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"Your mother was pregnant at the time, due any time as I recall. A few days later, when the train moved on, the wagon master came to town. And I heard him talking about the raid on the train. The raid and losing you stressed her out so bad, she lost the child and died giving birth. Your father was killed in that raid, and of course they took you. Everyone for a while, was talking about you. Only six years old and captured. It's probably best for you, as she could never deal with the death of her child, her husband and losing you too all at once. This all happened a little outside of Bozeman. The wagon master survived and told the stories to the families around thinking maybe some might know them and be kin. He felt guilty for surviving that raid. That's why he made a point of telling about every one of those people. Lucy…." She paused a moment and looked at her. "Your mother is buried in the Bozeman cemetery. Because she died in child birth everyone knew her and the wagon master saw to her grave personally. Your father suffered a different fate and I don't know if I should tell you… "
Lucy stared as tears rolled down her cheek and Aiden held her close. "I'd like to know… "
"The wagon master described most all the deaths that he had witnessed. Your father tried to save you. But they came at him from behind. Before he could get you out of that wagon, they had already begun. They butchered him to death, he was trying to climb up in the wagon when they stormed it and took you."
Lucy turned her head into Aiden's chest and cried.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have told you that, but you told me you didn't think anyone cared about you. Well darlin' they did. Your mother went into labor because they told her you'd been taken. She was weak as she saw your father killed and went into to what the doc called shock. That caused her to go into labor. The only thing she said before she died was…. Tell Lucy I love her. I'm sorry child but I thought you'd want to know."
Lucy whipped around, wiping her eyes. "No, I had to know. I've spent sixteen years wondering why no one came for me. I thought…. I thought they didn't love me! Is my father buried there?"
Mrs. Ferguson went a bit white around the mouth. "Only his bones, they put them in the grave with your mother, that's all that was left of him. I'm sorry… it is rather gruesome to talk about."
Everyone in the room hung their head except Mrs. Ferguson who came and took her into her arms. "They loved you more than you will ever know. Your mother didn't die immediately. She miscarried, and the wagon master took her into Bozeman and the doctor tried to save her, but she wasted away, she said she lost her baby, and lost her little girl, and her husband, it was too much. She felt she had nothing to live for."
Lucy cried now and everyone else seemed very quiet for a long time.
Finally, Mrs. Ferguson looked at Lucy and cried, "This burial of the White Silver Fox gives you a new life, thanks to Aiden here. Now you can go on and be proud. The mayor got a letter from your grandfather too, but he had a heart attack when he heard the news."
Lucy kissed her cheek and nodded. "Thank you for telling me. It means so much to me. To finally know what happened. I misjudged them so."
"They loved you child, very much." She kissed her cheek. "Be proud Lucy. You were an innocent. You didn't know. But for years people spoke of you, there in Bozeman."
Lucy went to stand by the window, unable to face everyone just yet.
"Well now, we better figure out where we can put everyone for the night."
Aiden stared at the Fergusons, "Mrs. Ferguson I've slept with Lucy many nights in the hills. I never touched her. Can you trust me one more night to do the same? I think she needs me tonight."
"I think your right son. But when will we have that wedding?" she laughed.
"As soon as we get the burial taken care of, we'll be getting married. I don't want to wait any longer."
"I'm glad to hear it son. I guess you can be trusted for one more night at least." Mrs. Ferguson smiled at him.
After they showed Angus and Pumpkin to a room of their own, Lucy showed Aiden her room.
"It's nice in here," Aiden smiled.
"You don't mind if I sleep with you one more time, do you?"
Lucy blushed, "No… I think tonight I just need you to hold me."
"I think I can manage that, sweetheart."
She went into his arms and he kissed her warm and passionately. "I'm so glad you are back. I was so worried."
"I'm glad I'm here."
"I can't believe they accused you of treason. You've done so much to try to help both sides."
"I never did get along with the Major that well," he told her.
They laid down and she went into his arms. "You are still gonna marry
me, aren't you?" he whispered.
"You still want me?" she whispered.
