Lake in the Clouds by Sara Donati Read Free Book Online

he set out to get for himself.
    Galileo looked up from saddling Curiosity’s horse when they came through the door. He squinted hard in their direction, and then a smile broke over his face.
    “Now ain’t it good to see you,” he said. “Cain’t recall the last time I seen you together at that door.”
    Nathaniel always took pleasure in coming into this barn. It was as tidy as Curiosity’s kitchen, with a sense of contentment and order that came when a man with an understanding of animals was in charge. A stable as quiet and calm as a Quaker meetinghouse, not a bucket or harness out of place.
    Galileo was a little younger than Hawkeye, but time sat hard on him. There was a curve to his back that grew worse every year; now when Curiosity stood beside him they were exactly the same height, although Nathaniel could remember very well when that wasn’t the case. For a few minutes they talked business: ice-out and crops, pelts and foals and spring lambs. Galileo’s gaze fixed on Nathaniel, and he saw how very bad his eyes had grown over the winter, the deepening milky film closing over dark pupils. Squirrel was worried about him, and just recently she had made it known that she was going to approach Richard Todd about the problem.
    “I expect you heard the news about Liam Kirby.” Galileo addressed this to the men, but Curiosity’s head came up with a snap like bone breaking.
    “Liam Kirby?”
    “He’s in the village,” said Nathaniel. “We heard from Jemima Southern, but we haven’t laid eyes on him yet.”
    She advanced a step on her husband. “Why didn’t you say nothing to me about this?”
    “Because you ain’t give me a chance,” Galileo answered. “Joshua came by with the news, not a half hour ago.”
    Curiosity drew up in agitation. “If Mariah weren’t set on bringing that child into the world today, I’d go find Liam and ask him a few questions. What can he mean by it, just showing up after so long? Leaving folks to worry.”
    Galileo sent her a sidelong glance. “The way Joshua sees it, young Liam has found hisself work as a bounty hunter.”
    They all stilled in surprise, even Hawkeye. Nathaniel thought of Selah Voyager up at Lake in the Clouds and the knot of anxiety that had begun to relax in his gut pulled tight again.
    “I don’t believe it,” Curiosity said shortly. “Liam was always a sweet-natured boy. What would make Joshua think such a thing?”
    Galileo shrugged. “Heard Liam talking to Jed McGarrity, wanting to know has he seen any strange Africans hereabouts.”
    Curiosity closed her eyes and opened them again. “I still don’t believe it. That’s not the boy I knew.”
    “But it’s been eight years,” Nathaniel said. “No telling what eight years can do to a young man, if he’s in the wrong company. And maybe it ain’t a coincidence that he showed up today, looking for runaways. Squirrel and Elizabeth came across a young woman on their way home this morning. Walked here all the way up the big river.”
    As he spoke Curiosity’s expression went blank and watchful, and Galileo stilled.
    “She give you a name?” Galileo asked.
    “She goes by the name of Selah, and she’s asking for you. She’s carrying a bijou.”
    Nathaniel had expected worry and agitation, but all he could see on Curiosity’s face was pure relief.
    She said, “Thank the Lord for delivering her to safety.”
    Galileo grunted. “She ain’t safe yet. At least we know now what brought Liam back to Paradise.” And to Nathaniel and Hawkeye: “Never meant to get you folks mixed up in this.”
    Curiosity frowned. “They ain’t mixed up in it. Joshua will see the girl on her way tonight, and that’ll be all the Hidden Wolf folks ever saw or heard of her.”
    Hawkeye cleared his throat. “That’s just about what I figured you’d say. But you ain’t heard all of it. Hannah says Miss Selah’s got a fever in her lungs.”
    Curiosity and Galileo exchanged looks, and then Curiositystraightened