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Second Chance Series 7: Tribe
Second Chance Series 7: Tribe
Second Chance Series 7: Tribe
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Second Chance Series 7: Tribe

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Journey into the Old West for a look at life on the wild and untamed Frontier. A time when the American buffalo and the American Indian were all but hunted into extinction. As a nation, it was our darkest hour. But even in such dark times as these, there are still heroes to be found and hope to be had and wonders to behold. And even an occasional romance or two. For even in this age, you will find there is always a Second Chance.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherPaul Green
Release dateSep 11, 2011
ISBN9781465732408
Second Chance Series 7: Tribe
Author

Paul Green

The author’s three children had grown up and his eldest had two of her own, Isobelle and Oscar. Their imagination knew no boundaries. Every cupboard was a ‘den’, a sheet draped over objects, a tent, not to mention the fun they had with their toys! The author worked on this and wrote several books around them. What a joy.

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    Second Chance Series 7 - Paul Green

    Second Chance Series • Book Seven

    TRIBE

    paul green

    Table of Contents

    Cover Page

    Title Page

    Copyright Notice

    Second Chance Series

    Reader Recommendation

    Acknowledgements

    Dedication

    Cover Page

    From the author ...

    Chapter 1

    ~ Marshal Law ~

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    A few pictures & illustrations

    ~ Law of the Land ~

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    ~ Prejudicial Law ~

    Chapter 11

    Chapter 12

    ~ Territorial Law ~

    Chapter 14

    Chapter 15

    ~ Law of the Protector ~

    Chapter 17

    Chapter 18

    Chapter 19

    Chapter 20

    Chapter 21

    Chapter 22

    Chapter 23

    ~ Family Law ~

    Chapter 25

    Chapter 26

    ~ Law of the Past ~

    Chapter 28

    Chapter 29

    Chapter 30

    Chapter 31

    Chapter 32

    Chapter 33

    ~ Law of Sacrifice ~

    Chapter 35

    Chapter 36

    ~ Law of Love ~

    Chapter 38

    Chapter 39

    Chapter 40

    ~ Law of the Homeless ~

    Chapter 42

    Chapter 43

    Chapter 44

    Chapter 45

    Chapter 46

    Chapter 47

    Chapter 48

    Chapter 49

    Chapter 50

    ~ Law of the Flesh ~

    Chapter 52

    Chapter 53

    Chapter 54

    Chapter 55

    Chapter 56

    Chapter 57

    Chapter 58

    Chapter 59

    ~ Law of the Heart ~

    Chapter 61

    Chapter 62

    Chapter 63

    Chapter 64

    Chapter 65

    ~ Change of Seasons ~

    Chapter 67

    Chapter 68

    Chapter 69

    Chapter 70

    Chapter 71

    Chapter 72

    Chapter 73

    Chapter 74

    ~ Epilogue ~

    ~ Reader Notes, more pictures & illustrations ~

    Previews

    Second Chance Series

    Tales From Camelot Series

    About the Author . . .

    Copyright Notice

    Second Chance Series

    Book Seven: TRIBE

    Copyright © 2011 by Paul Green. All Rights Reserved.

    First Printing: September 2011

    This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

    All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

    For further information, contact info@paulgreenauthor.com

    www.SecondChanceNovels.com

    Second Chance Series

    Part One

    Book 1: BEGINNINGS

    Book 2: AWAKENING

    Book 3: PROPHET

    Part Two

    Book 4: REVENANT

    Book 5: PRODIGAL

    Book 6: AVALON - Part 1

    Book 6: AVALON - Part 2

    Part Three

    Book 7: TRIBE

    Book 8: SEED

    Book 9: ENDGAME

    www.SecondChanceNovels.com

    www.TalesFromCamelot.com

    Beginning 2013

    Prophet Chronicles series

    For further information contact info@paulgreenauthor.com

    Reader Recommendation

    Due to the unique subject matter, this series will appeal to a very broad audience: teen to elderly, male and female alike.

    Although some parts may be considered to be too intense for pre-teen or younger readers. Ages 13 and up recommended.

