Free Eagle’s Song by Rosanne Bittner Page A

ashamed.”
    Jeremy’s eyes teared anew. “I didn’t know if I was wanted.”
    Abbie closed her eyes. “Jeremy, how could you think such a thing? I wrote so many letters.”
    He sighed deeply. “I know. I couldn’t keep them because I was afraid Mary would find them. I just … I couldn’t bear the pain in Father’s eyes, and the rest of the family, I figured they’d rather not see me again, especially Wolf’s Blood. I saw them, Wolf’s Blood and Father both, back in seventy-three in Dodge City. It was by accident. I got off a train there, and I was in a saloon with a couple of other railroad men who were bragging about chasing off some Indians.” His eyes showed his pain. “Then I looked across the room, and there sat Father and Wolf’s Blood, watching me. I’ve never been so devastated or ashamed. We went outside and talked, and the hatred in Wolf’s Blood’s eyes … the pain in Father’s—those looks have haunted me for years. Then I met Mary, and she was so sweet and gracious, and I loved her. I didn’t want to lose her.”
    Abbie watched him lovingly. “Surely you knew you could have had children who looked Indian. How did you expect to explain that?”
    Mary turned away.
    “Mary can’t have children, Mother, although we didn’t know that when we married. I guess I was just too much in love to think that far ahead.”
    Abbie remembered how it had hurt after Jason was born and she’d had surgery to ensure she could have no more children. “I’m sorry, Mary. Thank you for loving my son as you do.”
    The woman took a deep breath. “Jeremy has suffered more than you know, Mrs. Monroe. You don’trealize how much it means to him for the family to welcome him.”
    Abbie took hold of her hand. “You are family, too, Mary, so you certainly must call me Abbie.” She looked up at Jeremy. “We were just sitting down to a royal feast, a side of beef, apple pies. We were saying grace, and I was praying for you and”—new tears formed in her eyes—“and there you were!” She looked him over. “You look well, strong.” She put her hands on her hips. “And successful. You’re still a railroad executive?”
    He nodded, wiping at his eyes again. “I am.”
    “And I suppose you have a beautiful home in Denver.”
    He shrugged. “Yes, it’s quite nice. I’d like to show it to you. You’re part of the reason I’ve accomplished what I have, you know. You taught me well, gave me as good an education as I could have gotten in any regular school.”
    Abbie smiled. “I tried my best. Of course, some of you didn’t care much about learning.”
    Jeremy lost his smile. “You mean Wolf’s Blood. Is he here?”
    “Oh, yes, he’s here.”
    Jeremy sighed. “He’s hated me ever since Dodge City. He wanted to light into me then, but Dad wouldn’t let him.”
    “He does not hate you, Jeremy. And if he wants to have it out with you, he’ll have to go through me first!”
    Jeremy could not hold back a chuckle. “Now, there’s a picture. You stopping Wolf’s Blood from whatever he wants to do—
anybody
stopping him.”
    “Come, both of you. Come down and join us. Even your uncle Dan is here with his wife Rebecca. I want to introduce each and every family member to Mary.” She met Mary’s eyes. “No fancy living here, Mary.”
    “I don’t mind. It might be rather fun bunking with all the women—Jeremy told me what the accommodations might be. I am sure everyone will be full of conversation, and much more interesting than the pampered fluff of Denver. I get so bored at some of the parties there. Maybe after learning everything about the family and your past, I can curl somebody’s ears with the stories
I’ll
have to tell when I go back.”
    Abbie smiled. She liked this wife Jeremy had chosen. In spite of an apparently wealthy upbringing, the woman had grit. Abbie looked at her son, holding her chin proudly. “You have chosen a woman not so different from one you’d have needed if you had