Read Online Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis - Free Book Online Page A

brother?”
    Taabe gave no response.
    “Miriam.” Henderson said the name distinctly. They all watched Taabe. She sat motionless, with no change in her expression. Henderson sighed. “What
can
she understand?”
    “A few words pertaining to food, clothing, the body … not much else yet, I fear,” the nun said.
    “Does Miriam have other siblings?” Ned asked.
    “Yes.” Henderson returned his attention to Taabe. “Do you remember John? John. Little brother.” He held his hand about two feet above the floor. “And baby Sarah?” He folded his arms and rocked them.
    Taabe shook her head.
    “Mama?” Henderson asked.
    Taabe frowned.
    “Mama? Baby Sarah?”
    Taabe looked at Sister Natalie, her face filled with bafflement.
    “She’s not sure what you want,” Sister Natalie said. “I’m sorry.”
    “How old would your Miriam be?” Ned asked. “Fourteen.”
    Taabe seemed considerably older, but Ned didn’t feel it was his place to say so.
    “Did your daughter have any distinguishing marks?” Sister Natalie asked.
    Henderson shook his head and blinked. His eyes glistened. “I can’t recall any.” He rose and walked to the narrow window.
    “Anything at all,” the nun said gently.
    Henderson peered out through the opening. Taabe looked to Sister Natalie, who reached over and patted her arm.
    Henderson swung around. “She had stubby little fingers.” He held up his hand. “My middle finger isn’t longer than the rest, like most people’s. Hers were that way too.”
    Sister Natalie spoke softly to Taabe and held out her hands, with the fingers together. Taabe hesitated and copied her. Sister Natalie looked at Taabe’s hands and compared them to her own.
    Henderson strode over and stared at Taabe’s hands. Ned rose, fighting the impulse to rush over and look.
    Taabe’s haunted look returned as Henderson towered over her. She drew back her hands and looked up at him, her lips parted and her forehead wrinkled.
    “I don’t see how she can be Miriam,” Sister Natalie said. “Her middle fingers are obviously the longest on both hands.”
    Henderson’s shoulders sagged as he stepped back. “Thank you. I don’t suppose I’ll ever find our girl. It sickens me, when I think of Miriam living with those natives and being taught their heathen ways.” He swiped at a tear and cleared his throat. “Thank you.” He turned and stalked past Sister Marie. The door closed with a thud.
    Ned drew in a deep breath and stepped toward the women.
    “I’m sorry for all the intrusions you’re getting.”
    “It’s necessary, I suppose,” Sister Natalie said. “The captain questions them and makes sure they are sincere in their search, not just people who want to look at her out of curiosity. I wish we could just let her rest and recover for a few weeks, but people keep coming.”
    Ned nodded. “She looks fine.”
    “She’s thin yet, but we’re working on that,” Sister Natalie said.
    Ned realized Taabe was watching him, and he smiled at her. “You look very nice.” He gestured toward her dress.
    Taabe frowned a moment then looked down. Her hands brushed the lavender fabric, and a smile touched her lips. She gazed into his eyes and touched her chest.
    “Taabe Waipu.” She pointed at Ned and arched her eyebrows. “You?”
    He laughed and shot Sister Natalie a glance. “Ned. Ned Bright.” He held out his hand.
    Hesitantly, Taabe touched it with her long, slender fingers. Ned grasped her hand for a moment then released it.
    “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Taabe Waipu.” To Sister Natalie he said, “The captain asked me to tell you the fort’s surgeon will ride out tomorrow to examine her, and he’ll bring crutches.”
    “Praise God,” said Sister Natalie. “She’s still weak, but I think she’s ready to use them. And it will be good to have the doctor’s opinion, though it would have been more useful if he could have come sooner.”
    “Is it true you are going to open a school