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Shirleen looked quickly up and wiped her eyes with the back of a hand when she heard someone enter her tepee. She stared in disbelief when she saw who was there. It was Blue Thunder with a little girl who appeared about the same age as Megan. And like Megan, this little Indian girl was beautiful, her copper skin so soft-looking, so smooth.
The child did not seem to have any fear of this white stranger. She stood calmly beside Blue Thunder, holding a doll that seemed to be made from corn husks, with a tiny piece of what looked like fox fur wrapped and tied around it.
Oh, how sweet and precious the child looked in her tiny, beaded doeskin dress.
Her tiny feet were encased in knee-high moccasins that seemed from the same fabric as her dress.
Her long black hair hung loosely down her little back, held in place by a thin, beaded headband.
Her eyes were the blackest of black, and large. She stared back at Shirleen with a searching look, yet her expression was friendly enough.
Blue Thunder suddenly gave the little girl a gentle shove toward Shirleen. Shirleen slowly stood up, wondering why the child had been brought here.
The little girl stopped after taking one step. She stood there quietly, gazing up into Shirleen’s eyes, the doll still hanging in one hand at her side.
“I, too, have a daughter,” Blue Thunder said, stepping up beside the child. “I have brought her here to introduce you to her. She is called by the name Little Bee. Does she not seem to be the same age as your daughter? I believe the dress made for the white child would fit my daughter were she to put it on.”
Shirleen was stunned speechless that Blue Thunder had a daughter. No one had mentioned that fact to her, but why would they? They would think that his having a daughter should mean nothing to her, so why make mention of her?
But it did mean something to Shirleen.
It meant that although Blue Thunder had lost his wife, he still had someone he loved deeply.
A child.
Oh, yes, a child could mend many a broken heart.
If she had not had Megan, Shirleen would never have survived the life she’d known with Earl, a man who had beaten her just for the fun of it.
Yes, a child could make life worth living. If Shirleen could have her own daughter with her, things could be somewhat normal again.
Blue Thunder sank to his haunches facing his daughter. “Do you remember what we talked about before coming to this lodge?” he murmured, lovingly stroking his fingers through her long, thick hair.
Little Bee nodded anxiously as she looked into her father’s eyes.
“Then take the doll to the woman,” Blue Thunder softly urged. “Her name is Shirleen. Remember how I told you that she has a daughter?”
Little Bee nodded again, smiling.
“You told me that this doll will be for her little girl when she is found and brought to our village,” Little Bee said softly. “I have more than one doll. It is good to share with someone else.”
“That is right,” Blue Thunder said, patting Little Bee on her soft cheek. “The doll you give the lost child will make her happy again when she is found. When you get to know each other, you can play with your dolls together.”
Little Bee smiled widely as she stepped around her father and went to Shirleen.
Blue Thunder stood up and watched as his daughter held the doll out before her.
“Please take this and give it to your daughter after she is brought to our village,” Little Bee said. “It will be fun playing dolls with her.”
Deeply touched, Shirleen took the doll and held it to her bosom.
“Thank you,” she said. “It is a beautiful doll. You are sweet to part with it.”
“What is your daughter’s name?” Little Bee asked, searching Shirleen’s green eyes, mystified by their color.
Shirleen felt suddenly ashamed that it had taken her so long to make up her mind about Blue Thunder.
Now she knew that all he had done had been undertaken out of kindness.
