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He lifted the floorboard back in place, scooted the desk back where it belonged, then felt his way out of the room.
Out in the hall he grabbed his cane, then found his way to the front door and opened it. He could hear the wagon drawing closer as he stepped out onto the porch.
“Chuck!” his father shouted. “Son! Everyone is all right, son! Clara is here! We’re bringing her to recover the rest of the way at your house! Oh, son, it’s so good to see you!”
Tears ran from Chuck’s eyes as he felt his way down the steps.
Soon he was enveloped in the strong arms of his father, then the soft, gentle arms of his mother.
“Chuck?”
His sister Clara’s sweet, gentle voice drew Chuck out of his mother’s arms.
Chuck went to Clara. He climbed into the back of the wagon and drew his sister into his arms. “Sis,” he whispered. He slowly rocked her back and forth as he held her.
Then he grew col
d inside when he realized that Hannah wasn’t with them.
He eased Clara from his arms and turned to his father.
“God, where’s Hannah?” he gasped.
“Like I said, son, we’re all fine,” Howard said.
“Then, where is Hannah?” Chuck persisted.
“She’s with Strong Wolf,” Howard said matter-of-factly.
Chuck was taken aback by the knowing.
Chapter 33
To fondle and caress a joy,
Yet hold it tightly;
Lest it become necessity,
And cling too tightly.
—ANONYMOUS
As Hannah slowly awakened, she was aware of being held in muscled arms. Blinking her eyes, she gazed up at Strong Wolf.
“Strong Wolf?” she murmured, reaching a trembling, weak hand to his face. “You came to the boat? Oh, Lord, Strong Wolf, I asked you not to. Now you might get ill with cholera. Your people! You might even take the disease back to them!”
She tried to move from his arms, but he insistently held her there, then placed a gentle kiss to her brow.
“We are not on the boat,” he said, gazing warmly into her eyes. “Look around you. You will see where you are, and where you are going to stay,”
Hannah was stunned to find herself in Strong Wolf’s lodge. The fireplace sent out a golden glow of light and warmth. Everything was so quiet; so peaceful.
She turned anxious eyes up at him then. “Clara!” she cried. “Did she die? Did I contract cholera? Strong Wolf, I don’t remember anything!”
“Your sister is at your brother’s ranch now, recuperating,” Strong Wolf said thickly. “And you? No. You have not been ill. You just fainted from exhaustion.”
“Mother? Father?” she murmured, stunned to know that she was so lapse in memory about everything.
