November 8, 1869

Iowa.

Early this afternoon I went over to Iowa and announced myself to the tribe before they let me into the village. I talked with people there about how things had been going. I explained to them that I was a detective who lived over in Nebraska. I asked if there had been any more attacks and they said that there was nothing recent from any bandits or bluecoats. We talked about the Black Brothers and Harley and how they hadn’t been in Iowa recently, but Harley had been in Colorado yesterday. One of the people asked if Turner was with him and the other said that he was. 

Pocatello asked if I knew Michelle Dunberry and I said it had been over a month or two since I’d seen her when she’d threatened me in Mexico and in Amiville. He said that he helped clean up the village and we talked about the different villages in the area. 

Betty told us that she found out a thing about the UTE’s head chief the other day and said that he told her if she went into lunar tents placed together with a girl then you are married, according to the UTE natives. 

I decided to ask about the Cherokee chief’s actions yesterday and asked, “Betty... What if a man walks around you and deems you suitable for being a wife and kids to someone someday?”

“That he is surrounding you?” Maryam asked. 

“It was more of an evaluating walk.. In our culture we would say ‘checking you out’.”

“She need a good man. Had to pass test of goodness,” Poca said. 

“What about Jackson?” Maryam grinned. “Is he married too?” 

“He has woman now. He found one. Yes, White Bear has woman. He brought her around yesterday. Not married yet,” Poca said. 

“What was your question Trin? The circle walking?” Maryam asked me. 

“Yes.” 

“Circle walking not tell much. It’s not good,” Poca said. 

“I don’t really know the meaning... but looks like a kind of approach.” 

“He decided that I would make a good wife someday. For whoever the Great Spirit put in my path,” I told them. 

“Aw really?” Maryam smiled. 

“Only that he is looking, may not be good man. Outlaws circle also,” Poca said. 

“I think it’s a sign of courtship?” Betty suggested. 

“How is he?” Maryam asked. 

“Is it?” I looked over at Betty. 

“That’s my two cents,” Poca said. 

“Is he native, right?” Maryam clarified and I nodded. “Is he handsome?” She asked and I blushed. 

“We just met yesterday... Have had maybe two conversations.”

“Ooh you better take your time, ask Betty,” Poca advised. 

“Does he look at you straight in the eyes?” Maryam asked. 

“Yes, Maryam, he did,” I nodded. 

“Aww...” she repeatedly bliked. 

“Yes time is good when you get a man,” Betty said. 

“Well Trin I must soon give you peppers,” Maryam giggled. “To put in his food.” 

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I chuckled. 

“Would you be able to live native way? Living in a teepee? Cuddling between furs?” 

I swallowed and blushed. “What was that about not getting ahead of ourselves?” I chuckled. 

“Native man are very... Not that I know... but I hear women say... Very proactive.” 

“Of course, Maryam,” I winked at her. 

“Well Betty and I have to see him... to evaluate,” Maryam insisted. 

“In time if that’s where our path takes us, Maryam,” I chuckled and we sat and talked around the fire for a while longer. 

Kansas. 

A little while later, I rode to the Cheyenne village and found Hawk by the fire. “I have some developments in our discussion..”

“Oh? What is that?” 

“About native villages being attacked. Well... I was talking with Sasha the other day...”

“Yes?” 

“We determined from my records that there has been five attacks on three villages in the past week. All in this area.”

“Hmm... Yes, sound about right.” 

“Hawk, this is a serious problem. I’ve spoken with Chief Standing Bear over in Wyoming... and Betty in Iowa. They were the ones who told me about the attacks on their villages.”

Sasha walked in and we greeted her as she sat down at the fire. “Sasha I was just telling Hawk about what we discussed the other day.”

“Ah yes,” she said. 

“I want you both to know.. .I’ve been speaking with a couple of marshals.. They agree this is a significant problem.”

“You look very Native today. Very nice,” Sasha smiled at my outfit that I was wearing. 

“If we speak to the right people perhaps we can set up checkpoints and be prepared for when they are going to attack.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Sasha nodded. 

