Where Leads the Heart

by Colleen Coble

  “Yes, sir.” Another fur trader was the least of his worries, he fumed as he strode across the snow-covered parade ground. They were all alike anyway. All set on feathering their own nests at the expense of the Indian. They forced the Indians to pay for their own annuities with furs and made exorbitant profits when they sold the furs back east.

  Sarah opened the door at his knock. Amelia was dressing in the bedroom and Jacob had already left for his duties. Sarah’s eyes lit up when he repeated the colonel’s request. “How lovely! It will help me feel as though I’m carrying my own weight. When does he want me to start?”

  “Right away. You’re to use the chapel for now, and next spring the colonel plans to build a small schoolhouse. You’ll have to improvise, though. There are no schoolbooks here and probably won’t be for months.”

  “Can I go, too?” Joel asked.

  “You actually want to learn something?” Sarah said in surprise.

  Joel looked down at the floor. “There aren’t any other boys to play with. I thought maybe I could teach some of them how to play baseball.”

  Sarah’s face softened, and she nodded. “We need to get on with your studies, too.” She turned back to Rand. “Could you find me some slate? Or some paper to lay across boards?”

  “There’s plenty of slate in the cliffs across the river. I’ll fetch some this afternoon. I have to go that direction anyway to check on a new fur trader.”

  §

  The sun shone coldly on the glistening snow as Rand threaded his way through the massive snowdrifts along the rocky trail that led downriver to the trader’s establishment. He was cold through and through by the time he reached the group of small buildings bustling with activity. The pure snow had been tramped to a muddy quagmire by the horses tied to posts along the front of the buildings. They stood with their heads down and their backsides to the cutting gale. Sioux and Cheyenne squaws huddled out of the wind in the doorway of the storage building. He caught a glimpse of crates piled nearly to the ceiling through the open doorway. Trying to ignore the stench of so many unwashed bodies, he pushed his way into the smoke-filled room and looked around for someone in charge.

  A scrawny, red-necked young man with stringy blond hair seemed to be directing the dispersal of crates. Impatience was etched around his mouth as he argued with a young Sioux brave. “We ain’t dispensin’ no ammunition! You savages ain’t to be trusted with gunshot and powder. Here. You can have some extra bean rations.”

  “Must have gun powder! Need to hunt buffalo soon or squaw and papoose go hungry! Beans, bah!” The brave spat for emphasis at the young man’s feet.

  “Well you won’t get none from me. Learn to grow crops like normal folk, and you wouldn’t have to worry about shootin’ buffalo. Now either take your rations and go, or get out of the way so the rest can get their grub.”

  The young brave scowled and swept the rations into the skirt the squaw with him held ready. He gave the young man one last angry glare before stomping away.

  Rand pushed his way up to the counter, and the man looked up. Rand noticed his eyes widen, and he looked around nervously. “Captain Rand Campbell. I was ordered to see if there’s anything you need. You are the new trader, aren’t you?”

  The young man licked his lips, and his eyes darted toward a door to the side of the counter. “No, sir. My name’s Les Johnson, and I just work for him. He’s in his office right now with some folks. I’ll tell him you stopped by, though.”

  “You do that. I have another errand to run. I’ll stop back later this afternoon.” Rand turned to leave and almost ran into a familiar lanky figure. “Labe?” Rand stared, almost not believing his own eyes, but it was definitely Labe Croftner. What was he doing here? His blood pounded in his ears, and he swallowed the lump of rage in his throat. “Where’s Ben?” He knew Labe would never roam this far from home without his brother.

  “R—Rand!” Labe’s eyes widened and he started to back away, but Rand grabbed his arm so tightly he flinched.

  “Where is he?”

  His face white, Labe shook his head, but his eyes darted to the closed door to the right of the counter. Rand released his arm and strode toward the door.

  “Wait, you can’t go in there!” Les moved to intercept him, but Rand brushed by him and threw open the door.

  Ben was seated at a makeshift desk with two rough-looking men dressed in buckskin sitting across from him on crates. He stared at Rand, then smiled and stood. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the illustrious Captain Campbell come to pay me a call. I didn’t expect word of my arrival to reach you quite this soon.”

  “What are you doing here, Croftner?” Rand clenched his fists and took a step toward the desk.

