Wild Innocence by Candace McCarthy Page A

arrived earlier to see if she could in some way help her sister. To his credit, Daniel hadn’t said a negative word when he’d opened the door to her, smiling instead as he’d told Rachel where she could find her sister.
    Rachel had enjoyed the time spent with Amelia that afternoon as they prepared the night’s feast. There were two kinds of meat, three types of vegetables, and Rachel had helped Amelia make muffins and cake to accompany the meal. Judging from the praise from the evening’s guests, the sisters’ efforts had been well worth it.
    â€œMiranda, would you mind taking something back to Aunt Bess for me?” Amelia asked.
    â€œI’d be happy to,” the young woman assured her with a smile.
    â€œI’ll like you to take a note from me, too,” Rachel said quietly.
    Miranda nodded. “Anything for a friend.”
    Rachel blushed under Jack’s and Daniel’s curious gazes. “Thank you,” she said.
    The conversation at the dinner table was light and centered on the Clarks’ journey back East. There was a knock on the cabin door as the guests began their dessert. Daniel rose from the table to answer the summons. Rachel heard the low murmur of male voices. Then, her brother-in-law stepped back from the doorway, and Rachel recognized Will Thornton, a young man from the mission.
    Will’s gaze immediately sought out John Dempsey. “Dr. Dempsey, there’s a new patient at the infirmary,” he said.
    At the sight of Will, John had already risen from his chair. Rachel stood, ready to follow.
    â€œWhat happened?” the doctor asked.
    â€œIt’s Black Hawk,” Daniel said, and Rachel saw what she hadn’t noticed before—that her brother-in-law appeared extremely upset. “He’s been attacked and shot.”
    â€œOh, Daniel,” Amelia cried, hurrying to her husband’s side.
    John turned to his youngest daughter. “Rachel—”
    â€œI’m coming, Father.” She quickly hugged her friend, with the knowledge that she might not see Miranda again before she departed for home. “Take care, Miranda.” She touched Rupert’s cheek. “Thank you, Uncle Rupert,” she whispered, her eyes misting.
    â€œI’ll go with Father,” Amelia offered.
    â€œNo, Rachel can handle it,” John said firmly. “You’ve got that babe to worry about now.”
    Daniel looked stunned by the news of his injured friend. Rachel went to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. She knew how much the Indian meant to him. “Are you coming?” she asked softly.
    He glanced at her, then nodded.
    â€œWe’ll see you there,” she said.
    John and Rachel left for the mission, with Will Thornton and Daniel following on horseback not far behind them.
    As their wagon wheels trundled along the uneven road to the mission, Rachel’s thoughts turned to Black Hawk. She felt a tightening in her chest as she pictured the brave lying in bed, bruised and bleeding from a gunshot wound. Would he be all right? She remembered the intensity of his ebony gaze, his expression when they’d locked glances.
    Suddenly, she wanted to get to the mission in a hurry. She wanted to help the brave and ensure that he was safe. The thought that he might die made her blood run cold.
    It seemed to take forever for them to travel to the mission. John Dempsey sprang from the wagon as soon as it stopped in front of the infirmary. Rachel followed him closely after relinquishing the reins to the horse to Will, who rode up almost immediately.
    There was an uneasy quietness about the sickroom. As she entered the chamber, Rachel noticed immediately that two Indians stood along the far wall. John Dempsey was already bent over his patient. Someone had lit an oil lamp, and a golden glow fell over the room’s interior and across the patient’s bed.
    John looked up as his daughter approached. “Hurry, Rachel,”