Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,10
many options these days.” He chuckled. “Have you heard anything from Miss Constance? I stopped by on my way to my hotel to see if you knew when she planned to arrive.”
“We received a telegram from them when they reached San Francisco. They took the train there and plan to sail up the rest of the way. That was over a week ago. We expect to hear from them soon, however. If you don’t mind, why don’t you have a seat?” Faith motioned for him to take a chair at the kitchen table. “We were just enjoying some cold lemonade. Would you care for a glass?”
“That would hit the spot.” Clint sat down and smiled. “It seems the Lady Luck gave me some luck after all. I consider myself more than blessed to share such pleasant company.”
Faith chuckled as she poured the lemonade. “Well, we’re busy, to be sure, so I don’t know how much of a blessing we can be.” She brought him the drink. “Nancy has a house full of boarders, including me, to keep up with. I do my best to help.”
“Will you stay for supper with us, Mr. Singleton, or do you have other plans this evening?” Nancy asked.
“I do have other plans. My father and brother keep me pretty busy.”
“That’s right, your father is a senator from California and your brother is working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.”
Clint sampled the lemonade and smiled. “Perfect. Both the drink and your summary. That’s why I got involved as an agent. My family has always had great passion for righting wrongs, and their desire to see the Indian treated fairly has become a family business.”
“Well, we need more people like you,” Faith said, once again taking a seat to help Nancy peel. “I suppose you’re quite happy to hear about the recording of the culture and tribal history that Connie and Mr. Lowell will be doing.”
He frowned. “I can’t say that I am. I suppose I’m cautious at best. I worry that it will stir up people’s memories of the past and what they once had and lost. It concerns me that in telling their stories, they will be provoked.”
“Surely not.” Nancy shook her head. “I would think they would proudly share their history and culture.”
“Of course they will, but then they will remember that they once roamed free and dressed differently—spoke their own languages and lived their own way.”
Faith shook her head and put a peeled potato in Nancy’s bowl. “You think they’ve forgotten that? They know very well what they’ve lost.”
Clint frowned. “I wasn’t trying to suggest they had forgotten, but bringing it all front and center again is likely to get people agitated. There are entire generations on the reservation now who don’t remember the old life. You can’t miss what you’ve never known.”
“I don’t know if I agree with that thought.” Faith finished another potato. “Sometimes the heart longs for the things it’s never known.”
“You sound like a poet, Miss Faith.”
“Faith is actually a certified doctor and surgeon. She finished her classes this spring.” Nancy put her knife down. “I’m going to go check on Seth and the baby.”
She got up and exited the room before either Faith or Clint could acknowledge her. Clint leaned toward Faith. “I heard her husband was nearly killed.”
“Yes. Someone attacked him on his way home one night. We weren’t sure he would even live, but he’s doing much better. He had head and spinal injuries as well as some cracked bones. We take good care of him, however. Much better than the hospital could, so we brought him home early. It’s been a little over a month, and he’s doing well. Seth is a fighter.”
“Did I hear my name mentioned?” Seth stood in the doorway, leaning on his cane.
“Seth, this is Clint Singleton. He’s an Indian agent down at Grand Ronde. He works with Aunt Mercy and Uncle Adam.”
“Glad to meet you, Mr. Singleton,” Seth said, giving a slight nod.
Clint got to his feet. “It’s an honor to meet you. I’m glad to hear you’re nearly recovered. When I heard what happened to you, I was more than a little angry.” He extended his hand in greeting. “I don’t know what the world’s coming to. I suppose they robbed you blind?”
“No, that was the strange part. It seemed the beating was the only thing they were really interested in.” Seth smiled and looked at Nancy, who stepped through the door behind him. “But they didn’t count on