Free Colton's Folly (Native American contemporary romance) by Renee Simons Page B

and although no one expected her to take part, she began to speak. “This pipe brings you knowledge, and with it you will always be heard by Wakan Tanka. You will increase in numbers, receiving everything good and living in peace and harmony with the world around you. Therefore keep it sacred, for it is holy.”
    Abby felt someone ease down beside her; the strong electric contact when an arm brushed hers told her who it was. She kept her eyes down, staring at the remnants of the campfire while his deep, smooth voice supplied the final lines of the story. When he finished Abby looked around at the children’s faces. They seemed uneasy, confused and very much in awe of their leader.
    “Thank you for letting me join you,” Cat said. “It’s been a very long time since I played the game. It’s nice to know I still can.”
    And then he was gone, leaving the children to chatter about him for a minute or two before going on to other things, and Abby to wonder if what he’d said had been a message for her.
    On Saturday morning, after helping Martha with the household chores, Abby saddled Ghost and rode out to the H-M-R. Jacinta opened the front door and ushered her into the kitchen.
    “Sit down. Have some coffee with me while I try to get some breakfast into the little one.”
    She nodded in the direction of a little girl of about six, who stared silently at Abby with wide cornflower-blue eyes. Abby sat down opposite her and smiled. “Are you Penny?”
    The child continued to stare, and Abby looked to Jacinta for help.
    “The little one does not speak.”
    “Why not?”
    “She could speak once, but she has not said a word since her mother died two years ago. So perhaps it is from sadness.” She looked at Abby for confirmation. “Do you think so?”
    “If it isn’t, we have a strange sort of coincidence.”
    Penny lowered her head to eat her cereal. A shaft of light from the window illuminated the golden blond curls that fell to her shoulders.
    “What beautiful hair you have,” Abby murmured. “Like sunshine.”
    Penny looked up with a strange expression that Abby couldn’t read. Then she picked up a piece of biscuit from her plate and offered it to Abby, who took it.
    “Thank you. How did you know I was hungry?”
    Penny picked up her glass of milk and offered that, too. Abby looked down at the cup filled with steaming black coffee that Jacinta had placed before her. “May I have some of your milk for my coffee?”
    The child handed her the glass. Abby stirred some milk into her cup, then took a spoonful of the lightened coffee and added it to Penny’s glass, again stirring carefully.
    “I’ll wait while you finish the cereal Jacinta made for you, and then we’ll have our biscuits and coffee together.”
    Abby turned away and smiled at Jacinta, who nodded in response. “I am happy to see you, but why have you come?”
    “To see Hank.”
    Jacinta gave her a knowing look. “I am glad you are as impressed with Senor Matthews as he is with you.”
    Abby held up a hand. “Hold on, now. Don’t get the wrong idea about this visit.”
    “You are not interested in the senor ?”
    “He’s very nice, Jacinta, but no, I’m not interested in him. At least, not in the way you hope.”
    “If you’re not here to see me, why did you come?”
    Abby turned with a start to find Hank lounging against the doorframe. “I did come to see you,” she said with a smile. “I just didn’t come a-courting.”
    He laughed heartily, then took a cup from the sideboard and seated himself between Abby and Penny. “Mornin’, little one. How are you today?” He bent down and kissed the top of his daughter’s head.
    His eyes shone as the child reached for him; he slid her onto his lap and folded his arms about her little body. Abby felt her own eyes fill with moisture as she watched them embrace, awed by the gentleness of the man. A woman could count herself lucky to be loved by him. Some woman...
    Penny started to wriggle,