November 20, 1869

Kansas.

I rode into the Cheyenne village and found the tribe sitting by the fire. Sasha helped me find the mine nearby and I worked on collecting supplies. We talked with the tribe about how things had been peaceful lately. We talked about the snow in Amiville and how it was good to have Brent in town more. 

“I haven’t been back to the Wyoming Village though...” I looked down sadly after a while. 

“They are not used to outsiders and very cautious with them,” Hawk said. 

“Ain’t that the truth,” I shook my head. “They had a whole discussion right in front of me about how they didn’t think it was safe for me to go between Nebraska and Wyoming. They wanted me to live there full time to avoid being such a risk to their people. But then I would never be allowed to leave the village and they wouldn’t trust any of my paleface friends, so I’d never see them again. I just couldn’t do that. So now I’m stearing clear until I have an invitation from the chief to visit again. I just couldn’t do that. So now I’m steering clear until I have an invitation from the chief to visit again.” I sighed, thinking about Dances with Fire, and wondered if I would ever see her again. 

“Hawk worries about my safety all the time, but he never tries to keep me locked in,” Hawk said.

“I am guessing that’s not how they would act there,” I nodded to her. “They would be unsure of every paleface I met outside the village.”

“Is not good to keep one always. People are free and should be given such freedoms,” Hawk said. 

We talked with the village more and then Sasha and I went to gather supplies. 

Wyoming. 

I walked over to the bridge and sighed, wondering if I really wanted to go into the Cherokee village. I knew, though, that I had to make the first move to forgive and move on. I called across the bridge and then saw Ahawi and Dark Rain walk over. Ahawi invited me over and said, “Come sit by fire, Trin, and rest.” 

I looked around nervously and nodded, sitting down. I felt a little better when I saw Hawk there. “Hawk, long time no see. Fancy meetin you here,” I said to him and he chuckled and nodded.

“Chief Hawk giving us fighting pointers,” Ahawi said. 

“Oh! Guess what Hawk! I just caught my first bison! And on my first try too! Sasha taught me how.”

“Ahawi, you said fors someone to shoot mys doggy?” Dances with Fire asked. 

“Ahh, very good Trin,” Hawk smiled. 

“Thunder, Dark Rain...” I started. “I just wanted to apologize for any confusion over my presence the other night. I didn’t make my mission as clear as I’d thought I had, and I apologize. And Ahawi.. To you too.”

“It is fine Trin, I understand,” Ahawi said. 

“It is all good Trin,” Dark Rain insisted. 

“Fire, we were practicing and your dog is the best fighter,” Ahawi told the child. “Only pretend shoot him little one. But you don’t have to worry Fire, no one can shoot him, he is too fast.” 

“You have all come to mean so much to me,” I said and looked down at Fire. “Do I get a hug from my favorite Cherokee child?” I winked at her. 

I hugged her and Thunder and Dark Rain headed home. I asked if the chief was around and Ahawi said that he would be back soon. We continued to talk around the fire and I met some more members of the tribe. 

“Osiyo, Chief,” I said when Standing Bear walked into the village. 

“Osiyo Trin,” he nodded to me. 

“Could we possibly... Talk somewhere....?” I asked Bear and swallowed nervously when I saw Two Moons who greeted me. 

“We talk here?” Chief asked. 

“I guess... I just wanted to apologize for any confusion the other night.. I should have made my mission more clear from the beginning. It’s just that this place started to feel like a second home and a second family... I thought everyone understood what my intentions were. My only purpose was to get to know your people, to help when there were attacks on your village and give that information to my marshal friends, who could then do something about it.”

“You do not have enemies here. Our people are aware now of what you work to do,” Chief looked at me. 

“I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page now. I mean no disrespect, chief, but your people have come to mean a great deal to me.”

“What is page?” he looked at me with confusion. 

“Sorry... figure of speech I suppose... we’re both aware of the direction, the plan.”

“We are,” he nodded. 

“I thought that when we’d had that talk around the fire that first night or whenever that was... I thought word would spread more than it had.. That more people would understand what we’d told everyone there.”

“We have plan now, not change since last sun.” 

“Okay then. Just wanted to make sure we were okay.”

“You will still be safe when around our village.” 

“You have eyes for Chief? He fine warrior...” Two Moons looked at me. 

Chief glanced at the woman said, “Two Moons, our people know what plan is.” 

“I have eyes for Kale... the man who was shot down by the same person attacking your villages,” I told her in response. “Though I have not seen him in a couple of days. But these long spans of him being gone hunting are normal, I suppose. But he is the only man I have eyes for,” I looked at her assuredly. 

“So if this... um... Kale not come... you have eyes for Chief then?”  she asked. 

“Chief is a friend, a mentor to be sure, but I do not have romantic eyes for him. There are no ulterior motives here,” I looked back at her. 

“Trin, you run paleface off?” Chief asked. 

“He’s just out hunting,” I looked at him. “I’m sure he’ll be back.”

“Trin... when you start putting words on paper?” Chief asked. 

“I need to find some writers....” I looked at him. “I need two from each area that we’re covering.”

“Trin, Cherokee will help you if you need help and all understand what you are doing,” Chief said to me. 

“Thank you Chief. I appreciate that” I smiled. “Do you have any suggestions on who could write for the paper?”

“No, Cherokee do not know how to write Paleface words. We speak with runner and drums,” Standing Bear shook his head. 

“Can write good smoke signals!” Hawk said. 

“Anyone that lives in Wyoming that you can think of..? Perhaps the Pinkertons family who just moved in?” I wondered. 

“Maybe you talk to paleface at trading post,” Standing Bear suggested. 

“Perhaps a good idea,” I chuckled. 

“Two Paleface women there.” 

“Do you know names?”

“Maybe both know how to put signs on paper. One name Jules. Other name brandy.” 

“Fantastic. Thank you, Chief. I’ll talk to them.”

“Maybe they know how to help,” he nodded. 

I looked up at the sky then and said, “I will see you all soon hopefully. If you need anything, my office is in Nebraska.” 

“Take some food if you wish for your journey home,” Standing Bear waved. 

“Actually, I caught my first bison tonight. On the first try too. Sasha taught me,” I smiled. 

“Maybe you be good hunter.” 

“Maybe. Thank you very much for the offer though.”

We said goodnight and I left the village feeling much better than I had when I’d entered it.