Love's Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik

Author:Jennifer Uhlarik [Uhlarik, Jennifer;]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636091839
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

St. Augustine, Florida—Thursday, December 23, 1875

Put that back.” The storekeeper, Athol Kemp, glared at Broken Bow through the doorway to the back room.

Broken Bow returned the egg he’d picked up from the basket on the counter and put his hands in his pockets. Stepping away from the counter, he turned to view the road outside and focused on one of the Ka’igwa leaders, Lone Wolf, as he sat across the street drawing in his ledger book. Strange that he’d seen three of the Ka’igwa leaders using their day pass to leave the fort just to draw. Most times, if given the opportunity to leave the fort with a pass, the Indians shopped in local stores or provided entertainment to tourists.

“Ignore Papa.”

He turned to face Mr. Kemp’s daughter, Abigail, from where she arranged some kind of colorful objects on a shelf behind the counter.

“He’s always a scrooge at this time of year.”

Scrooge. This was not a word he’d learned in his classes at the fort.

“I heard that, Abby.” Mr. Kemp stepped out and shot his daughter a perturbed look.

“I meant for you to hear me. It’s Christmas, and you’re as grumpy as the devil himself.”

“Mind your tongue, child.” He shot the young woman a stern look, then set three small paper-wrapped packages, each tied with flat, red string, on the counter.

“I’m not sure I ought to give these to you.” The storekeeper eyed Broken Bow.

By now, he was used to such treatment. While the tourists who visited this town met him and the other Indian men with great interest and curiosity, the locals seemed far more fearful that they’d stir trouble.

“Lieutena Pratt say you give me.” He tapped the instructions White Chief had written that morning.

Mr. Kemp’s eyes narrowed. “Just not sure this is wise. I don’t want you losin’ ‘em or breakin’ ‘em and it somehow comin’ back so I’ve got to replace ‘em.”

Broken Bow pushed the note across the counter. “You write why you no give. I show Lieutena Pratt.”

Miss Kemp sighed loudly. “Papa, stop. Broken Bow is following orders. If you don’t let the man do his job, Lieutenant Pratt may forbid his Indians from shopping with us. That would be a large loss for the store.”

The storekeeper stared another moment, then slid the packages across the counter. “Fine. But they’d better arrive—in one piece.”

Broken Bow tucked the small parcels into the bag he’d slung across his body, then folded White Chief’s note and tucked it inside as well. He gave both Mr. Kemp and his daughter a nod. “Thank you.”

“Merry Christmas, Broken Bow.” The young woman waved as she set to work again.

He nodded to Miss Kemp again, then ducked outside.

Christmas. Yet another word he didn’t understand. Luke and Sally Jo had taken their holy book and attempted to explain this celebration to their students, but he didn’t understand why the birth of one baby could cause so much happiness. In fact, much from their holy book didn’t make sense to him yet. In his own culture, children were reason to rejoice.

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