Chapter Twenty-Seven

Carolyn relaxed down into the sudsy warmth of the perfumed bath, lost in thought.

She smiled. Alas, she had many things to smile about.

Things had gone well for her in Virginia City. Not only had the gold paid her parents’ debt, there had been enough left over so that her mother and father could make a fresh start. But best of all, her father had miraculously healed while she had been gone. He still limped, but he could certainly walk.

The only problem had been that Lone Arrow had not accompanied her back there. Instead, he had escorted her to Fort Ellis, telling her that when the time was good, she would return to him.

He had given her a horse, saying, “It is for your parents.”

“But,” she countered, “I already have the gold.”

“A white man’s gift,” he said. “This pony is a red man’s gift. It is said by our wise men, that when a man gives a horse for a woman, that marriage has great promise. I think it could be true.”

Carolyn had smiled, and had accepted the offering.

Even her parents had been joyous with the endowment, and although they had at first been upset with her decision to return to Fort Ellis, they had eventually yielded to her. It had been Carolyn’s own happiness that had been the deciding factor.

“But you must come and visit from time to time,” her mother had coaxed.

“Of course I will,” Carolyn had told her in return. “I will even bring Lone Arrow, if he will come.”

“You do that,” her mother had said.

“It’s not good-bye,” said Carolyn. “I promise you that.”

And embracing, both mother and daughter had cried.

But Carolyn’s tears were those of joy. How could she feel anything else but happiness? For within only a few days she had returned to Fort Ellis, here to await her husband. And it was here that she would remain. She and Lone Arrow would make their lives beneath the shadow and within the protection of the Bighorn Mountains.

After all, the sacred treasure cave was now as much her responsibility as it was Lone Arrow’s. An obligation she would cherish so long as she existed.

She raised up an arm, to wash it, and as she did so, a breeze stirred the hairs on her delicate skin.

At last, she thought, and inwardly she smiled. Outwardly, however, Carolyn pretended that she hadn’t felt so much as a stirring of a single hair.

Indeed, she proceeded with her bath, humming. First she washed one arm, then the other. One leg raised, then the other.

And it was not long before she heard the words, “I think that my wife teases me.”

Grinning, Carolyn swung her head around until she was able to cast her gaze upon Lone Arrow. She sighed contentedly. Never, had she seen a more wonderful sight. And the only thing she could think to say was, “What took you so long to get here?”

She heard his chuckle, watched as he approached her, watched as he knelt next to her.

“I had things to attend to.”

“Did you?” she asked.

“I did,” he replied. “First I had to check the infirmary to see if there were any soldiers who had fallen or had some mishap while helping you.”

“And were there?”

“There were none,” he stated. “Nor have there been reports of unusual accidents.”

She grinned. “Not a one.”

He sighed. “Then it is my belief that you are no longer cursed.”

“I know,” she said, with a slight giggle, while he raised a finger to her cheek, there to caress it gently.

She closed her eyes and moaned.

And then, without a word passing between them, she felt him place something around her neck.

Gazing down, she saw her necklace.

“Lone Arrow!”

“It is another present. Your friend did not at first understand why I needed to purchase it from her. But when I told her that this should remain with us because it is the emblem of the first vow between us, she gave it to me gladly.”

“Oh, Lone Arrow. I—I—”

“There is more,” he said. Bending, he extracted something from a parfleche bag, and standing up, held a dress out for her inspection. It was a very beautiful dress, too. He said, “It is an elk-tooth dress. It is a special kind of garment, and highly prized amongst my people. When one’s family gives a bride this gift, it is their way of saying that she is welcome to their family and to their clan. They would have you know that they are happy for me, for you, and that you are now a part of us. They welcome you.”

“Oh, Lone Arrow. It…it’s perfect. I…thank you. Please you will tell them thank you for me.”

Coming down onto his knees beside the tub, he said, “Soon we will be at my home, and you can tell them yourself.”

Carolyn grinned. “Yes, I will. Now, come, help me out of here,” she said.

“It will be my pleasure.”

She placed her water-wrinkled hand in his own. And, seeing his questioning look, she said, “Remember, when I left here a few short weeks ago, I told you that I would wait for you to find me, just as I once had?”

He nodded.

“Well,” she said, “I think I am water soaked. I have been waiting for you in this tub for hours.”

He chuckled, and lifting her out of the water, he took her into his arms. “Look at these little fingers,” he murmured, taking each one into his hands. “You are right. They are much too waterlogged, I fear. But do not fret, for I have many ways of making them, making you, feel better.”

“Do you?”

Bending his head toward her, coming ever closer and closer, he said, “I promise.”

And in truth, it is said that Lone Arrow was a man who kept every one of his pledges.