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“And how is it that you are with Echohawk?” William Joseph asked.
“Because I could not sleep that morning in your camp, I took a ride,” she softly explained. “And I came across Echohawk at that time. I went with him then to—”
“She accompanied me and my braves to find out the truth,” Echohawk said, taking over. “The truth about her father’s disappearance—and many more things. Tonight when you arrived my people and Chief Silver Wing’s people were celebrating a victory over the truths that were uncovered.”
“Truths?” William Joseph asked, arching an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Yellow Eyes,” Echohawk said blandly. “The truth about Yellow Eyes.”
William Joseph leaned forward. “Who is this Yellow Eyes?” he asked, looking from Echohawk to Mariah.
“That is Echohawk’s nickname for Tanner McCloud,” Mariah quickly explained.
“Tanner McCloud?” William Joseph said, again arching an eyebrow. “What about him? What does he have to do with any of this?”
“Tanner McCloud is the one who spread the lie about Echohawk,” Mariah said before Echohawk could speak for himself. “Tanner was the one who burned my father’s trading post. He’s the one who abducted my father.” She swallowed hard, then added, “He’s the one responsible for my father’s death.”
“Your father is dead?” William Joseph said in a low gasp.
“After abducting my father, Tanner locked him up in a cabin without food and water,” Mariah said, lowering her eyes, the thought of her father’s dying breaths almost too painful to bear. “He died because of this mistreatment.”
“And Tanner?” William Joseph dared to ask. “What of him?”
“He is no longer among the living,” Echohawk said without hesitation. “And that is good. For years he has abused my people and yours. He was a worthless cheat and liar. He was greedy. His spirit hovers now, somewhere between darkness and light, never to be at peace.”
William Joseph wiped a hand across his face, shaking his head slowly back and forth, then peered at Echohawk with a warm smile. “I’m glad that your name has been cleared,” he said softly. He gazed with compassion at Mariah. “But I’m sorry about your father.”
Mariah’s lips parted, and she came close to telling William Joseph that he wasn’t her father—that his father and hers were one and the same.
William Joseph rose to his feet. “I will return to Fort Snelling and tell my father everything,” he said, smiling down at everyone. “And when you have the time, Echohawk, and Silver Wing, come and speak peace with my father. It will look better in the white community for those who will still carry doubts about your innocence in their hearts.”
Mariah rose along with Echohawk and Silver Wing and Nee-kah and went to William Joseph. One by one William Joseph embraced them, and when he came to Mariah, she looked adoringly into his eyes, seeing a reflection of herself in their depths. She was so very happy that he was her kin!
“Thank you for everything,” she whispered, clinging to him as he pulled her into a hearty hug. “Tell Abigail and your father that I appreciate what they did for me, and that I’m sorry if I gave them one moment of concern. I should have sent word to them that I was all right.”
“That you are is all that is important,” William Joseph said, easing her from him and holding her at arm’s length. He winked down at her. “Whenever you like, Mariah, I’ll give you a few dancing lessons.”
Mariah covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. “I have dancing lessons to learn here,” she finally said. “And the Indian dances are even more complicated than those I encountered at the fort.”
“No-din is an apt student,” Nee-kah said, smiling at Mariah. “She will learn everything of the Chippewa culture very quickly.”
“No-din?” William Joseph said, stroking his chin as his eyes smiled at Mariah.
“She is ‘Woman of the Wind’ to the Chippewa,” Echohawk said, placing a possessive arm around her waist, drawing her close to him. “No-din. Woman of the Wind.”
As they all stepped from the council house, the first snowfall of winter was upon them. Mariah looked up at the snow as it fell from the sky, the flakes so big it was as though petals from wild plum trees were settling on her upturned face.
She looked at the wigwams, the snow on them making them look like huddled ghosts on the open plain.
“Come soon to Fort Snelling,” William Joseph said, swinging himself up into his saddle. He gave a vigorous wave, then barked the command that sent the soldiers away in a hard gallop.
Chief Silver Wing turned to Echohawk. “It is good that that is behind us,” he said, heaving a long sigh. “Now, Echohawk, before the snows become heavier and more frequent, you must concentrate
on establishing for yourself a new village. If you so desire, build it side by side with mine. We will be as one, yet led by separate chiefs.”
Echohawk contemplated this suggestion for a moment, then placed a gentle hand on Chief Silver Wing’s shoulder. “Thank you,” he said, smiling broadly. “My people will accept your offer with a glad heart!”
“That is good,” Chief Silver Wing said, clasping Echohawk’s arm in brotherhood and good faith.
