and placed her hands on her hips. “What are your troubles if they aren’t mine and Simon’s? Haven’t we been a part of this family since long before you was born?”
Joanna smiled fondly at the older woman. “So you have, Franny. I can wager you never thought your loyalty would take you to Indian territory.”
“Humph, maybe I prefer an Indian to that aunt and uncle of yours.” Franny handed Joanna a pillow and climbed out of the wagon. “I’ll make Master Taggart’s and Simon’s bed under the wagon. You’d best get some sleep. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.”
Joanna smiled to herself. What would she have done if it hadn’t been for Simon and Franny? As she pulled on her long white nightdress, Joanna felt a prickle of fear run like icy fingers down her spine. Her thoughts were troubled, and she feared for the safety of the wagon train.
Tag popped his head into the wagon. “Joanna, do you think we will see Windhawk?”
“Let’s hope not, Tag. I want you to stay near the wagon for the next few days.”
“Can’t we watch the games, Joanna?”
“No! I want you to promise you will not disobey me. These Indians are dangerous. You heard what Farley said.”
Tag yawned and turned away, thinking he would find a way to see the horse races. He just had to.
Joanna picked up her brush and began brushing her red-gold hair. She was tired, but doubted she would sleep a wink, for fear that the Indians would swoop down upon them in thenight. Soon, however, her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep. She wasn’t even aware when Franny lay down beside her.
Quiet settled over the wagon train as all the campfires went out one-by-one.
That night, Joanna’s dreams were disturbed by nightmares. She dreamed of a wild, beautiful Indian who rode with the swiftness of the wind. She never quite got a clear glimpse of his face, but he seemed to beckon her to follow him. In her dream he told her his name was Windhawk!
Chapter Four
Windhawk stared at the darkened skies. There would be no moon tonight, and the thousands of stars lent no light to the darkened shadows.
His keen hearing picked up the sound of footsteps, and he knew his boyhood friend, Gray Fox, was approaching. The two men stood silently for a long while, until at last Gray Fox spoke.
“I sense about you an uneasiness, my friend. Are you troubled?”
“You know me very well, do you not?”
“I know you as well as any man can. You are a man of deep secrets and mystery.”
“You are mistaken. There is nothing mysterious about me. I am a man like any other.”
“No, my chief, you are like no other man. I believe that Napi saw in you a man of great power and wisdom, and he has chosen you to guide our people through these troubled times. I am not alone in this belief, for it is shared by all your people.”
Windhawk placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “If that is so, then you and the others put too much faith in me. I am but a man who has feelings as you do.”
“If that is the truth, my chief, why, then, do you not take unto yourself a wife? I have two wives, and you have not even one, yet we are of the same age. Have you found no maiden whom you favor?”
“No, I have not yet found the woman whom I would choose to walk beside me and bear me sons. Until I find her I will have no other.”
“I have heard your mother say that you are too selective. There are many who would walk beside you should you make the offer.”
“I will not allow my mother to speak of this, nor will I talk with you about it. I search for the woman I could love, but I have not found her.” Windhawk’s voice was but a whisper, and Gray Fox could almost feel the pain in his words. He decided it would not be wise to pursue the conversation so he changed the subject.
“What is troubling you, my friend?”
Windhawk was silent for so long that Gray Fox thought he wouldn’t answer. At last he spoke.
“How can I tell you of this feeling that is deep inside
Joanna smiled fondly at the older woman. “So you have, Franny. I can wager you never thought your loyalty would take you to Indian territory.”
“Humph, maybe I prefer an Indian to that aunt and uncle of yours.” Franny handed Joanna a pillow and climbed out of the wagon. “I’ll make Master Taggart’s and Simon’s bed under the wagon. You’d best get some sleep. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.”
Joanna smiled to herself. What would she have done if it hadn’t been for Simon and Franny? As she pulled on her long white nightdress, Joanna felt a prickle of fear run like icy fingers down her spine. Her thoughts were troubled, and she feared for the safety of the wagon train.
Tag popped his head into the wagon. “Joanna, do you think we will see Windhawk?”
“Let’s hope not, Tag. I want you to stay near the wagon for the next few days.”
“Can’t we watch the games, Joanna?”
“No! I want you to promise you will not disobey me. These Indians are dangerous. You heard what Farley said.”
Tag yawned and turned away, thinking he would find a way to see the horse races. He just had to.
Joanna picked up her brush and began brushing her red-gold hair. She was tired, but doubted she would sleep a wink, for fear that the Indians would swoop down upon them in thenight. Soon, however, her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep. She wasn’t even aware when Franny lay down beside her.
Quiet settled over the wagon train as all the campfires went out one-by-one.
That night, Joanna’s dreams were disturbed by nightmares. She dreamed of a wild, beautiful Indian who rode with the swiftness of the wind. She never quite got a clear glimpse of his face, but he seemed to beckon her to follow him. In her dream he told her his name was Windhawk!
Chapter Four
Windhawk stared at the darkened skies. There would be no moon tonight, and the thousands of stars lent no light to the darkened shadows.
His keen hearing picked up the sound of footsteps, and he knew his boyhood friend, Gray Fox, was approaching. The two men stood silently for a long while, until at last Gray Fox spoke.
“I sense about you an uneasiness, my friend. Are you troubled?”
“You know me very well, do you not?”
“I know you as well as any man can. You are a man of deep secrets and mystery.”
“You are mistaken. There is nothing mysterious about me. I am a man like any other.”
“No, my chief, you are like no other man. I believe that Napi saw in you a man of great power and wisdom, and he has chosen you to guide our people through these troubled times. I am not alone in this belief, for it is shared by all your people.”
Windhawk placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “If that is so, then you and the others put too much faith in me. I am but a man who has feelings as you do.”
“If that is the truth, my chief, why, then, do you not take unto yourself a wife? I have two wives, and you have not even one, yet we are of the same age. Have you found no maiden whom you favor?”
“No, I have not yet found the woman whom I would choose to walk beside me and bear me sons. Until I find her I will have no other.”
“I have heard your mother say that you are too selective. There are many who would walk beside you should you make the offer.”
“I will not allow my mother to speak of this, nor will I talk with you about it. I search for the woman I could love, but I have not found her.” Windhawk’s voice was but a whisper, and Gray Fox could almost feel the pain in his words. He decided it would not be wise to pursue the conversation so he changed the subject.
“What is troubling you, my friend?”
Windhawk was silent for so long that Gray Fox thought he wouldn’t answer. At last he spoke.
“How can I tell you of this feeling that is deep inside
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