Wild Thunder

Strong Wolf’s lips tugged into a smile. “You said everything right, my woman,” he said, reaching over to kiss her.

Claude Odum chuckled beneath his breath, drawing Strong Wolf and Hannah apart.

“Now, will someone tell me what’s going on here?” Claude said as he gazed from Hannah to Strong Wolf. “I heard the explosion. I came as soon as I could. Who did set off the dynamite?”

“Are you thinking that perhaps Strong Wolf had a hand in this, after all?” Strong Wolf said, his smile fading.

“Naw,” Claude said, relaxing his shoulders.

“Then let’s forget about it. It’s Colonel Deshong’s problem,” Hannah said. She smiled over at Strong Wolf. “I believe I have a trip to make to Fort Leavenworth. Will you accompany me there tomorrow, Strong Wolf, so that I can send the wire to my parents and my sister?”

“A wire?” Claude said, forking an eyebrow. “What’s this about a wire?”

“Hannah and I are going to be married soon,” Strong Wolf said, lifting his chin proudly.

“And I am sending a wire to my family to let them know,” Hannah said, smiling over at Strong Wolf. She was glad to see that he seemed more relaxed, perhaps able to place the traumas of today behind him, in the hope of their future together.

“Congratulations,” Claude said. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to accompany you to the fort tomorrow in case Tiny might have tried to stir up trouble over today’s explosion.”

“That would be fine,” Hannah said.

She turned and gazed at Strong Wolf, who again seemed quiet and filled with thought. She wondered if he was thinking about another time, another place, another woman?

Yet, she reminded herself, he had loved Doe Eyes when he was ten.

Still there seemed too much between them that made Hannah uneasy. She knew now that she would only be truly sure of Strong Wolf after they had spoken wedding vows.

She hoped that could be soon, then again, there were always unseen problems to delay the best of plans, especially here in the Kansas Territory!

Chapter 22

O, keep a place apart,

Without your heart.

For little dreams to go!

—LOUISE DRISCOLL

The next day at Fort Leavenworth, Claude Odum stood back with Hannah as Strong Wolf talked with Colonel Deshong. Hannah’s purpose for having come to the fort had been sidetracked the minute Patrick had seen Strong Wolf enter the door. The bridge. There were many questions about the bridge.

“And, Patrick, do you suspect that I, Strong Wolf, had anything to do with the bridge being destroyed?” Strong Wolf asked, stiffening his shoulders.

Strong Wolf’s corded muscles showed through the material of the fringed buckskin shirt, they were so taut in his building anger with the colonel. His word! Did not his word mean anything?

“Don’t get your nose out of joint, Strong Wolf,” Patrick said, rising from his chair. “I have to ask questions. That’s what I’m getting paid for.”

As everyone mutely watched, Patrick went to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a shot of whiskey.

He gave a look over his shoulder at Strong Wolf, then thought twice about asking him if he wished to have a drink. He knew that Strong Wolf didn’t approve of “firewater.”

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Nor did Claude Odum, who showed his displeasure.

Patrick tipped the glass to his lips and drank the whiskey in one fast gulp, then slammed the glass back down inside the liquor cabinet.

He sauntered back to his desk and eased down in the chair, then gazed over at Strong Wolf again. “Now, what were we saying?” he said, easing the awkwardness of the morning by pretending their discussion was unimportant.