Page 86 of The Spirit of the Wolf

And Marietta, catching the bourgeois’s glance, smiled.

Chapter

Seventeen

An accordion and a banjo accompanied the dancers. The traders, dressed in their very best, were lined up, one after the other, each awaiting a chance to claim a dance with the newest person to their post, Marietta. In a corner of the same room, several other men were engaged in a game of cards, while another few were engrossed over a chess match. On the dance floor were several dancers, company contracted men and their Indian wives.

Marietta, in the arms of one of the traders, was stepping around the dance floor as though she had been born to it. It was evening now, but earlier in the day Marietta had extracted some gold from her purse and bought a ream of green satin from the trader’s store, as well as some cotton fabric. These had gone to make a new dress, chemise, petticoats and drawers. Plus, she had purchased a brand-new corset. In truth, she was astonished at the riches contained at this post, and it had been a pleasure to shop at the storehouse. She and Yellow Swan had spent the day making the dress Marietta wore this very evening.

Grey Coyote was not in attendance, since the dance was being held in the house of the bourgeois, who dictated a firm rule that no Indian man could ever be admitted. Since arriving at Fort Pierre two days ago, Marietta had neither seen nor heard from Grey Coyote.

Mr. Laidlaw had informed her that Grey Coyote had been given a bed with his contracted employees, but Marietta had not been able to confirm this as true.

At best, she suspected that Grey Coyote wasn’t here, that being a scout, he had found a way to leave the fort as easily as he entered it. Perhaps he had gone on to find the trail of the man he sought, leaving Marietta safe behind the walls of the fort.

But this thought caused her to brood. Did she want to be safe behind these walls? If she were to be truthful to herself, she would have to admit to longing to be out there on the prairie with Grey Coyote, instead of stuck in here being treated like a much-cherished pet.

Besides, wasn’t she a part of his vision? Didn’t she have a right to accompany Grey Coyote? Indeed, it was fast becoming her consideration that Grey Coyote was being insensitive…if only by excluding her. The more she turned over the thought in her mind, the stronger the feeling became.

At last, the music ended. As the musicians debated what their next song might be, Marietta took advantage of the break to disengage herself from the gentleman with whom she had been dancing. She smiled up at the man. “I thank you for the dance, sir.”

The man was not a particularly handsome fellow, but he seemed kindly enough when he asked, “May I get you anything, Miss Welsford?”

“Yes, if you please. A glass of water would be most welcome.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I’ll get it at once.”

“Thank you,” uttered Marietta softly, and the gentleman departed. Briefly, Marietta waved a handkerchief in front of her face, trying without much success to dispel the cologne the man was wearing. It was odd that the men at this post wore so many scents.

Perhaps it was to cover their body odor, which unfortunately seemed an almost impossible task. Though she knew daily bathing was not part of the American way of life, she couldn’t help comparing these men unfavorably with Grey Coyote, who seemed to relish the early-morning bath.

“May I have this next dance, Miss Welsford?”

Marietta smiled up at the next trader. “Yes, this would be nice, though someone is bringing me a glass of water. Could we wait until I’ve had some refreshment?”

“Of course,” said the man gently. “Should I go and find him? Perhaps hurry him?”

“Yes. That would be most welcome.”

With a stiff bow, the man departed, leaving Marietta alone for the first time all evening. She truly did wish for the glass of water, however. Since she hadn’t sat down all evening, she had worked up a bit of perspiration.

“Here we are, Miss Welsford,” said the gentleman, at last returning with her drink.

Marietta spun around and took the glass in hand. “I thank you kindly, sir.”

“My pleasure, Miss Welsford. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

Gazing wistfully out the open window, Marietta muttered, “I would love to take a walk out in the night breeze. I am afraid I have been dancing for the past hour, and some fresh air might do me good.”

“Very well. I can accompany you, miss.”

“Yes.” Marietta offered the gentleman her gloved hand. “I would like that, Mister…?”

“Adams, miss. Allen Adams.”

She nodded, and ignoring the pointed looks from the others, Marietta left the house on the arm of Mr. Adams.

Once outside, she inhaled deeply, and, gazing up at the sky, she immediately located the Big Dipper, which of course led her glance toward the North Star. Briefly, she recalled Grey Coyote’s instructions about direction, and she smiled.