Soaring Eagle (Prairie Winds Book 3)

by Whitson, Stephanie Grace

  John stopped for moment to allow Soaring Eagle to ponder the words. When no questions were forthcoming, John added, “I am still trying to learn about God. For many years I have read his book. For many years I have tried to live for him. Still, I cannot answer all your questions. If I could know everything about God, he would not be God. You have said that there is a hole in your heart. You have said that darkness covers your life. I am only a man. I cannot answer all your questions about God. Open your heart to him. He will fill the hole in your heart. He will pierce your darkness with light. I can promise you this because He did this for me. And for James Red Wing. You see many Dakota coming to church on Sunday. They have had their homes taken away, just as the Lakota. They have been killed and beaten and starved by soldiers. Still, they do not live in darkness. It is not that they are better men than you, Soaring Eagle. It is only that they have hearts that belong to God now. Ask God to show you what you must do. He will answer.”

  “This means I must give up the old ways.”

  “I think it means that you must stop clinging to what is past and embrace what is now—what you know to be true.”

  John Thundercloud’s heart was beating rapidly as he anticipated yet another conversion among his people. But he was to be disappointed. Soaring Eagle grunted noncommittally and got up to check the hobbles on the mule train.

  Chapter 30

  Love covereth all sins.

  Proverbs 10:12

  B y the time the wagon trundled into Lincoln, Rachel Brown was so weak that Jim had to carry her into the hotel. Augusta led him down the hall to Sarah Biddle’s old room. Rachel smiled weakly and apologized for inconveniencing everyone.

  “Don’t be silly, Mrs. Brown,” Augusta blustered. “You just rest up, and we’ll have you on the train for home in no time. I’ll telegraph your parents to let them know you’re staying with us a few extra days. Don’t worry, I’ll say it just right so they won’t fret. Carrie can sleep in the trundle bed, so she’s right here with you.” Augusta was still talking as she left the room and went off down the hall to direct the unloading of the wagon.

  LisBeth leaned against the doorway to the room and chuckled. “I tried to tell you about Aunt Augusta, but sometimes you just have to experience her.”

  Rachel sighed. “Well, if a person can be willed to good health, Mrs. Hathaway will have me up and on the way home in no time.”

  Carrie came in pulling her small trunk behind her. She looked at her mother and her face clouded with concern. “You gonna be all right, Mama?”

  Rachel forced a bright smile. “Of course I am, dear.”

  Jim hauled in another trunk. “Mrs. Brown, with your permission, I’ll have Carrie ride along to take Mrs. Bond home. Then she can help brush down the team when we’re done. I’ll introduce her to Joseph over at the livery, and she can explore the stables.” Jim turned to Carrie and winked. “There’s a grand loft to be explored, Carrie, and there’s no telling when you might find a new litter of kittens tucked away in some corner up there.”

  With Rachel’s relieved permission, Carrie went off with Jim. LisBeth turned to say something, but Rachel had fallen asleep, her traveling bonnet still on her head. She had not even had the energy to remove her gloves.

  Out in the hotel kitchen, LisBeth encountered the handiwork of two new kitchen girls who had, since she had been gone, rearranged everything to suit them and scooted Jesse’s and Augusta’s rockers into a dark corner. Seeing LisBeth frown, Augusta drew her aside. “I’ve been reading my evening paper in my own parlor, dear. I think it best we move our activities there. The hotel is busier these days, and Cora and Odessa are proving to be excellent cooks and organizers. They don’t speak English too well yet, but I think they’re going to work out wonderfully. They’re sisters. Answered my ad the day they got off the train. They’ve no family in Lincoln, and I’m amazed at their willingness to work. I don’t want to lose them.”

  Just as Augusta finished, Cora and Odessa came in the back door together. The heavyset one, who turned out to be Cora, bobbed her head and blinked at LisBeth through thick glasses as she came forward with a boldly outstretched hand. She smiled and said through crooked teeth, “Cora Schlegelmilch,” dipping into an awkward curtsy as she spoke. Odessa, the thin one, giggled and blushed as she followed her sister’s example. Odessa, however, suffered from such painful shyness that she could only move her lips to form her name. Little sound came out. LisBeth reached for her offered hand and shook it solemnly. The sisters stood awkwardly staring at LisBeth. They looked at her shoes, then the hem of her dress, then her cameo, then, at last her eyes. When LisBeth smiled, the girls looked at one another, giggled again, and, grabbing for their aprons, hurried to work.

