Edge of the Wilderness - By Stephanie Grace Whitson Page 0,75

couldn’t tell anyone attached to Fort Ridgely about Ironheart and Mother Friend and the others. Not yet.

The tall stranger had turned around and was looking at him with curiosity. He held out his hand. “Elliot Leighton. You must be one of the famous Dakota scouts. I haven’t had the pleasure—although I’ve heard a lot about your work.”

Daniel returned the handshake and stood, speechless, not knowing what to say.

Edward Pope filled the silence, pounding Daniel on the shoulder. “This here’s one of the best scouts in all Indian territory.” He flashed a smile. “I could tell you stories about Two Stars . . .”

“Two Stars?” Leighton said. His eyes flashed with surprise. “You aren’t by any chance related to Daniel Two Stars?”

“Related?” Pope said loudly. He laughed. “He ain’t just related. This is him.”

Leighton stared in disbelief. “That can’t be. I was told—I mean, we all believed—” Leighton stuttered. “They said you were dead.” While, Daniel tried to steady his own breathing, Leighton sputtered awkwardly, “Everyone said you were dead.”

“Well, everyone’s wrong,” Pope said. “I followed him and his two friends all over this territory for half of last year. Believe me, Major Leighton, Daniel Two Stars ain’t dead.”

“Forgive me,” Elliot finally said. He removed his hat and perched it on his saddle horn. Wiping his forehead with a trembling hand, he observed Daniel carefully. So this was the hero Meg regaled so often. The man Aaron said was the bravest man he’d ever known. He didn’t look particularly heroic, with his trail-worn uniform and his unkempt black hair. Searching the weather-beaten face, Leighton thought he looked older than his—how old would he be, Elliot wondered—no more than his early twenties. He looked a decade older, that was certain.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Two Stars,” Elliot said again. “It’s just that I’ve heard so many stories about you—” He stopped abruptly. Putting his hat back on, he turned to Edward Pope. “Would you excuse us, please?”

Shrugging nonchalantly, Pope headed back inside. He paused at the door. “Don’t forget about supper,” he called back to Daniel. Looking at Leighton he said, “And bring your friend if you want to.”

Leighton stared at Pope, waiting for the door to close.

Daniel said quietly, “He’s the best cook in the army. At least that’s what the soldiers say.” He looked up at Leighton with a faint smile. “An invitation to Edward’s mess hall is worth accepting.” He felt calmer now. He didn’t have to face Simon Dane yet.

He looked up at Elliot and decided there was little resemblance between the tall one-handed man and his sister. He suspected the silver hair and the metal hook were somehow connected. He had seen one of the white women captives’ hair turn white almost overnight during the uprising.

For something to do, Two Stars unwrapped his horse’s reins. He stood looking down at them and said, “Mother Friend told us you left them to go to the fort. She said Reverend Dane was ill.” At Elliot’s look of surprise, he explained, “There are many scouts’ camps across this territory. Just last fall we took more than a hundred stragglers up to Fort Snelling.”

“Is that what will happen to Mother Friend?”

Daniel hesitated, but then something in Leighton’s expression made him trust. He shook his head. “No. Mother Friend and the others will be working on a farm up by the old agency. The white farmer said they are welcome to stay.”

“How did you convince him to allow it?”

Daniel shrugged. “It wasn’t too hard.” He looked up at Leighton again. “Since the farm he lives on used to be ours. Since I helped build his house before the uprising. And,” he added with a slight smile, “Mother Friend helped his wife give him twin sons.”

“I’d say that man owes you a debt.”

Daniel shrugged again. “He’s a good man.”

“What about your Captain Willets here? Will he allow it?”

“I think between the three of us, we will be able to convince him.” Daniel had an idea. “If you would tell him what it is like at Crow Creek, it would help. He is a reasonable man.”

“I’ve already done that,” Elliot said quickly. “And I’m going to see to it that a lot of other people know about it as well. People who can make a change.”

As Leighton talked, Daniel thought of Mrs. Dane. It wasn’t pronounced, but something in the controlled intensity in Leighton’s voice reminded him of her. “Your sister was the first white woman I learned not to hate.” He looked off toward the