Chapter 29

Rock Creek, Nebraska 1872

Night Wolf sat cross-legged on the bed, the soft glow of the hotel lamp illuminating his face. His gaze, steady and intense, was fixed on Lara. She looked up at him, her eyes a mixture of excitement and affection, her heart brimming with emotions she struggled to articulate. Her little brother had transformed into a strong, confident man, a husband, and soon-to-be father. Yet, in his eyes, she could still discern traces of the boy she had known.

"My aunt, our aunt," Lara began, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Laralie told me she and our mother took you to your father's family." Her smile wavered slightly as she recounted the events that unfolded the day she found their mother dead.

The memories, pieced together from rumors and fragments of truth, weighed heavily on her. Night Wolf remained stoic as Lara spoke of their mother's tragic fate and the rumors that followed. His his eyes never leaving Lara's face as she detailed the fatal confrontation between their aunt and father.

"Lara, there's something you should know," Night Wolf said, his tone solemn. "The fires had been burning for hours. I had found a hiding place in the woods near the cove where we used to play in the tides. Laralie found me hiding there."

"I don't understand," Lara's brows creased with confusion. "Why didn't she bring you home?"

"Steel Eyes," he shook his head, realizing she wouldn't recognize that name. "Your father, he was the one that set the fires."

Lara's gaze fell upon her hands, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. The whispers of her father's involvement had circled throughout her upbringing, his hatred for her brother no secret.

"He killed my father, my grandparents, my family," Night Wolf's voice grew soft, trembling slightly.

"What happened after you left?" Lara asked, her voice soft with anticipation.

"I hid in the loft of the barn for a few days before Laralie took me to the train station at night. She introduced me to a man and promised me he would keep me safe," Night Wolf explained. "Elias was a kind man, he treated me as a son. We traveled to Colorado, then further east to Kansas. He taught me to read and write. That was when I sent you the letter. I wasn't aware of how much danger I was putting you in. I am sorry, sister."

"I thought you had died that day. When I got your letter, I was overjoyed." She grasped his hands tightly. "What happened to Elias?"

"He was an old man, it was his time," Night Wolf reassured her. "The war had ended, and I knew your father had resumed hunting me when his cavalry rode into the town I was living in. I started hopping trains, wherever they were heading. Made it to a town called Sweetwater, in Wyoming."

With each word, the weight of his experiences echoed in the quiet of the room. "I met a man there, the brother of a Kiowa war chief. I was tired, starving, and he took pity on me. He was taking me to his brother's village to heal, and for shelter." Night Wolf continued, the memories vivid in his mind. "We were ambushed by your father and many soldiers."

"No—" Lara's voice caught in her throat.

"After Red Bear got his brother away from the soldiers," Night Wolf continued, "he took me in to live with his family."

"Buck," Lara's voice cracked, a whisper so faint it was barely audible.

"He was the man who helped me," Night Wolf nodded, then rose from the bed. "I must go now, Lara."

"I wish I had time to explain but it's urgent that I leave tomorrow and return home," she said, her voice tinged with desperation. "Please come home with me."

"This is my home now, Lara," Night Wolf replied gently.

"I understand." She felt her chin quiver.

"It isn't safe for me to be part of your life as long as your father draws breath," he reminded her soberly.

"Will I ever see you again?" Tears welled up anew in her eyes, cascading down her cheeks despite her efforts to hold them back.

"Perhaps someday we can be a family again," he offered, both understanding the truth they couldn't change.

"Just in case," She smiled through her tears, "I'll have tickets for you both."

As Night Wolf left, Lara sat alone in the dimly lit room, the pieces of the puzzle finally falling into place. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning – it wasn't about her; it was about her father. A wave of conflicting emotions crashed over her, but with Joaquin's life hanging in the balance, there was no room for error. She knew the risks involved, but her loyalty outweighed her fear.