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Hannah tensed with the mention of Colonel Deshong. When she had gone to the fort to defend Strong Wolf, this man had been too inquisitive about her relationship with Strong Wolf.
Now he would be even more curious.
Yet she had no choice now but to step inside and face the man again. She knew that when Strong Wolf stepped aside, the men inside the lodge had been given full view of her. They had also heard him invite her in to join their council.
She had to wonder what sort of council; what had drawn Colonel Deshong here? Had he changed his mind? Was he going to arrest Strong Wolf after all?
Strong Wolf placed a gentle arm around her waist as he led her into the lodge. She smiled wanly at the colonel, then looked over at the other man. Dressed in buckskin, he was tall, extremely thin, and bald. His dark eyes were friendly as he held out a hand of friendship for Hannah.
“I’m Claude Odum,” Claude said, offering his name before Strong Wolf got around to making introductions. “I’m the Indian agent for this area. And you are?”
“Hannah,” Hannah murmured, taking his hand, gently shaking it. “Hannah Kody. My brother Chuck owns a ranch not far from here.”
“Why, yes, I know Chuck,” Claude said, his smile fading. “I’ve recently heard about his eyesight failing him. I’m sorry.”
“Yes, it’s quite hard on my brother,” Hannah said, swallowing hard.
“And what brings you here today, Hannah?” Claude asked, dropping his hand to his side.
“Horses,” Hannah said, feeling awkward as she turned slow eyes to the colonel, knowing that he was watching her, curious.
“Horses?” Claude said, forking an eyebrow.
She looked quickly back at him, glad not to face the colonel’s questions yet. “Yes, Strong Wolf offered to show them to me. You see, as a child it was my ambition to train show horses. I . . . somehow . . . got sidetracked.”
“And how did that happen?”
“My father. He had different plans for me.”
“Those were?”
“He is a physician. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps and work in the same field as he.”
“A woman physician?” Colonel Deshong suddenly said, sending Hannah’s gaze his way. “Now, that might prove interesting.”
Hannah’s spine stiffened. “Had I aspired myself to be a physician, I would have been as good as any man in that field,” she quickly defended.
“Out here, so far from civilization, a woman doesn’t need to aspire to anything, does she?” Colonel Deshong said, giving Harmah a slow smile.
Hannah felt trapped. She gave Strong Wolf a harried, pleading look.
He responded quickly, having noticed her uneasiness.
“Hannah is a woman of good heart,” Strong Wolf said thickly. “She is caring for her brother in his time of need.”
“I see,” Patrick said.
“I truly must be on my way,” Claude said, reaching down on the floor for his coonskin hat. He plopped it on his head, then reached out and again took Hannah’s hand. “Hannah, it has been delightful. I hope I will have the pleasure of seeing you again.”
“Thank you, sir,” Hannah said, smiling up at him, his height surely at least six foot five inches. “It has also been my pleasure. I look forward to seeing you again.”
She placed her hands behind her back and clasped them together so that she would not ha
ve to offer a handshake to the colonel as he also got up to leave. It was obvious that he had purposely unnerved her. She had to wonder why. While at the fort, she had found some qualities about him that she had admired.
But today? She saw too much in him that she didn’t trust, or like.
“Hannah, you take care of yourself while riding alone,” Colonel Deshong said, his eyes momentarily locking with hers. Then he placed a hand on Strong Wolf’s shoulder. “It’s been good to talk and dine with you, Strong Wolf. And thank you for your permission to build the road. I’m now in your debt, you know.”