  “Wait until you taste their dumplings,” Augusta whispered. “Last night David Braddock brought John Cadman in for dinner and the old grouch ordered three helpings.” Augusta chuckled. “He came to the back door when I was gone today and offered the girls twice my wages if they’d come to cook for Cadman House!”

  “Twice?” LisBeth was incredulous. “Then why—?”

  “Why are they still here?” Augusta asked as LisBeth nodded her head. “Cora just blinked at Cadman and said, ‘Hataway House hires us. Pay ist gut. Ve like dat Miz Hataway. Ve stay.’ ”

  Augusta smiled. “Of course, as soon as I got back, Cora told me all about it and asked for a raise. Which I gladly gave. We’ll soon have to be charging fifty cents for a meal just to cover expenses if the salary war continues. I almost believe Lincolnites will pay twice the going rate if Cora and Odessa are cooking. Even David Braddock has been back, and he has Sarah cooking at the manse. Of course,” Augusta added, “I think his interest in Hathaway House is connected with the personnel rather than the food.”

  LisBeth blushed. “I didn’t think he and Mrs. Braddock were staying long.”

  “You’ve only been gone two weeks.”

  “It seems like a lifetime. Only a short ride north, really, but a lifetime away.”

  Augusta turned to talk to her new employees. “Cora, let’s do lemon cake for dessert tonight, and can you make some of those dinner rolls you served with the roast on Tuesday?” Cora nodded energetically.

  Augusta guided LisBeth out of the kitchen and into her private parlor where they settled to talk. “Tell me about it, LisBeth.”

  LisBeth told everything about the trip except the one thing that was perhaps the most important She didn’t mention Soaring Eagle. She described the school and Charity’s work in glowing terms, expressing great admiration for the dedication of the workers and the progress of the students. She recounted Agnes Bond’s whining and Jim Callaway’s patience and every detail of the trip that she could remember, concluding by asking Augusta’s opinion of Rachel Brown’s health and what could be done to get her home to St. Louis.

  “I’ll have Dr. Gilbert check on her first thing tomorrow,” Augusta offered. “Whatever can be done, we’ll do. If it’s within our power, we’ll see that she gets to be at home for Christmas.”

  Augusta had just settled back to read the evening paper when the bell at the front desk rang, summoning her to check in new boarders. It was David Braddock.

  “I saw Jim Callaway’s rig at the livery,” David explained. “I hope everything went well for LisBeth.”

  From behind Augusta, LisBeth called, “Everything went well, David, thank you.” LisBeth came out of Augusta’s parlor and leaned against the doorway.

  David cleared his throat nervously. “Mother and I—we’d like to ask you to dinner. This evening.” He turned to Augusta. “And we’d be most pleased if you’d come, too, Mrs. Hathaway.”

  Augusta declined. “Sorry, Mr. Braddock. But I’ve an ill boarder to care for. LisBeth brought back a Mrs. Rachel Brown and her daughter, Carrie. Mrs. Brown is on her way home to St. Louis for the winter. She’s quite broken-down, poor thing. I’m determined to get her back on her feet and on a train for home as soon as possible. LisBeth, of course, is free to accept your
invitation.”

  The door behind David opened and Jim Callaway stepped into the hotel, accompanied by Carrie Brown. Carrie was bubbling with enthusiasm, having actually discovered a litter of kittens in the loft of the livery, and anticipating a promised ride out to Jim’s farm.

  Jim interrupted Carrie’s prattle. “Hope I didn’t misspeak. I just thought Carrie would enjoy it,” he lowered his voice as Carrie skipped through the dining room and disappeared into the kitchen to see if Rachel had awakened, “and it might take her mind off her mama.”

  LisBeth’s eyes glowed. “It’s a wonderful idea. Thank you.”

  Jim quickly removed his hat. “Of course, she’d probably enjoy it more if you’d come along.” He looked at Augusta and added hastily, “Unless, of course, Mrs. Hathaway needs you.”

  “I’d love to come along, Jim,” LisBeth said, eyeing David coldly. “I’ll pack a picnic lunch.”