    Acknowledgements

    Special thanks to all my reviewers. Your input has been invaluable.

    Thank you to my son Christopher for his help in designing the covers.

    And extra special thanks to the One who gave me the desire to write.

    Dedication

    Dedicated to . . .

    The 500 Nations.

    From the author ...

    This book is a little unique among the rest of the books in this series. It is a standalone story and could conceivably be read out of the sequence from the others. Though I would recommend reading at least through Book 3: PROPHET and even better, Book 4: REVENANT. Best of course, would be to complete Book 6: AVALON. Nevertheless, it is an independent story; one that I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to tell.

    TRIBE is a little bit of a departure from the other books. Think of it as a 7th inning stretch. Of course, this book is also important in that it sets the foundation for this final trilogy. What you learn here in TRIBE will very much come into play in Book 8: SEED and the final Book 9: ENDGAME. You will also be learning some cool and fascinating new details and background information about some of your favorite characters.

    I had mentioned in Book 2 that AWAKENING was my favorite story. Book 7: TRIBE, however, will be the book I am most proud of. It is an important story. It is a little more serious and a little more 'adult', a bit more action and a bit more emotional. It is an Indian story. And it is a tale of the law.

    The story of the encounter between European settlers and America's native population does not make for pleasant reading. Among early accounts, perhaps the most famous is Helen Hunt Jackson's A Century of Dishonor (1888), a depressing recitation of forced removals, killings, and callous disregard.

    According to Ward Churchill, a professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado, the reduction of the North American Indian population from an estimated 12 million in 1500 to barely 237,000 in 1900 represents a vast genocide..., the most sustained on record. By the end of the 19th century, writes David E. Stannard, a historian at the University of Hawaii, native Americans had undergone the worst human holocaust the world had ever witnessed, roaring across two continents non-stop for four centuries and consuming the lives of countless tens of millions of people. In the judgment of Lenore A. Stiffarm and Phil Lane, Jr., there can be no more monumental example of sustained genocide - certainly none involving a 'race' of people as broad and complex as this - anywhere in the annals of human history.

    Book Seven: TRIBE is not going to be a depressing or 'preachy' read about the great and terrible injustices done to the original Americans. Rather, the intent is provide you, the reader, a sense of what is was like to actually live in those times, while still enjoying the 'feel-good' sense and wonder that I have tried to project throughout this series.

    Nevertheless, this was our nation's darkest hour; a time which, even to this day, tends to remain forgotten and swept under the rug in national denial. After all, none of us likes to admit to the awful atrocities our forefathers have committed - all in the name of Manifest Destiny.

    But even in such dark times as where we will be going on in this venture, there are still heroes to be found and hope to be had and wonders to behold. And even an occasional romance or two.

    For even in this age, you will find there is always a Second Chance.

    Indian Reservation

    John D. Loudermill

    They took the whole Cherokee nation

    Put us on this reservation

    Took away our ways of life

    The tomahawk and the bow and knife

    Took away our native tongue

    And taught their English to our young

    And all the beads we made by hand

    Are nowadays made in Japan

    Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe

    So proud to live, so proud to die

    They took the whole Indian nation

    Locked us on this reservation

    Though I wear a shirt and tie

    I'm still part red man deep inside

    But maybe someday when they learn

    Cherokee nation will return

    -Paul Revere and the Raiders, - 1971

    *** *** ***

    So tractable, so peaceable are these people, that I swear to your Majesties there is not in the world a better nation. They love their neighbors as themselves, and their discourse is ever sweet and gentle, and accompanied with a smile; and though it is true that they are naked, yet their manners are decorous and praiseworthy.

    -Columbus to the King and Queen of Spain

    Chapter 1

    Okay, is everybody here?

    Ben, there are just four of us sitting at our table.

    I know, Susan. But you know how Michael can be; especially at his age.

    What!? What do you mean at my age!? I'm only forty - something - ish.

    Dude, you have the attention span of a gnat. For all I know your brain is off gallivanting around the north forty trying to remember where you parked your horse.