  “What does it look like? I’m the new trader, old friend. Thanks to you I was no longer welcome around Wabash. This opportunity was too good to pass up, so I decided to put up with the disagreeable thought of having to run into you occasionally and took the job.” Ben offered Rand an insolent smile and sat back down. “And a very lucrative one, too, I might add. Now if you don’t mind, I have business to attend to.”

  Rand choked back his rage. He needed a clear head to deal with Croftner. There was some nefarious purpose to Ben’s presence here, he was sure. “I’ll be watching you, Croftner. You step out of line just one inch, and I’ll be all over you like a wolf on a rabbit.”

  Ben smile indolently. “I’m terrified. Can’t you see me shake?” The other men guffawed, and he leaned forward. “Give Sarah my love, and tell her I’ll stop and see her real soon.”

  “You stay away from Sarah!”

  “My, my. Does your lovely fiancée know how you still feel about Sarah? Perhaps I should inform her how you’re still looking after the poor little orphan.” He sat back and crossed his muddy boot over his knee. “But the beautiful Jessica doesn’t have anything to worry about. Sarah belongs to me, and she’s going to discover that real soon.”

  “You lay one finger on Sarah, and you’ll be in the guardhouse so fast you won’t know what happened.”

  “Hey, there’s no law against calling on a lady.”

  “She doesn’t want to see you.” Rand wished he was as certain as he sounded.

  “I think I’ll just let her tell me that. I’m sure she’d be pretty cut up about discovering her precious Rand is about to marry someone else.”

  Tired of the exchange, Rand clenched his jaw. This wasn’t getting him anywhere. “You just remember what I said.” He turned and stalked out the door as the men behind him burst into raucous laughter.

  His jaw tight and his chest pounding, Rand swung up into the saddle. Ranger danced a bit as if to ask what the trouble was. Rand patted his neck, then urged him down the trail back to the fort. Did Sarah know Ben would follow her out here? How much did she really care for Ben? After all, she had agreed to marry him.

  When he arrived back at the fort, he marched over to see Sarah. She had her sleeves rolled up, and tendrils of hair had escaped her neat roll. He resisted an urge to wipe the smudge of flour from her cheek. “Did you know Ben is here?”

  Her eyes widened. “Ben’s here?” Her green eyes snapped. “He’d best leave me alone. I don’t want to see him ever again.”

  “That’s not what he says.”

  “You’ve talked to him?”

  “He’s a newly authorized Indian trader, and he’s crooked enough to make a good one. He said to give you his love.”

  “The nerve of that man. I didn’t have anything to do with this. You believe me, don’t you?” She stared up at him anxiously.

  He raked his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to believe.” He started toward the door then turned back. “By the way, I got your slate.”

  “Don’t change the subject.” She caught at his arm. “You have to believe me, Rand. I didn’t know Ben would follow me. I don’t want to have anything to do with him.”

  “It’s nothing to me,” he said, disengaging her grasp on his arm. “I’m engaged t
o another woman. Remember?” He felt a small stab of guilt when he saw the look of pain cross her face.

  §

  The next few days were full of getting ready for the school. By the time Monday came, Sarah felt she was ready for the new challenge. She took Joel with her as she set out for the chapel. He carried the stacks of slate for her. She didn’t want him to grow up uneducated, and he was curious about the Indian children. It was a good way to interest him in studies. As she approached the small chapel, a group of about thirty youngsters watched her advance. She noticed one older girl of about fifteen. She was truly beautiful with soft, dark eyes, glossy black braids, and an eager look on her face.

  The girl stepped forward as Sarah stopped in front of the door. “I am Morning Song, daughter of White Raven,” she said softly. “I very glad to learn more English.”

  “You speak well already,” Sarah smiled. “I’m very glad one of you can understand me.” She opened the door and led them inside. Someone had already started a fire in the stove, and the room was warm and welcoming. She motioned for the children to be seated and waited until the rustling stopped. “I’m Sarah,” she said. She didn’t want them to have to start off with a difficult word like Montgomery. “Can you say Sarah?”

  Dark eyes stared at her solemnly, then Morning Song spoke sharply. In unison they said, “Say-rah.”