  Carrie skipped back into the lobby with the happy news that Rachel had awakened and was hungry and might even get up for supper.

  With a wicked gleam in her eye, LisBeth called Carrie over. “Carrie, dear, come show Mrs. Hathaway the lovely gift Soaring Eagle gave you before we left the mission.” At the mention of the name, Augusta grunted with surprise. LisBeth hastened to explain. “It seems, Augusta, that by some miracle, my brother Soaring Eagle now resides at Santee Mission. I didn’t actually get to meet him, but he gave Carrie this necklace. Can you believe it? I remember mother telling us about this cross and chain, how it caused Rides the Wind to take her in, and how she gave it to her friend Prairie Flower. Prairie Flower must have given it to Soaring Eagle. And now, here it is, a living testimony to the love that can exist between nations.” Every word that LisBeth said was carefully flung at David Braddock, and every word hit home. He blanched, and studied the floor while LisBeth spoke. She finished with bravado. “I didn’t have the courage to meet him. But I’m going back in the spring, and if he’ll agree to it, I’m going to meet him. I think families should support one another, don’t you agree, David?”

  David turned red and didn’t reply. LisBeth pushed it further. “Thank you for your invitation to dinner this evening, but I’ll be busy preparing our picnic lunch for tomorrow. I want to make sure that Carrie has a good time. And you, Jim Callaway,” LisBeth said, patting his arm with great familiarity, “will be amazed to learn that I really can do something besides feel sorry for myself.

  “Carrie, let’s go see what we can make your mama for supper that will tempt her to eat until she’s ready to burst!” LisBeth winked at Jim and disappeared into the kitchen with Carrie.

  Jim Callaway and David Braddock stood in uncomfortable silence for a few seconds before Jim bid Augusta good-bye. David turned to go, but Augusta stopped him. “I don’t know what’s gone on between the two of you, Mr. Braddock,” Augusta said. “But I’ll urge you to be patient with LisBeth, if you really care for her.”

  David put his silk top hat on his perfectly groomed head and answered slowly. “I earned that snub, Mrs. Hathaway. I’ve been stupid. I just hope to heaven it hasn’t cost me the woman I want to marry.” Tipping his hat to Augusta, David left the hotel and walked briskly to his carriage.

  From beneath the brim of the hat he had pulled low over his eyes as he affected a nonchalant pose in the doorway of the livery, Jim Callaway watched Braddock climb into his carriage. As soon as the carriage was out of sight, Jim took off his hat and threw it in the air, letting out a whoop of joy that echoed into the livery and saved a mouse’s life by causing it to leap straight up in the air just as the mother of the new litter of kittens pounced.

  Roses. He sent red roses. LisBeth stared at them in disbelief and wondered how David had managed such a feat so late in the year. The card read simply, “Forgive me. D.” LisBeth put the card aside to check on Rachel and was delighted to find her in the kitchen listening to Carrie prattle on about their day in the country.

  “He’s got a dog, too, Mama. He’s named Jack and he’s big and scary looking, but he’s real friendly. He don’t bite at all. We took a walk along the creek and had our picnic under a big cottonwood tree. We saw all Mr. Callaway’s fields ready for crops next spring, and he told Mrs. Baird—she told me to call her LisBeth, though—he told LisBeth all about what he was going to plant and everything. And when we left, he pulled the very last blooms off his rosebush and gave them to LisBeth and me. See?” Carrie held up a drooping pink flower.

  Rachel looked up when LisBeth came into the kitchen and noted the pink rose pinned to the bodice of her dress. Just then, a knock sounded at the back door. LisBeth opened it to find Mr. Miller’s stock boy holding a bouquet of daisies. Again, a card said, “Forgive me. D.”

  By the time the supper hour came, Rachel was protesting Augusta’s insistence that she rest and begging for a chance to help with something in the kitchen. “Absolutely not!” Augusta ordered. “Your one chore, young lady, is to get better so that you can catch a train to St. Louis in short order. If I hear you’ve been lifting a finger,” Augusta shook her dish towel in Rachel’s face, “I’ll lock you in your room. Now, scoot!” Rachel relented, and with a copy of Mr. Dickens’s latest novel in hand, retired to her room where she fell asleep long before completing even one page of the book.

