Free A Veiled Reflection by Tracie Peterson Page B

his hands.
    â€œSomething very upsetting just happened,” she began.
    â€œDid it involve you breaking something?” he questioned with a grin.
    She frowned. “No, this was very serious. It involved Mary and this young Navajo woman—although I hesitate to call her that. She seemed hardly more than a girl, yet she was with child.”
    â€œAh, you must be talking about Little Sister.”
    â€œYes, she’s the one.”
    Mac nodded. “A most unpleasant situation, that one.” He brought a tray with scissors and tweezers and sat down directly in front of Jillian. “Are you sure you want to hear the details? I mean, I know you aren’t quite as worldly as your sister.”
    Jillian lifted her chin defiantly and replied, “I’m quite capable of dealing with the truth, Doctor.”
    Mac smiled. “I wasn’t trying to be cruel, Jillian. It’s just not a story I’d normally share with someone of your gender.”
    She nodded. “I suppose I can understand that. I know, however, that Mr. Cooper apparently got her that way.”
    â€œJillian, the truth is . . . he raped her.”
    The word came as a slap to Jillian. “Raped?” she questioned hesitantly. “But Mrs. Everhart said—” “I’m sure I know what Mrs. Everhart said. She suggests that Little Sister enticed the poor unassuming Mr. Cooper. That the girl has some sort of demon spirit and her powers left Mr. Cooper helpless to fight her off.”
    â€œYes, that’s pretty much the way it sounded,” Jillian replied.
    â€œThe truth is that Mr. Cooper tends to have few limitations for himself and no moral values. Why he bothers to go to church is a mystery to me, but as Mary says, it ain’t the well folks who need the doctor. Anyway, Cooper is the agent to the area tribes. His tasks vary, but he’s lousy at all of them. Little Sister’s brother, Bitter Water Bear, refused to deal with Cooper regarding the new school built last fall. Cooper suggested that Bear, as he’s usually called, influence his people to accept the new mandates of public education and such, but Bear adamantly refused. Cooper tried to bribe him, sending a wagon full of gifts to Bear. Again Bear refused. Instead, Bear sent the gifts back by means of Little Sister.”
    â€œWhat a strange name for someone,” Jillian said, thinking aloud.
    â€œIt’s not her real name,” Mac admitted. “Mary started calling her that because her Navajo name was hard to pronounce and it meant the same thing. I think the exact translation was something like Girl Who Comes After . Anyway, Little Sister took the goods back to Cooper, and he immediately took a liking to her. Well, maybe that’s not the right word for it. He played on Little Sister’s training and upbringing and ordered her to unload the wagon and bring the things into the house. She did so, and with the last load delivered, Cooper shut the door and barred her from leaving. He suggested she stay with him, but she refused, telling him that he was her brother’s enemy. Cooper laughed at this. He tried to coax her, suggesting that he could help her people if she would just give him what he wanted. When she refused, he beat her and then forced himself on her.”
    Jillian shuddered uncontrollably. The thought of being anywhere near Cooper turned her stomach. “How can the people of Pintan tolerate him?”
    â€œMost don’t know, or if they do, they feel it acceptable to overlook. After all, it was just a Navajo girl. It wasn’t like it was anyone important.”
    â€œThat’s unfair!” Jillian declared. “She’s a human being. She’s carrying his child.”
    â€œIt’s not the first,” Mac replied sadly. “Two other women found themselves in the same situation. They’re dead now.”
    â€œDead?” Jillian questioned.
    â€œThey took their own lives. It