Lorelei studied White Horse as that new possibility unfurled in her mind. “Is there anyone else who might be searching for your mother? Someone who means her harm?”
His eyes narrowed as he returned her look. “Not safe ifshe returns to village of Son of Owl. But they would not go to find her. They do not want her to heal their people, but they have washed their thoughts of my mother.”
She didn’t miss the fact he no longer called Son of Owl’s bandhispeople. Clearly he’d also washed his thoughts of the village he’d grown up in. How must it hurt both him and Steps Right to be rejected by the only family and friends they’d ever known.
And now, the thought that his own mother might be hiding from him must be even worse. No wonder he wouldn’t even consider the idea.
From everything Lorelei had heard of the woman, both from White Horse and from her own father, Steps Right wouldn’t do anything to bring pain to those she loved. She was a healer, with a generous heart even to a white stranger she’d found nearly dead on the plains two decades before.
Well, no matter what his mother or his former village might do to him, White Horse had a family in the Collins sisters.
She gave him the brightest smile she could manage. “I guess we’ll have to keep looking. We should tell my sisters what’s happened.” She glanced from one man to the other. “I think we’re overdue for a family dinner.”
When Rosie came for her daily visit, she would let her sister know to set three extra places at the table tonight.
nineteen
Lorelei slipped an arm around Juniper’s waist as she strolled beside her sister toward the gate. “I’m so glad you were able to come tonight. I hope it wasn’t too much for you.” They’d opted for her sisters and Riley to come to the fort for the family meal so Curly and the trade room weren’t left unprotected.
Juniper leaned her head against Lorelei’s. “I’ve missed you a great deal. I was just about ready to come here on my own.”
“She was.” Riley’s voice sounded warm on June’s other side. “She’s been talking about riding out here for days.”
Juniper didn’t usually waste timetalkingabout an idea; she simply did it. The fact that she hadn’t already come, either during one of Rosie’s daily trips or with her husband, must mean she’d been feeling even worse.
Please don’t let anything happen to my sister or this baby. She sent up the silent prayer even as she tightened her hold around June’s waist. Her body seemed more frail than usual. Certainly less padded than before, save for the bump at her middle that now protruded enough to flounce out her skirt in the front. The baby must be growing, but was it using nourishment June needed to keep herself healthy?
A niggle of guilt pressed through Lorelei’s middle. She should be there, making soups and whatever food her sister could keep down. Providing care Riley might not think of. Sure, he loved Juniper and had already proven he would give all he had for her. But men simply didn’t have the nurturing instinct women possessed.
She moved her hand to rub Juniper’s back as they reached the gate and had to proceed single file. “I was thinking to make some soup from the last of the salted pork in Tanner’s larder. I’ll bring some for you tomorrow.”
Outside the gate, Juniper turned and took her hand, the moonlight glimmering off her sweet smile. “I would love for you to come visit, Lor. But don’t feel you have to nurse me. Faith and Rosie and Riley are all taking excellent care of me. And the baby’s growing well. These movements I started feeling are such a relief.” She rested her free hand over her middle as she squeezed Lorelei’s fingers. “I would treasure your company, but I don’t want you to feel obligated. I’m well cared for.”
Lorelei squeezed June’s hand, then released it. Rosie may not have a gentle bedside manner, but she would ensure Juniper lacked nothing that would help her grow healthy and strong through this pregnancy. Riley too. And though Faith didn’t relish time over a hot cookfire, she’d developed a fair amount of skill in that area.
“I’ll come for a visit,” Lorelei promised. “Soon.” And she would still bring them soup. All her sisters deserved a taste of the final bit of salted pork they’d have until Mr. Burke returned with the next load of supplies.
After all had mounted, Lorelei stepped back to wave farewell from the gateway. Tanner moved beside her as thegroup turned their horses westward toward the pass. Was traveling through the dark dangerous for them? Certainly not with Rosie leading the way. Her sister had ridden the route between the ranch and the fort dozens of times since she and Curly had come. Rosie and her mare could likely travel it safely in their sleep.
Speaking of Rosie, she hadn’t yet moved to take the lead. Her horse still stood where she’d mounted, White Horse next to the animal, stroking its neck as he and Rosie appeared to be deep in conversation. With shadows concealing both their faces, Lorelei couldn’t tell what they spoke of. Their tones were low enough she could only catch the intensity of their murmur. What could they be discussing? Something to do with her and Tanner? Had White Horse realized something had changed during his absence?
Tanner leaned close. “I think they’re discussing riding back to the mountain where Adams found the cave. I heard your sister say she planned to go, but White Horse didn’t look happy about it.”
Ah. That would certainly inspire the tension that marked their rising voices. An impulse washed through her, and she leaned up to speak into Tanner’s ear, slipping her hand around his arm for balance. “If she goes, I want to go with her.”
He drew back enough to study her face, but she kept her grip on his arm. Would he think her too forward to touch him? Would the others notice her hold? Rosie and White Horse were definitely too preoccupied, and the other three had already disappeared into the shadows of the pass.
Tanner must have seen her determination, for he gavea reluctant nod. “I’ll take care of Curly. Will White Horse go with you both?”
She slid a look at the pair just as Rosie spun her mare away from the brave and loped to catch up with the others. White Horse stayed where he stood, watching her go. Though she could only see the black form of his silhouette, pain seemed to rise up like steam from his profile.
Was it worry over his mother? Or had Rosie said something that hurt him? She would never do so intentionally, but their words had certainly been heated.
“Do you think there’s something between those two?” Tanner’s low question cracked through her thoughts like iron piercing a thin layer of ice.
She studied his face to figure out what exactly he was asking. “Something like ...?”
Were his ears turning red? Maybe it was just the shadows cast by the moonbeams.
