A Love Forbidden by Kathleen Morgan Read Free Book Online

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    Shiloh watched him leave, then resumed the removal of her boots. Boots that now were free of the snow that had melted into puddles of water on the pine plank floors. She picked up her boots, carefully stepped around the water, and headed for the kitchen to retrieve a mop.

     
    Two hours later, just about the time Shiloh had finished unpacking everything, written a letter home, and decided on a nap, Josie arrived at her door. The other woman stood there out of breath, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks and nose pink from the cold.
    “Oh, it was so much fun!” she said. “I wish you would’ve stayed.”
    “By the looks of you, maybe I should’ve.” She swung the door wider. “Come on in while I get my boots back on. Your father asked that we meet him in his office just as soon as you returned.”
    “Really?” Josie grimaced. “Well, I reckon he can’t mean to chide me for attending the Bear Dance if you’re there, so guess it’s about something else.”
    “He mentioned discussion of a plan to win over the Utes to allowing their children to attend school.”
    “Oh? That should be interesting.” Josie chuckled. “Considering I’ve tried everything short of kidnapping and outright bribery.”
    “You’ve been having that much trouble, have you?” Shiloh asked from her spot on the chair as she finished pulling on her boots.
    “After all these months, I’ve only managed to get one little boy to come to school—Chief Douglas’s son, Freddie.”
    “Only one child? Oh, my, then we really do have a problem.”
    As Shiloh followed Josie from her room and back down the stairs, her thoughts raced. It was all starting to fall into place now. She had always wondered why Nathan Meeker had seen the need to spend extra money for a professionally trained teacher, when his college-educated—and quite intelligent—daughter should’ve been sufficient for the task. It wasn’t as if the US government required that the Indians be given a high level of education, but rather just enough to change their outlook and old ways. Still, if there was a mandate placed on the White River Indian agent to produce results, and Meeker had hit a brick wall with stubborn parents . . .
    The niggling unease that had been with her since shortly after her arrival flared into outright concern. Had she been given an impossible task and all but set up for failure, however unintended it might have been? Or was it, instead, a studied attempt by Nathan Meeker to absolve himself of blame? After all, if a professionally trained teacher couldn’t get the school going, what could a mere Indian agent hope to do? And he could lay the fault squarely on her shoulders.
    Shiloh hated even to think such unkind thoughts about her new employer. Not only was it a poor beginning to a working relationship, but it was uncharitable. And Meeker was said to be a God-fearing man.
    “Don’t lose heart, Shiloh,” her friend said as they paused in the entry to put on their coats. “It takes time to win the trust of the Utes. But once they get to know you and see your skill . . .”
    “They’re good people. They only want the best for their families,” Shiloh replied. “I just pray that your father can give us the time we may need.”
    Josie nodded as she opened the front door and they walked out. “If the timetable of things was up to him, likely he would. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, however, isn’t known for its patience. And, seeing as how they’re far away in Washington and probably don’t know much of anything about how things are out here, I’m not sure how much more time they’ll give us. That’s what’s got my father worried.”
    “He’s in a difficult position,” Shiloh said by way of agreement as they walked up the street to the Agency office. “Stuck right in the middle between two vastly different cultures with vastly different needs.”
    “Unfortunately, only one can come out on top,” the other woman said as they finally