    You are such a moron! Look who's calling who old!? You don't see ME wearing reading glasses, do you!?

    That's because you can't even remember where you put them.

    I don't NEED to remember where I put them because I don't NEED them!

    Then why do you even HAVE them!?

    Boys, that will be enough. said Alana. You're going to wake the kids.

    I still can't believe they're having a sleepover. complained Ben, looking down the hall. They're eleven years old! Aren't they a little old to still be having sleepovers?

    Ben Davison, they've been having sleepovers ever since they were babies! scolded Susan. Give me a break!

    Susan! They're eleven years old! Our daughter, Rebecca ... is right now ... sleeping in the very same room ... as Michael's son, Kal. In the very same room!

    Susan groaned. Oh, not this again. Do we really have to do this all over again?

    I'm serious! Michael ... would you EVER ... have let Jenny ... sleep in the same room as Daniel, when they were eleven? I don't think so!

    Michael chuckled. Shoe's on the other foot now, eh partner?

    Ben, relax! said Susan. Colette is in there, too. They're just kids! When they get to Jr. High, then we'll...

    Susan, think about it for a minute. Think back to when we were eleven. Do you remember that time in Zag's tree house?

    Which time? We were all in his tree house millions of times.

    Not all of us ... and not always all at the same time. Remember that one time? When it was just you and me? While Stu and Zag rode up to the store on their bikes?

    Uh ... well ... I ... seem to remember ... maybe something ... gosh, it was so long ago.

    I know. We were only eleven.

    I don't know, Ben. I ... I don't remember...

    Susan. Remember that Operation game? The one with batteries? Where you had to remove something from that goofy looking patient guy with tweezers, but you couldn't touch the sides or it sounded a buzzer? Or make his nose turn red or something?

    Oh, yeah! I remember! I loved that game!

    Remember you and me playing it? While Stu and Zag were gone to the store? Up in the tree house? Just you and me? Remember? After the batteries went dead and so ... we ... uh ... uh ... remember?

    Susan thought to herself for a moment. Suddenly her eyes widened and her face instantly blushed red. Oh my gosh! I forgot all about that!

    Uh huh. And we were only eleven.

    OH ... MY ... GOSH.

    Why? asked Alana. What happened in the tree house?

    NOTHING! Nothing happened in the tree house, Alana!

    It sounds like something happened to me. Michael grinned.

    Ben, how could you even remember that!?

    Are you kidding!? I never forgot it.

    Well, I did! Oh my gosh! How embarrassing!

    Why? Alana asked again. What happened in the tree house?

    NOTHING! Nothing happened in the tree house, Alana!

    Did ... somebody switch over to another ... 'patient'? Michael teased.

    Shut up, Michael!

    If so, I want to know which of you was the patient.

    Alana? Excuse me; I need to go check on the kids.

    Okay, but I think they're all asleep.

    They better be.

    I don't understand.

    Nothing, Alana; I'll explain it later.

    Okay.

    Michael?

    What?

    Not another word. You too, Ben.

    Michael chuckled as Susan quickly left the table to check the room.

    Maybe you could build the kids a tree house, Michael! Wouldn't that be fun!?

    Michael stopped laughing. Uh ... I don't think so, Alana. I think they're probably a little old for tree houses, now.

    Ben and Susan weren't too old to play in the tree house.

    Ben coughed.

    Uh ... so, Ben? Michael asked quickly, looking around the room. What, uh ... what's in the box?

    Huh? What box?

    The one by the door.

    Oh. That box. Something Daniel ordered from one of Susan's catalogs.

    Really? What's in it?

    Shampoo, I think.

    Daniel orders shampoo from Susan's catalog?

    I think it's cheaper when he buys it by the case.

    I repeat ... Daniel orders shampoo from Susan's catalog?

    Actually ... I think it's for Jenny, not for Daniel.

    Well, she does go through a lot of shampoo. Alana smiled. We both do.

    Michael chuckled. That's for sure. Between Alana and Jenny with their long hair, I think that's half our monthly budget!

