“We have.  And the wagon train folk gladly took your supplies but I’m returning the money.”

“Why?  Charlotte’s here and safe.  That’s what I asked.”

“Still, no one felt the need to take it.”

Charlotte moved farther down the table to where Chace was standing.  “Chace Yellow Cloud,” she said.

Samuel held out his hand again.  “This afternoon I only had a name.  I’m glad to put a face to it.  So you’re the one who brought my daughter to safety.”

“You could say that,” Chace said, “though she’s fairly resourceful on her own.”

One more time, Charlotte saw the registered surprise at Chace’s words.

“I’m grateful.  It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, to leave her there.”

“I can’t see how it wouldn’t be.”

Charlotte could see her father trying to think his way through this changed and unanticipated circumstance.

“We’ve waited dinner for you,” she said.  “So it’d likely be best if we could all sit down and start in.”

“I apologize for being late,” Samuel said, not yet taking his eyes from Chace.  “The Colonel offered me a brandy and seeing as he’s my host, I found I couldn’t refuse.”

Brandy?  Was the Family all going to hell?  But this wasn’t the time to worry about that.  While Ada cut the bread and piled roasted potatoes into a bowl, Charlotte forked slices of venison onto the plates with gravy and passed them around.

Before Ada reached him, Samuel picked up his plate and turned it over.  Charlotte watched his face soften.  “Your mother’s china.”  He set the plate back carefully in front of him.

It only took a few bites however before his eyes were raised again.  “Captain Gray.  May I call you Ellis?”

“Of course,” Ellis said.

“I’d be grateful if you’d tell me…”

“It’s long and complicated.”

“But I’m the only one here who has no idea.  Is this not true?”