winter in my sheltered valley part 2

[beezlebob]

  When spring came moonriver and I were getting a case of cabin fever so planned a trip to see some country. I had checked the pass out of our valley and it was passable. I told her I wanted to get some venison to make jerky before we left. She was working on a new pair of pants for me, and a dress for her so elected to remain home while I went to look for a nice deer. Late in the day I found a nice young buck and headed back to the valley. As I neared the pass there were unshod pony tracks leading in over mine so I was concerned and hurried on. At the pass I found two sets of tracks, the one I'd seen earlier, and Moonriver's pony tracks and it looked as though her horse was led. I quickly stashed the deer high in a tree from a rope to keep it safe, turned around and started following the trail. Whoever had her didn't bother to hide his trail at first. I stayed on the trail til I couldn't read the sign anymore so bedded down for the night. Before first light, I was on the trail again. I didn't even eat. Worry for moonriver knawed at my guts. The trail came to a creek and didn't cross it, the one who had her was trying to hide his trail in the creek. He had been heading west all the time, so I stayed out of the water and followed the creek for a few miles when I came to a rock outcropping that started in the creek and came out for about half a mile. Turning my horse, I followed the rock to the end, and sure enough, their tracks led off the rock into the forest. I was lucky here as I didn't waste time looking for their trail. The trail kept going west, whoever had her had a destination in mind. Stopping to rest my horse, I sat in the shade and worried til my mount was rested, then we headed on. At almost sundown I smelled smoke and as I got closer I left my horse in a place he could graze. As I got closer I hear a scream and hurried on. There in the edge of the trees were Moonriver, and a man from her tribe named Lone Wolf. He was a man who had always lived and hunted alone, no friends to speak of. He was standing in front of Moonriver shouting at her, then he slapped her again and pointed to a ti pi he had there. She refused to go in so he hit her again. I couldn't shoot him as I might hit her, so began a stalk to close the distance hoping he would move a little so I could end the trouble. I got close enough I laid my rifle aside, and drew my trusty knife, razor sharp and crept on. The argument kept his attention away from me and I came up behind him and Moonriver looked at me and smiled, giving me away. Lone Wolf whirled around grabbing for his knife, but mine went into his belly and I ripped my knife upward cutting him deeply and he dropped his knife and sat on the ground trying to stop the bleeding. Moonriver rushed into my arms and things were good again. I released her and knelt beside Lone Wolf and asked him why he took her. Glaring hate at me he said he had always wanted her, but she refused him, as did all the women in the village. We left him dying and mounted up, taking his horse with us.
  getting home was a nice welcome sight. Moonriver hugged me and kissed me and I was in heaven again.

[old salt]

A good read.

[seniorsgt]

good read keep em coming