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The mention of Lee-Lee made Thunder Horse’s eyes widen. “I already know about the one called Lee-Lee,” he said. “Lone Wing has seen and talked with her and knows that she is a prisoner of Reginald Vineyard, just as you would have been if you had stayed with him.”
“Lee-Lee’s mother, Jade, works for my cousin. She fears him dreadfully,” Jessie said, shuddering. “I hated leaving Jade behind, but I didn’t know if I would really be able to escape my cousin.”
“Chieftain uncle, your father is awake and awaits your arrival,” Lone Wing said as he held the entrance flap aside.
“Pila-maye, thank you, Lone Wing,” Thunder Horse said, stepping away from Jessie and going to the entrance flap. “You can go and tell my sister that we will soon arrive.”
Lone Wing gave Jessie a smile, nodded at Thunder Horse, then was gone again.
“He is a good nephew,” Thunder Horse said, smiling at Jessie as he held aside the flap for her. “Hiya-wo, come. My ahte awaits our arrival.”
Jessie could not help being a little afraid of meeting the ailing, elderly man. If he didn’t approve of her, would he say so? Or would he keep his thoughts to himself?
She left the tepee with Thunder Horse and tried to avoid eye contact with the Sioux men and women as they stopped what they were doing to stare at her. If they knew she was going to stay among them, she wondered what they might do or say.
For the moment, that was not her concern. She must concentrate on meeting Thunder Horse’s father.
“You mentioned a sister to Lone Wing,” Jessie said as she gazed up at Thunder Horse.
“She is Lone Wing’s mother. She sits with my father most times,” he said tightly. “When she is not there, she prepares food for my father, herself, Lone Win
g, and me.”
“She sounds like a wonderful, caring person,” Jessie replied, her heart pounding when she saw how close they were to a large tepee that sat among other smaller ones. She knew it had to be his father’s lodge.
“Like you, she is a widow, and yes, she is a wonderful, caring person,” Thunder Horse said as he stopped just outside the large tepee. “This is my father’s lodge. Come inside with me.”
She swallowed hard, then went with him.
A warm fire burned in the lodge’s firepit. On the far side lay an elderly man on pelts and blankets, his gray hair surrounding his head on the pelts like a halo. At this moment his eyes were closed, his hands lying folded on his stomach, which was covered by a blanket.
Then she became aware of the beautiful Indian woman who sat on one side of the elderly man. When she caught sight of Jessie, she broke into a smile.
Introductions were made, and just as Jessie sat down on the other side of the fire, opposite Sweet Willow, the elderly Indian’s eyes slowly opened.
He gazed at her for a long time, then looked over at Thunder Horse, who now sat down beside Jessie.
Jessie was only scarcely aware that Lone Wing had entered the tepee and now stood behind her and Thunder Horse.
“Why is she here?” White Horse asked as he frowned at Thunder Horse.
Thunder Horse looked over his shoulder at Lone Wing and questioned him with his eyes.
Lone Wing shrugged slightly, as if to say that he had told White Horse about Thunder Horse bringing a visitor, but it seemed that once again the elderly man’s memory had failed him.
“Ahte, this is Jessie,” Thunder Horse murmured, then explained why she was in their village.
“My micinksi, my son, the presence of whites in our village can only mean trouble, especially if that white person is a mitawin,” White Horse said gruffly. “My son, send . . . her . . . away!”
Thunder Horse had never disobeyed his father and hated to now, when he was so ill and near death, but he could not agree with him.
He most certainly could not . . . would not . . . send Jessie away.
She was alone in the world, and something made him recall those times she had stood with her hands across her belly, as women do when they unconsciously protect the child inside their womb.
Thunder Horse looked over his shoulder at Lone Wing again. “Lone Wing, take Jessie outside,” he said firmly.
Lone Wing reached a hand out for Jessie, which she took. She rose to her feet and gave Thunder Horse one last look, then left the tepee to stand just outside the entranceway while Thunder Horse talked with his father.
