He smiled, imagining Sophia correcting him: n.o.bility, not royalty. No matter. She'd always be the queen of his heart. He thanked G.o.d every day, every moment, for the incredible blessing of this woman.

"Congressman Montgomery. How providential that your schedule permitted you to attend the trial."

Will stiffened, then stepped back into the study, close enough to answer any questions the general might have, yet within sight of this Montgomery character. He had to see what sort of fool had pa.s.sed over Sophia. And make sure the man didn't make an attempt to correct his mistake.

The congressman gave a smile oily enough to rust-proof every tool Will owned. "Sophia, you're looking more beautiful than ever."

Sophia narrowed her eyes. His false charm didn't impress. "It is rather warm this evening. Perhaps you might dispense with formalities as we do in the West."

Montgomery hung his coat and top hat on the hall tree, then tore his gaze away from Sophia to spare the house a glance, probably calculating its worth.

As he gawked, Sophia caught Will's eye and gave him her special smile. Do not worry, her expression said. All my love is yours. She led the congressman into the dining room, where a cold supper had been set out.

General Crook unrolled the building diagram. "What are you planning for heat?"

"Same as your house." Will pointed out the symbols. "Coal furnace with supplemental stoves."

"Lovely place you have here." The congressman's voice carried over the other guests', a useful tool for giving speeches and shouting down the opposition. "So how did you get involved in this Indian trial?"

"I taught at the Ponca Agency until the tribe was evicted."

"They moved to Indian Territory in '77, correct?"

"'Moved' is too gentle a word for what happened." Clever Sophia had Montgomery stuffing his cheeks so she could fill his ears without interruption. She told him about the nightmare the Poncas had endured the past two years.

"Your wife's good at speechifying," General Crook murmured.

"You should hear her when she really gets her dander up."

Montgomery scavenged the table. "I thought the purpose of the Indian Territory was to preserve them from extinction."

"Since arriving in Indian Territory, one-third of the Poncas have died and the rest are ill."

Nicholas dashed out of the kitchen, chased by Goldie and Buffalo Woman. The smell of food sidetracked the dog into the dining room, where Sophia dealt her a brisk "Sit." Will scooped up his son, who hugged his neck, then settled onto his shoulder. "It is all right. I will hold him," Will told Buffalo Woman in Ponca.

The general glanced up and smiled, then tapped the top corner of the diagram. "Indoor plumbing. You're spoiling my staff."

"Yes, sir." Will nodded. The general worked his officers hard but treated them well.

Sophia continued, "When the Poncas were evicted from their homeland, the Indian Office confiscated their belongings-farming tools, furniture, livestock, and stoves-and promised to send it all to them. No one has seen it since."

"What happened?" Montgomery mumbled around the food in his mouth. "Did the other tribes steal it?"

"The warehouse was empty by the time the Sioux arrived. Perhaps the inspector sold it, or the locals stole it. Either way, the Indian Office must compensate the tribe for this loss."

Will's gaze drifted out the back window where the children were playing ball. Little Susette hit one of Lafayette's pitches into the empty lot behind them. With Armin's help, Joseph and Frank rooted through the tangled prairie gra.s.s, looking for the ball. Standing Bear's grandson, Walk in the Wind, ran home, followed by Leo. From the swing under the brush arbor, which Sophia persisted in calling a pergola, Standing Bear's wife and Tilly cheered.

Montgomery muttered about the budget and then, politician that he was, changed the subject to a side issue. "So, this whole mess, the trial, came about because Standing Bear tried to return his son's body to the family cemetery. Was this Bear Shield a student of yours?"

Will held Nicholas close. Now that he was a father, he couldn't imagine how Standing Bear had survived the loss.

"Bear Shield had already learned English," Sophia said. "So no, he was not my student. I did share my library with him, though. An excellent mind. A devastating loss for Standing Bear and the future of the tribe."

Rosalie and Josie tiptoed down the stairs, pretending no one could see them, then scampered into the kitchen with a burst of giggles. Will hoped their next would be a girl.

Montgomery pushed away from the chow, and Sophia herded him into the parlor. "Let me introduce you to those involved."

In the presence of so many greats, one man dominated the parlor. Standing Bear sat in a tall chair opposite the door, his legs propped on a footstool. He wore citizens' clothes with a bear claw necklace.