    Michael! We aren't that bad! Stop exaggerating.

    I know, I know; I'm just teasing. And I'm still in love with your hair, so you keep buying all the shampoo you need, M'Lady.

    Michael, that's enough; you're embarrassing me.

    You know, it's weird. said Ben. Adrien ordered a full case, too. For Sara, I mean. He picked up his case earlier this afternoon. He seemed really excited about it, too. Weird.

    I'm sure they are concerned with saving money. said Alana. That's very responsible; especially as they are just starting out like this.

    Yeah, I guess. It still seems strange, though. Guys buying shampoo for girls? And why so much!?

    Just then, Susan returned...

    Okay, they're all sound asleep. she said, sitting back down at the table. You know, I think I agree with Ben. They probably are getting old enough where the girls should sleep in their own room, next time.

    Oh, that's too bad. Alana sighed. Kal was really looking forward to this sleepover tonight, too.

    Oh? Susan and Ben both said, warily.

    Uh, huh. He really likes your caramel peach cobbler, Susan.

    Oh! Well ... I know it's his favorite.

    They don't have to do sleepovers. said Ben. We can still do game nights or ... movie nights or ... whatever nights. We just don't have to do the sleepover part. I mean ... we all live right next to each other; so what's the point?

    I like that we all live next to each other. smiled Alana.

    WHICH ... reminds me... Ben said, ...what it was that I wanted to talk to you about.

    Okay, Ben; what's this big announcement of yours? Michael grinned. Are you officially getting ready to start your ... 'coffee plantation' now?

    No, not yet. But I am still seriously considering that at some point.

    Well, what is it then!? Alana asked, excitedly.

    Okay, here's the deal. Do you guys remember ... how before I came back, I was living in this old cabin in a canyon, out in the middle of nowhere by a creek?

    Yeah, you were about sixty years old. said Michael. And you had lived there for about ten years?

    Right. I bought it when I was about fifty, a few years after Susan ... uh ... left me.

    Uggh. sighed Susan. I hate thinking about those days. Those were awful times.

    Ben smiled at Susan and reached out to hold her hand. Fortunately we both got a Second Chance. And I, for one, am quite pleased with how things have turned out.

    Me, too, Ben. I love you, Mr. Davison.

    And I love you too, Mrs. Davison.

    And just as they started kissing, Michael interrupted. All right, that's enough, kids; back to this announcement of yours.

    Okay. Ben chuckled. Mrs. Davison? Hold that thought until later.

    Yes, Mr. Davison. Anything ... you say.

    Cough. Uh ... uh ... okay, where was I?

    You were starting to tell us about some decrepit old man living in a decrepit old shack. Michael grinned.

    Thanks, Michael; I appreciate it.

    Anytime!

    So anyway ... I was thinking ... and I've already talked it over with Susan ... that maybe I might want to buy that cabin, again.

    WHAT!? exclaimed Alana in horror. YOU CAN'T LEAVE!

    No, no, Alana! Susan said, quickly. We're not leaving! We're staying right here.

    You're not leaving!?

    No, Alana; are you kidding!? We're all family! We're not leaving!

    Oh. Alana sighed in relief.

    We were just thinking of it as a ... little getaway home. Like a vacation home.

    Why!? Alana asked.

    Yeah, why? Michael repeated. You live in Hawaii!

    In a word? Ben grinned. Tumbleweeds.

    Excuse me? said Michael.

    As in ... we don't have any.

    I don't get it.

    Michael, you used to travel all over the world; haven't you ever wanted someplace ... different for a change? A change of scenery? A change in weather?

    No, I'm quite happy living right here, thank you very much.

    Susan smiled at Michael. I remember you once not being able to understand why your dad wanted to stay here and settle down, instead of traveling.

    Yeah, I remember. Now I'm the one saying it.

    Same with us. said Ben. We love it here, too, and could never imagine living anywhere else. But still ... we were just thinking ... that it might be nice to have a little change of scenery, from time to time. And it wouldn't just be for me and Susan ... it would be for all of us. You guys could go anytime you want. And the kids. Or Stuart and Zagnut and the four families. Just ... someplace ... different.

