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She looked over her shoulder at the cabins. She saw no lamplight in any of them. Everyone else had gone to bed for the night.
She prayed that the sentry was asleep, too.
She also prayed that the gate could be easily opened without making noise.
Breathlessly she made her way toward the gate, disbelieving her luck. She had a feeling that when tomorrow came, and Earl was sober and realized what he had done, he would decide to come after Megan.
The good thing was, he would have no idea where to look. By then, Megan would be safely in her mother’s arms.
Speckled Fawn was certain that God was with her tonight, because she found the gate ajar and the sentry fast asleep.
She prayed that the child wouldn’t wake up at the wrong time.
She slowly stepped outside, past the sentry.
Then she held Megan near to her heart and ran as fast as she could until she fell into Blue Thunder’s arms. He gently took the child, who awakened at that moment, her eyes wide with fear when she found she was in the company of Indians.
“You are safe with us,” Blue Thunder tried to reassure her. “You are going to be alright. I am taking you to your mother.”
Megan’s eyes widened; then she trustingly hugged Blue Thunder. He took her to his horse and mounted, holding her carefully on his lap.
With pride in her eyes, Speckled Fawn rode beside Blue Thunder as they headed back toward the village. Now she would be fully accepted by Blue Thunder. She had finally proved her worth to him.
She could hardly wait to get home and tell her husband what she had done, although she knew that he probably wouldn’t be able to hear her in his deep sleep.
She hoped a miracle would happen and he would awaken again as he had before.
Chapter Twenty-six
Kiss the tears from her eyes,
You’ll find the rose
The sweeter for the dew.
—Webster
Shirleen was stirred from her sleep by the sound of horses outside.
Was she dreaming?
Or was she truly hearing horses coming into the village?
Having remained fully dressed as she had stretched out before the night’s fire, she rushed to her feet and ran outside. She could see Blue Thunder’s face beneath the moon’s glow, and then, oh, Lord, she saw her sweet Megan lying nestled on Blue Thunder’s lap, asleep.
Shirleen was overwhelmed with a joy she had never known possible as she ran toward the oncoming horses, her arms outstretched.
When Blue Thunder saw her, he drew rein and dismounted, handing Megan to her. Only then did the child awaken and realize what was happening.
“Mama! Mama!” Megan cried, clinging to Shirleen’s neck. “Oh, Mama, Papa took me away! I didn’t want to go, but he took me anyway!”
“I know, dear,” Shirleen
said, gazing lovingly at her daughter, wondering if this was real or if she was dreaming.
But her daughter’s arms around her neck were real enough!
Her tiny body cuddled so close to Shirleen’s was real!
