Free Candace McCarthy by Fireheart

much more to give you?”
    “You were wrong! Roderick Neville was a hateful man who made me miserable!”
    Her cousin looked stunned. “Joanna ...”
    But Joanna, hurt again by the memories of her past, wanted to talk no longer. She left Mary gaping as she ran off into the darkness of the night.
    Rising Bird saw his wife as she returned to the village yard from the forest. There was a blank, almost stunned look about her. Immediately concerned, he hurried to meet her.
    “Mary Wife, what is wrong?” He placed his arm around her shoulders to lead her back to their lodge.
    She blinked back tears. “I have done a terrible thing.”
    Her husband looked skeptical. “What could you have done?”
    “I sent my Joanna away as a child, and now she has returned a bitter woman.” She reached up to brush away a tear that escaped. “Oh, Rising Bird! Roderick Neville was an awful man, and I sent her to him!”
    Rising Bird frowned. “Are you sure of this?”
    “Joanna has told me so herself. She suffers still, even after the man’s death!” Her tears fell harder and faster. “No wonder she never answered my letters.”
    “You must not blame yourself alone, wife. I helped you to make the decision.”
    Mary smiled through her tears as she cupped her husband’s jaw tenderly. “I was afraid to be selfish and keep her,” she said softly. “You did nothing but allow me to discuss my thoughts with you. You did not make the decision. I did.”
    “I will talk with her,” Rising Bird said.
    “You must sleep, my husband. You have a task ahead of you tomorrow. Tonight, we will think of you and your journey. I will speak with Joanna another time.” She slipped her arm about Rising Bird’s waist, and the two kissed before entering their wigwam.
     
     
    Fireheart couldn’t sleep. His first act as chief weighed heavily on him. The responsibility of sending men to meet the enemy was a great one. He hoped he’d made the right decision. It had seemed the only thing to do.
    Tomorrow, a party of Lenape braves would leave Little River and head north to the village of Bear Paw, their Lenape brother. Rising Bird, he knew, expected to lead the group, but Fireheart couldn’t send his men into battle without taking full responsibility for the deed. When the morning sun rose in the summer sky, Fireheart would be among the Lenape war party. He would fight alongside his brothers. He would fight and win, or die in the attempt.
    It was warm that evening, and Fireheart headed toward the lake for a late swim. He would get little sleep that night. He would enjoy the refreshing water.
    He followed the path over a rise then down to the water’s edge, then untied the strings that fastened his loincloth. Naked, he waded into the water, sighing at its coolness. He dove beneath the surface, and began to swim fast and furiously to try to rid himself of this strange tension.
    His arm cut cleanly through the water as he swam farther, into the deeper regions of the lake. He stopped to tread water, then lay on his back and floated. The night was clear, the sky filled to bursting with bright stars. He lay, studying the bright lights, then offering a silent prayer to the spirits of the stars and the sky for guidance. He prayed to all of the good spirits of the earth, asking for assistance in righting the wrong that had been done to his people.
    He closed his eyes and began to swim on his back . . . with a stroke of each arm and a kick from each leg. The air, the water, and the peace of the night began to ease away the tension, and Fireheart felt at peace.
     
     
    Joanna had fled to a sheltered spot in the forest where no one was about but the animals of the night and the song of summer insects. She sat on a fallen tree, and sobbed softly for the child she had been. Her uncle was dead, and she knew that she had no reason to cry now, but she clung to the past, unable to release it. The memory of her first day at Neville Manor haunted her still. It came back