November 22, 1869

Wyoming. 

This morning I was working in the mines and then headed towards the Cherokee village. While I was on the way, I ran into a bison and set a trap for it but it attacked me. I went to rest in the village with Dances with Fire and told her how I was hoping to talk with Little Sky about the paper. I told her about the article about animals from Frank and she was very excited about them. Before eating our meal together, we prayed together and she prayed with me before we ate. 

A man walked over towards the village and shouted across the bridge, “Greetings, I come in peace. Is anyone there?” 

“I’ll go see who’s out there,” I looked at Fire and walked over to see a Native man standing at the end of the log. “In peace, you say?”

“Greetings.” 

I walked across the log and looked him up and down, unsure I could trust him yet. “Hello there. New in the area?”

“I am Lonely Eagle, and I’ve been traveling for many days. Looking for a place to rest.” 

“My name is Trin. I don’t live here in this village but I come and visit them often. I live over in Nebraska.” I looked up and down and felt something inside me in reaction to his handsomeness, but I told it to go away. 

“Nebraska? What is this ‘Nebraska’? I see the earth with no lines. Why must the white man cut it up with invisible lines?”

I smiled at him, understanding the confusion. “The town with all of the buildings... a few miles to the east from here.”

“East toward the sunrise, I believe I passed through there on my way”

“The chief to the village here isn’t there at the moment but perhaps later in the day he will be... You could talk to him about resting here. Until then... I could show you around if you like...?” The fact he looked at me directly showed me that he was someone I could trust. 

“I would like that very much. I have much I need to gather to prepare for my journey,” he nodded. 

“I’ll lead the way then,” I said and we walked away from the village. 

We walked around and collected plants and herbs to add to our collection and then walked through towards Georgetown. I showed him around there and then we went back towards Nebraska. I told him about the newspaper that I ran and We sat down upstairs and ate dinner. 

“So this long journey you’ve been on... tell me about it, if you want to that is,” I asked as we got comfortable. 

“It is a bit of a story, but if you have ears to listen, I will tell....” 

“I would love to. Hearing people’s stories always interests me...”

“Seven summers ago I went on a vision quest. Do you know what they are? There are times we go on a spiritual journey to explore our inner selves,” he said and I nodded in understanding. “We use special herbs to see things from deep within us with the guidance of our elders. When I went on mine, the spirits gave me a vision of walking along a forest path in the spring. The flowers blooming and the trees budding. The animal spirits were all around me. Deer, rabbit, snake, raven, fish, wolf, each with their mate.”

“Know how that feels...” I nodded. 

“Then I came upon a large barren tree, nothing left but a skeleton of its former self with Eagle perched upon its branch. Unlike the others, Eagle was perched by himself just looking around for something or someone.”

“Know that feeling too...” I nodded. I looked at him and sees kindness in his eyes... I wondered what the chief would say if he found out I found an apparently single native warrior attractive.... I noticed the tattoo of an eagle on his chest and blushed, realizing where I was looking.

“He looked down at me, and I at him, then he took to the air toward the sunset. I stood and watched for a moment, then Eagle turn around and circled above until I began to follow.” 

“And it led you to Wyoming...”

“So far it would seem.”

“Well I’m glad he has... It is nice to meet a Native who is so... kind with the paleface right away. Usually it has taken a lot longer to develop that trust.”

“I know not where my journey ends, only the path I follow. We all born of Mother Earth and are children of the Great Spirit.” 

“You are welcome to visit here any time. If you would like I could tell the Chief in Wyoming about you and perhaps you could join their tribe. If you’re looking to settle down for a bit, that is...” I blushed and looked down. “I’m sorry, I speak too fast sometimes.”

“It is alright. No need to apologize. I do not know where my journey will take me, so I cannot say if this should be my home.”

“I understand. Just letting you know the options in case you do decide to make your home in these parts.”

“I will have to see where the spirits guide me. They have yet to lead me astray,” he smiled. 

“If you need help with trapping and gathering food please let me know.” 

Lonely Eagle rubbed his foot against mine playfully and I swallowed at the contact but smiled at him as he said, “I would much enjoy to go hunting with you.” 

“I’m not much of a shot but I’m getting better with the traps. I would enjoy your company.”

“I have a score to settle with one particular buffalo.” 

“And me with a bison,” I chuckled and winked at him. “Though at least I trapped it before he killed me completely.”

“Lucky you...” he mumbled under his breath. 

I patted his foot comfortingly and said, “We’ll make some traps and go hunting. They won’t know what hit ‘em.”

“I must go find a bed to lay down. It has been a long and exhausting day.” 

“You can rest on my couch here if you’d like... Or there’s a hotel next door. Whichever you’re more comfortable with. I’m just going to get some writing done downstairs while you sleep if you wanted to rest here.”

“If you are sure you do not mind,” he looked at me. 

“Of course not. You’ve traveled long. I trust you... I don’t want to make you walk far for a place to rest when I have a perfectly good couch here. Sleep well,” I stood and headed downstairs. 

I worked in the office for a while before heading upstairs and checking on Eagle. He was sitting up on the couch and I greeted him. “You’re awake.” 

“Yes, and well rested. Thank you.” 

“I’m very glad. The couch was comfortable?”

“Very.” 

“Glad to hear it.” 

“It was nice to be able to sleep away from the animals for once.” 

“I can imagine. Well my door is always open to you. I think I have enough to make a trap... I’m going to make one very quickly.”

I made up a trap while he watched and then we headed out to find animals.