Page 22 of Shoshone Sun (Native Sun #3)
- Shoshone Village, Fall 1867
Two hundred miles west of Fort Laramie -
A gentle breeze swept across the open plains, stirring the long grasses that bordered the village. In the early morning light, the Shoshone village seemed to hum with the quiet rhythm of life, the soft murmur of voices, the clink of tools, and the occasional call of a bird high above in the sky. Jane stirred awake in the warmth of Flying Arrow’s embrace, nestled beside him in the comfort of their tepee. The air was thick with the smell of sage and cedar wood from the fire that had burned low through the night, and the warmth of the blankets wrapped around them added to the feeling of peace that infused the space.
The days and weeks had passed swiftly since their wedding ceremony as Jane had settled into her new life in the village. The initial days had been filled with excitement, with laughter, and with the bond of the community growing stronger as she shared time with Flying Arrow’s family and the other villagers. But now, as she woke to the soft morning light filtering through the entrance of their tepee, she was reminded of her old family—the family she had left behind.
Flying Arrow shifted beside her and stretched, his long frame moving with quiet grace. His hair, dark and thick, was untangled from the slumber of the night, and his broad chest rose and fell in steady rhythm as he exhaled a deep breath. The steady, calm presence of him beside her was both a comfort and a reminder of how much her life had changed in just a few short months.
“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice low and warm, the sound of it hit her soul.
“Good morning,” Jane replied, leaning into him for a moment, her cheek pressed against his shoulder. She breathed in the familiar scent of him—earth, leather, and the woodsy aroma of their surroundings.
After a few more minutes, Jane broke the stillness. “I was thinking about Peter, Susan, and Petey. I haven’t seen them in so long.” Her voice carried a note of longing. “Before the baby arrives, I want to visit. Just to be with my sister and her family for a little while.”
Flying Arrow nodded thoughtfully, his hand brushing her blonde hair back from her face with tenderness. His deep brown eyes, filled with understanding, studied her for a moment before he spoke.
“I know it is important to you,” he said quietly, his voice steady and kind. “But with your time so close, it may not be wise for you to go alone. The journey will be long, and the weather ... it can change quickly.”
“I know, but my heart tells me I need to go,” she said softly, her voice filled with a quiet determination. “It’s important to me, Flying Arrow. I miss them. I need to see them before...” She trailed off, the thought of the baby suddenly making her heart swell with both joy and anxiety.
Flying Arrow smiled faintly, his gaze never leaving hers. He lifted his hand to gently cup her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. “It is your choice, Jane,” he said, his voice a gentle whisper. “But I cannot go with you. There are whispers of danger. It has been rumored that the Blackfoot may raid the village soon. I must prepare to defend it with the other warriors.”
Her heart sank slightly at the thought of going without him, but she knew the Shoshone way. Duty to the tribe came first. She loved him with all of her heart, yet a part of her felt a pull toward her family, the warmth of her sister’s arms. “I understand that you must stay here,” Jane said, her voice thick with emotion. “But I still want to go. I will be careful. And the Blackfoot are not headed in that direction, are they?”
“No, they are not,” Flying Arrow agreed, his eyes dark with the weight of the situation. “Nonetheless, you will be traveling through untamed and dangerous land. The journey will take three days. I will not feel at ease until I know you are safe.”
“I’ll be fine,” she reassured him, her tone firm. “I will travel with caution and keep my wits about me.”
He regarded her quietly for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded. “If you must go, I will not stop you. But I will send a warrior with you for protection.”
Jane shook her head. “No!” she said firmly. “I do not want anyone else to come with me. I need to do this on my own.” She felt a strange strength rising within her, a sense of independence she hadn’t expected. “I need to see Peter and Susan, Flying Arrow. I need to hold Petey in my arms again before our baby comes.”
His gaze softened, and after a moment of silence, he sighed deeply and gave her a reluctant nod. “Very well. But promise me you will not take any risks. The land is wild, and the wolf packs have been more aggressive as of late.”
“I promise,” she said, her voice resolute. She kissed him then, quickly, tenderly, and felt his warmth flow into her. “I will be back soon. Please—take care.”
“I will,” he replied, his eyes filled with a depth of emotion that made her heart flutter. “And Jane ... I will miss you.”
“I will miss you, too,” she whispered back. “But I’ll return to you.”
The journey was hard, harder than Jane had anticipated. She traveled alone, her heart heavy with the mixed emotions of longing for her family and the sadness of leaving Flying Arrow behind. She tried not to think about the dangers of the trip, but as the first day wore on and the sun dipped low in the sky, the doubts began to creep into her mind.
It was then that she noticed a shift in the landscape. The terrain grew more rugged, as the shadows of the evening deepened, casting long silhouettes across the plains. Her horse’s hooves drummed softly on the dirt path, and she focused on the rhythmic sound, trying to steady her nerves. The stillness of the land around her was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds. As she rode on, she kept her eyes alert for any signs of danger.
Before nightfall, she made camp, building a fire with trembling hands. The warmth of the flames flickered and danced, casting shadows on the rocks and the trees around her. She ate a simple meal of dried meat and berries, the food comforting as she sat alone in the silence of the wilderness. She wrapped herself in her blanket, trying to sleep, but the thoughts of Flying Arrow and her family kept her awake.
What if something went wrong? What if the Blackfoot attacked while she was away? What if she wasn’t back to the village in time for the birth of the baby? These thoughts swirled in her mind, a tangle of fear and doubt. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was heading into something different from what she had left, something unknown. Then she told herself she was just being foolish.
The second day of travel was worse than the first. She awoke early, feeling the bite of the cold morning air on her skin, and set out again, urging her horse onward through the wilds. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the winds grew sharper, and Jane found herself growing anxious. She kept telling herself that she was heading in the right direction, toward Peter’s cabin, where she would reach the comfort of her sister’s embrace and the warmth of her nephew’s laughter.
But as dusk began to fall once again, Jane heard something—something that sent a chill down her spine. A distant howl. Then another. And another.
She froze, her heart thumping painfully in her chest. The howls were growing louder, coming closer, and soon she realized with a sense of dread that she was surrounded by a pack of coyotes. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she clutched the reins of her horse tighter. She was alone. And she was terrified. But all she could do was move onward. Luckily, the pack abandoned her, probably considering her too big a challenge to tackle.
By the evening of the third day, Jane was exhausted. Her mind was clouded with doubt, and every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves sent her heart racing. Was she doing the right thing? Should she have stayed in the village? The fear of wild animals only intensified her loneliness.
But then, as she crested a hill and gazed down into the valley, she saw it—the cabin. Peter’s cabin, nestled peacefully against the backdrop of the forest. Her heart leapt with relief. She had made it. The journey had been long and difficult, but she was finally here.
She let out a deep breath, her fears beginning to ease as she urged her horse forward, towards the safety of the cabin. The worst was over. She had made it, and soon she would be reunited with her family.
But deep in her heart, she couldn’t shake the thought that Flying Arrow was far from her. And though her journey was over, hers and his would not be complete until they were together again.