    Alana looked at Michael. I like it here.

    I know you do, Alana. said Ben. But think about it ... the weather is the same here, nearly all year round. But in California where that canyon is located? They have fall! Real fall! And winter! Where at night there is a crisp chill in the air and you can see your breath and icicles form overnight and frost and...

    Alana shivered. You think that's a good thing!? B-r-r-r-r.

    I'm just saying that it's a nice change of pace and scenery. There's great fishing in the creek; in the springtime it's more like a river! And the trees ... and the colors ... the trees actually change colors in the fall!

    And tumbleweeds. said Alana. What's so special about tumbleweeds?

    Because, Alana! It's like the Old West out there! That's one of the few things that Hawaii doesn't have! Tumbleweeds!

    Then Alana turned and looked at Michael. Are you getting any of this? Because it's not making any sense to me; at all.

    Actually... Michael grinned, ...he does have a point. We don't have tumbleweeds.

    Michael...

    No really. I know we live on a ranch, and all ... but it's a Hawaiian ranch. It's not the same. I know the area that Ben is talking about and it really is nice out there. It might be fun to spend a week or so there, sometimes. On occasion.

    And..., said Susan, Monica and Ramón could visit there.

    We've offered to fly them out here. said Alana.

    I know. Susan replied. But I think ... it's just a little too far for them. Monica doesn't like the idea of airplanes, and they don't want to be away from all of their kids. But at the cabin, I think they might be willing to go there.

    They were awfully sweet. Alana smiled. I miss them.

    So do we. said Ben.

    Is the cabin even built, yet? Michael asked. I thought you bought it from some guy who built it to survive the Millennium Year 2000 Y2K computer bug holocaust that never happened?

    That's the best part! Ben grinned. He's still going to do it! But this time, I can buy it from him right after the whole Year 2000 thing fizzles out, instead of years later like last time.

    That's only three years away. said Michael.

    I know. Now I've already looked into it; the land itself is still available for purchase, so I think I might go ahead and buy it right now - it's out in the middle of nowhere and dirt cheap. The guy never actually bought the land he was living on; he just starting building on a seemingly empty piece of deserted land and no one was the wiser.

    You were living on illegal land!? exclaimed Alana.

    Eh ... I didn't care much about anybody or anything, back in those days.

    It's hard for me to picture you like that. said Alana. You're so ... so...

    So what?

    Cuddly.

    Michael raised his eyebrow.

    You know what I mean. Alana continued. You're always hugging the kids and holding the babies and, well ... we all know how you are with Susan.

    Affectionate? Ben grinned.

    Okay, that works. The point is, it's just hard to picture you as a ... bitter old hermit.

    I can picture the 'old' part. teased Michael.

    Shut up, you moron.

    Susan? Alana asked. You're okay with this?

    Honestly, Alana? I think it would be fun. For all of us.

    Why?

    Just ... for a change of scenery!

    But I love it here!

    I know you do! You and Jenny, especially; and Kiyoko. But don't you think it's kind of nice to get away?

    Well ... Mammoth was ... interesting.

    I know; you didn't like the cold.

    And Baja? That was ... interesting.

    I know; you didn't like the hot. But this isn't like that; it's neither of those two extremes.

    Alana looked at Ben. I still don't understand what's so attractive about ... tumbleweeds. Yech.

    Ben laughed. Like I said, where the cabin sits, it kinda reminds you of the Old West.

    And that's a positive thing because...

    Alana, haven't you watched a western on T.V.?

    Oh, I know what this is about! Alana replied, with her eyes widening in understanding. This is about that Clint Eastwood video collection that we got you last year for your birthday!

    Well ... that may have certainly ... helped to inspire the idea.

    You and Michael have been watching way too many of those westerns. I think it's going to your head.

    Have you even watched ONE of them!?

    I started to once, but then everybody started shooting everybody, and I couldn't stomach it. I think those videos are much too violent for you boys to be watching.

