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Kaylene turned her head in the direction where she once again heard the laughter. “Someone is here,” she said, her eyes widening in curiosity.
She turned to the women again. “Let’s go and see who it is,” she said, and was surprised to see that none of them seemed willing to.
She gave Blue Cloud a long stare. “Even you are afraid to go with me?” she said, having made a strong bond with this woman, almost the same as she had formed with Running Fawn when they had first become acquainted.
“I shall hold the reins to your burro,” Blue Cloud said, taking them from Kaylene. “I shall stay behind with the others. But do not go too close, yourself, until you see who it is and if they are alone.”
Kaylene inhaled a nervous breath, then turned toward the sound of the laughter again. She had to see who was there. Curiosity was killing her.
She moved stealthily, her hand slipping her cutting knife from the sheath at her left side. When she came to a clearing and she could see more easily what lay ahead of her, her eyes widened in surprise.
She saw a cabin, and outside the cabin there was a beautiful lady sitting on the ground, playing with a small child, a boy who was surely four or five years old.
The woman’s back was to Kaylene.
Then suddenly the woman turned and revealed her face, causing Kaylene’s knees to suddenly weaken with the surprise and shock of the discovery.
“Running Fawn!” she gasped. “It’s Running Fawn!”
Her gaze swept down to the small boy. He was adorable, with his long black hair flowing down his bare back to his waist. His skin was copper, his eyes pitch black. And when he laughed, it sent a warmth through Kaylene.
She then realized that Running Fawn must have been pregnant with Pedro’s son when she had been exiled from the village. That had to mean that Running Fawn had given birth to this child and had raised him alone.
Unless . . . ?
Kaylene looked around and saw no signs of a man living there with Running Fawn.
She took a step closer, stepping on a twig and snapping it with a loud noise. Her presence had been revea
led.
She slipped her knife back inside its sheath and quickly stepped out into the clearing for Running Fawn to see.
She reached a hand out for Running Fawn, to stop her, when she grabbed her son in her arms and started backing toward her door.
“Running Fawn, it is me, Kaylene,” Kaylene said, reaching a hand out for her friend. “It is so good to see you.”
When Running Fawn backed up closer to her door, panic seized Kaylene. “No, Running Fawn, don’t go inside. Please let’s talk.”
“Go away!” Running Fawn cried. “My son and I do not want you here. Leave us alone!”
“Running Fawn, please let me talk to you,” Kaylene pleaded, inching closer. “Tell me how you’ve been. Tell me about your son.”
“No!” Running Fawn cried, tears springing into her eyes. “It is useless! Do not break my heart by coming and then leaving. I do not want to feel the pain again that I felt when I was banished.”
“Things have changed, Running Fawn,” Kaylene cried. “Had we known you were here you would have been invited back to live among your people. Fire Thunder has softened in his mood about the young women of his village and who they do or do not wish to become involved with. Times are slowly changing this particular custom among them.”
“Fire Thunder would never change his mind about me,” Running Fawn said, taking another step toward her door. “I do not want to hear anything you have to say! Little Pedro and I have done quite well on our own! Before he was born I went to San Carlos and managed to steal all that I needed to make life comfortable for me and my son. The seeds I stole give me food each year in my garden. I have never gone back to San Carlos again. We are happy and safe here. We need no one!”
Kaylene suddenly recalled that Pedro had never married. He still loved Running Fawn. “Your son is Pedro Rocendo’s son, is he not?” Kaylene asked. “Pedro would still marry you. I know he would. He has never married. He has even broken ties with his father. Pedro manages a general store. He pines for you, Running Fawn. He has told me this, himself! Come with me now, Running Fawn. Let’s go back to the village. Make peace with your people. Then you can go on to San Carlos. Pedro will give you and your son a good life!”
“You are saying things you do not know are true,” Running Fawn cried. “Why make my life complicated when now it is so simple for me and my son? Surely Pedro has forgotten me.”
“No, he hasn’t,” Kaylene said, moving toward Running Fawn. “I’m telling you the truth when I say that he told me how he still feels about you. He misses you. He is only half a man without you.”
“Kaylene, please stop!” Running Fawn shouted, then turned and ran inside her cabin and slammed the door behind her.
Kaylene was not going to give up that easily. She went to the cabin and opened the door and stepped inside. A fire was burning in the fireplace. The cabin was immaculately clean, but scarce of furniture. Yet it had many comfortable mats everywhere, making Kaylene realize that Running Fawn also frequented the streams to do the cattailing.
