Chapter 3French braiding Rada’s hair proved a soothing mid-afternoon activity for both of them. He took his time, careful to get all the little strands around her face. It wasn’t at all as complex or time-consuming as doing Ken’s hair, but Dakota thought his shaky hands would have trouble accomplishing that task, were his other daughter available to do it. The simplicity allowed him the luxury of bonding with his subject, just as he’d done with Kenna for years.
Rada sat quietly for the majority of the session, until he was nearly finished. “I have a problem.”
His fingers stopped for a moment. Resuming, “With Mahkah?”
“No, uh, we’re fine.”
“Then what? You know you can talk to me, hon.”
“I’m not feeling well,” she confessed. “My stomach hurts and I—I’m bleeding.” Rada shifted her weight
