “I have to see him. I need to
see him.
And I'd like to visit Spring Blossom and the Ojibwa.” She gave him a soft smile. “I miss them.”
He looked surprised. “You do?”
She nodded. “Life is simple there, but I learned things that are important. And I felt good making and doing things.”
“And if Black Hawk is there, and he isn't interested?” He rubbed the back of his neck as if he was troubled. “What will you do then?”
Rachel suffered a fresh wave of pain. “Then I'll leave. I'll go home to the mission and go on with my life without him,” she murmured. “Without Black Hawk.”
“You love him a lot,” he said.
She swallowed against a lump in her throat. “Yes, I do.”
She touched his arm. “Please, Daniel,” she whispered.
Daniel looked torn. “If I take you, Amelia will want to go, too.”
“No,” Rachel said. “I don't want her there. I don't want her to come. I love her, but she's liable to see the truth ... and then she'll try to interfere.”
“She cares for you.”
“I know,” she said. “And her love means a lot to me, but Daniel, I have to do this on my own.”
A strange look entered her brother-in-law's expression. “... something,” he muttered.
“What?” she said.
“You're an amazing woman, Rachel Dempsey.”
She grinned. “I am?”
He smiled. “I hope Black Hawk sees the truth, that you're the right one for him. I hope he wants you as much as you want him.”
“I hope so, too,” she choked out, her eyes filling with tears.
A sudden thought occurred to her. “Will Amelia be all right at home? I hate to take you away from her. I could ask Jack Keller to take me.”
“Amelia will be fine,” he said. “I won't be gone long. It's not that far to the village.” He frowned. “Unless the Ojibwa have left for their winter camp.”
Her heart gave a lurch. “Do you think it's possible? Spring Blossom was just here.”
“They're probably still here then. It's early in the season yet, and the Ojibwa like to fish there in autumn.” He scowled. “There's bound to be one problem we'll have to contend with—Susie.”
“Susie?” How could Daniel's young niece be a problem?
“She'll want to go with us. She'll be extremely upset if she can't. She misses her friend Conner.”
“Barking Dog,” Rachel said.
“Yes.”
“I don't mind if she comes along, if you don't.”
“You don't?”
She smiled. “No.”
He looked relieved. “Good.” He gave her a grin.
“Daniel, won't Amelia wonder what's going on if we don't go back to the house soon?”
Daniel seemed startled. “You're right. First, come look at this.” He gestured her toward the corner of the room, where a woolen blanket covered a large object.
“What is it?” Rachel asked, intrigued.
“The surprise.” He tugged off the blanket. “A cradle. For the baby.”
Rachel took one look at the expertly crafted baby cradle and her heart melted. “Oh, Daniel, it's beautiful. You do all that engraving work yourself?” He was a blacksmith, she thought, but here he had created something magnificent from wood.
Flushing, he nodded.
Impulsively, she gave him a hug. “She's going to love it,” she said as she pulled away.
“Love what?” Amelia said from the shop door.
Rachel gasped and spun. She tried to hide the piece of furniture with her body. “Amelia, get out!”
Her sister looked hurt.
“Please, Amelia,” she said more softly. “It's a surprise, a wonderful, beautiful surprise.”
Amelia hesitated as she studied her husband and sister. The look in her eyes said that she felt left out.
“It's all right, sweetheart,” Daniel said. “You can come in and see it. It's finished.”
His wife brightened as she stepped farther into the room. “What's finished?” she asked curiously.
Rachel stepped aside. “This.”
Amelia gazed at the cradle and tears filled her eyes, making them glisten. “Oh, Daniel,” she breathed. She looked at her husband with love.
“My time to leave,” Rachel murmured as she saw the way the two stared at each other. She felt a jolt. She wanted Black Hawk to gaze at her the way Daniel looked at her sister.
Rachel heard another “Oh, Daniel!” as she hurried to the door.
“I love you, Amelia,” Daniel said huskily.
There was silence after that, but Rachel didn't look back as she left the blacksmith shop. She figured some moments were private, and this one belonged to her sister and brother-in-law.
