“You killed them both?” Harris wonders thinking of the scene he rode through. There was only one body.
“No. I shot one man in the stomach and ran. The other was wrapped up in… what’s the word… roll of wire you used on the ranch?” she glances at Harris for help.
“Baling wire?” he suggests.
“Yes, baling wire and snow. The poor horse. I didn’t expect it to roll up with the man.” Her voice fades when she glances at the concern on the faces of the men around her.
“What?” she demands.
“You’re the only witness to a massacre of a peaceful Indian tribe under the protection of a treaty. This General Barclay isn’t going to just sit back and let them slip by,” Sutton snaps.
“Barclays busy at the Fort. We have time to get away,” Harris says.
Vanessa goes quiet and looks at Harris and the people she has accidentally placed in harm’s way. “No more death,” she gasps and surges to her feet. “I need my horse. I will leave first thing in the morning. No one needs to know I was here.”
“We sold the horse in town,” Trent says watching Harris closely.
“We are leaving, together, in the morning,” Harris says firmly and refuses to release her hand when she tries to break free.
“No. I am hunted by co’appiccih! I won’t have you hurt because of me. Why won’t you let me be?” she demands with angry tears rolling down her face. The men leave quietly, and Melody follows with Billy, shushing him when he tries to speak. Molly goes to the stove and makes a fresh pot of tea.
Harris stares at her and cups her face in his hand. “I stupidly let you get away from me the first time. I won’t be that stupid a second time. I want you to come home with me, as my Wife. Let me take care of you.”
“NO!” Fury has her shoving him hard. “I just buried my husband, my family…” my hope, her heart screams. “I can’t just pretend like everything is okay.”
“This is the second time you’ve refused me. I understand you need to heal, but I owe it to your father, Kimani, I promised him,”
She hisses at him, “Kimani is dead, and I am no one’s debt to be settled.” Anger and hurt have her limping from the room. “I’m leaving in the morning. Tamma man!” she rushes away from him.
“Damn foolish woman! I’m not stupid!” Harris shouts in frustration and paces in front of the fireplace as she slams the front door. “Why can’t she see reason?”
“Can you blame her, son? She’s right, she just lost all of her hopes and dreams as well as the only family she’ll ever know.” Trent’s Mother, Molly, says softly from behind him.
“That’s not true, Molly. She has my family. We’ve been there for her all our lives.” Harris explains. “She spent every summer and Holiday’s with us for years, learning English, and spending time with our family. I’ve treated the old, and delivered the babies… I loved them too.”
“That may be true, but no woman wants to be a burden. What are you really offering her, Harris? I don’t know you, but I know love when I see it. If you can’t see it, how do you expect her too?” Molly sits and pours herself a cup of tea.
“Love?” Harris flops into the chair and stares into the fire. “I won’t love her. I can’t love again! I’m not sure I’d survive another loss like my wife.”
“I see.” Molly sighs, “You said, won’t, Son. That means you’re making a choice. What kind of choice is it, to live but not really live? Your wife would be ashamed of you for hiding behind your fear.” Molly sits staring at him with hard eyes and watches him flinch at her words.
“That’s harsh, Mrs. Molly, but not entirely untrue.” Harris runs a hand over his bearded face. “What do I do now? She’s in love with another man.”
“You pray, and you walk patiently beside her until she heals. Don’t give up on her and don’t let her give up. There’s a mighty big hole in her heart, the question is, are you the man to fill it?”
Harris smiles at her, “That’s a good question.”
“Until the answer is yes, stop pushing her.” Molly sets her teacup down. “You can stay in the main house tonight. We have a room ready for you at Vanessa’s request. Give her some space.” Molly says goodnight and Harris sits in the great room to plan.
Billy sits on the porch waiting for Vanessa. When she steps outside, he jumps up and runs over. “Can I walk with you?”
“Of course, thank you.” She walks slowly enjoying the fresh air. “Tell me, is it a very long ride to Riverton?”
“No, ma’am. It’s only fifteen miles, northwest.”
“Is it an Army Fort?” she asks.
“Oh, no, ma’am. Just a small town. Why?”
Vanessa smiles at him. “I need supplies, clothing, shoes, you know my own things to wear, but my saddle bag had my money,” she sighs sadly.
“Don’t’ be sad, Miss Vanessa, they sold your horse, but not the saddle bags. They’re in the barn.”
“Really?” Hope flickers, “Could you show me where?”
“I’d be glad to bring them to you,” Billy offers eagerly.
“That would be perfect, thank you. I can’t buy supplies without my money. But I don’t want you to get in trouble. Just tell me where they are.”
“Oh, I won’t. I have chores to do in the barn anyway. Dad and Sutton are bringing in the sheep. I’ll be right back.”
Guilt floods through