    They're WESTERNS!!

    And that makes it okay because...

    Ben and Michael looked at each other and shook their heads.

    Susan, don't you think they're too violent?

    I don't know, Alana; I kind of like the Dirty Harry movies, myself.

    What!? Susan!

    I like movies about detectives and 'whodunits' and mysteries and seeing the bad guy get in the end.

    Alana frowned and crossed her arms at Susan. I thought you liked romantic movies? Or romantic comedies?

    I do! I just ... sometimes I like to mix it up a little! Which is the whole point in a vacation cabin in California!

    Are there going to be guns, there? Because I won't go, and I won't let my kids go, if there are going to be guns.

    Uh... Ben said, looking at Michael with a shrug. I guess we could ... maybe ... do without the guns ... if we really had to.

    What!? exclaimed both Susan and Alana.

    You were planning on having guns!? Susan asked, incredulously.

    Maybe a couple of six-shooters. Michael and I wanted to have a duel.

    WHAT!?

    With blanks! Not with real bullets!

    BEN DAVISON! I DON'T THINK SO!

    Ssssh! Quiet, Susan! You're gonna wake the kids!

    Michael, what is wrong with you!? exclaimed Alana.

    They were just going to be blanks! Michael shrugged in defense. What's the harm in that?

    You and Ben wanted to shoot each other!? exclaimed Susan.

    Sure. Haven't you ever wanted to shoot Ben? Michael teased.

    It's not funny, Michael! Susan scolded.

    But...

    Two words! NO ... FREAKIN' ... WAY!

    That's three words, Susan.

    Shut up, Ben!

    Okay.

    No guns, you got that!?

    But George has guns and she...

    I KNEW you were going to say that! Ben, George has had a gazillion years of training! I wouldn't trust you for a SECOND with a gun! You and Michael are NOT going to shoot each other! And no, Ben; not even with BB guns!

    Yeah, I know; that last time really hurt.

    Alana scowled at both of them. I still can't believe you both shot each other with BB guns.

    Yeah well, if Michael hadn't distracted me, it would have been HIM going to the E.R. instead of me.

    I still can't believe you two SHOT each other! Susan said in fury. When are you two going to grow up!? You have GRANDCHILDREN for crying out loud!

    But Michael distracted me! That wasn't fair!

    Benjamin Davison! No guns! And that's final!

    What about pellet guns?

    No guns I said!

    Then what are we going to shoot each other with!?

    BEN DAVISON!

    What about arrows? Can we shoot each other with arrows?

    Susan dropped her head down on the table. One of these days, Ben Davison ... one of these days...

    *** *** ***

    Three weeks later, Ben, Susan, Michael & Alana were standing in a canyon on the 18-acre plot of land in California that Ben had just recently purchased, surveying the area.

    There was not yet an existing Jeep trail leading down to the bottom of the canyon, and Alana wasn't too keen on blazing a new trail; thus she 'Dreamed' them the short distance down near a patch of trees and brush close to a full-running creek.

    Man, this brings back memories. said Ben, looking around. The canyon looks so different without my cabin here. This is where I first met Elias, you know.

    Back to the Beginnings. Susan smiled, with her arms around her husband.

    Alana's arms were crossed and she was frowning. I still don't see what the attraction is. It's nowhere as beautiful as Hawaii. And it's cold out here! You said it wasn't going to be cold!

    Susan laughed. That's because it's the middle of winter. And I said it wasn't going to be 'extreme' cold, like Mammoth. Come on, Alana? Doesn't that chill bite in the air make you feel alive!?

    I'm sorry; but I like warm, better than cold.

    So where is the cabin actually going to be built? Michael asked, looking around. Over by the creek?

    Actually, he'll start building it next year, right over there in that patch of trees.

    Well, at least we'll have some shade. said Susan. This is my first time out here. It's a lot nicer than I had imagined. This really is a nice piece of land Ben, I have to admit.

    What's that in the trees? Alana asked, curiously.

    What's what? Ben replied.

    On the ground. Don't you see it? That ... brown and black thing?

