Katherine was trying not to frown; the result was a strange half contortion of her face which Elizabeth might have found comical under other circumstances.

"Are you planning on coming to the school, as well?" she asked incredulously, looking between Many-Doves and Elizabeth.

Since her discussion with Nathaniel in this cabin two weeks before, Elizabeth had not mentioned to anyone the possible involvement of Hannah and Many-Doves in her school. But now it was clear that Nathaniel had not forgotten, that he had kept his promise and spoken to Falling—Day. He would send his daughter to her school. She was flooded with a range of feelings: satisfaction, relief, and thankfulness. And she realized that he had given her something valuable: his trust. That was the message Many-Doves brought with her.

"Abigail has agreed to be my assistant," Elizabeth said, confident that she would not be contradicted.

"Oh, really?" Katherine said coolly. "What do you think of that idea?" she asked Julian directly.

Julian's eyes flickered past Many-Doves toward Katherine and then to Elizabeth.

"Well, if it means that Elizabeth will come along to Johnstown because her assistant isn't available to begin school next week, I suppose that there are some significant advantages to the arrangement, however . . .unorthodox it may be otherwise," he said, sounding more like himself than he had since Many-Doves had arrived.

Elizabeth kept Many-Doves with her when Julian and Katherine left, in spite of Katherine's unhappiness with this arrangement. She wanted to ask her in more detail about the decision to let Hannah come to the school, but once they were alone she did not know how to broach the subject.

Instead she showed Many-Doves all that had been done to turn the cabin into a schoolhouse. The younger woman was so interested in the cabin and its improvements, in the books and maps and pictures, that they had much to discuss. She asked a number of very clear questions and paid close attention to Elizabeth's answers.

After some time, Many-Doves hesitated, and Elizabeth sensed a change in topic coming.

"Will you go to Johnstown, then?" Many-Doves asked.

"I don't really know," Elizabeth answered. "Why?"

Many-Doves shook her head, and then, in another change of direction, she looked at the window and her face broke into a smile. "Nathaniel," she said, just as there was a knock at the door. "And Runs-from-Bears."

Chapter 13

"I promised to take you to see the foundation of your schoolhouse," Nathaniel said by way of greeting.

"Hello to you, too," said Elizabeth dryly. She was determined not to let a silly smile compromise the friendly but detached air she was working so hard to present. Her pulse was racing, though, and she had to resist the urge to touch her handkerchief to her brow.

Nathaniel inclined his head toward his companion without taking his eyes off Elizabeth. "This is Runs-from-Bears."

"Many-Doves," said Elizabeth as Runs-from-Bears stepped forward and took the hand she offered. "Is this the Uncle you mentioned?"

"They call me Uncle because I come to call them to Midwinter Ceremony. Next week I will be just Runs-from-Bears again."

He had a friendly smile, but Elizabeth saw that it was not so much for her as it was for Many-Doves , who was suddenly quite silent. It was hard to judge, but Elizabeth thought he was perhaps thirty years of age. He had Otter's dark, glossy skin and angular face, although he bore the evidence of a bout with the pox, as well as a line of tattoos which stretched over the bridge of his nose. Silver earrings dangled from both of his ears, and there were feathers braided into his hair. Even in his layers of deerskin and fur, it was clear that he was well built. On his person he carried an assortment of weapons: a long rifle, hatchet and knife, and something that looked like a war club. In spite of his easy manner and smile, the man looked as if he would be afraid of nothing in this world. Elizabeth wondered if she would ever get an explanation of his name.

"The Uncle is whoever comes to call the Kahnyen’keháka to the Midwinter Ceremony," Nathaniel explained.

"I told her all about Midwinter," Many-Doves said impatiently. "So are we going to look at the schoolhouse or not?"

"You're not," said Nathaniel. "Falling—Day is waiting for you at home, best get on back." Then he glanced at Runs-from-Bears and grinned, the first time he had smiled since he came through the door. "You can show her the way," he said, and added something in Kahnyen’keháka that made Many-Doves push him sharply as she left the cabin.

* * *

"You do like teasing people," Elizabeth noted to Nathaniel as they made their way down the mountainside. "It's a weakness, I think."

"Is that so? Well, Boots, it seems harmless enough to me."

"I don't know if I like you calling me that," Elizabeth said, a little peevishly. "Boots, I mean."

Nathaniel glanced at her over his shoulder. "It suits you."

"But I have a given name, and it's not Boots."

"A person can have more than one name."

She drew up short, surprised. "Is that so? How many names do you have?"

"Oh, a handful."

There was silence for a minute, and then Elizabeth could not resist asking.

"The Kahnyen’keháka call me Wolf—Running—Fast," he said. "But my mother—she called me Nathaniel."

"Well," said Elizabeth. "Then you'll understand that my mother gave me a name, and it is not Boots."