“This would be good,” Hawk agreed. 

“There’s just one problem. And I need your advice.”

“What is problem?” Hawk asked. 

“We have to talk to Jakob Despres. The thing is... Chief Standing Bear has.... reservations about speaking with Despres. There’s something he doesn’t trust about him. To be honest with you both, 

I’ve known Despres a long time and I understand where he’s coming from but then Despres has also helped me on a number of occasions.”

“I’ve never met him, so I can’t say,” Sasha said. 

Hawk nodded. “Most natives do not care for paleskin law. Many of them act your friend, then try and hold us under their laws. We do not live under those.” 

“So it’s not Despres he distrusts , but the fact that he’s law?”

“Maybe both Trin. Cannot speak for Standing Bear, only speak of things I know and I know many do not trust law of the paleskin.” 

“Do you trust Despres, Hawk?”

“He seems good guy. Do not know him very well... but few times I have spoke with him he seem good.”

“Okay... Maybe it’s just the fact that he’s law.”

“Could be. Like Is said many of the law want to show us how powerful they are. Often become corrupted and become the very things the fight.” 

“I understand,” I nodded. “Do you think this is worth our time, Hawk? Is there any way to foresee these attacks coming?”

“Maybe. No way to see these ahead of time, but may help in slowing them down.” 

“I’ve spoken with Mack, Taurus...” I said as Sasha walked away from the fire with a quick kiss to Hawk. “They both agree it’s a problem and if we can get warrants on these men then we’ll be able to go out and arrest them. As it crosses parliamentary lines. If we had witnesses to these crimes... went to tell law the details of what they’ve done, from your perspectives maybe.. If we sat down with you, Standing Bear, Betty, the marshals and myself as a go between... Perhaps we could come to some agreement on how best to proceed?”

“Proceed with many arrows,” he chuckled. 

“Our justice is different. You get warrants, wait many many suns, have the thing called trial, and one doing bad walk out smiling. Everything forgiven and nothing done.” 

“Hawk... They would take this seriously, I promise you.”

“I believe you Trin that is the way things seem to work, even when serious.” 

“I know, Hawk,” I nodded, having had too much experience with the law. 

“We will see though Trin. Will have to think on this. Standing Bear agree this is the way to go?” 

“I need to discuss some things with him still... and tell him how things went with the marshals yesterday... But he did agree that he wanted to speak with Despres with me. When I do go to him.”

“Speak with Standing Bear and see what he says on this,” Hawk nodded. 

“I will,” I nodded. 

“We will see how these things go from there.” 

“Okay. I just wanted to run this all by you so that you were on the same page. Hawk, you know Standing Bear well...?” I asked hesitantly. 

“Yes very good friend,” Hawk nodded again. 

“You trust him then.”

“Yes I trust Standing Bear.” 

“Okay, that’s good to know. I’ll let you go then, Hawk... Thank you for this. I’ll tell you how the conversation goes.”

“He is a good man, good chief. Okay safe paths to you Trin.” 

I smiled, remembering the time in the cave but I didn’t want mention it to Hawk... yet. I said goodbye and headed off to the Cherokee village. 

Wyoming. 

I walked over to the village and called across, saying that I was a friend of the chief’s. A man came over and asked if I was a friend. I told him the bracelet on my wrist and promised I was unarmed. He asked if I was able to watch a ceremony to commemorate the hunt and I followed him over to where the tribe was. The man announced my presence and I smiled warmly at the chief and then watched the ceremony. There was dancing around the fire and then the chief  gave words of blessing and instructions for the hunt. Ayashe gave a prayer of blessing for the hunt. The tribe chanted around her and then the men went off to fight the buffalo. The women and children stayed behind. One of the children wanted to run off after the men but Ahawi told them to stay behind. I saw one of the Natives take out a knife and I became nervous and headed for the fire. I sat beside Dances with Fire, the child that I was quickly becoming close with, and we talked for a bit until the tribe came back with a large amount of animal hide in sacks. I headed home after the group started to cook so that I could be back before it got too dark.