    I, uh ... oh, you're right. I ... I don't know what that is. I'll go check it out.

    Are you sure it's safe out here? Alana asked, nervously. I read there were mountain lions out here; and coyotes and bobcats.

    Yeah, there are. But I lived out here for ten years and they never bothered me.

    Ben, don't forget...

    I know, I know. said Ben, and they began walking towards the trees. Trust me, I'll never forget being mauled by that cave wolf. Believe me, I'm a lot more wary now than I used to be.

    Susan snorted.

    WAIT! Alana exclaimed. IS THAT...

    IT IS! Ben replied in shock. IT'S A BODY!

    QUICK! HURRY Susan shouted, leading the pack.

    But they were in for even more surprises. As they hurriedly ran over to the body, all four suddenly stopped dead in their tracks and gasped. For the unconscious body belonged to a woman. But not just any woman. She was dressed in a wraparound skirt and poncho-style blouse made out of deerskin and leather moccasins; much as how a Native American Indian woman might have dressed well over a hundred and fifty years ago in the 1800's.

    For that is exactly what she was - an Indian woman.

    And her hair was so black, it almost seemed blue.

    ~ Marshal Law ~

    Chapter 2

    June 15, 1868

    Eastern Washington (State) Territory

    Yakima River Valley

    Frannie? What do you see?

    Why do you always ask me that, Jacob?

    I don't know. I guess ... I think you can learn a lot about a person while you're looking at clouds.

    On a clear and sunny summer's day underneath the shade of a Ponderosa Pine, lay a young twelve-year-old boy and twelve-year-old girl on a grass prairie, lazily looking up at a deep blue sky with cotton candy clouds. The boy had sandy blonde hair with blue eyes; the girl had dark brown hair with brown eyes.

    But you ask me that every day, Jacob.

    Well, we're out of school for the summer. And we're just laying here doing nothing. Besides, the clouds are different every day.

    I suppose. Why? What do you see?

    I see ... a great sailing ship.

    You said that yesterday! And the day before. And the day before.

    So?

    Do you really want to travel around the world, Jacob?

    When I grow up, you better believe it! Someday ... that's exactly what I'm going to do.

    You're really going to sail all the way around the whole wide world?

    Yup. And I'm going to visit every country in the world, too. India ... China ... Africa ... I want to see them all. What about you, Frannie? What do you see?

    I see ... a castle.

    A castle? In the clouds?

    Yup. That's what I see.

    You still want to visit England? And see the Queen?

    I sure do! Queen Victoria; the longest reign of any female monarch in history.

    I still don't understand why you want to visit England.

    Because I was born there!

    I thought you were born on a ship.

    Well, I was; but we were still in the English Channel, so ... close, enough. We didn't arrive here until a few months later.

    And why were you born on a ship, anyway? Why didn't they at least wait until you were born first, before leaving England?

    I don't know, Jacob. Why so many questions?

    Were you running from someone?

    What!?

    I don't know. Don't get mad, Frannie. I was just curious, that's all. It was just a question.

    I'm not mad, Jacob. I just don't understand why you always have to know so much about me.

    Because you are a mystery, Frannie Miller. And I am determined to figure you out.

    Jacob, I'm twelve years old and you've known me your whole life. How mysterious can I be?

    I don't know, Frannie; you're awfully mysterious.

    Why? Just because I like to shoot guns?

    And that's another thing. Girls aren't supposed to shoot guns.

    Why?

    Guns are for men.

    You're not a man and you have a rifle. And you're the same age as me.

    I'm almost a man.

    But you're nowhere near as good a shot as me. she teased.

    No, but I'm getting better. Someday, I might even get better than you.

    Jacob Samuel! Don't tell me you're jealous!

    I'm not jealous! I just ... I don't understand how you got to be so good, that's all.

    My dad is the town gunsmith, you know.

    I know, but still ... you're a girl!

    Is that why you think I'm mysterious?

    Not just that ... a lot of other things, too.

    Like what other things?

    I don't know. You ... you're not like other girls.

    "What do you mean

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