Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes

Author:Michele Paige Holmes [Holmes, Michele Paige]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781608613090
Publisher: Deseret Book Company
Published: 2011-04-10T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

The children lined up to greet them as Thayne guided the wagon through the gates. He stopped the team and jumped from the wagon as Lone Wolf made his way past the little ones.

“You are returned, friend.”

Thayne clasped the older man’s hand firmly. “All is well?”

Lone Wolf nodded. “As well as can be, living as we are here.” He leaned down, speaking to the young girl next to him. She listened to his counsel, then ran off toward one of the many rows of lodges pitched in the camp.

“Red Hawk will be pleased to see you,” Lone Wolf said. “She has taken quite a liking to your son and would not mind if you were to take her into your lodge as his mother.” He looked up at Emma, her face pale as she stood on the wagon step behind Thayne. “Though I see you have found a second wife already.”

Thayne turned back to the wagon and held his hand out to Emma. Feeling her fingers trembling, he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then turned back to his friend. “Not a wife but a teacher. This is Emmalyne Madsen. She has come to help with Joshua.”

Emma gave a perfect curtsey. Lone Wolf frowned as he looked her over.

“I do not think she will last two moons,” he said in his native tongue to Thayne. “It is not too late to change your mind and take a Lakota wife.”

Thayne tried to hide his amusement. “You know I cannot. I can do more for your people when I keep myself from within these gates. Were I to live here, the government leaders would not take my counsel as seriously.”

“You have spoken with the great father on our behalf?”

Thayne shook his head, sorry to be disappointing the older man. “Not the great father but one of his emissaries who will take my message to him.”

Beside Thayne, Emma sidled closer as the children crowded around her.

“There is talk of allowing the hunt again,” Thayne said. “I can make no promises, but I have tried to convince them that it is better for all if the Lakota provide for their own instead of relying on annuities from the east.”

“It is well,” Lone Wolf said. “Though I know not what we would hunt for this many together and with the buffalo gone.”

Thayne nodded. Privately, he agreed with Lone Wolf and was very much afraid his words had fallen on deaf ears. But he couldn’t give up, couldn’t bear to think of these brave, proud people living as they were for years to come.

“There is something else,” he said, venturing to bring up the other possibility he had discussed with the agents. “It may be possible in the near future for some—a few at first— to come live and work the land as I do—to raise cattle and plant crops.”

Lone Wolf frowned. “We know nothing of your way, your cows, your houses—”

“Not now,” Thayne said. “But you could learn. Is it not the role of Lakota men to provide for and protect their families?”

Lone Wolf nodded.

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