she could not remember. The boy stood a head taller than Daniel, but shared a similar build. Sarah guessed his age to be approximately the same. She would be surprised if his appetite didn't match Daniel's, and she counted on this.
"Thank you, but no," Silver Wolf answered .
Seeing the lad's expression change from anticipation to reluctant acceptance, Sarah pushed, "What about thy friend?"
A flash of hope rekindled in the brave's face .
Silver Wolf glanced at the youth . "Since you are in the middle of a large job," he gestured to the mountain of apples remaining in the wagon, "anything you have prepared will be fine with Long Knife." Silver Wolf's lips curved up, slightly.
Reversing his decision surprised her, and his easy smile sent waves of pleasure through her . Had he seen the eager look of the boy and changed his mind? She had no answer, but suspected as much. "Come in, and I will see what we have."
As they walked toward the inn, Silver Wolf matched his steps to hers . She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. He nodded, and a twinkle appeared in his eyes. Obviously, he had understood what she had done, but took no offense. She grinned.
Once inside, Benjamin said, "If thou will excuse me, I ate earlier and wish to finish my chore before the sun sets ."
Silver Wolf nodded .
As her father started down the stairs, he called back, "We are pleased thou stopped ."
"Thank you ." Silver Wolf's voice sounded surprised.
Surely, he knew the Stones were his friends, Sarah thought. Perhaps not, she reconsidered, remembering the rampant hatred of Native Americans. She filled a plate with stew, placed a piece of cornbread on top, and handed it to Long Knife. "Daniel, may I dish up a bowl for thee?"
"Yes, please ."
"None for me," said Silver Wolf, as he leaned against the bar . "But, I will have a glass of cider."
After she finished serving, the only sound in the room came from the two boys as they devoured their food .
Wanting to be alone with Silver Wolf, Sarah asked, "Would thou care to taste my freshly made applesauce?"
"Not me," said Daniel .
Sarah laughed, "I understand. Wolf? Long Knife?" She held her breath.
Putting his tankard on the bar, Wolf said, "Long Knife, when you finish, join me outside . Mistress Stone will give you a dish there."
Grabbing two wooden bowls, she hastened out the door . They walked toward the simmering caldrons. "I wanted to thank thee in person for the hospitality thou showed my father and me when we stayed at Long Meadow." Having purposely avoided mentioning the hurt she had experienced at their cool parting, she could not keep from glancing at him, trying to gage his reaction.
"It is I, who should have expressed my appreciation for all you did ."
"Well, thou has now ." Her spirit lifted. "Shall we taste the applesauce?" After filling a spoon with the freshly squeezed and seasoned apples, she twirled around. Silver Wolf stood inches from her. "Oh!" Her hand shook. He wrapped his fingers around hers, securing her grip. Their eyes met. Then he lifted their hands and lowered his mouth to the spoon. Very slowly, he sucked the sauce off the tip. He twisted the spoon toward her and nudged her lips open. She managed to swallow.
" Sarah, we're finished. Long Knife wants his applesauce," Daniel called.
Stepping back, she glanced at the two boys as they bounded down the steps toward them .
"A little more cinnamon," Wolf said .
"What?" She glanced at him .
"A touch more cinnamon, for my taste," he repeated .
"Oh …" She licked her lips.
His eyes shone .
"Mayhap, you or thou is right . " She flushed.
Sarah hardly remembered the words spoken during their farewells, for they were common place. When they reached the road, Silver Wolf looked back. She smiled, touched her hand to her lips then waved. He saluted her. Her heart soared after him.
* * * *
After having thanked Bowl Woman for his breakfast, Wolf strolled down the hallway . Strange,
"Thank you, but no," Silver Wolf answered .
Seeing the lad's expression change from anticipation to reluctant acceptance, Sarah pushed, "What about thy friend?"
A flash of hope rekindled in the brave's face .
Silver Wolf glanced at the youth . "Since you are in the middle of a large job," he gestured to the mountain of apples remaining in the wagon, "anything you have prepared will be fine with Long Knife." Silver Wolf's lips curved up, slightly.
Reversing his decision surprised her, and his easy smile sent waves of pleasure through her . Had he seen the eager look of the boy and changed his mind? She had no answer, but suspected as much. "Come in, and I will see what we have."
As they walked toward the inn, Silver Wolf matched his steps to hers . She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. He nodded, and a twinkle appeared in his eyes. Obviously, he had understood what she had done, but took no offense. She grinned.
Once inside, Benjamin said, "If thou will excuse me, I ate earlier and wish to finish my chore before the sun sets ."
Silver Wolf nodded .
As her father started down the stairs, he called back, "We are pleased thou stopped ."
"Thank you ." Silver Wolf's voice sounded surprised.
Surely, he knew the Stones were his friends, Sarah thought. Perhaps not, she reconsidered, remembering the rampant hatred of Native Americans. She filled a plate with stew, placed a piece of cornbread on top, and handed it to Long Knife. "Daniel, may I dish up a bowl for thee?"
"Yes, please ."
"None for me," said Silver Wolf, as he leaned against the bar . "But, I will have a glass of cider."
After she finished serving, the only sound in the room came from the two boys as they devoured their food .
Wanting to be alone with Silver Wolf, Sarah asked, "Would thou care to taste my freshly made applesauce?"
"Not me," said Daniel .
Sarah laughed, "I understand. Wolf? Long Knife?" She held her breath.
Putting his tankard on the bar, Wolf said, "Long Knife, when you finish, join me outside . Mistress Stone will give you a dish there."
Grabbing two wooden bowls, she hastened out the door . They walked toward the simmering caldrons. "I wanted to thank thee in person for the hospitality thou showed my father and me when we stayed at Long Meadow." Having purposely avoided mentioning the hurt she had experienced at their cool parting, she could not keep from glancing at him, trying to gage his reaction.
"It is I, who should have expressed my appreciation for all you did ."
"Well, thou has now ." Her spirit lifted. "Shall we taste the applesauce?" After filling a spoon with the freshly squeezed and seasoned apples, she twirled around. Silver Wolf stood inches from her. "Oh!" Her hand shook. He wrapped his fingers around hers, securing her grip. Their eyes met. Then he lifted their hands and lowered his mouth to the spoon. Very slowly, he sucked the sauce off the tip. He twisted the spoon toward her and nudged her lips open. She managed to swallow.
" Sarah, we're finished. Long Knife wants his applesauce," Daniel called.
Stepping back, she glanced at the two boys as they bounded down the steps toward them .
"A little more cinnamon," Wolf said .
"What?" She glanced at him .
"A touch more cinnamon, for my taste," he repeated .
"Oh …" She licked her lips.
His eyes shone .
"Mayhap, you or thou is right . " She flushed.
Sarah hardly remembered the words spoken during their farewells, for they were common place. When they reached the road, Silver Wolf looked back. She smiled, touched her hand to her lips then waved. He saluted her. Her heart soared after him.
* * * *
After having thanked Bowl Woman for his breakfast, Wolf strolled down the hallway . Strange,
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