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"Whatever you believe, you carry in your heart."
Matthew rose up and looked at his parents now. "I liked that village. They were nice. I got a lot of friends there."
"Shoshone have lived with the whites a while now. They have taken up the white man's ways too, but they still have Indian customs. We will visit with them many times."
"I'd like that." Mathew told him.
"What will we do when we get to our new home?" Matthew asked.
"We will build a home, grow food in the land, and maybe have some cattle. We will live free and good and at peace."
"Will there be Indians there?"
"There are some yes…"
"Are they friendly?"
"Some are I am sure. There are a lot of Indians in this Territory." He informed them. "We must somehow learn to get along with them so we may live in peace."
Eve glanced over Jane Ann she had curled up against Hawk and gone straight to sleep. He leaned to kiss her chubby cheeks.
"You did not want to go to your folks? Did you?"
"No. Not after talking with Jinx, I realized how futile it would be. It would not be wise to go. My folks would not accept me, nor you and the children. I will not go where I am not welcomed. They are just learning to accept reservation life; they had not learned to accept me yet. Maybe never."
"I am sorry for that. I am sorry for you…"
"It is not your fault. I have accepted things for what they are. We cannot change all people. We will live our lives and be happy no matter. Our family is small right now. But someday it will be many."
Bended Knee told them they were almost there the next day.
The next day brought a scorcher and the children tired easily. Eve kept up easily but she mopped the children's heads and faces several times to cool them down.
"This is it," Bended Knee finally said as they approached a hilltop and stared down at the land. The new land was fertile and good. Hawk was pleased. He looked at Bended Knee and shook his hand. "It is good my friend."
"I will stay and help you build a new home, plant the first crop…"
"Good, I could sure use the help." Hawk agreed.
"Why didn't the tribe use this land though?" Hawk asked, his curiosity getting the best of him."
Bended Knee stared at hi
m and a cloud of a frown entered his facial expression. "You have neighbors on each side, but to the west is a hostile neighbor, Comanche. To the north are Cheyenne and Arapaho. Neither is friendly. It will be hard to survive. Black Eagle believes that if you can survive the first two winters here, you will make a fine home. If his tribe came here though, it could cause war between the Indian nations. He does not want war. However, you will probably do battle with them sooner or later. I volunteered to come with you because I knew the dangers and I want to see you survive. You have a family and your love is strong, something I have yearned for a long time. The raiders killed my wife seven years ago. Like you, I want peace and to live."
"Then maybe you'd consider making your home here with us. We could build you a house too. Surely we can survive." Hawk sounded confident.
Bended Knee nodded…"I will consider this. But there is one foe that we all share and that makes three."
"Who are you talking about?" Hawk smiled. "Mackenzie for one, the white man!"
"Has he been this far east?"
"Not yet, but we do not know how far he will go. We never thought he would come across the Red. But he did. I only use his name to speak of the hatred of the whites, and you have married one of theirs. They will hate you for this. All whites will."
"I realize that."
"Does she?"
