Yet, her father had taken to speaking harsh words to her, as though only his anger might ensure the marriage between Thomas and her.
"Blast you, girl! 'Tis your duty to me and your family to unite our two families. Since your engagement, it has always been you dragging your feet, not Thomas. Well, it is going to stop, and it's going to stop now!"
Laylah drew in a deep breath. In truth, she understood what was expected of her and her obligation to her family. What was hard for her to come to grips with, however, was the gradual realization that she would never experience with Thomas the full expression of love she felt for Eagle Heart.
Indeed, when she went to sleep at night, she brought to mind Eagle Heart's image, for it helped to calm her. Often, in thought she heard again his quiet humor; she even listened for his laughter on the wind. And, sometimes, she recalled the feel of his kiss.
So much did she miss him, she had even tried to make contact with him via the mind-to-mind talk. But, it was not to be. If he heard her, he never answered.
As Gray Falcon stepped up to the counter, he glanced quickly at Amelia before looking away from her. He signed, "I have news."
"You do?" answered Millie with sign.
"My friend has sent word to me that he has found a clue about where his brother has gone. Soon, he will leave here to mark a trail that I will follow as soon as I am finished with the trading I must do."
"Then, he hasn't left yet?" asked Laylah with sign.
"He has gone from here, yes, for this fort is a dangerous place for him, as it is for all our people. Not only are we surrounded by our enemies, the Crow and the Assiniboine, but now the white man has become an enemy, too. But, my friend is not yet far away."
"Oh?" asked Laylah. "Do you know where he is, then?"
"I do not," answered Gray Falcon.
"Can you contact him using the mind-to-mind speak?" asked Laylah with signs.
"I cannot. I do not have this power. Not yet. How do you know of the mind talk?" he asked.
"It is how Mr. Eagle Heart found me in the snowstorm. I heard his voice and answered him. We talked, then. But, we have not been able to do it again." Looking down, she noticed her hands were shaking.
"He has blocked his mind from this post," signed Gray Falcon.
"What do you mean?"
"This post holds some good memories for him, yes, but some bad ones, also. And, if he thinks you are to marry another, he will block communication with you. It would be in his mind to not cause more hurt for either of you. And so, unless he wishes to speak to you, it will not happen."
"Oh." She glanced down toward the counter.
"Well, here you are, Laylah." Thomas' voice was low, but there was an edge of annoyance in his tone as he spoke to her. "I have been looking for you."
Laylah reached up to dry her tears and turned to welcome her fiancé. She sniffed a little before smiling up into his handsome face, but instead of enjoying his company, as she knew she ought, she recalled another face and other words coming from a man she respected and apparently still loved. She couldn't help herself, and she recalled again Eagle Heart's words about Thomas:
"He is a coward. A real man does not leave his woman on the prairie alone. If you were to perish there, I would perish with you. Remember this."
Laylah did remember, and she cried again. Turning away from Thomas, she grabbed hold of a handkerchief. She blew her nose, then said, "I seem to have caught a cold."
"Perhaps it is because of this work you have been doing all week long," suggested Thomas. "Would you like to come for a ride with me? Feel the wind against your face?"
Laylah shook her head. "It sounds wonderful, and I...I thank you, Thomas. But, I have too much to do here."
"Do not do this to me, Laylah. What happened out there was not my fault," Thomas said, reasserting himself. "But, I promise you, it will not be the same as it was before. I have now learned to be cautious. And, you will be happy to know there is no prediction of a storm coming here today. I have asked the Indians." He laughed.
She smiled a little. "This is, indeed, good. But, please, Thomas, I...I cannot go out for a ride. I don't feel well. Please excuse me." And, with these parting words, she turned from him to flee quickly away, heading directly to her room.
Thomas Sutter frowned, watching her sudden departure. He set his lips into a thin line and shook his head as a deep voice spoke up from the goods-and-supply area which was situated in the rear of the trading room. The man said, "I heard your exchange with my daughter, but do not give up on her. She will become herself again soon, I know." With these words, Robert McIntosh stepped forward and came to stand on Thomas' left.
"It had better be soon," warned Thomas to the man who could very well be his future father-in-law. "Indeed, pretty though she is, I will not wait for her forever."
"You will not have to, Thomas. You will not have to."