"There's an Indian in your parlor!" the congressman gasped.

"We are honored to host several distinguished guests this evening," Sophia said. She tilted her head at an angle Will recognized. Montgomery sc.r.a.ped the edge off her patience.

When the chief saw them approach, he started to stand.

"Please rest yourself," Sophia said in Ponca and touched his moccasins. "You have walked far."

The congressman perched on the chair next to Standing Bear and reached down from his self-important pedestal to return the chief's handshake. Standing Bear repeated some of his testimony from the trial, and with great dignity entered a plea for the return of his land.

Susette LaFlesche, called Bright Eyes, a highly educated member of the Omaha tribe, interpreted for them. The young woman had seemed shy when Will first met her, her big round eyes taking it all in, her voice barely above a whisper. But being around Sophia brought out the crusader in her.

"I will give the matter my utmost attention," Montgomery promised.

A muscle twitched in the chief's jaw. It was evident that Montgomery had worn out his welcome.

Sophia saw it too. She guided the congressman to two men talking beside the piano.

"-the most important civil rights trial since the Dred Scott decision," expounded a man with a thick wave of dark hair to a young Indian man in a suit.

Sophia introduced the congressman to Thomas Henry Tibbles, the a.s.sociate editor of the Omaha Herald.

"I read your articles in the New York paper. Good writing," Montgomery said. "Smart move enlisting the churches' support."

"G.o.d and the Declaration of Independence say all men are created equal. Let us work to make it so." Mr. Tibbles and Mr. Montgomery exchanged some serious hand pumping. Then Tom nodded at Sophia. "I couldn't have done it without Sophia and Will providing the context, the history of the tribe."

"All I did was tell the truth."

"Newspapermen need more than one source to verify a story. Your help was essential."

"You are too kind," she murmured. She introduced Montgomery to Francis LaFlesche, Susette's brother, who had interpreted for Standing Bear at the trial. The young man asked about job opportunities in Washington. The congressman beat around the bush so fast he made himself dizzy.

Next she introduced the lawyers, Andrew Poppleton and John Webster, and Judge Elmer Dundy. The men traded credentials like poker players laying out their hands. It turned out Poppleton had studied with a New York lawyer Montgomery knew.

"For all the hot air in here," the general muttered to Will, "your house is still remarkably comfortable."

Will grinned and took the opportunity to explain his system to optimize air circulation. Optimize? Being married to Sophia sure had expanded his vocabulary.

"How did you meet this young lady?" Montgomery asked the lawyers, pointing to Sophia.

"We go to church together at Trinity," Mr. Webster said.

Mr. Poppleton nodded. "My daughter was in Sophia's French cla.s.s at the College. And Will built my house. Finer people you've never met."

Judge Dundy toasted Sophia with his cup of punch. "Sophia taught my daughter, May, at Brownell Hall. I'm a trustee there. So when Mr. Tibbles told us the army was holding the Poncas at Fort Omaha, we already had a handle on the situation-background information, you might say."

"I notice Dundy's not admitting he was out hunting when we needed him," the general noted.

"I'm surprised he's not dragging the bear out to show everyone." Will nodded at the rug, which lay between the fireplace and Sophia's reading chair.

"That's the one?" General Crook studied the pelt. "Not bad."

Montgomery tipped his head like a king giving a favor. "I should meet this Will everyone raves about. Even the driver who brought me up from the hotel bragged about the house Will built for him."

The general murmured, "I'd better take your little fellow; leave your arms free to punch this windbag."

"And of course you must meet General Crook." Sophia led Montgomery into the study and made the introductions.

Nicholas managed to grab the points of the man's beard in each fist.

"General, I am so sorry." Sophia held out her hands. The baby smiled, let go, and reached for his mother. She turned him away from her to save her necklace from his eager grasp.

The general winced and patted his jaw as if trying to reattach his whiskers. "Powerful grip for a little fellow." Then he turned his piercing gaze on Montgomery. "You boys in Congress have sure put my army between a rock and a hard place. Washington always orders the opposite of what I recommend."

Montgomery squirmed. "The electorate has spoken-" The plans caught his eye. "You're building the general a house?"

"His is about done. These drawings are for officers' quarters at the fort."