  Sarah smiled. “Very good. This is my brother, Joel.” Several of the youngsters had already been eyeing Joel. He smiled at them uncertainly. “Could you tell me the names of the children, Morning Song?”

  The Indian girl stood and put a hand on the sleek head of each child as she spoke. “This Dark River. This Spotted Dove, this Spotted Buckskin Girl. She daughter of Chief Spotted Tail. Her Sioux name is Ah-ho-appa.”

  “How lovely,” Sarah smiled.

  The names went on and on. Sarah wondered how she’d keep them all straight. “Thank you,” she said. “You’ll have to help me for a few days until I can memorize them.”

  Morning Song nodded eagerly. “I very much like to help Say-rah.”

  The day went well with the children all eager to learn. Sarah was surprised how quickly they picked up the English words.

  “That was fun.” Joel’s face shone with enthusiasm. “I even learned some Sioux.”

  Over the next few days Sarah was almost completely consumed with her duties as a schoolteacher. Rand seemed to be avoiding her. He rushed in for a few minutes at night, then hurried away with some lame excuse of some kind. Ah-ho-appa, Morning Song, and her brother Red Hawk came by almost every day after school. Sarah felt as though the young Indian girls were the sisters she’d always longed for. Amelia loved them, too. And Sarah was glad for Joel to have some company. He soon became best friends with Red Hawk.

  Sarah and Amelia were clattering around in the kitchen and Joel was out playing with Red Hawk when the front door banged. “We’re in the kitchen,” Sarah called. She poured water from the wooden bucket into the kettle and set it on the stove as Rand came in. Amelia rinsed the last of the breakfast dishes and dried her hands on her voluminous apron before untying it and draping it over the back of a chair.

  “Want some tea?” Sarah eyed his grim look with trepidation.

  “Yeah.” He pulled out a chair and sat down. “What’s this I hear about you getting real friendly with some Indian kids? The whole garrison is talking about it.”

  “As a matter of fact Morning Song and Ah-ho-appa will be here any time. Wait till you meet them, especially Morning Song. She knows English and she’s the sweetest little thing.” She waved good-bye to Amelia as she patted her hair into place and hurried to meet Jacob at the sutler’s store.

  “I’m not sure how smart it is to let yourself get too close to them. You may be doing a lot of harm.”

  “Whatever do you mean? They are my friends. I would never hurt them.”

  “Maybe not intentionally. But have you thought about how they may become discontented with their lives as Sioux? If you give them too many different ideas, they may not fit in with their own people.”

  “That’s ridiculous! Ah-ho-appa is a chief’s daughter. Maybe she can help her people climb up out of the primitive way of life they lead.” She jumped to her feet and took the steaming kettle off the stove. “You soldiers would have them stay in squalor. Rooster told Joel the only good Indian was a dead one!” She jerked her apron around her waist and tied it, before spinning around to face him.

  Rand sighed and ran his brown, muscular hand through his hair. “I know a lot of the army feels that way, but you surely don’t believe I do. You know White Snake was one of my best friends back home.” He and the Miami brave had been friends since Rand was five. “You’re new out here, Sarah. There’s a lot of prejudice and bitter feelings against Indians. You need to be careful about meddling in things you don’t know anything about. I wish things were different. But I’ve seen too many Indian women taken advantage of in the short time I’ve been here. I wouldn’t want anything to spoil Morning Song.”

  Sarah opened her mouth to defend herself, but there was a timid knock on the back door. She bit back the angry words and opened the door with a bright smile. She didn’t want her friends to hear their discussion and think they shouldn’t come back.

  Morning Song peeked in the door, and Ah-ho-appa was behind her with timid, gentle eyes. Morning Song’s eyes glowed with enthusiasm and joy. Behind them Sarah heard Rand suck in his breath when he saw Morning Song’s beauty.

  “Say-rah, I am too early?” Morning Song dropped her eyes as Rand rose to his feet.

  “I was just going. Think about what I said, Sarah.” He smiled at the Indian women and strode out the door.

  “You’re just in time, Morning Song, Ah-ho-appa. The tea is ready.” Stiff with outrage, Sarah ignored Rand’s departure. He hadn’t given her a chance to explain her intentions. She wanted to show God’s love to her Sioux friends. She swallowed her anger and poured them all a cup of tea. Ah-ho-appa ran a gentle brown hand around the gold rim of the bone-thin china and sighed in contentment as she took an eager sip.

