Chapter Four

With one arm over the shoulders of each man, Micah nervously rode as Adam and Ben, each with an arm around Micah's back and a hand under one of his legs, carried Micah down the stairs, one painfully slow step at a time.

As they took that last step, Micah said wearily, "Just take me straight to the bedroom. I need to lie down for a few minutes."

Shiloh sat watching the slow descent from the edge of the settee, wincing with each and every step Adam and Ben took, but more so from the strain she could see on Micah's face. She was sure it wasn't pain causing his tension, but rather having to rely on someone else to transport him, no matter who it was or how much he trusted them. He'd never admit it, but Shiloh knew well that Micah Whitney was a proud man who at the moment was in a position that compromised that pride.

She entered the room after Adam and Ben had slowly laid Micah on the bed. "What can I do for you?" she asked, leaning over him with a loving gaze and brushing his hair back over his forehead.

Taking a deep breath, he bit his bottom lip. Part of him was angry at her for assuming everyone was going to do what she wanted. The other part of him knew she thought things through and was doing this not only out of love, but because in the end, she was right. It would be better for him if he wasn't confined to the room upstairs. And who better to know that than Shiloh from her own recent experience with confinement. Quietly, he said as he grabbed her hand and kissed it, "Sometimes, Sis, I wish you'd let me get used to an idea before you inflict it upon me. But you're just like Mom was. She always said 'mothers know best.'" A smile stole over his lips. "And you are a mother now."

Returning the smile, she asked, "Do you feel like being an uncle for little while. If you'll sit up, I'll bring him in."

"You mean I don't have to try the wheelchair?"

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm not that bad, am I?" She didn't wait for an answer and smiled. "I didn't think about this at first, but I think we need to talk to Paul before you use the chair. Your feet will have to rest on the footrests, and as I understand it, he doesn't want your feet on the floor yet. He may not want them on the footrests."

"So all this was for nothing?" Micah barked.

Standing straight up like a schoolmarm disciplining one of her wards, Shiloh answered, "Absolutely not. You can hear what's going on, and if it comes right down to getting you out into the fresh air, we'll put pillows under your knees to keep your feet off the footrests."

When he held out his hand to hers, she noticed the tremble. "Maybe we should wait to introduce you to Abel. You're in pain." Turning to Adam who had been leaning against the door frame, she asked, "Would you mind bringing down the laudanum?"

"Nope." He leaned to the side to see Micah. "And I'll bring down the rest of your things as well."

"Thanks, Adam." Though he was disappointed about missing Abel, he knew he wouldn't be able to stand the pain much longer. His last dose of laudanum had already worn off. "If you can stay a little while, it doesn't take long for me to gather my wits about me after I've had a dose."

Hearing the conversation from the leather chair in the sitting room, Ben wandered into the bedroom and moved his hands to Shiloh's shoulders. "Why don't you two just stay for lunch? That'll give Micah time to deal with the laudanum and have something to eat, so he can see Abel before you leave."

Smiling sweetly up at her father-in-law, she nodded.

Hop Sing announced that lunch was ready just as Joe came through the front door. Adam and Ben had moved chairs into Micah's room so he would be included in the mealtime conversation.

Joe followed Shiloh as she brought Abel in and laid him on the bed next to his uncle who had just stirred from the grogginess left by the laudanum. "I didn't think you'd mind the company in your bed," said Shiloh softly as Joe cooed at his nephew while she adjusted his little blanket.

"He's asleep?" asked Micah.

"He's asleep most of the time," answered Shiloh. "Except when he's hungry or needs to be changed."

"Well I'll be. Look at all that dark hair," said Micah, admiring his nephew. At that moment, Abel sucked in his bottom lip, whimpered once, and then smiled causing Micah's lower jaw to drop at the same time he laughed. "You're in trouble," he said, glancing up at Shiloh.

"Why is that?"

"He's gonna be popular with the ladies, same as his pa. Look at his dimples."

Sitting in a chair near the door, Adam rolled his eyes. "My dimples never got me anywhere."

"Not true," argued Micah. "Your dimples always got your foot in the door. It was your dry, educated conversation that shut anything promising down."

While taking the plate Hop Sing offered her, Shiloh chimed in, "I happen to enjoy his dimples and his educated conversation."

The corner of Adam's mouth turned up as he gave Micah a quick affirming nod. "There, you see?"

"It was his narrow-minded bossiness that irked me."

"Here, here," said Joe with a mouthful.

Snapping his head around with his mouth slightly open, Adam replied testily, "Never mind."

