“Cheyenne Indians are peaceful Indians.” Her voice rose a notch from anxiety running through her. “They don’t attack people or cows. Please, you must tell your men to leave them alone.”
The man regarded her with scorn. “I will do no such thing! They will pay for what they did to the ranches in Ruby Rock. Best you get out of the way if you don’t want to get injured in the process.”
Before Olivia could say anything more, the man steered his horse away from her and galloped to join the others.
“Please!”
Undeterred, she ran after him. Her eyes took with horror as the men started setting the teepees on fire while the Indians ran helter-skelter. The men stood their ground while the women and children screamed.
Olivia ran after the leader of the gang, still pleading for mercy. Not conscious of her surroundings, she nearly ran into one of the horses. She turned just in time not to be hit by it. But it gave her so much of fright that she immediately fainted.
Olivia jerked back to the present, to the loud sound of a bird calling its mate at a nearby tree.
Tears pricked her eyes as she remembered her friend, White Bird. The young Indian woman had been one of the good friends she had made at the reservation ever since she was rescued by them when she was ten-years old.
Determined to find her Indian family again, Olivia slowly pushed herself to her feet and winced at the pain that shot through her body.
When she came to from fainting, she had found herself in the middle of nowhere. She had wondered how she got there and surmised that one of the men must have carried her there.
Not knowing the direction that would take her back to the Indian village, she had closed her eyes and prayed for the right path to follow. She had sung hymns, clutched her bible to her chest, and started walking.
And so, she walked for two days without food or water. On the second day, she realized that she was most likely walking in the wrong direction and not back to the village. But then, it had been too late to turn back. Trusting that God was leading her along the right path, she had forged on.
In times of despair, she remembered how Moses led the Israelites across the wilderness to the promised land. Sure, they had faced a lot of obstacles along the way, but they had arrived there in due time. She had held on to that.
But now, she was beginning to get desperate. If she didn’t find the nearest town soon, she feared that she might not be able to make it.
Olivia hastily shook away such negative thoughts. God would never leave nor forsake her. He had promised that in his word.
Her eyes dropped to the bible she held in her hands. It brought back memories of her late parents and their strong faith in God.
She remembered when her late parents presented her with her the bible as her birthday gift when she was seven years old. She had never parted with it ever since, not even when she had to run from their house when it mysteriously caught on fire.
“In times of sorrow and despair, hold on tight to the unfailing Word of God. It will see you through anything that comes your way,” her father had told her and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Olivia couldn’t help the tears that ran down her face. She missed her parents dearly. It had been eight years since their passing, but she still missed them.
And now, she was also missing the only family she had known since she was ten. After watching her house burn down with her parents inside, she had roamed around the bushes until the Cheyenne Indians rescued her.
They had taken one look at her and named her Eyes Like The Sky because of her sky-blue eyes. Some of the Indians had also called her White Bear because of the resilience she showed going about without food or water for days. But she had preferred Eyes Like The Sky over being called a bear, although she knew most of the Cheyenne Indians were named after animals.
She had found herself in the same situation again. She was certain that she would pull through like the last time, but only by the grace of God.
Overcome by her present predicament, she went down on her knees and bowed her head. Tears poured down from her face.
“Father, please I come to you broken, tired, and hungry. I’m so weary I don’t think I can go on for long if I don’t get help soon. Please send me a sign in the form of help to show me I’m going in the right direction. Amen.”
Olivia pushed herself back to her feet and continued walking, hoping that her prayers would be answered soon.
I don’t know how long I can continue like this.
Chapter 2
“Good morning, Mrs. Barker.” Adam Lancaster tilted his black hat at the general store owner.
The elderly woman lifted her head from sweeping the front of the store with a corn broom. She bestowed on him a warm smile.
“Adam! It’s so good to see you again.” Her smile widened. “When I heard you were back in town, I was mighty glad. Then when I heard you were now a marshal, I was feezed to high heavens.”
