"You should have," Tala agreed. "But I'm not here for apologies, Hoby Buchanon. I'm here because I need your help."
They rode east, toward the mountain, toward the spring, toward the water that remembered everything. And behind them, the sun rose full over Two Rivers Ranch, setting the dew on fire, as if the whole world was holding its breath for what came next. -HobyBuchanon- Native American Indian Girl Returns
"The reservation is dying," she said. "The water's poisoned. The elders are sick. And the company that owns the land upstream—they're owned by the same man who owns the bank that holds the deed to your ranch." "You should have," Tala agreed
The girl—no, not a girl anymore, he saw now—turned slowly. The face was the same sharp, intelligent map of cheekbones and dark eyes, but the child who had left on the Indian Agency truck was gone. In her place stood a young woman with the stillness of deep water. And behind them, the sun rose full over
Tala reached into the folds of her blanket and pulled out a small bundle of yellowed envelopes, the ink faded but still legible. "They gave them to me the day I left. The matron thought they'd make me sad. She was right. But not the way she meant."
"What do you need?" he asked.
Hoby took off his hat, ran a hand through his silvering hair. "I did come back. Three days after they took you. The place was locked up. They said you'd been sent to the reservation school in Oklahoma. Said no forwarding address."