To Dream Anew Read Online Free Page A

tent.
    “Yes, sir?”
    Zane could see that the captain looked perplexed. He rubbed his jaw and shook his head. “You were right. The woman gave birth just a few days back. Her head wound is more superficial than dangerous, and the baby is in good shape, although born a bit early.” He glanced back at the tent and then returned to eye Zane. “I’m not sure what to think. I guess I’d rather you take a look for yourself.”
    Zane shifted his weight. “What do you mean, sir?” His brows knit together. “If you don’t understand, how am I supposed to help?”
    “The woman isn’t Sioux.”
    “So is she Cheyenne?”
    “No. She’s white.”
    Zane thought he’d misunderstood. “White?”
    The doctor gave a deep sigh. “That’s right. As I washed her wounds I realized she wasn’t Indian at all. She’s as fair as either of us. Speaks English perfectly well.”
    “Come to think of it, I spoke to her in English and she had no trouble understanding,” Zane remembered.
    The doctor shook his head. “She said she was taken hostage by the Sioux. The baby is the result of being raped by a Sioux warrior. Seems she hated the tribe as much as we do, but she loves that baby.”
    “What do we do?”
    They moved toward the tent. “Come with me.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Zane followed the doctor inside. He turned to secure the flap and give them more light as evening set upon them. This accomplished, he turned and beheld the woman for several moments. His eyes widened at the sight. She was clean now, her dark brown hair smoothed back from her face and flowing freely down her back. She watched him with the same intent interest with which he watched her.
    “It can’t be,” he whispered.
    She was the spitting image of Susannah Chadwick—his mother.
    Without thinking, Zane realized the truth. “Ardith?” he asked, remembering his feisty ten-year-old sister who’d disappeared so many years ago in a swollen river. They’d all believed her to have drowned.
    The woman eyed him critically. “I knew it was you. But I didn’t know which one of the twins you were until that soldier called your name. I told the doctor you were my brother.”
    He felt awash in emotion. She had often called the twin brothers by their combined names to save time and effort. He used to get mad at her laziness, figuring that everyone could tell him from his twin, Morgan. Now, however, it would sound wondrous to his ears.
    “It’s really you, Ardith.” He went to her and knelt beside her. “I can’t believe you’re alive. We searched up and down that river—miles and miles.” He felt his voice break and choked back tears. How could it be that she was here—alive, after so many years?
    “Pawnee found me,” she offered. “They pulled me from the river. I don’t remember it, though. I was sick for days after that.” She closed her eyes. “It wasn’t so bad with the Pawnee. They tried to find the wagon train once they knew who I was, but you’d gone ahead too far. They never caught up.” She opened her eyes and fixed them on Zane’s face. “A few years after that, the Sioux stole me away in a raid.”
    “I can’t believe it.” He reached out to touch her, but she recoiled. Her action startled Zane. “I’m sorry.”
    She shook her head. “It’s been hard.” She looked to the sleeping baby and then back to her brother. “It’s been very hard.”
    Zane looked up to the doctor. “Is she going to be all right? Is she healthy? Can she travel?”
    “She’s in good physical condition,” the doctor stated evenly. “I can’t imagine her mental state being as good, however. She’s had to live among the Indians and face unspeakable things. Death would probably have been better for her.”
    Zane shot up and came nose to nose with the captain. “How Dare you! This is my sister you’re talking about.”
    “She was your sister. Look at her now. Do you really want her back in this condition?”
    Zane bit back an angry retort. Squaring