  “What we do today, Say-rah?” Morning Song asked.

  “I thought we might go for a walk while the weather holds. Some of the men are predicting more cold weather within a few days, so we should take advantage of the sunshine while we can. I thought we might walk by the river.”

  Morning Song nodded. Her lovely face glowed with such joy and zest for life Sarah found all her angry thoughts fading away. She untied her apron and hung it on the peg by the door, then went to fetch her bonnet and cloak from the front hall.

  The wind was a gentle whisper instead of its usual gale force. Mountain chickadees chittered in the trees along the riverbank, and the sound was soothing. The last few days had been unusually warm, above freezing for a change. Morning Song skipped along beside Sarah while Ah-ho-appa eagerly led the way. They passed several groups of soldiers felling trees for firewood, the heavy thunk of their axes comfortingly familiar. For Sarah, it brought back memories of her father and brothers clearing the back pasture the summer before the war began. Those were happy days, days of laughter and contentment with Rand hurrying over every evening to take her for a buggy ride or just a walk by the river. A small sigh escaped her and Morning Song looked up, her face clouding uncertainly.

  “Why Say-rah so sad? Blue coat with holes in cheeks make you unhappy?”

  Sarah smiled at her friend’s reference to Rand’s dimples. “How did you know that?”

  “Say-rah’s cheeks red like apple, and she look like this when I come in.” Morning Song scowled menacingly. “Eyes sparkle like dew on leaf. Say-rah love blue coat?”

  Sarah nodded. “Very much. But sometimes he makes me so mad.”

  “Say-rah marry blue coat?” Ah-ho-appa asked.

  “I want to, but first I have to convince Rand. He’s being stubborn right now. I was engaged to him before the war, long before he ever met Jessica. Do you know what engaged is?”

  Ah-ho-app
a’s sleek black head bobbed up and down. “Promised to marry. My mother wishes me to promise myself to Red Fox, but I say no. I want to marry blue coat and live in fine house like Say-rah’s.”

  Sarah looked at her in dismay. “Oh, Ah-ho-appa, you don’t mean that. It would be best for you to marry one of your own people.”

  “You think I not good enough for blue coat?”

  “Of course not. But there are so many problems. Other people might not treat you well back in the East. And you would miss your own people.”

  “My friend River Flower marry blue coat and live at edge of fort. She have baby boy.”

  Sarah knew she referred to the common law marriages where the soldier paid the girl’s father a few horses and “married” her. When he moved on to another fort, he generally left his squaw and any children behind. “You deserve more than that. Those marriages aren’t legal in the sight of the white man’s laws. You should look for a man who will love and take care of you always.”

  Ah-ho-appa shook her head, her face set with determination. “I marry blue coat or no one.” She turned and started back toward the cabin with Sarah trailing behind.

  Morning Song looked at Sarah sadly. “I not know Say-rah not like Sioux.” She turned and walked stiffly back toward the Indian encampment.

  Sarah’s heart sank as she followed the girl’s erect figure. What had she done? And how was she going to fix it?

  eleven

  Sarah was quiet that evening as they all prepared for a dance at Old Bedlam. She was worried about Morning Song and Ah-ho-appa. It certainly seemed as though Rand was right about her friends becoming discontented with their lot as Sioux because of their friendship with her. The thought of seeing Jessica with Rand only made her feel gloomier.

  The place was full of smiling officers decked out in their dress uniforms, their brass buttons and black boots shining. Sarah and Amelia were claimed for dances immediately. As the awkward lieutenant whirled her around the dance floor, Sarah found her eyes straying to Rand’s dark head in the throng. He was so tall, he was easy to spot. His chin rested on Jessica’s gleaming red head, and she was snuggled close to him. Sarah dragged her eyes away and forced herself to make polite conversation with poor Lieutenant Richards. The evening became a blur as one officer after another claimed her for a dance. She wondered if Rand would ask her to dance, then chided herself for her foolish hope. Jessica wouldn’t allow him out of her sight, she was sure. She danced twice with Isaac, Rand’s bunky, and she was tempted to ask him if he knew how Rand really felt, but she resisted. It would be sure to get back to Rand and she would look pathetic.