Page 24 of Shoshone Sun (Native Sun #3)
- On the Trail to Fort Laramie, October 1867-
The wagon jostled relentlessly as it continued its journey. The sound of the horses’ hooves beating a steady rhythm against the dirt was the only thing that marked the passage of time. For Jane, it felt as though the world had collapsed into this single, unbearable moment.
She lay on her side, struggling to remain calm, even as the ropes dug deeper into her flesh. Her body throbbed, aching from the effort of trying to break free. The gag in her mouth was suffocating, her own breath feeling like an enemy as it trapped her in a haze of panic. But amidst the chaos, resolve took root in her mind. She would survive this!
The wagon creaked and swayed, its wheels groaning under the uneven terrain as Fred urged the horses onward. Every so often, Jane caught a glimpse of the landscape, the shadows of trees and the rough outline of mountains looming in the distance. She had no idea how far they had gone—but she knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t give up.
By the time the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, Jane had lost all sense of time. Her body ached and her mind grew foggy with exhaustion and fear. It wasn’t until the sound of a new set of thundering hooves reached her ears that she allowed herself to hope.
It could be only one person—Flying Arrow!
After dealing with the threat of the Blackfoot, Flying Arrow returned to the village, and then headed to Peter’s cabin to intercept Jane. Only to learn she was gone. The words burned in his ears as they echoed in his mind.
“Fred took her,” Peter had said, his face pale and drawn. “Took her in the night. He seized her before we even knew it.”
The news hit Flying Arrow like a blow to the chest, rage surging through him before he even had the full story. His thoughts were consumed by the image of Jane—bound and helpless—and the fury that boiled within him intensified.
Without a moment’s pause, he rode away from Peter’s cabin, driven by the need to find her, to bring her back. The wind cut sharply against his face as he urged his horse forward, each pounding stride of the animal hopefully pushing him closer to Jane.
He followed the tracks of the wagon for hours, the signs of the trail evident even in moonlight. The soft imprint of the wheels and the fresh marks left by the horses guided him with an almost eerie precision.
Finally, as the first morning light spread over the landscape, Flying Arrow spotted the wagon in the distance. His heart lurched. He could see the figures of the horses ahead, the silhouette of the wagon visible through the trees.
He had found Jane!
Fred had not expected the confrontation. His eyes focused on the path ahead, his mind was preoccupied with plans of how he could win back Jane’s heart. How he could convince her to marry him, to forget Flying Arrow and everything that had happened in the past. He wasn’t prepared for Standing Buffalo to find them so quickly.
The thunder of hooves sounding from behind him, Fred turned just in time to see the large, powerful figure of Flying Arrow riding hard toward him. The warrior’s face was set in a mask of fury, his eyes burning with a deep, terrifying resolve.
Fred barely had time to react before Flying Arrow was upon him, leaping from his horse with the speed of a striking snake. Fred scrambled backward, reaching for the rifle he had left by his side, but Flying Arrow was faster, grabbing Fred’s wrist with a force that made Fred’s bones feel like they might shatter.
“You will not touch her again,” Flying Arrow said, his voice low and dangerous as he twisted the man’s arm. With his other hand, he reined the horses to a stop.
Fred sneered, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “You can’t stop me, you savage. She’ll come to me. She always was mine.”
Flying Arrow didn’t hesitate. With one swift motion, he disarmed Fred, knocking the rifle to the ground, and then it was just the two of them—man to man.
The fight was brutal. Fred fought with the desperation of a man who had nothing left to lose, but Flying Arrow was a warrior, and his strength, honed from years of battle, was unmatched. With every strike, Flying Arrow’s rage mounted, and it wasn’t long before Fred was covered in blood, moaning in pain, and gasping for breath.
“You tried to steal her from me. But you’ll never see her again,” Flying Arrow said, his voice cold. With one final blow, Flying Arrow ended him. The sound of Fred’s body hitting the earth was the last thing Jane would ever hear from the man who had once broken her heart.
Flying Arrow turned to see Jane bound in the back of the wagon and quickly moved to untie her. He removed her gag and untied the ropes binding her, lifting her gently from the wagon, his strong arms supporting her fragile form.
The relief that surged through her at his arrival was overwhelming. Tears of joy sprang to her eyes as she heard him whisper softly, “I love you, Jane. I should never have let you go alone!”
She felt so cherished and so relieved. But her relief was brief as suddenly she was overtaken by a sharp pain surging through her body. She gasped, clutching her belly as a wave of cramping pain overwhelming her. The baby was coming!
Flying Arrow didn’t hesitate. He picked her up in his arms, jumped from the wagon, and carried her through the surrounding trees, moving with quick, purposeful steps, until they reached a small, secluded glade not far from the trail. There, in the soft grasses, he laid her down gently.
The ground was cool beneath her, the scent of autumn wildflowers and fresh earth filling the air. She could barely focus on her surroundings though as the pain in her body grew with each passing moment. For an instant she thought she’d die of fear, but then she focused on Flying Arrow, his presence a steadying force, his hand warm on hers as he spoke to her in soothing tones.
“You are strong, Jane,” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You are strong like the earth beneath us. Trust me. Trust in the land. You are not alone.”
With his help, she breathed through the pain, listening to his voice as it steadied her, pulling her through the agony. Every few minutes, the pain would surge again, and she would cry out, but Flying Arrow was right there, his hands guiding her, encouraging her.
And then, just as the sun reached its peak in the sky, as the world seemed to hold its breath, the first cry of their child filled the air. The sound was pure, raw, and beautiful, and it brought tears to Jane’s eyes as Flying Arrow held their child for the first time.
“We have a son,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “A son, Jane. Our son.”
She gazed up at him, her heart full, her body exhausted but relieved. Flying Arrow leaned down, brushing his lips against her forehead. Then, his eyes shining with pride and love, he placed the babe in her arms.
Together, they had created life in the most sacred of ways, and in that moment, with the sun casting its warm light over them and the soft breeze rustling the trees around them, Jane knew that she was home.
She was safe. She was loved. And their family had only just begun.