Wild Thunder

Yes, she was learning that she had her own business to tend to . . . the household duties, and soon a child. She could no longer interfere in her husband’s business.

“Hannah, all that should matter is that I’m in love,” Clara said, beaming. “And he loves me! I was going to tell you today about our plans to be married.”

Hannah rushed from the chair. She went to Clara and hugged her. “And isn’t it so perfect?” she murmured. “We will both live in the same place, and we will both raise our children together!”

“I do hope that I have a child soon,” Clara said as Hannah went and sat down again.

“But this changes many things,” Hannah said, thinking of Chuck, and thinking of the schoolchildren.

“Yes, I know,” Clara said, staring into the fire. Then she smiled over at Hannah. “But truly not that much. I shall take my child to the school every day I teach. I shall spend evenings with Chuck, caring for his ledgers. And he has good help now, who care for his other needs. Hannah, he’s going to be so surprised to hear about White Beaver!”

“Yes, he will, but oh, so happy, Clara,” Hannah said, then unable to hold back any longer, went to the door and slowly opened it.

She held her breath as she listened, then paled when she heard Colonel Mooney tell Strong Wolf that someone had stolen a good amount of their dynamite supply sometime during t

he night.

“Are you accusing the Potawatomis of the theft?” Strong Wolf said, his hand inching toward his sheathed knife.

Hannah died a million deaths inside as she awaited the colonel’s reply.

Chapter 41

And I am desolate and sick of an old passion,

Yea, hungry for the lips of my desire!

—ERNEST DOWSON

“And so someone stole dynamite from your fort last night,” Strong Wolf persisted. “Is your presence here because you have come to accuse us of the deed?”

“No,” Colonel Mooney said, shifting his weight in his saddle. “I have not come to accuse, and not so much to even question about the theft, but to warn you that the dynamite was stolen.”

Strong Wolf’s tensions lessened. He inhaled a slow breath, then stepped closer to the colonel’s horse. “You have come to warn us?” he said, arching an eyebrow. “And why is that? Why would you think that warnings are necessary?”

“Whoever stole the box of dynamite did it for a purpose,” the young colonel said, his voice drawn. “Who is to say who it will be used against? Or what? I do know that I saw in my files, when I took over the duties from Colonel Deshong, that there had been some trouble not long ago about dynamite.”

“Yes, it is true that I stole dynamite,” Strong Wolf said, again stiffening. “But if you delved into the full truths about why, then you would know that I used the dynamite to correct something wrong done against my people. The theft was overlooked. Colonel Deshong agreed with what I did. And you? Do you disapprove?”

“Whatever Colonel Deshong did white he was in command at Fort Leavenworth, and how he handled it, was his concern,” Colonel Mooney said, resting his hand on the handle of his saber. “But now I am in charge. And the dynamite is what lies in question here. Dynamite is a lethal weapon in the wrong hands. In yours, it was used to destroy a dam. In someone else’s, who is to say what it might be used for. Whoever stole it had a purpose. It is my job to discover what. It is my job to spread the word that the dynamite is perhaps in the hands of enemies.”

“And so you came to my village to warn us that perhaps someone might be planning to use the dynamite on my people?” Strong Wolf said stiffly.

“It could possibly happen,” Colonel Mooney said, nodding. “Some of my men brought me up to speed on things that have happened in the area these past months. I was told about a man under a Chuck Kody’s employ.” He kneaded his chin contemplatingly. He cocked an eyebrow as he tried to think of Tiny’s name. “Ah, yes. His name was Tiny Sharp.”

“Chuck Kody is my wife’s brother, and Tiny Sharp was his foreman,” Strong Wolf offered. “Tiny Sharp disappeared a few months ago. No one has seen or heard of his whereabouts. Why do you mention him now?”

“I was told that he was a troublemaker,” Colonel Mooney said, clearing his throat. “I was also told that he had disappeared after having been discovered in many underhanded activities. Isn’t it true that he was your ardent enemy?”

“Yes, he was my enemy,” Strong Wolf said, nodding. “In truth, I expect he has no true friends. He is a man with a dark heart, a man who could never be trusted.”

The young colonel rested a hand on the pommel of his saddle and rested his weight against it as he leaned down closer to Strong Wolf’s face. “Do you think he is the man we might be after?” he said. “Do you think he might have stolen the dynamite? Do you know what he might have in mind for the dynamite?”

“I have not thought about him for some time now,” Strong Wolf said. “I have been involved in the affairs of my people.”

The young colonel sat straight in his saddle again and stared at the new schoolhouse. “That is a grand building you have there,” he said, then smiled down at Strong Wolf. “It is good that your children will have the same opponunities that the white children have. Someday I would like to come in and sit through the lessons, if the teacher would not mind.”

“The teacher is my wife’s sister,” Strong Wolf said. “I am sure she would not mind having an audience while she teaches.” He smiled over at White Beaver, who seemed pleased to have his woman discussed in such a favorable way, then gazed up at the young colonel again. “The teacher is a woman. She will soon marry my friend, White Beaver.”