Candace McCarthy Read Online Free PDF Page A

she’d become.
     
     
    “You’ll stay with us, of course,” said Mary.
    After a short visit with Wild Squirrel, who did not awaken while Joanna was there the cousins left the dark interior of the sachem’ s wigwam for the warmth of the summer sunshine outside. Mary made an effort to be friendly, but Joanna had difficulty responding in kind. The knowledge that Mary had been the one to send her away still hurt Joanna deeply. She wanted to ask Mary why, but she wasn’t ready to hear the painful truth.
    Now, as they stood within Mary’s wigwam, Joanna wondered how she could share her cousin’s lodge while feeling resentment. But to argue against Mary’s generosity seemed churlish and rude. So Joanna made an effort to smile as Mary told her of the sleeping arrangements.
    Joanna then recalled her servants and realized that Cara and Harry were the perfect excuse to stay elsewhere within the village. Before she had a chance to mention them, a light breeze created by the lifting and closing of the deer flap drew her attention to the door. Rising Bird, Mary’s husband, had entered and stood by the door with a grin.
    “It has been many summers since I have seen my Autumn Wind,” Mary’s husband said.
    Joanna couldn’t contain her joy. “You have not changed much, Rising Bird.” She smiled at him as he approached. “It is good to see you, my father.”
    The warrior looked as magnificent and handsome as her young girl’s memory had pictured him. He appeared pleased by her endearment. He had the kindest eyes, she thought. Those gentle dark eyes of his glistened with emotion as he studied her. A lump rose to Joanna’s throat as her eyes filled with tears.
    “You are a woman now,” he said, his voice sad.
    “Yet,” she answered, “you recognized me.”
    “I will always know the young girl who came to us with sadness in her eyes but with great love in her heart.” He looked at his wife who remained silent during the exchange. “She has come home to us, Mary.”
    “I hope she will stay,” Mary said sincerely.
    The conversation made Joanna uncomfortable. She had come only for a visit. Her life and her inheritance were in England. In a few short weeks, she would return there with only the memory of this visit in her heart. Unwilling to discuss the length of her stay, Joanna told Mary about her servants.
    “And so you see,” Joanna continued, “it would be wonderful if there were a lodge available for us to stay together.”
    “There is room in Red Dress’s wigwam,” Rising Bird said. “She has gone to visit her sister in the north.”
    Mary looked upset by the switch in Joanna’s accommodations. “Cannot your friends stay in Red Dress’s lodge alone?”
    “Cara and Harry have never been to an Indian village before,” Joanna said. “Cara is understandably nervous. Harry, although more confident, will be unable to calm the girl’s fears.” She looked to Rising Bird for understanding.
    The brave nodded. “I see how much you wish to visit with Autumn Wind,” he said to his wife, “but Joanna knows best. You will have time enough to spend with our little girl.”
    Rising Bird convinced Mary as no one else could. He smiled at both women before leaving the wigwam to see about Red Dress’s lodge.
    A smile lingered on Joanna’s lips after Rising Bird had left. She had loved the brave like a father when she had lived here before. Now, as a woman, she could appreciate even more the warmth, affection, and friendship of such a kind warrior.
    “Are you hungry?” Mary asked, trying to mask her disappointment with a smile.
    Joanna turned to her cousin. “I’m famished. Can I help with the meal?”
    Mary’s expression lit up with pleasure, and Joanna realized the direction of her cousin’s thoughts. For a brief moment, the two women smiled at each other as they recalled an earlier time when Joanna had begged Mary to teach her how to prepare hominy . . . and the young girl’s first attempt at preparing the