Chapter 44

When I finally reached home, I spent an hour rubbing down Patch, allowing him to drink from the water tub and giving him extra rations. When I went inside, Lance still slept. I dried and oiled his rifle before leaning it against a corner wall. Then I got out of my wet clothes to wash away the sweat and dirt of my labors. Finished, I turned to find him watching from his blankets.

“You are a handsome man, Otter.”

“Hah, I might believe you had some interest if you weren’t a Dakota.” I covered my nakedness with a blanket before he saw I was reacting to him.

“Maybe there’s some Lakota blood running through my veins.”

I was beginning to think he was serious and not merely toying with me. If so, this would be either a contentious winter or an interesting one. I thought of my declaration to James and decided to put an end to it.

“If you keep this up, you will sleep in the barn. I told you, I have not been a win-tayfor many, many snows.”