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Her heart melted when she made out Thunder Horse in the lead, his chin held high and victorious.
The sound of the horses had awakened everyone who had been sleeping beside the fire. Quickly, they scrambled to their feet.
The women broke into victory songs as the warriors who had stayed behind to protect the village ran to meet Thunder Horse.
Thunder Horse waved to his warriors as they approached him, then rode past them toward his people, who were standing and singing for him. His eyes smiled into those of his people. Then he spotted Jessie standing there, tears filling her eyes as she smiled and waved at him.
Jessie broke into a run and met him halfway.
He dismounted and took her into his arms. “It is done,” he said with deep feeling.
He stepped away from her and faced his people as the rest of his warriors came into the village and dismounted. He smiled all around him at his people as silence fell among them.
He raised a fist of victory into the air. “It is done, and not one of our warriors fell or was injured during battle!” he cried, the war paint still gleaming on his face and bare chest. “It is time now, my people, to move onward with our lives.”
Jessie was choked up with a happiness she had never felt possible as she watched everyone take turns hugging Thunder Horse and the other warriors.
She was so proud of the man she adored. It was a miracle that no one had died, or even been injured.
“Will you come with me?” Thunder Horse asked as he came to Jessie, his eyes searching hers.
She wasn’t sure where he was going, but she knew now that she would go anywhere with him, anytime.
She walked with him to the river. She held his hand as he led her down into the water, clothes and all. She stood with him as he washed the war paint from his face and body, then turned to her and embraced her, where they stood waist high in the water.
“We will now begin the rest of our lives,” he said, his voice filled with emotion as he searched her eyes. “But we do not have time just yet for a wedding ceremony. It is imperative that we start on the long journey so we will not have to answer for what we did today.”
“But you took the lives of outlaws,” she protested. “No one could fault you for that. They have been wanted men for some time now. Posters of Bulldog Jones hang in all the jails, and even banks and post offices. You have done everyone a favor. How could anyone fault you?”
“My skin is red; the men whose lives my warriors and I took today were white,” he said, his voice drawn. “That is where the difference lies. So you see, my love, we must put many miles between us and those who look for any excuse to take action against the red man.”
“Oh, surely not. The fact remains that you did do everyone a favor,” Jessie said. “Now there will be no more deaths or destruction left by that madman outlaw and his gang. There will be peace.”
“Ho, I did a favor for the white people, but since they would enjoy finding a reason to arrest me and my warriors, this might be all they need to take a few more red men as captives in their iron-windowed jails,” he said. He brushed a soft kiss across her lips. “We must leave. Now.”
“Everyone is ready,” Jessie murmured. She walked out of the river with Thunder Horse, water dripping from the long fringes of her dress.
“Change your clothes as I change mine and then we will be on our way,” Thunder Horse said. He stopped and turned Jessie to face him. “My woman, the journey will be long. Will the child in your womb be able to endure it?”
“I am strong, so I am certain the child I am carrying is, too,” Jessie said, placing a soft hand on her stomach.
He embraced her again. Then they took clothes from their travel bags and went to change behind a tall stand of bushes.
When they stepped out into the open again, everyone was lined up, the pa
ckhorses and travois at the rear.
Thunder Horse stepped forward. “Remember, my people, that a part of us all will always remain here,” he cried. “But it is important that we create the same feelings for the land where we establish our new homes.”
There were soft chants and grunts of approval, and then the procession began.
Jessie was on her horse beside Thunder Horse and his powerful steed.
Lone Wing was on his pony. Lee-Lee was sitting behind him on the pony, her arms twined lovingly around his waist.
Jade was walking with the women, her chin held high, her eyes filled with peace.
Jessie looked forward to her own new life, to living with the Fox band of Sioux as one happy family.