Shiloh giggled as she bit into her sandwich, chewed and swallowed. "Micah, if Paul says you can use the wheelchair, how would you like to do some paperwork?" Both Ben and Adam's heads popped up from their plates, grabbing Shiloh's attention. "If he feels like it, what's the harm? In fact, it could help a great deal with everything that needs to be done around here. You three can be directing all the physical work without having to worry about when the paperwork is going to get done. Micah and I should be able to handle most of it, and for those things that need a decision, we'll be able to present it so you don't have to pore over it. That should make things move along, don't you think?" she said, nodding hopefully.

Ben raised his eyebrows. "Don't you think that would be up to Micah?"

"She's right, Mr. Cartwright," said Micah. "I already feel bad enough that I can't even handle my own ranch or the mine. If I can be of help in some way, I'm more than willing."

"Micah, you don't have to feel bad because you're not on your feet," admonished Adam. He pointed his fork at Micah. "You're as much family as any one of us."

Folding his lips, Micah looked at Adam, then Joe and finally Ben and nodded. "Dad picked his friends well."

"I could say the same thing," said Adam with a wide grin.

xxxxxxxx

"Annie, I cain't stand by and watch while them women are beaten," said Hoss, turning his back on Cheron with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"If you interfere," said Cheron with no emotion, "Chu'o will kill you."

Annie's mouth dropped open. "Cheron, surely you can do something?"

"I cannot. It is our law. Our law is that which keeps us safe." Turning quickly, she continued. "If you cannot abide by our laws, you both must leave." Her brows turned into an agonized frown. "For your own good," she finished quietly. "I can do nothing more for Hoss's eyes. They will finish healing with time."

Moving a hand to Cheron's shoulder, Annie said, "We will leave."

Cheron reached up to Annie's hand. "On the new day. I will ask Chu'o to wait."

The following morning, while Annie packed those things given to her by Cheron, Hoss loaded their wagon with the things they had brought with them. They were largely left alone by the members of the Washoe tribe.

Hoss ducked into their wiki-up. "You ready?" he asked softly.

Annie was on her knees, moving the last of the herbs she was taking with her into a box, and sat back on her legs. "This happened so suddenly, Hoss. I never thought we'd be leaving like this."

Reaching down for her hand, he gently pulled her to her feet and embraced her. "Cheron don't mean nothin' by it. It's just their way. I reckon things could get bad for her if she keeps buckin' her husband." He kissed her tenderly. "It's time to go."

Before Hoss could help Annie into the seat of the wagon, Cheron approached and smiled. "This," she said, handing a bundle to Annie, "is for you to take with you. The women of the tribe have been weaving since you arrived. With these blankets in your house, the Great Spirit will always protect you."

Taking her medical bag from under the seat of the wagon, Annie held it out to Cheron. "I've shown you how to use these instruments. I want you to have this."

This was one of the very rare times when Cheron's lips turned into a bright, beautiful smile. "I thought you would be angry," she said as she reached for Annie and drew her into a hug.

"It's difficult to understand, Cheron," Annie whispered in her ear, "but I respect your ways. I'm not angry. But I am sorry we have to part so soon."

Hoss pulled the reins and headstall he'd made for Chu'o from the back of the wagon and placed them in Cheron's hands.

She held them up and admired the dark, soft, braided leather decorated with smooth, polished pink quartz stones. "Hoss, I did not know," she said surprised. "The work is good...as good as I have seen from my people. Chu'o may seem angry you are here, but he has told me it has not been so bad. He thinks you are funny, Hoss. And he will know you have a good heart."

"If you need anything, Cheron, you know where to find us. My pa would never turn any of your people away. You remember that."

"I will remember, Hoss." She turned to Annie. "And I will remember your teachings."

"And I will remember yours," answered Annie with another hug. "We should go."

Once Hoss helped Annie into the seat of the wagon, he climbed up on the other side and took the reins.

Annie cleared her throat. "Can you see the road enough to drive?"

He looked at her and twisted his lips, then looked forward, first leaning to the right and looking down next to the horses, then looking left. "Well, as long as I can tell the difference between the light brown of the road and the dark brown or gray of the pine needles or rocks, I'll be all right."

"You can see that?" asked Annie excitedly. "Why didn't you say something?"

"I ain't really thought about it. Everything's kinda brown in the village, and I ain't been allowed very far from our hut. Now how 'bout you and me go home. I'll bet they could all use some help," he said, smiling.

As Hoss flicked the reins and the wagon lurched forward, both he and Annie waved back to Cheron while the women of the village stopped what they were doing and became still as they watched the white woman and her husband drive away.