“No, can’t say that I am,” Patrick said, a slow smile tugging at his lips. Again his eyes roamed over her.
“Are you on your way to Strong Wolf’s village?”
Hannah’s eyes narrowed warily. “Yes, and you?”
“Yes,” Patrick said, squirming uneasily in his saddle.
“You were there only a few days ago,” Hannah said, their eyes locking. “Do you make it a habit to visit this often, Colonel?”
He smiled again. “Do you?” he said ruefully, his eyes dancing.
Hannah’s jaw tightened. “I’ve come to see Strong Wolf’s horses,” she murmured.
“I believe that was your excuse the other time I saw you there,” Patrick said, still staring at her in an amused manner.
“Excuse?” Hannah gasped, relieved when suddenly Strong Wolf appeared on horseback as he came around a bend in the road, riding toward them.
She broke away from the colonel and rode to meet Strong Wolf, drawing tight rein as he drew rein beside her.
At first Strong Wolf stared at her, obviously stunned by her attire. Slowly his eyes moved over her.
Then he gazed into her eyes, touching her with them as though they were a caress. “I was on my way to see you,” Strong Wolf said thickly. “Too many days have passed since we were together.”
“I . . .” Hannah said, interrupted when Colonel Deshong and his military escorts came and drew rein beside them.
“Patrick?” Strong Wolf said, forking an eyebrow. “I did not receive word that you were coming for council.”
“I sent none,” Patrick said, his expression solemn.
Strong Wolf gazed from Patrick to Hannah, then back at Patrick. “Come,” he said, gesturing with a hand toward his village. “We will go and have council. Patrick, I am curious to see what has brought you to my village again so soon. Usually many sunrises pass before you wish to have another council with Strong Wolf.”
“Yes, but I had a need much sooner than that this time, Strong Wolf,” Colonel Deshong said, his uneasiness revealed in how he fidgeted with the horse’s reins.
“Then, come,” Strong Wolf said, nodding. “We shall have our council.”
He turned his dark eyes back to Hannah. “Come also,” he said. “You will once again be a part of my council.” His eyes again swept over her attire, obviously puzzled by it.
Then they rode off together.
When they arrived at his village, all but the two military escorts entered Strong Wolf’s lodge. They became comfortable in chairs before the fireplace where a fire burned. Hannah watched the ritual with the long-stemmed pipe as it was passed from Strong Wolf to Colonel Deshong, and back again to Strong Wolf, who then set it aside on the hearth.
“Now, tell me what has brought you once again to my lodge where you are always welcome for council,” Strong Wolf said to Patrick, folding his arms across his chest.
Ignoring Hannah’s presence, Patrick rested his hands on his knees, the knuckles whitening as he clasped them there. “I am embarrassed to have to admit to you that we are low on supplies at the fort,” he said, his voice weary. “There is a cholera epidemic upriver. The riverboats are no longer getting through with supplies. They aren’t allowed to, fearing the spread of the dreaded disease.”
“Cholera?” Hannah gasped. She stared over at the colonel. “Is Saint Louis plagued with the disease?”
“No, it’s th
e smaller towns downriver from Saint Louis,” Patrick said.
“Thank God,” Hannah said softly.
“We’d best hope the disease doesn’t reach as far as Saint Louis,” Patrick said solemnly. “The result could be catastrophic.”
Hannah shook off a chill that encompassed her at the thought of her family being in possible danger. She hugged herself, then tried to relax and listen as the colonel explained to Strong Wolf why he was there.
“Strong Wolf, my men are in dire need of meat,” Colonel Deshong said. “The men under my command were trained to be soldiers. That is where their skills lay. Not in hunting. Do you think your warriors might go on the hunt and bring us some deer at the fort? I . . . we . . . would be forever grateful.”