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Chapter One
Her lips trembled ever so slightly as she touched her mouth to his, a warmth like summer sunshine stunned his senses. A sweetness never imagined whispered his name, as she slowly pulled away and stared into his confusion. Had he imagined her actions?
"Who are you…. ich-que? Your kiss is like mon-nit-to a-ta-wa-chie, heaven." Chase Rivers demanded, his voice sounded bold, and his eyes bored into the figure of the woman with silent appreciation. "What do you want with me, why do you look into my soul as though you know me?"
"We will soon know each other, I am Katherine…" She gasped, her eyes searching his in wonderment. Golden flecks in fawn brown eyes softened on him, her tender smile spreading and radiating her face. Long limbed and graceful, she stood poised. Her long brown hair fell past her waist, her face was serene and when she smiled she radiated a sunshine all her own.
Now his sapphire eyes twinkled with amazement and awe as she opened her arms to him. The urge to go into her arms was strong, but Chase knew nothing of this woman. He was skeptical. He held himself away, purposely. Holding away seemed to take more effort than relenting and letting it all happen.
"Where are you from?" he murmured as he came closer, wanting to assure himself she was real. "I have never seen you before."
"I come from Texas." she said breathlessly. "I'm on the Butterfield's Stage Line." She announced it proudly.
Chase pondered the information silently, and even more the fact that she was so proud of where she was. It made no sense to him. Butterfield Stage Line was a death trap created by a dreamer and the Comanche.
"Why are you here?" he asked in a hushed whisper, not wanting to scare her off, but still skeptical of her. "Why do you invade my dreams?"
"I have not invaded….I merely wait for your welcome…It's your dream not mine." She smiled. "You called my spirit…"
"I called no one." Chase watched her with curiosity and trepidation. And yet, there was something more than appealing about the way she stood there, her arms silently at her side now, her eyes shining with a shy smile that somehow beckoned him. He didn't like what she did to him.
She nearly turned away though at his slight remark, a tear in the corner of her eye almost spilling. Instant sadness surrounded him. Her smile faded, the sunshine replaced by darkness now, as though night had suddenly descended. But it could not be, it was the middle of the day, he'd just eaten. A lightless future ebbed. Loneliness engulfed his heart. Bewildered he stared at her. What kind of prophet was she that she caused the sun not to shine?
"Then I must go." Her voice was low and strained, as though she had shed many tears. As though his rejection of her hurt. But how could he hurt her, he did not know her?
Chase Rivers felt her pain as clearly as if it were his own, her loneliness too, but even more her hopelessness. What manner of vision was she? He refused to carry it with him. He rejected it, but he had glimpsed it, and he knew he would not forget it. He would carry it forever in the deepest darkest part of his being.
"No…don't go away…" He watched her drift away. He knew this dream catcher's dream needed him, instinctively. He could not ignore her. She reached the inner recesses of his mind and heart, tearing it and laying it bare. What manner of woman was she, to affect him so?
But she smiled again and the sun came out. "You tease me...and you do not know me."
"But I will know you…won't I?" He watched her move towards him. His curiosity of this woman had captured his imagination. He wanted and needed to know more of her.
"Yes…very soon…come soon…" Her voice seemed to echo in the wind, like a murmured prayer.
As he would have taken her in his arms, she vanished, and he awoke from the dream with a light sweat breaking over his skin. He looked about. But there was no one there. The dream, it was so real, and who was this girl?
***
"You must bring her back, at all costs. Wos-so mon-nit-to has spoken. She has powers she doesn't realize. I must train her to use them. Without the knowledge she is helpless. But I, Burning Tree, can help her and she will save our people in return. Without knowing, her powers are useless, but I can show her the way. She is the last of the blood of O-qua-les-qua, daughter of a Shawnee chief who led our people to victory over the whites long ago. He dreamed of peace with the white eyes. That left a curse upon the land where he died. He was a wise one, a great warrior and a great peacemaker. She is all that is left of him. This tribe of the Shawnee has all but vanished from the face of the earth. I have seen this miracle myself, through a vision; she has powers she knows nothing of, that can help save her people. My vision does not lie. The Great Spirit has called to me in a vision. She will be wee-wa."
"Wee-wa! I take no white woman as a wife…"
"Have I not told you she is descended from O-qua-les-qua himself? She is a breed like you, only she knows not of it. "
"She is Indian?"
"She is a breed, like you. She is not yet Indian like you, my son."
"And if she doesn't want to come?" Chase raised the question on both their minds. "What then?"
"You must bring her, or our people may wither away," the old man said. "Do not fear. I will go beyond the dream catcher to help you. It is a power not used for many moons, more powerful than I have ever used. The Spirit has blessed this coming together. It must be."
"Okay, if you believe that strongly in her. It will be done," Chase Rivers agreed realizing that Burning Tree would not compromise and there really had been a vision. Perhaps he himself had experienced one. "But it won't be easy. She knows nothing of this heritage
you speak of. And I am only a half-breed. How can I convince a girl who thinks she's white to come and save a tribe she knows nothing about?"
"I will empower you to capture her heart." Burning Tree watched him somberly.
Chase nodded, "You have already begun…for I saw her in my dreams."
"It is well my son…it is well. Wos-so-mon nit to has spoken. I was waiting to hear your words." Burning Tree smiled sadly. "You question the magic, my son, but you will soon learn that some things are beyond the dream catcher. The spirits do not lie, and the vision was a clear one. You are already connected by Wos-so mon-nit-to. Your destiny is laid forth, tied to hers."
"A man should have a choice of his destiny," Chase growled.
"Some yes…but it has already begun…beyond even my powers."
Chase narrowed his glance at the old medicine man. As much as he loved him, he didn't think the old man could do such a thing yet the woman had clearly invaded his dream, unannounced and uninvited. But he'd humor him, and he'd do everything in his power to bring the girl back to her people. It was only right that she know of her rightful people Chase figured. Old Burning Tree would be happy and maybe the girl could help this dying tribe.
Pushed past the Ohio and into Kansas they now bordered between Texas and Indian Territory. Unsure of their future the tribe was at unrest. A great fever killed many, and another tribe of the Shawnee would soon be only memories spoken of in another camp if something wasn't done.
Believing hard enough was the key to accomplishment. Chase believed in the Christian Bible, as he'd been taught by the missionaries. Still, something pulled upon his heart for he knew that the old man, Burning Tree, had much power in this camp and had led the people here to safety. His respect and love was enough to carry out Burning Tree's plea.
"Burning Tree, how can you empower me, I'm not even a full blooded Shawnee." Chase laughed.
"It has already begun…have you not seen her in your dreams? I have used all my powers, broken Shawnee tradition to make sure she comes with you, for as sure as the sunset, she is Wee-wa."
"My wife…? Now wait a minute. I don't need a woman. But…You have connected us?" Chase questioned. "Can it be unconnected?"
