Rosie approached Steps Right where she still sat on her horse. With her injured ankle, she’d stayed in the saddle as much as possible on the ride back.
Steps Right held out a hand to Rosie, and Rosie took it in both of hers. From this distance, Faith couldn’t hear her sister’s soft words. But Steps Right seemed pleased with them, for the lines on her face curved in a full smile.
“I hear good of you, Rosemary Collins. From my son.” Her gaze slipped to White Horse, then dipped back to Rosie.
White Horse looked more sheepish than she’d ever seen him, and even Rosie stepped back, a little flustered. There definitely must be more between them than friendship.
Grant spoke up, his voice a calming blanket over the group. “Why don’t we make camp and unload the horses?”
Faith nodded. “We have plenty to eat in the cave. I’ll bet you’re all hungry.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, they set up a large camp beside the river, a little ways down from the waterfall, where the thunder of water wasn’t so loud. Steps Right, Rosie, and Faith would sleep in the cave, but the men would sleep out here.
It would be nice to have some privacy, and these trees provided a better place to tie the braves. They still needed to sort through what should be done with them, but they had too much else to catch up on.
For now, though, they were all sharing the meal around this large campfire. Eating had finally made her headache ease, which was a blessed relief. Between the food their newcomers brought, what was left from Flies Ahead’s camp, and a few supplies Steps Right had in the cave, they wereenjoying a wide variety of food. Everything from beans and biscuits todepuyer, a food White Horse had spoken of in the past as something he missed from his tribe. He’d made it sound like a type of bread, but none of them had been able to learn how to make it.
Now that Faith had sampled a slice, it seemed like a cross between smoked meat and bread pudding. Not easy to describe, but sweet and tender. White Horse had eaten three servings of it so far.
Besides eating, he sat quietly, his mother on one side and Rosie on the other. Rosie had assigned Faith the spot on her other side, probably so she could interrogate her with questions about the kidnapping and the entire journey. Faith had already relayed the main details, skimming over much of the time in Flies Ahead’s camp, but it could take days to remember all the things that had happened since she left the ranch with Goes Ahead and Elise and their family. Had that only been a little over a month ago? It seemed a lifetime.
She’d been impulsive and naïve back then. She might still be those things, but hopefully she’d gained wisdom on this journey. She’d certainly added experience.
A glance sideways at Grant eased the tension inside her. He was smiling at something Dragoon said, a tale about the first time Dragoon had spotted her and her sisters at the rendezvous three years ago, back when they’d just come west in search of Steps Right.
“We traveled up and down the Green River Valley for weeks looking for you, ma’am.” He turned this remark to Steps Right. “It was quite a mystery where you’d gone.”
The older woman didn’t show whether she understoodevery word, but she seemed to be following the conversation, a constant smile on her face.
Sparks danced skyward from the crackling flames as the group settled into a moment of quiet. Maybe this would be a good time to tease White Horse a little and help Steps Right join the conversation.
Faith straightened. “I’ve enjoyed hearing Steps Right’s stories about White Horse. She told us one about the first time he went hunting with his father.” She slid a look at him to make sure she wasn’t overstepping her bounds by sharing it with the full group.
His eyes had narrowed a little, but he didn’t look angry.
It was Rosie who snatched her focus, though. Her sister tipped her head, a curious expression on her face. “Do you mean the time he sneezed?”
Faith drew back. “How did you know?”
Rosie turned sheepish. “I...” She looked to White Horse, out of reflex probably. But the glance made it clear who had told her that story. Her cheeks reddened, but she motioned for Faith to continue. “Go ahead. Tell it for the others.”
“Actually, I think Steps Right should tell it.” Faith sent the woman a hopeful look.
Steps Right nodded and began the tale as she’d told it in the cave.
Faith took the opportunity to watch her sister from the corner of her gaze. How close were she and White Horse, that he had shared such an intimate story with her? He’d always seemed so much like an older brother to Faith—wise, patient, skilled at nearly everything he attempted. Even teasing at times, in his own way.
White Horse was handsome, no question about that.And he’d proven his character a thousand times over in the years they’d known him. Rosie was of an age that would be a good match for him. Why had she never considered all this?
Rosie must have felt her looking, for she turned raised brows to her. Faith smiled, trying not to show what she’d been thinking.
Her sister’s expression softened, turning sweet and a bit motherly. She leaned close and slipped an arm around Faith’s shoulders, speaking just loud enough for Faith to hear. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
Faith rested her head on Rosie’s shoulder. “I am too.”
The stories continued a while longer, and they coaxed Steps Right into sharing several more memories of her family, including from her own girlhood.
If only Lorelei and Juniper could hear these tales. There would be time, though. Once they all reached the ranch, they would be able to draw many more memories from Steps Right, especially through the winter months they would spend in the warm cabin.