  LisBeth was helping set the tables in the dining room when another messenger boy arrived with a box of candy and another note begging forgiveness. Finally, David Braddock himself appeared at the hotel. He came to the back door, causing no small amount of fluster between the Schlegelmilch sisters.

  “Vot a fine gentleman like dat doing coming to back door ov dis hotel, I like to know?” Cora whispered.

  Odessa peeked over the rim of her glasses and whispered back. “He ask fur Mrs. Baird, dat vun.” Giggling softly she added, “Is good-looking man, Cora!”

  Cora shook a fork at Odessa. “You got no business about dat, Odessa Schlegelmilch. Now get dat lemon cake cut before Mrs. Hataway come out in dis kitchen for to see vat ve do!”

  The two sisters stopped talking and began serving up lemon cake with renewed energy. David Braddock paced the floor waiting for LisBeth to appear. Finally, she came in from the dining room, balancing a tray full of dirty dishes with one hand and carrying a pitcher full of water in the other. David rushed to take the tray of dishes and shoved them at Cora.

  “LisBeth, please forgive me.”

  LisBeth was cool. “You’ve already said that, David. Three times. Twice with flowers. Thank you. They are very nice. I put one bouquet in Mrs. Brown’s room and took the other into the dining room. Once with candy. Thank you. Carrie will enjoy it, I’m sure. Now, if you’ll excuse me, we have a larger than usual crowd.” LisBeth turned to Cora and Odessa and said with a smile, “I think word is getting around town that we have the best cooks in Lincoln.”

  Cora and Odessa looked up briefly from their work and nodded their heads in appreciation.

  David persisted. “LisBeth. Please. Say you’ll come to dinner. Say you forgive me. I was a fool and I’m sorry. What more can I say? What can I do?” David was honestly distraught. LisBeth found it vaguely unattractive.

  A voice from the dining room called for service, and LisBeth turned to go. “I don’t know, David, I can’t talk now. Come back later. No, come back tomorrow. After lunch. You can walk me to the sewing circle.”

  David answered humbly, “I’ll be here tomorrow. Please don’t leave without me.”

  When they met the next day, LisBeth’s hurt feelings had been healed sufficiently through indulging in chocolates to give David a civil hearing. He apologized so profusely that LisBeth finally patted his arm and put a stop to it with an abrupt, “Come, come, David. Don’t be so dramatic. You hurt my feelings. In a way, I’m glad it happened. Now everything is out in the open between us. Now we can be friends without any pretense. I haven’t really known about my Sioux heritage for long. Mother only told me the year before she died.”

  David commiserated. “What a shock that must have been.
”

  “A shock—yes. It was. There was so much I wanted to know. I still need to come to terms with it.” They had reached the steps of the porch and LisBeth started up the stairs. She stopped on the second step, her eyes level with David’s. “I was a coward not to face Soaring Eagle at Santee. Jim Callaway helped me see that. He didn’t exactly call me a coward, but I can tell he thinks I should at least meet my brother. Then I can judge for myself what kind of people I came from. Jim thinks it might make things easier for me. I’ve been running from my past ever since Mac died. I just haven’t been able to face it.”

  David answered doubtfully. “Some things are best left alone, LisBeth.”

  “Yes, some things are. But not this. Not for me. It will probably take all winter, but somehow I’m going to work up the courage to go back there and face him. Maybe when Rachel and Carrie Brown come back, maybe I’ll go with them.” LisBeth’s eyes grew wistful. “I wonder what he’s like.”

  “Are you sure you want to know? The papers are full of news of the Sioux, and the news is not very complimentary.”

  LisBeth’s eyes narrowed. “You know, I once had a picture in my mind of rich people. I thought they were all terribly selfish and terribly conceited. Then I met you and your mother. You changed that. Jim Callaway said that Soaring Eagle saved his life. He said that he was respected and looked up to by others in his tribe. Carrie Brown says he’s gentle and kind. I think I’ll wait until I meet him before I blame him with some savagery likely exaggerated by reporters. I hope he’ll do me the same courtesy.”

  David smiled indulgently. “Well, that can wait until spring. What are your plans until then?”

  LisBeth retreated another few steps toward the church door. “To continue in the Ladies’ Missionary Society work. We’re going to sponsor two more students at the Santee school, and I’ve agreed to head up the committee to raise the additional funds. And I’ll work at the hotel as much as Augusta will let me.”