White Horse’s expression softened. “All night, white man tell stories about daughters. Teach ride horses. Watch young horses born. Happy eyes. Sing with daughters. My mother say story keep white man live that night. Her sister come with sun, bring men from village, white man ride back on horse. My mother and father help white man until healed. When man leave, my mother give blue bead necklace.” He made the motion of giving a gift. “From her mother, give white man. Know white man need beads to think of wife and daughters on far ride.”
As his voice faded in the quiet of the camp, emotion burned Juniper’s eyes. Why had Papa never told them the story?
But he kept these blue beads. Did he ever take them out and remember? Remember that night he almost died, and also remember the stories he told of his wife and daughters?
Rosie held out the beads. “Our father never told us any of that, but just before he died, he asked us to bring these back to your mother. He said the beads are special to her and she should have them back. We would like to meet your mother. Can you take us to her?”
White Horse’s focus rested on the beads for a long moment.He didn’t reach for them, though. Perhaps he believed they should be given directly to Steps Right.
Then he lifted his eyes to linger on Rosie first before moving to her and Faith and Lorelei. “I cannot.”
Disappointment sank in her chest. Would he still try to hide her from them, even after he knew who they were?
His throat worked as he swallowed. “I take my mother to cave where safe, make home. I visit often. One time I visit, she not there. Blankets not there. All things not there. I search two moons.” His jaw clenched. “You ask about Steps Right, I think ... I come find you.”
Words fled Juniper’s mind as she took in this new twist. They’d finally found Steps Right only to lose her again?
Rosie’s shoulders straightened. “We’ll help you look. Together, we can find her.”
Juniper nodded agreement. This woman who’d saved their father’s life had been unjustly exiled from her home. They had to do everything they could to help her. Papa would have done the same.
White Horse’s gaze met Rosie’s, and his expression softened once more. “We look for her.” He pressed a fist to his heart. “Here. I know safe. Not know why hide.”
For a long moment, White Horse and Rosemary studied each other. It was hard to tell exactly what passed between them, for she couldn’t see her sister’s face.
Then Rosie nodded. “As you say.”
Thirty
Juniper stood at the edge of the horse herd with Riley and Ol’ Henry on one side and Rosie and White Horse on her other. Faith and Lorelei had pulled the chestnut mare from the herd, the one their father had sent Steps Right. The old gal seemed to have been handled often, for she not only allowed the girls to stroke her, but she leaned into their touches as though she relished the affection.
For that matter, so did Dragoon’s mare. He still kept the halter on her, and he now sat a few steps away from the rest of them, his rifle at the ready as the horse grazed.
The sea of animals before them was beautiful, though the horses had already grown restless as the supply of grass in this valley diminished. They needed to be taken to new grazing soon, in the next day or two.
But a bigger problem lay before them. What to do with all these animals?
Riley was the first to break their silence. “I suppose we need to find out if any of these are horses that were stolen during the rendezvous. I’m sure some of them were.”
Ol’ Henry nodded. “A couple of us can ride down andtell the fellows to come retrieve their animals. Some of the boys may have already left the gathering, but we can leave word with the ones that are there. Any thoughts on where to have them come?”
Riley let out a long breath. “I guess that depends on who owns them.” He looked over at Juniper and Rosie. “If Slim first started the herd with the pair of horses your father sent to Steps Right, some of these are likely descended from those.” He turned his attention back to the herd. “Not all of them, of course. At least not from that mare. I wonder how many others are stolen and from whom. Both Indians and whites, most likely.”
She moistened her lips. “How would we ever know?”
Rosie straightened and looked to White Horse. “The mare and stallion are definitely yours. You can hold them until we find your mother. And if we can determine any of their offspring, they’re yours as well.”
White Horse didn’t answer, just kept looking forward. His expression looked uneasy. From worry over his mother?
Beside her, Riley shifted. “What of the others? My guess is that will leave at least seventy head.”
Quiet fell among them again. It seemed impossible to know whom the animals belonged to, but much wrong had certainly been done here. To Steps Right and her son and to countless others. Maybe they could only make part of it right.
She glanced over at White Horse. “Perhaps you should take the rest of the herd too.”
But he shook his head, his first clear response since they’d begun this conversation. “Not good. I leave camp of men not trust me. Cannot keep so many horses. Others steal.”
Rosie’s brows gathered, as though she was studying hard on the situation. Did she have an idea? But she didn’t speak, not for a while.
