Chapter 26
Rock Creek, Nebraska 1872
Night Wolf seized his opportunity when Running Buck and the Elders retreated into the sweat lodge. Convinced of his sister's innocence, he swiftly changed into the white man's clothes Buck had left behind and rode towards Rock Creek.
The town was familiar to Night Wolf, though he had only ridden past it before. Red Bear's warnings had always kept him at bay, but now, urgency drove him forward. As he entered Rock Creek, memories of San Juan Capistrano flooded his mind: the ocean breeze, the hot summer nights.
Hitching his horse near the general store, Night Wolf ventured inside.
"Can I help you, boy?" Thompkins asked gruffly.
"Sir," Night Wolf cleared his throat. "I'm looking for Lara Monroe."
Thompkins eyed the stranger warily. "Sorry, son, there's no one in town by that name."
Night Wolf walked slowly through the town, scanning each window. The unease that had settled over him since arriving in Rock Creek made him wonder how Running Buck called this place home. His mood lifted when he caught sight of a familiar figure darting across the street.
He followed her to a patch of grass beneath a tree, where she sat with her head in her hands. Despite the years, her face remained clear in his memory, an echo of their mother's.
"Lara?" He approached cautiously.
Lara lifted her head, hastily wiping away tears. Her hand brushed the cold steel of the gun in her skirt pocket as she watched the dark stranger approach. For a moment, she mistook him for Buck, but as he stepped into the lamplight, she realized her error.
"Lara, it's me," he declared, removing Buck's hat.
"David?" Lara's eyes widened in recognition.
Overwhelmed, she sprang to her feet and rushed into his arms. Tears streamed down her cheeks as years of separation melted away in their embrace.
"You've grown so much!" She broke free, looking up at him.
"You were taller than me," he laughed, holding her once more.
"Quickly, follow me," Lara whispered urgently, her eyes darting around. The memory of her father's presence sent a shiver down her spine. "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 fought back tears as they hurried into the shadows.
"My name is Night Wolf now," he whispered.
"It suits you," she smiled, leading him into the stables. "I hoped to see you again, but I'm not sure I ever really thought I would find you."
Lara studied his features. Life had aged him beyond his years. The scar across his face added a rugged charm to his otherwise handsome features. His darkened copper skin and long, inky black hair spoke of his life among the Kiowa. Despite their differences, his eyes held the same intensity as their mother's.
"Don't cry, Lara," Night Wolf said, gently wiping away her tears.
"You're a man now, not my kid brother," Lara laughed softly. "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, pride evident in his voice.
"I'm so happy for you," Lara murmured, reflecting on the past six years. He had moved on while she had been searching for him.
"I never forgot you," Night Wolf assured her, sensing her thoughts.
"Come with me," she urged, grasping his hand. "We can talk in private. I have a room at the hotel. The owner is probably in the saloon at this time of night."
As they made their way to the hotel, both siblings felt the weight of their shared past and the uncertainty of their future. The joy of reunion was tempered by the knowledge of the dangers that still lurked. In the quiet of the night, brother and sister, long separated, prepared to confront the truths that had shaped their lives.