"You only think it's funny because they didn't come to marry you." But he could see how the situation might be a little humorous if it wasn't a fellow's reality.
Two Stones had finally settled down to a grin by the time they entered the clearing where the house and barn sat.
Jericho slid to the ground and reached for the spotted horse's reins. "I'll feed your horse while you go in and see Jonah." After Two Stones left, he needed to get back to the meadow where Sean worked with the horses.
Two Stones moved toward the house, and Jericho led the three animals to the barn where hammering sounded. He'd left Sampson near the house today with a list of work that needed to be caught up on. He must be repairing the loose boards in the stalls now.
As he entered the dim building and started to call out for his brother, a scream ripped through the air—coming from the house.
* * *
Dinah's mind raced as she gripped the broom. An Indian. Not ten steps away from her.
He'd simply walked in.
Not crept in or even knocked. Just…strode inside. As if he lived here.
But he didn't. No one had said anything about Indians in the area.
He had no weapons drawn. With the light from the open door behind him, she couldn't tell if anything hung from his waist.
Maybe he spoke English. Perhaps he was friendly. She worked to draw breath to speak. "Who are you?"
"Two Stones?" Lillian's voice came through the open doorway to Jonah's room.
Dinah's heart hammered. He must be known to them. Part of her wanted to step forward and slam the door to Jonah's chamber shut. To protect Lillian and her patient from this intruder.
But Lillian strode out, slowing when she reached the main room. She dipped her chin shyly.
Dinah stepped forward to distract the man's attention from the girl. "Hello." Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat.
Behind the newcomer, Jericho stepped into the house. For once, his presence brought relief, not that strange tension in her chest. Yet he didn't wear his usual studied expression. He was frowning.
At her.
She swallowed. He must have come running at her scream. If this man was a friend, her behavior would be considered quite rude. Yet, how could she have known?
"Miss Wyatt, I'd like you to meet Two Stones. A very good friend of ours." He accentuated those last words, and she swallowed again. She'd certainly blundered, though no one had warned her. Surely her response was natural for any woman.
Jericho turned to his guest. "This is one of the women I told you about."
A smile touched Two Stone's mouth. "Any friend of Jericho is a good friend to me." He spoke with an accent, but the words were clear and flowed easily.
Heat flooded up her neck, but she summoned a smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry about my…outburst. I didn't realize…" She cleared her throat to give more strength to her voice. "I didn't realize Mr. Coulter was expecting company." Especially since he'd said they never had visitors on the ranch.
Jericho's frown deepened at her words, if that were possible. "Two Stones is welcome any time."
She nodded. "Of course."
The native man peered through the door to Jonah's chamber. "I come to see my wounded brother."
Lillian stepped to the side. "He’s sleeping, I think."
Perhaps not after her scream.
Two Stones moved quietly to the door, then into the room. He approached the side of Jonah's bed and stood for a long moment. She'd given Jonah more laudanum after the men left for the day's work, so he likely wouldn't wake now. What did this native man think of the traction she'd set up? Did his people have a method like this to help a broken femur heal without shortening the leg?
He stepped forward and placed one hand on Jonah's forehead. His lips moved, as though he were speaking quietly to himself. Some kind of incantation? She'd heard Indians had their own religion and sometimes made gods of the sun and other natural objects.
