Chapter 1
1873
Wyoming Territory
Groaning slightly, Olivia Foster roused from her slumber and her eyes fluttered open. She blinked at the sharp rays of the sun and closed her eyes again.
It was yet another day that she had to be thankful for the gift of life.
Thank you, Lord, for one more day.
Her entire body ached from sleeping on the bare hard ground. Slowly, she pushed herself into a sitting position and looked around her.
All around her were pickets of thick brushes of grass. In the far distance were black hills surrounded by rolling grassland. Birds sang from trees a few paces ahead.
She had chosen that spot to rest for the night when her weary legs couldn’t go further. She raised her face to the sun, welcoming its warmth.
The night had been very cold, and she had shivered helplessly as she had no covering but her buckskin cloth. Although the Indian dress usually offered comfort, it was no match for the cold.
Olivia wrapped her arms around herself and wondered where she would go from there.
When she had woken up two days ago to find herself in the middle of nowhere, she had had no idea that she would end up walking for those days.
At first, she had been disoriented, questioning where she was and how she got there. Eventually, the events that led up to her losing consciousness had come to her, and she had lamented the loss of her Indian family.
Olivia recounted the events that took place two days ago as if it just happened a few minutes ago.
It had been just like any other day at the Indian reservation. She and her Cheyenne Indian friend, White Bird, had been at the creek watching over the children playing there.
“Eyes Like The Sky,” White Bird quietly called beside her.
“Yes, White Bird,” Olivia answered with a smile on her face as she watched the children chasing each other about.
“I think I’ll accept Talking Lion’s proposal,” her Indian friend said.
Olivia’s eyes widened. “Has he offered for you?”
White Bird’s face reddened. “He said he will meet with my father this evening to discuss with him.”
A bright smile covered Olivia’s face. “That’s wonderful.” But then she frowned. “What about Gray Wolf?”
White Bird sighed. “I would have preferred if Gray Wolf had offered for me first, but he appears not to be serious. He’s more concerned with hunting than with courting me. Perhaps another maiden has caught his eyes.”
Olivia shook her head. She didn’t think so. She believed that Gray Wolf was smitten by White Bird; he was only too shy to make his intentions known, unlike the tenacious Talking Lion.
She took her friend’s hand and offered her a comforting smile. “I don’t think that’s the case. But I’m happy that at least you’ve found a suitor in Talking Lion. I believe he will make a fine husband. I’ll pray incessantly for a successful marriage between you two.”
Her friend didn’t return her smile. Instead, a frown creased her forehead.
Olivia squeezed her hand. “What is the problem, White Bird?”
“I’m so confused, Eyes Like The Sky. I don’t know if I should wait for Gray Wolf to ask for my hand or just accept Talking Lion’s offer.”
Olivia didn’t like seeing her friend so worried. She threw her arm around her shoulder.
“Everything will be fine, I promise. We’ll take it to the Lord in prayer, and I’m definite that He will give you wisdom concerning who to choose to be your husband. You’ll see. Everything will work out for your good.”
The young Indian woman smiled at her. “Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that I’m a year older than you. I’m amazed at the level of your wisdom sometimes. Tomorrow, you’ll be eighteen, yet you talk like our shaman who has seen many moons.”
