"Yes, that is a good idea."
"Have you given this vaccine before?"
"No, but I've seen it done."
"Then that will have to do." Lone Wolf told her.
As the camp came awake, Hannah prepared the vaccine. She'd seen it given many times during an outbreak and she knew what to do.
Many were afraid of the needle she had to use. Others were afraid it was some kind of black magic. But Lone Wolf, Deer Runner and Gray Eye insisted it was safe and a good thing to do, as the Cheyenne camp had an outbreak the day before.
Hannah showed White Dove how to do it, and they both spent the day vaccinating all the men, women and children.
After it was done, they destroyed the needles and evidence, by burying it under a pile of ashes, and Lone Wolf and Deer Runner were confined to their tipis.
Hannah came in the tipi that night, tired and weary.
Lone Wolf had her supper ready.
"You cooked?" She looked surprised.
"I did. You have been saving my people. It was as it should be. Sit, we will eat now."
She ate and was pleasantly surprised at the venison brisket he had roasted most of the day. It was tender and juicy, and Hannah was pleased.
"Will the white doctor come?"
She looked down. "I imagine they will come."
"Then you, I, and Deer Runner must not go out no matter what happens. They will search, we must hide." Lone Wolf instructed her. "Unless you want to return to your white husband."
"No, I do not wish to return to him. And like I said, I have nowhere to go."
He nodded. "It saddens you that you have no place to go?"
"Yes, it always has… I have no people Lone Wolf. I have nowhere to go to. I only know how to work in a store, to find another job like that would be a miracle. I cannot be a whore…for Liam has said I am no good as a wife. What can I do? Where does someone like me go?"
They talked and soon she laid down to rest. He came to put the blanket over her. He stared into her eyes. "You are a good woman, Hannah Caldwell."
"Thanks," she whispered as she closed her eyes.
Lone Wolf sat up most of the night, staring at her. He had come to think a lot of Hannah. But he feared he would still loose her in the end.
Her words troubled him. She had no people, nowhere to go. Everyone should have a people, he reasoned, even Hannah.
That thought tore at his insides. He recognized that Hannah had never been treated with love, and that he would have to be extra tolerant of her. But his heart swelled that she wanted to stay and saddened him to think she really didn't have anywhere to call home. Would she ever accept his tribe as home? He would pray to the Creator.
Chapter Ten
When they got up the next morning, Lone Wolf had already talked to Deer Runner.
There was much commotion outside too.
"We must go now, I have talked with Deer Runner and his wife. She will go with us. I have told my father. He has told me where we should go. We will be safe there."
"Is it far?" Hannah asked a bit frightened by the sudden move, and not wanting to leave the friendly people of his village.
"Yes, it is. But at least we will not bring harm to our people." He told her. "Take what you need."