Page 44 of Shoshone Sun

Finally, as the first morning light spread over the landscape, Flying Arrow spotted the wagon in the distance. His heart lurched. He could see the figures of the horses ahead, the silhouette of the wagon visible through the trees.

He had found Jane!

Fred had not expected the confrontation. His eyes focused on the path ahead, his mind was preoccupied with plans of how he could win back Jane’s heart. How he could convince her to marry him, to forget Flying Arrow and everything that had happened in the past. He wasn’t prepared for Standing Buffalo to find them so quickly.

The thunder of hooves sounding from behind him, Fred turned just in time to see the large, powerful figure of Flying Arrow riding hard toward him. The warrior’s face was set in a mask of fury, his eyes burning with a deep, terrifying resolve.

Fred barely had time to react before Flying Arrow was upon him, leaping from his horse with the speed of a striking snake. Fred scrambled backward, reaching for the rifle he had left by his side, but Flying Arrow was faster, grabbing Fred’s wrist with a force that made Fred’s bones feel like they might shatter.

“You will not touch her again,” Flying Arrow said, his voice low and dangerous as he twisted the man’s arm. With his other hand, he reined the horses to a stop.

Fred sneered, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “You can’t stop me, you savage. She’ll come to me. She always was mine.”

Flying Arrow didn’t hesitate. With one swift motion, he disarmed Fred, knocking the rifle to the ground, and then it was just the two of them—man to man.

The fight was brutal. Fred fought with the desperation of a man who had nothing left to lose, but Flying Arrow was a warrior, and his strength, honed from years of battle, was unmatched. With every strike, Flying Arrow’s rage mounted, and it wasn’t long before Fred was covered in blood, moaning in pain, and gasping for breath.

“You tried to steal her from me. But you’ll never see her again,” Flying Arrow said, his voice cold. With one final blow, Flying Arrow ended him. The sound of Fred’s body hitting the earth was the last thing Jane would ever hear from the man who had once broken her heart.

Flying Arrow turned to see Jane bound in the back of the wagon and quickly moved to untie her. He removed her gag and untied the ropes binding her, lifting her gently from the wagon, his strong arms supporting her fragile form.

The relief that surged through her at his arrival was overwhelming. Tears of joy sprang to her eyes as she heard him whisper softly, “I love you, Jane. I should never have let you go alone!”

She felt so cherished and so relieved. But her relief was brief as suddenly she was overtaken by a sharp pain surging through her body. She gasped, clutching her belly as a wave of cramping pain overwhelming her. The baby was coming!

Flying Arrow didn’t hesitate. He picked her up in his arms, jumped from the wagon, and carried her through the surrounding trees, moving with quick, purposeful steps, until they reached a small, secluded glade not far from the trail. There, in the soft grasses, he laid her down gently.

The ground was cool beneath her, the scent of autumn wildflowers and fresh earth filling the air. She could barely focus on her surroundings though as the pain in her body grew with each passing moment. For an instant she thought she’d die of fear, but then she focused on Flying Arrow, his presence a steadying force, his hand warm on hers as he spoke to her in soothing tones.

“You are strong, Jane,” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You are strong like the earth beneath us. Trust me. Trust in the land. You are not alone.”

With his help, she breathed through the pain, listening to his voice as it steadied her, pulling her through the agony. Every few minutes, the pain would surge again, and she would cry out, but Flying Arrow was right there, his hands guiding her, encouraging her.

And then, just as the sun reached its peak in the sky, as the world seemed to hold its breath, the first cry of their child filled the air. The sound was pure, raw, and beautiful, and it brought tears to Jane’s eyes as Flying Arrow held their child for the first time.

“We have a son,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “A son, Jane. Our son.”

She gazed up at him, her heart full, her body exhausted but relieved. Flying Arrow leaned down, brushing his lips against her forehead. Then, his eyes shining with pride and love, he placed the babe in her arms.

Together, they had created life in the most sacred of ways, and in that moment, with the sun casting its warm light over them and the soft breeze rustling the trees around them, Jane knew that she was home.

She was safe. She was loved. And their family had only just begun.

Epilogue: A Decade of Peace and Joy

- Shoshone Village, October 1877

Two hundred miles west of Fort Laramie -

Ten years had passed since that fateful day when Flying Arrow had rescued Jane from Fred, the same day their son had been born. Since then, their lives had been filled with love, laughter, and the fullness of life together. The seasons had turned, and the world had changed in subtle ways, but the core of their lives—family, community, and the bond they shared—had remained unchanged, steady, and unbreakable.

The Shoshone village was alive with the hum of daily life. The scent of the evening fires mixed with the fresh mountain air. Children played near the river, their laughter echoing through the trees as women gathered herbs and men worked, preparing for the coming winter. The village was thriving, a community built on unity, strength, and shared purpose.

In the center of the village, Flying Arrow stood tall, his face softened by a smile as he watched his children. Beside him, Jane beamed with pride, her heart full of contentment. She had never imagined that life could be so peaceful, so full of love and happiness.

Their oldest child, Standing Wolf, was now ten years old. He was a curious, spirited boy with dark eyes that mirrored his father’s, and a bottomless curiosity that reminded Jane of her own younger days. He loved exploring the surrounding forest, learning the ways of the land from Flying Arrow, and practicing his bow skills with the other young boys in the village. Though still young, he carried himself with the quiet confidence of his father, always looking out for his younger siblings and treating his family with great respect.

Five-year-old Snowbird, their daughter, ran playfully through the village, her laughter like music as she chased after a group of her friends. Her hair, long and blonde, was braided with colorful beads, and her smile could light up even the darkest of days. Snowbird had inherited Jane’s gentle spirit, but she also had a wildness in her heart that came from her father. She loved to pick flowers, play by the river, and sit with Jane as they sewed together, learning the traditions of the tribe.

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