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Ella’s body thumped against her mother’s as the wagon wheels jostled along in the darkness. Naomi wrapped Ella in her arms, whispering soothing words as Ella sobbed. Her tummy clenched, her body trembled. Raven. She needed Raven.
“Shh, dear. Please.”
“Why, Mama? Why?”
“You know why.”
Ella hiccupped and wiped her nose on her mother’s shoulder. “No, I don’t.”
“He’s an Indian, Ella.”
“He’s the man I love,” she said, her voice hoarse and nasal from crying.
Naomi sighed, her breath stirring a few wisps of Ella’s hair. “I know.”
“M-Mama?”
Naomi grasped Ella’s shoulders and pushed her gently away. “We need to talk.” She cleared her throat. “How did you meet this Indian, Ella? And when?”
Ella closed her eyes. There was no point in lying to her mother. “A few days ago. He was injured by a bear and he sought refuge in the barn. I came across him while milking Sukie.”
“And?”
“And I helped him to the old soddy and cared for his injury, which luckily was not serious.”
“So you think you love him after only days?”
“I don’t think, Mama.” Love, sadness, loss—emotion so thick she thought she could cut it with a knife—threaded through her body. “I know. He is everything to me.”
“And he loves you?”
“Yes.”
“How can you be so sure, Ella?”
“Because he told me so. And because I feel it in the very marrow of my bones. Because he’s an honorable man. He wouldn’t lie to me.”
“You know so much of his honor after spending such little time with him?”
“Yes.”
“Lord above.” Naomi buried her head in her hands for a few second and then looked again at Ella. “Your father… He…” Her mother’s pretty face wrinkled with worry.
For her? For her father? Ella wasn’t certain. “What is it?”
“He wasn’t himself last night.”
“I know.” Ella nodded. “He used words I’ve never heard from his lips. And he threatened to kill Raven—that’s his name. I’ve never seen such rage from him. I never knew him to be a prejudiced man, Mama. But such hate emanated from him. It frightened me.”
“Ella, you were barely three when your brother was taken from us. There are things you don’t know. Your father…he wasn’t always a preacher.”
“He wasn’t?” Ella’s skin chilled. Why did she feel she was about to find out something about her father she didn’t want to know?
“No. He was—” Naomi inhaled sharply. “Well, you already know he’s nearly thirteen years older than I am.” She cleared her throat. “He was a bounty hunter when I met him.”
“A bounty hunter? Papa? Pious, peaceful Papa?” She gasped. Her belly churned. Though he hadn’t been all that pious and peaceful while he was holding Raven at gunpoint.
