A Veiled Reflection by Tracie Peterson

Author:Tracie Peterson [Peterson, Tracie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 0100-12-31T22:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

BACK AT THE HARVEY HOUSE, everyone crowded around Jillian and the baby.

“Oh, she’s so tiny,” one girl said, reaching out to touch the baby’s fingers.

Louisa popped a look over Jillian’s shoulders. “She won’t be any trouble. They mostly sleep at this age.”

“I know it’s a problem,” Jillian said, looking at Gwen’s worried expression. “But I promise I’ll see to all her needs. You won’t have to worry about a thing.”

Gwen shook her head. “No, Judith. If you are to have her here, we’ll all help. Poor little mite. She can’t help her circumstances.”

Jillian smiled but it quickly faded as one of the newest replacements, a young woman of eighteen or nineteen, chimed in, “But she’s an Injun.”

“She’s a baby, Miss Stamos,” Gwen countered before Jillian could say a word.

Jillian threw Gwen a grateful look. “Thank you for understanding.” Just then Zack Matthews came bounding into the dining room. “I just heard from Mac about the school,” he said, coming to Jillian and Gwen. “Miss Danvers, do you know what route Mary took?”

“No, not really. I rode with her once when she was trading goods, but I don’t know which trail we were on or how she got there. Mary said the Navajo have many areas where they’ve congregated to live together. She said there were several roads and many settlements throughout the reservation. Why, Mr. Matthews? Is Mary in danger?”

“I’m afraid she might be. Bear might have counted on someone going to her for help. He may have laid in an ambush for her and any other white man to head his way.”

“No,” Jillian gasped, pulling the baby closer. “Mary is only trying to help Bear. The Navajo are good, peaceful people.”

“Except when you push them around,” Zack suggested. “They haven’t been happy with the new schools, and now that they’ve actually taken matters into their own hands, the army will step in and see to it that the perpetrators are punished. Unfortunately, a great many innocent people may be punished as well.”

He looked briefly at Gwen, and it was while watching this tender exchange that Jillian was more certain than ever that they had fallen in love.

“Miss Carson, I’d like a moment to speak with you before I head out.”

Gwen paled but nodded. “Girls, get back to work,” she ordered before following Zack from the room. “Oh, and, Judith, just take the baby upstairs and I’ll be up directly to help you.”

Jillian moved down the hall to the back stairs, then carefully cradling the baby with her left arm, she pulled up her skirt with her right hand and made her way up. She entered her room and after searching the bedding, she placed Little Sister’s baby in the center of her own bed.

“What am I going to do?” she questioned, staring at the infant. “I don’t know anything about taking care of children.” She tried to remember all that Mac and Mary had told her. Mac had taken the goat home with him, promising to bring extra milk within the hour.

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