Page 73 of Head Room

Who said they were coming to the wedding.

When I would meet them for the first time.

I yanked myself back to the matter at hand.

“Are you saying Tom just dropped that piece of his family history on Irene one day?”

“I have no reason to conjecture that Thomas introduced the topic to Irene.On the contrary, she mentioned the circumstance of her interest in the topic and her knowledge of Thomas’ family connection to that particular slice of history to me before she spoke with Thomas—”

So, Irene Jardos also knew more about Burrell family history than I did.

“—for background, specifically on that turbulent time from 1864—”

“The book brings them to Wyoming in spring 1865.”

She declined her head in acknowledgement.“The ill feelings, which accelerated throughout the early Civil War years with attention turned to the east, sharply escalated starting in the spring of 1864.With regular Colorado troops involved in the eastern campaigns, the Colorado militia under Colonel John Chivington fought the Indians.”

“Chivington?The guy in charge in the Sand Creek affair?”

“That is correct.However, we are not yet to that event.”

I bit the insides of my cheeks to prevent asking if we were going to rewind this history reel back to Columbus landing in the Americas.

Mrs.P sailed on — easily more majestically than Columbus’ triplets.

“Chivington issued an order tokill Cheyennes whenever and wherever found,an order carried out in May 1864 against Lean Bear, who had gone to meet the militia alone to convey his peaceful intentions and was still wearing a peace medal given to him the previous year in Washington, D.C., when he was shot.Cheyenne attacks on settlers and wagon trains increased after that.As did murders of Indians by militia members unable or unwilling to separate out noncombatant tribes.

“As the result of a peace parley in September 1864 and under instructions from the government, a band of mostly women, children, and men too old to fight formed a village at Big Sandy Creek.The Indians raised an American flag when the militia arrived, then, after the attack began at Chivington’s order, a white flag of surrender, which the attackers ignored.

“The attack had commenced at Chivington’s order.Two officers — Captain Silas Soule and Lieutenant James Cramer refused the order and instructed their men not to fire.”

Of course, Mrs.P knew their names and ranks.

“Most historians say one hundred and sixty Indians were massacred and mutilated, as I stated, primarily women, children, and old men.In the following months, Indians of various tribes coalesced, executing unusually coordinated attacks.The deadly confrontations included the one at the Platte River Bridge that claimed Caspar Collins’ life.”

“Does this—?”I bit off a repeat of asking if it connected — somehow — to the Jardos cabin fire and attendant uncertainties.

I needed to leave now to pick up Tamantha on time, which meant I wouldn’t have time to dig deeper with Mrs.P.Like deep enough to get anything useful.

Worse, if I didn’t leave now, Aunt Gee would find me and I could forget fitting in my dress.

****

“I’m worried.”

I spun around toward Tamantha, knocking my hip against my kitchen countertop.

She’d been a little quieter than usual since I picked her up at the library, then we got takeout at Hamburger Heaven, to be supplemented with the salad I was making now.

She was hugging Shadow by the back door and looking up at me.

“Why?”After that one word, I reined back on dozens that wanted to follow.

Don’t pounce on her, I told myself.Give her a chance to talk.

“The bridal magazine said the one thing you have to do is have all the events at one place.”

“The bridal magazine?”Where would she encounter such a thing?Not at the ranch or here.If she’d been visiting my mother, maybe.But with Mom in Illinois...Unless Mom read one — or more — and shared that piece of wisdom—