The Cry of the Wolf Chapter 80

"Hurry now," Anna burst into the bedroom where Adelaide had been staying since her arrival.

Addy sat in the center of the bed, clutching her knees, her eyes telling a tale without a word having to be spoken. Eyes swollen and red with tears, Adelaide was the picture of abject misery.

Anna clucked her tongue reaching for a clean green dress and a horsehair brush.

"You've been summoned by a chief! A chief!" She tugged the gown over Adelaide's head, her arthritic fingers fumbling with the back of the dress. "If I were in your position, I wouldn't be keeping him waiting." A chuckle matched the crinkled lines around her eyes, "Nae, I think I would simply die of fright! In all my years I've never seen such a large man and his eyes are so dark I wonder if he has a soul in his body so I do. Well, better you than me, I say. Come, turn a wee bit while I do something with this lot of hair. Gavin, well, I shouldn't say it really, but I don't think it wise to appear looking worse for the wear. He is a proud man and wouldn't want to be shamed. Just a pinch to your cheeks, add a bit of color, and... ah, well, you'll have to do. 'Still, look like you've been crying your poor wee heart out and I can't say I blame you one bit, but enough of that. Follow me..."

Adelaide smoothed the fabric of her skirts as she followed the elderly woman out the door and across the yard to another wooden building near the fort's entrance. The air was cool, a warning winter was on its way. Rubbing her arms briskly, Adelaide stepped into the darkened interior and came face to face with Chief Red Hawk.

"There. Now you've seen my wife. As you can see she has not been mistreated or neglected. She wants for nothing."

Gavin wouldn't look at Adelaide as he addressed the chief.

"Is this man's words true?" Chief Red Hawk lowered his voice, searching Adelaide's eyes.

For a moment Adelaide wondered what he would do if she shook her head no. Sure she had been fed. Anna brought her meals like clockwork. Neglected?

Looking away from the chief, Adelaide's eyes landed on her husband. Oh, this reunion was nothing like what she had dreamed of. There was no intimacy let alone romance. Gavin barely spoke to her, making it clear forgiveness would be incredibly difficult to earn.

Silence.

Gretjen swallowed hard before stepping forward.

Adelaide gasped at the sight of the woman she had grown fond of holding her baby.

"Torris?" Adelaide whispered, stepping forward.

Gavin reached out, gripping her upper arm with a vice-like grasp, succeeding in halting his wife.

A look passed between the women before Adelaide looked down, fighting tears as she stared at the dust on her shoes.

"I thought you might like to see your son," Gretjen's voice was tender without a hint of condemnation. "Adelaide, I don't know what is happening, but I want you to know I will always care for you and consider you a dear friend. It won't be the same of course as having your little one in your arms, but I will care for him as though he were my own with all the love I know you wish you could give the baby..."

"He is under my protection," Chief Red Hawk's eyes bore into Gavin's, "No harm will come to him, I assure you, while he is with me. Arrangements will be made to return the child to his father who is awaiting his heir. Gretjen thought you may want to see your baby while we are at the fort."

Adelaide looked up at Gavin with pleading eyes. He responded in deafening silence, scuffing his boot into the dirt floor.

"You are sending him away?" Gavin finally spoke.

"Yes, before the winter snows come, the child must be returned to his father."

"Then I don't see the harm in it," Gavin shrugged a moment before releasing Adelaide's arm, allowing the woman at his side to hold her child.

A pitiful cry escaped Adelaide's lips as she raised her infant son, raining tender kisses on his smooth lips and satiny cheeks. His eyes, so much like his father's, met hers. Tears tumbled down Dark Star's cheeks as she looked away from Toris' innocent, searching gaze.

"Thank you," she whimpered, holding the baby as close as humanly possible.

"With your permission," Gretjen looked up at the chief who was silent, observing the interaction between Adelaide and her son, "Until Toris is returned to Chief Long Knife, I would like to come to the fort daily so Adelaide may spend time with her baby."

Chief Red Hawk's nod was almost unnoticeable, but Gretjen caught a fleeting glimpse of a smile before he masked it.

Anna stepped forward, "It ain't my place Gavin, but your wife is going to wither away if you deny her this opportunity. A mother won't eat or sleep if kept away from her child when he is so close and you wouldn't want to be responsible should the angel of death come knocking looking for your bride, would you? I should think not!" Anna answered for him before stepping closer to peer down at Torris' tiny features. "Oh isn't he just lovely!" The elderly woman cooed.

Lovely? Chief Red Hawk raised an eyebrow wondering at Chief Long Knife's reaction should he hear his heir, someday to be a mighty chief, described as "lovely."

Anna was smiling warmly at Gretjen now, "Thank you dear for all you are doing for the wee bairn. God will bless you for your kindness, be assured. Adelaide, you have a true friend in this one. Well, pay Gavin no mind. He wasn't born with a woman's heart, that is sure. You will see your bairn or my name isn't Anna McCairn."

Well, that was settled.

Gavin sighed. Who was he to argue with the Irishwoman? He might not like it, but Anna had just decided what was what.