Dorothy Garlock by Wayward Wind

Author:Wayward Wind
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Thirteen

It had been difficult at first for Lorna to talk to her father. She carefully kept the conversation on safe topics and he followed suit. She said nothing more about his association with Brice Fulton, and he didn’t mention Cooper or his abrupt departure. Instead he told her about a cougar he’d shot after it had brought down one of their cows, and that he had caught the scent of a wolverine in the shed a few days ago. He told her he planned to put a new roof on the smokehouse and that if she planned to keep all the pumpkins from the garden they’d have to either dry some of them or dig out more space in the cellar.

Lorna asked her father if there were more green beans in the garden to string and dry, and if he’d spotted a honey tree. She offered to help bring timber down from the hills to cut for firewood. She told him about Bonnie and how she had suffered giving birth, and saw his eyes go dark with pain as he remembered her mother dying during childbirth. Finally Lorna told him about the mare she had found running loose, about Cooper and Griffin coming to look for it and their part in helping Bonnie.

“Cooper has a horse ranch near Junction City and he and Griffin are thinking of filing on land down on the Blue and starting another one.”

“’Tis for certain he be a mon who knows horse flesh, if what he be ridin’ be an example. I ne’er seen a finer animal fer strong hindquarters.” Frank seemed younger, more relaxed, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. He even smiled occasionally.

“Have you seen anything of Volney? He said he’d find a place for Bonnie and come back for her. He didn’t come. It isn’t like him.”

“Aye, lass. ’Tis sorry I am to be tellin’ ye, but I think the oold mon was sorely used by Brice. Mind ye, I just know what was let slip by Billy. ’Twas said a rock fell on the oold mon, but I be thinkin’ they broke his legs when he would’na tell where ye took the wee cripple lassie.”

“Oh! Damn that Brice! He’d better not have hurt Volney. Where is he? Did you look for him?”

“Aye. He not be on the mountain. ’Tis sure I am of that.”

“Moose or Woody might have seen him,” Lorna said hopefully.

“Aye. They be comin’ soon to make ready fer winter.” Frank filled his pipe and looked at her over the light he held to the bowl. “Ye be watchin’ yerself, lass. Ye braced up to Hollis, and ye scored a mark agin’ Brice. They be not forgettin’.”

“I’m not afraid of them. They know White Bull will kill them if they harm me.”

“Aye. ’Tis glad I am the Indian is fond of ye.”

“He and his people will be coming back through soon,” she said wistfully, suddenly longing to see her old friend.

“Aye.” Frank got to his feet.

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