 
 
Jordan Sinclair had been traveling for days when he'd stopped at an inn. Upset at what had happened between him and Rachel, he drank and sulked, and felt sorry for himself.
You loved me, Rachel,
he thought, sniffling.
And I can make you love me again.
He stared into his glass, seeing her image, wanting her more than ever.
I can make you love me.
He stiffened and put down his glass. “I can shtill make her love me again,” he muttered drunkenly. He had handled the situation badly. He could woo her, make her his betrothed a second time.
He winced as he recalled some of the things that had been said between them. It would take all his powers of persuasion, but he could do it. She was angry with him, and she had every right, he thought. He shouldn't have left her.
He had been too forward. He should have been more patient with her.
Smiling stupidly, Jordan got up from the table, then swallowed the remainder of his glass before stumbling toward his room.
I'm coming back, Rachel. I'll be gentler, more understanding. I'll patiently court you until you fall in love with me all over again.
Drunk, he shuffled on unsteady legs up the stairs and down the hall until he reached his door. He fumbled with the key until he opened his lock. He shut the door, leaned heavily against it, then with a grin on his face, lurched toward his bed.
He tripped against the edge of the bed. Then, he fell on his back on the mattress and closed his eyes.
“I‘ms comin', my sweet Rachel,” he slurred. “I'ms comin' to get you.”
 
 
Amelia wanted to go to the village, and no one, it seemed, could convince her to stay. Adamant, she faced her sister and husband, winning the argument before it had begun.
“I'm going,” she insisted. “I'm perfectly healthy. Susie and Jane will want to go, too. So will Father.”
Rachel groaned inwardly as she exchanged looks with Daniel. “Amelia, wouldn't it be better for the babe if you stayed and rested? And what about Father? What about his patients? Who will help him while we're gone?”
“Miriam Lathom can help him if he doesn't want to go,” her sister said.
“Amelia,” Daniel began.
She flashed him a smile. “Yes, love?” Amelia slipped a hand beneath her husband's arm and leaned close to kiss his neck.
Rachel watched her brother-in-law melt beneath her sister's smile.
Coward!
she thought.
“If you're sure you'll be fine,” he said to his wife, “then you can go.”
Rachel scowled at him, and Daniel gave her a sheepish smile.
“I still don't think it's a good idea,” Rachel said.
“I'm going.”
“She's going.”
Amelia and Daniel had spoken simultaneously. And so it was decided, but not by Rachel. Her sister would go with them to Black Hawk's village.
The weather when they left on their journey was pleasant. The scenery was delightful, and Rachel, anxious to see Black Hawk, was glad her sister had come.
John Dempsey stayed behind to work at the infirmary. Miriam Lathom consented to assist him, for which Rachel was relieved.
Little Susie Milton was a happy child, excited about visiting her Ojibwa friend again. During the journey, she pleaded with her mother to allow Conner return with them for a short stay.
Jane looked hesitant. “I don't know, Susie.”
“I'm sure you have nothing to worry about, Jane,” Jack Keller said. He too had elected to come. “Conner is a good boy. It will be fun for Susie to have him come.”
When Rachel had first seen the number of people in her traveling party, she'd rolled her eyes, wondering how the Indians would react to so many uninvited guests.
And how was she to get in a private word with Black Hawk? Her family would be there, watching her, following her every move. Would she be able to find time alone with him?
As she watched Daniel and Amelia, Rachel knew she wouldn't have to worry about them. They'd enjoy this special time together, two people in love expecting their first child.
Jane Milton and Jack Keller's friendship was growing, Rachel noted. She was glad for both of their sakes. Jane needed a man like Jack, and Jack loved and needed Jane, a pretty blond woman with sad blue eyes.
Susie would be with Conner and his grandmother. Rachel doubted she'd see much of Daniel's niece.
Her thoughts went ahead to the village. She imagined seeing Black Hawk again. Her stomach fluttered and her blood warmed as she remembered his touch.
Oh, Black Hawk, please be happy to see me,
she thought. And what if he wasn't? Then, she'd pretend to be cheerful, and then leave the village as soon as possible.
BOOK: Wild Innocence
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