Free Shadow Walker by Connie Mason Page A

sometime.”
    “Running Elk,” she repeated. “Who is he?”
    “He’s chief of a band of Sioux. I lived with the People for a time.”
    “Is that where you met Morning Mist?”
    Cole’s green eyes turned dark with remembrance. “Morning Mist was Running Elk’s half-sister. I think we loved one another from the first moment our eyes met. Unfortunately, our time together was brief. Circumstances forced me to leave the village shortly after our marriage. In myabsence the village was attacked by Crow raiders. Morning Mist was among those slain.”
    Dawn’s heart constricted with sympathy. The raw pain reflected in the green depths of Cole’s eyes told her that he still loved his dead wife. It must be wonderful to be loved like that, Dawn thought dreamily. She had never known love. Her mother had been afraid to show too much affection for her daughter. Dawn’s father had been a jealous man who demanded all of Winter Sky’s attention. To know, just once in her life, the kind of love Cole had felt for Morning Mist would be pure bliss. But Dawn knew better than to wish for things that could never be.
    “I’m sorry.”
    Cole shrugged. “It happened a long time ago. I stayed with Running Elk four years before realizing I could no longer shut myself off from the world. I don’t regret my years with the People. I learned to act, think and live like the Sioux. That knowledge has aided me in my work, and in many instances saved my life.”
    “Why have you never remarried?” Dawn regretted the question the moment it left her mouth. It was none of her business. Once Cole left, she would never see him again.
    Cole looked away, visualizing Morning Mist on the day they had parted. Her eyes had been misty with tears, but her smile had said she knew he would return to her. Their love had been preordained and would endure until the end of time.
    “No one could ever replace Morning Mist in my heart,” Cole explained. “Someday you’ll love someone like that and understand.”
    Dawn gazed at Cole and feared she already did understand. She was afraid of the things Cole made her feel. But rather than delve too deeply into her heart for an explanation, she rose abruptly. “Would you like some more broth?”
    “Not right now. But I am feeling better. By tomorrow I should be fit enough to resume my search. I need to recover the money before Sam and Spider turn up.” He searched her face, waiting for her to say something, and was disappointed when she remained stubbornly mute.
    Dawn turned away. She knew what Cole wanted from her. But she just couldn’t give him the money. It could mean the difference between life and death for her.
    Cole watched Dawn as she went about her chores. She had changed since he’d first set eyes on her several days ago. Her eyes no longer had that haunted look, and the sharp edges of her facial features had eased. She appeared more sylphlike than gaunt now, and more in control of her life. Sometimes she seemed almost innocent and childlike. And vulnerable. It was difficult for him to believe she had been intimate with Cobb and his cohorts.
    Cole wondered what Dawn would do when he left. It wasn’t difficult to imagine why she continued to deny knowledge of the train robbery money. Unfortunately, there were few options open to a woman with no money and no prospects. The stolen money would go a long way in securing a normal life for Dawn. In a way, he couldn’t blame her for denying knowledge of it.But he had a job to do; sentiments did not apply here.
    By suppertime Cole felt strong enough to go outside to relieve himself and sit at the table to eat. He washed up in a bucket of water Dawn had placed outside the door for that purpose and took a seat at the rickety table. When Dawn set a bowl of savory rabbit stew and dumplings before him, he dug in with gusto. Tomorrow he hoped to continue his search for the money, and he needed to build his strength as quickly as possible.
    “How is your