"We have soldiers doing the work under Will's command. And a few of his Ponca friends, skilled carpenters, have made good use of their time at Fort Omaha." The general looked up, his open hand indicating their house. "As you can see, his work is unrivaled."

"You built this?" Montgomery gave the room a second look, noticing the Ponca design inlaid into the floor and around the fireplace. He gave a low whistle. The guy might be a fool when it came to women, but he seemed to recognize quality woodwork. He twirled his mustache. "Don't suppose you'd be interested in setting up shop in New York?"

Sophia shook her head. "Omaha is home."

The thought had preyed on Will's mind that marrying him had circ.u.mscribed Sophia's life, making her world smaller than she might have otherwise chosen. Tonight she put an end to that worry.

"Thanks," Will said, mostly to Sophia. Then he turned to Montgomery. "I've got enough here to keep me busy through the end of the century."

"And what a fine century it will be." Montgomery blinked at the baby who regarded him with solemn wariness. "Ah, another masterpiece."

Sophia kissed the fuzz on the baby's head. "Our son, Nicholas."

We are so blessed.

The mantel clock chimed the hour. "I must go," the congressman declared to everyone's relief. "I'm on the night train to Chicago."

"Trying one of those new Pullman sleeping cars?" the general asked. "So comfortable, it hardly seems like travel."

Julia's wedding dress, displayed on the long wall beside the stairway, caught the congressman's eye. The gas chandelier brought out the colors in the beading. "A remarkable artifact. A bold choice in decoration."

If he thought it was amazing on the wall, Will thought, he ought to see it on Sophia. Not that Will would ever allow that to happen.

Sophia rolled her lips together, a sure sign her patience had reached its limit. The congressman had pa.s.sed by tomahawks in the dining room, a war bonnet in the parlor, and a bear claw necklace in the study without noticing. When he leaned on the desk, he'd almost put his hand through Sophia's gusli; Will guessed she'd never played it for him.

She led Montgomery to the hall tree. "Thank you again for your interest in the Poncas' cause."

His interest was minimal at best, since Indians weren't allowed to vote, but Sophia had ways of twisting his arm. "You're welcome," he said with a grunt.

"You have not said how Annabelle and Zelinda are doing."

"The baby is fine." Montgomery's voice echoed off the tile of the vestibule. "You correspond with Annabelle. You know how she is. Not the legislator's wife you would have been, Sophia. You've accomplished so much: freeing the Poncas, teaching, making a home, starting a family."

He shook the baby's hand with a formality that had Will wondering how much time the man spent with his own child. "What crusade will you undertake next? Women's suffrage, the temperance movement, workers' rights?"

"All worthy causes. But the Poncas still need to receive t.i.tle to their homeland. The Sioux do not want it. No one lives on it now." She put his coat and hat into his hands so he couldn't sneak in a hug. "The only barrier to restoration is the United States government."

Montgomery twitched, bracing for the onslaught of Sophia's persuasion. "I sense the emergence of another letter-writing campaign."

"As G.o.d directs."

Will came up behind Sophia, wrapped his arm around her, and rested his palm on her waist. "If she can work it into her schedule."

Realization dawned in Montgomery's eyes. "Congratulations. I wish you the best, both of you."

Sophia watched him go, then turned to Will. "I have a thought." She always did. "When my ambition was to become a woman of influence, I gained nothing. But when I let go of those aspirations and allowed G.o.d to lead me, I found fulfillment, and purpose, and"-she smiled at him-"love."

Will leaned down and she rose on tiptoes to meet him. Her willing body melted into his arms. Her lips met his in a perfect fit.

A little boy's hand swatted his cheek.

Ah, yes. They had a young man who needed to be put to bed. A house full of guests. Work to do. A calling to fulfill.

And love.

Always, always love.

READING GROUP GUIDE.

1. Sophia signed up for a mission trip with mixed motives. Nettie a.s.sures her G.o.d can use her anyway. What is your experience with mission trips? What is the "right" motive? How has G.o.d used you?

2. What is your impression about missionaries and culture? In what ways does culture entangle the gospel?

3. At times, Sophia feels useless and is concerned her actions have brought disaster to the Ponca people. Have you ever felt that way about your work? What was behind that feeling?

4. On New Year's Day, James asks the staff to list their accomplishments of the previous year and goals for the next. How can we evaluate the effectiveness of a mission? Should we?