He was still looking at her, but his thoughts seemed to turn inward as his mouth curved. Her gaze caught on that mouth longer than it should have. His skin was so smooth, his lips full. Not at all like Winston's thin mouth shadowed by a bushy mustache. Just one more way the two seemed as different as a Savannah summer and a Montana winter.
His voice called her back from that thought. "One of the white men I met changed me. Or rather, his God changed me." His gaze focused again, but the smile stayed at the corners of his mouth. "Dat Coulter was the first man who made me remember the English family who took me in when I was lost in the snow. He brought me to the mountain where his family was building a house."
The tenderness in his voice as he spoke brought out her own grin. "The brothers we're going to see. Those are his sons?"
He dipped his chin. "Six brothers. There was a girl, too, but she has gone from this life." Sadness touched his eyes. "Datand Mum have left also, but they gave me much. They spoke of Creator to me, and of His sacrifice. That Jesus came to make peace between all men and Creator, making us brothers."
His expression turned earnest as he spoke of God. "I met Jesus and learned to follow His path. It is not always an easy trail—but the only place for peace. "
Heidi's throat squeezed at the intensity in his gaze. What would it be like to believe so strongly the way he did, that God cared? Was it his faith that made him so…steadfast? He possessed a kind of quiet strength. Even when she sensed his uncertainty about being Indian among white people, he still seemed rooted, his character unchanging.
It made her want to lean in and take shelter at his side. Maybe that truly would be a safe place. Her experience told her that allowing a man power over her would only bring pain.
But could Two Stones be different?
CHAPTER 7
The icy wind bit into Two Stones's cheeks as he pushed his horse through the deep snow. Beside him, Heidi huddled under the fur he'd given her, face pale and pinched from the cold. Around them, the land lay bleak, drifts piling up in the lee of rocks and ravines.
Iron-gray clouds pressed down, promising more snow to come. They'd managed two days on the trail since the last storm. This new one looked like it could delay them again. How hard could he push Heidi through the cold and wind?
She'd endured so much this past week—losing her father, nearly being attacked in Virginia City, and now day after day in this miserable cold and snow. He'd promised to protect her, to take her to a safe place. He'd not made a good start of it, that was certain. Was she losing faith in the life he’d promised she would have when they reached his people?
If they could just make it to Jericho's ranch, she would have shelter in a warm home, surrounded by good friends. Three more days. As long as the weather didn't slow them too much.
When the road leveled out near the base of the mountain they'd been descending, he nudged his horse to pick up the pace.The wind whipped around them, swirling the flakes like a thick fog, the ice crystals so cold they nearly burned.
Ahead, a dark form appeared in the distance. Two of them—men on horseback, from what he could tell through the haze. As they approached, he could make out hats the miners wore, pulled low against the blowing storm. They must be white men, coming from the main road that stretched from Virginia City to Missoula.
He and Heidi had taken a different route—one many didn't know about. More direct, and usually faster than the road these men had traveled, though the snowfall had slowed them. This was the place the two trails joined and continued on as one.
The men had spotted them, reining directly toward them.
He tensed, his hand reaching to make sure the knife hanging at his neck was easy to reach. Then he lowered his fingers to brush the butt of his rifle in its scabbard.
He usually treated strangers as if he expected them to be friendly, but he was ready should a meeting turn dangerous. Should he do anything differently with Heidi at his side?
He glanced over at her. She was watching the strangers too, and her horse tracked close beside his own. As her gaze met his, he tried not to show any alarm.
He spoke quietly. "Stay close. I will speak."
She dipped her chin in agreement, so he turned his focus back to the men.
He'd never seen these two before, which didn't surprise him. Virginia City swarmed with new miners every time he had to travel there.
As the strangers drew near, he recognized the moment their curious expressions turned to glares. Had they just now realized he was one of the People, traveling with a white woman? Would that be enough to incite their fury? He'd seen men kill othersfor less. That must be it, for surely these two didn't know him individually.
One of the men reached for the rifle resting across his lap, lifting it to the crook of his arm. A position much easier to fire from quickly.
Lord, give me wisdom. The last thing he wanted was a fight. Not only for Heidi’s safety, but the stories of it would do nothing good for her reputation, being associated with him if he killed a white man.
As they all reined in, the man who'd readied his rifle spoke first. "Afternoon." His tone seemed deceptively light. His eyes flicked to Heidi, lingering there far too long.
Two Stones forced himself not to react, only to nod, acknowledging the greeting. But his body tensed, ready for anything.
The other man—the younger of the two, if the smooth skin around his eyes could be believed—looked past Two Stones to grin at Heidi, his dirty teeth flashing. "Yer that girl Tyson couldn't get hold of, ain't ya? This must be the injun that saved you." He nodded toward Two Stones, but kept his hungry gaze on Heidi.
Creator Father, put Your response in my body.Every one of his instincts wanted to spring on the two of them and slice the grimy smiles off their faces. But that wouldn't be God's leading.
