The Peacemaker by Chelley Kitzmiller Read Free Book Online Page A

offer her services. She assured me that she would call on the colonel this morning right after reveille and request his permission to prepare a place for you within his quarters. Her name is Prudence Stallard. She'll be here late this afternoon. Until then, I want you to rest."
    Indy knew the moment Prudence Stallard entered the hospital that she was one of the laundresses. Her hands gave her away. They were rough and red.
    "Please, call me Pru," said Prudence when Dr. Valentine made the introductions. "Everyone does." Likewise, Indy requested Prudence use the shortened form of her name. Dr. Valentine excused himself and left.
    "Word is around camp that Shatto and his band came to your rescue," Prudence said. At Indy's nod, she went on. "I've only seen him a time or two. Once on my way to Tucson for supplies, and last spring when he sent word to Captain Nolan that he had a present for Peter Clarke, the former post commander's little boy. It was a puppy to replace the dog Peter had lost the night his father was killed."
    "That was kind of him," Indy said.
    "I thought so too. I've never heard of an Apache doing anything like that before. That's when I got the notion that there was something different about Shatto, something that set him apart from the other Apaches. He's still a dangerous savage, mind you. I've heard about how deadly he is with a knife—but it's like he has. a heart if you get my meaning."
    Indy recalled thinking exactly the same thing right after the attack—that there was something different about Shatto— something that set him apart from the other braves. She might have told Pru how much in agreement they were and she might have elaborated on the subject by saying how Shatto had prevented her from killing herself and Captain Nolan, but she found herself oddly reluctant to share her thoughts.
    "Nobody seems to know much about him," Prudence went on. "In fact, nobody had even heard of him until five or six years ago, then all of a sudden there he was." She lifted her chin and looked straight into Indy's eyes. "You saw him up-close. What did you think of him? How did he impress you?"
    "Impress me? He terrified me."
    Prudence clucked her tongue. "No, that's not what I mean," she said, laughing and shaking her head. "Once you realized he wasn't going to hurt you—what did you think of him? You know, as a man?"
    Indy looked confused. "As a man? Why, I don't think I know what you mean. Of course I think of him as a man. What are you saying?"
    Prudence gave an exasperated sigh. "Where did Doc say you were from? St. Louis? Did you grow up in a convent, or did your papa keep you locked up in the attic?"
    Indy was taken aback at the woman's bold affront, but Prudence didn't seem to notice. "Most Apaches I've seen are sort of broad in the face. Now, Cochise. I saw him once in '62. He's handsome as far as Apaches go, and very distinguished looking, but Shatto—he's so—" The bridge between her eyes wrinkled, then she smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "There's just a look about him that takes my breath away." She gave a delicate shiver.
    Indy took a moment to think of a reply. "He's a fine-looking Indian," she said at length, refusing to indulge in an evaluation of Shatto's physical attributes—attributes that were deeply etched into her memory.
    Prudence laughed again. "Oh, for heaven's sake, Indy. You aren't going to be like those stuffy officers' wives are you? They're so worried about trying to impress your papa so he'll look upon their husbands with favor at promotion time, they can't say a word unless they've rehearsed it first! But you— Now, you don't have to impress anybody. So you can speak up and say whatever is on your mind. Especially in front of me."
    Indy laughed in spite of herself. She had never met anyone quite like Prudence Stallard before, and she had a feeling it was going to be a very interesting relationship. "Thank you, Pru. That's good to know, but I really don't have anything to say, at