Chapter 25
Rock Creek, Nebraska
June 1872
Night Wolf waited patiently until Running Buck and some of the Elders retreated into the sweat lodge seeking answers. He knew his friend was mistaken about his sister, and he was determined to find her. Swiftly changing into the white man's clothes that Running Buck had left beside the lodge, Night Wolf mounted his horse and rode off towards Rock Creek.
Though Night Wolf had ridden past the town before, he knew its location well. Red Bear had cautioned him to steer clear, and he had always heeded the wise man's advice. Despite his longing to visit and see Running Buck, Night Wolf respected the warnings. Now, as he traversed through the town, memories of small town in San Juan Capistrano flooded his mind: the ocean breeze, the hot summer nights. Hitching his horse near the general store, Night Wolf ventured inside cautiously.
"Can I help you, boy?" Thompkins asked gruffly as the strange man entered.
"Sir," Night Wolf cleared his throat. "I'm looking for Lara Monroe."
"Sorry, son, there's no one in town by that name." Thompkins replied, eyeing the stranger warily.
Thompkins narrowed his eyes at the stranger. He realized he must be asking about Lara Alba. He liked the girl, she had seen through his gruff exterior and stood up to him in a very polite way. He wasn't going to tell some stranger where she was.
Night Wolf walked slowly through the town, his eyes scanning each window with a mix of curiosity and weariness. He couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that had settled over him since arriving in Rock Creek, and he wondered how Running Buck managed to call this place home. However, his mood brightened when he caught sight of a familiar sight darting across the street.
Intrigued, he followed her until he discovered her seated on a patch of grass beneath a tree, her head cradled in her hands. Despite the passage of time, her visage remained etched in his memory with vivid clarity. Her face, her eyes, were unmistakable—like gazing into the echoes of his mother's face in his mind.
"Lara?" He approached cautiously.
Lara lifted her head, hastily wiping away her tears as she looked up at the dark stranger walking toward her, her hand brushed the cold steel of the gun in her skirt pocket. She watched the figure draw closer, and at first glance, she thought it was Buck. But as he stepped into the lamplight, she realized it was just someone wearing similar clothes.
"Lara, it's me," he declared, pulling off Buck's hat from his head.
"David?" Lara's eyes widened in recognition.
Overwhelmed by the sudden burst of emotions, she sprang to her feet and rushed into his waiting arms. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as her broken heart somehow felt its warmth once more. The weight of years melted away in that embrace.
"You've grown so much!" She finally broke free and looked up at him.
"You were taller than me," he laughed and held her once more.
"Quickly, follow me," Lara whispered urgently, her eyes darting around, ever-vigilant to ensure they weren't being watched. The recollection of her father's presence nearby sent a painful shiver down her spine. Even though he told her he was leaving town for a couple weeks she was hesitant to believe him. "My father is here."
"I saw him," he added, his gaze softening. "From a distance, I watched the soldiers as they rode out of town."
"I've missed you so much David." She tried to hold in the tears as they hurried into the shadows.
"My name is Night Wolf now." He whispered.
"It suits you," she smiled, then led him into the stables. "I hoped, to see you again, but I'm not sure I ever really thought I would find you."
Lara pulled the hat from his head and scrutinized his features. The rugged marks of life had aged him more than his tender years. Though he was five years her junior, Night Wolf bore the weight of years beyond his age. The scar etched across his face added a rugged charm to his otherwise handsome features.
His darkened copper skin, weathered and taut with muscle, spoke of the trials he had endured. His long, inky black hair was tied in a neat braid down his back. At first glance, there was little resemblance between them, yet his eyes, like her own, held the same intensity as their mother's
"Don't cry, Lara." David remarked, gently wiping away her tears.
"You're a man now, not my kid brother," Lara laughed through her tears. "Do you have a wife? Children? I want to know everything."
"Sweet Rain Woman, my wife. We are expecting our baby in a few months," he replied, his face beaming with pride.
"I'm so happy for you," Lara murmured, thinking of the past six years. He had moved on while she was hell-bent on finding him.
"I never forgot you," David assured her, sensing her thoughts.
"Come with me," she urged, grasping his hand and leading him away. "We can talk in private. I have a room at the hotel. The owner is probably in the saloon at this time of night."