Tracie Peterson - [Heirs of Montana 04] by The Hope Within

Author:The Hope Within [Within, The Hope]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Several nights after speaking with his mother, the time to talk with Elsa presented itself before Jamie even realized what had happened. Susannah, suffering from a cold, had gone to bed early and Uncle George and his mother were busy with expense records, sequestered away in the kitchen. That allowed Jamie and Elsa to sit at the far side of the house in front of the fire.

“How’s your head?” Elsa asked, toying with a cup of tea.

“It’s better. Doesn’t hurt as much when I’m up and around.”

“I still feel so bad. I’m really sorry, Jamie. I know I’ve said that before, but I just can’t shake my guilt.”

He smiled. “You’re forgiven. Don’t give it another thought.” She put the tea aside and looked deep into Jamie’s eyes. He felt his heart skip a beat as she leaned closer.

“I know I wasn’t very nice when I first came here. I have to be honest with you: I was terrified. I’d heard horrible things about your family.”

“My family?”

“I’m afraid so. My father was not very kind about the fact that your mother was part Indian. He said you were savages, all of you. That he intended to see you all on the reservation. Luckily, he got caught up in other matters, namely buying up the valley and everyone else’s herds.”

“I had no idea.” Jamie’s heart sank. If she was raised to despise them because they were of Indian blood, what hope could there be to share his heart with her?

“Your mother has been talking to me about God,” Elsa continued. “I didn’t understand a lot of things. Joshua had helped me to know a bit about Jesus, and Mara has such a strong faith, but I didn’t understand.”

“I know what you mean. My mother’s faith has always been rather intimidating. She talks about Jesus as though He were in the next room.”

Elsa laughed. “Exactly. She has a friendship with God that I cannot understand.”

“Me either, but I envy it.”

“Yes!” she practically gasped. “Me too.”

They fell silent for several moments, and all Jamie could think of was how to turn the subject back to his heritage. He wanted to know—needed to know—how Elsa felt now.

“I hope you aren’t still afraid of being here,” he barely breathed. He held her gaze, searching for the truth in her eyes.

“Oh no, I’m not afraid. I feel the opposite of how I felt then. I’ve come to love your mother. I hadn’t realized how much I missed my own mother until I came here. Your uncle is a fine man too.”

“Despite the fact he’s a half-breed?”

“Oh, Jamie, I don’t even care about that anymore. I’ve come to realize the color of a person’s skin, the ancestors they claim—none of that matters when it comes to the heart. Your sister helped me to see how my family’s beliefs were wrong. She and I talked the other day, and I know now I have a great deal to learn. I’m just not all that sure where to start.”

He reached over and touched her hand.

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