Shelter in Seattle by Jean Kincaid & Rhonda Gibson

Author:Jean Kincaid & Rhonda Gibson [Kincaid, Jean & Gibson, Rhonda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781601543844
Amazon: 1601543840
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Published: 2008-10-21T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Julianne rocked Jonathan to sleep. Caleb would be home soon. Love for him and the baby swelled in her heart. She marveled at the changes the last few weeks had brought into her life.

Her husband cared for her. He’d shown it in many ways. She loved that Caleb made sure to spend time with her. Every evening they took long walks in the woods and by the river. He’d taken her on different paths, showing her that at certain points, the earth just dropped off and water rushed up against the bank.

Each morning they shared a warm breakfast, and then he went to work. She straightened the cabin, and then took the laundry down to the river.

The Indian girl still came to the river, too, but she never tried to harm Jonathan. Using gestures and some sign language, Julianne had learned the woman’s name was Morning Star.

It seemed that every time Julianne went to the river, Morning Star was there, also. The young Indian woman took pleasure in feeding Jonathan, and she started to bring her laundry with her to the river. They shared only a few words of the same language, but their love for Jonathan was equal.

Julianne had begun to think of Morning Star as her friend. After the first few visits, they were signing and laughing together. She taught Morning Star English words and Morning Star taught her how to twist the laundry so tight it dried much quicker when she hung it on the branches by the creeks edge. It felt good not to be alone while she worked.

But in the waning hours of this night, their last conversation still haunted Julianne. They’d finished their laundry and were sharing lunch. Julianne had brought two biscuits with pork, and Morning Star traded one of her beef jerky strips and a small square of corn bread for one of the biscuits.

“Why do you have fear inside you?” Morning Star questioned.

Julianne’s hands shook as she sought for simple words her friend would understand. How did you explain to someone from such a close knit tribe as the Suquamish, that your own flesh and blood might do you harm. Before she could form the words Morning Star continued.

“You hur, hurreee,” Morning Star stumbled over the new word, “to finish wash and only give small time to play. To hide from your man, yes? I do not understand.”

Julianne watched a quizzical look cross her friends face.

“Your man, he is not man of honor?”

The very question cut to the core of Julianne’s heart. She’d thought Morning Star was talking about her uncle; instead she’d picked up on the very root of Julianne’s deception.

“Caleb is an honorable man, Morning Star. The very best.” Sorrow ate away at Julianne. She’d cast an unfavorable image of her husband, the man she’d come to love with all her heart. Her own lies had caused this damage.

She jumped to her feet, pacing the river’s edge. How could she have done this to a man who had shown her the best things life had to offer? And he’d freely given his trust.

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