Yellow Moon
by
Ginger Simpson
Coming Soon
After many nights spent pondering a way to escape while bound in her
blankets and now yet another day of trying to find a comfortable rhythm tied to
a plodding horse, Yellow Moon closed her eyes and pretended the motion was the
gentle rocking of a canoe as Ate fished for their dinner. She pictured the sky blue water, the sweet
smell of the wildflowers wafting on the breeze, and her beloved ate,
determination showing on his face as he searched for the biggest catch. Keeping the peaceful picture in her head
proved difficult. Her entire body ached,
her hands were numb, and her head hurt.
Why was this happening to her? No
answer came, but a dark void called to her and an exhaustive sleep claimed her.
Cheers and ululations woke her.
The shrill noise the women made reminded her of welcomes she’d lent
voice to, and tears blurred her eyes.
She raised her face to see tepees and a crowd swarming the horses. Would the women stone her as she had heard
happened to others? In all her moons,
she’d never seen a captive mistreated by her tribe, but she wasn’t blind to the
fact that torture happened, often out of sight of children. She chanted a prayer to Wankan Tanka to spare
her life.
Conversations among the people were in a Siouan dialect, and most words
were discernable. Her captors were Crow,
known to be bitter enemies of the Sioux and Cheyenne over territorial
disputes. In the light of day, the
symbols painted on their horses were visible, and she learned the name of the
man who abducted her...Plenty Coup.
He untied her and pulled her from the horse...one she recognized as
belonging to Thunder Eyes. The Crow had
not only stolen women, they’d taken the animals as well. Would her husband-to-be come after her? How could he without his stallion to carry
him? Did he even know who took her and
the others? She stared bravely into the
face of Plenty Coup. “Why did you bring
us here?”
“They...” he pointed to the other women, will become slaves and serve
my people, but you...” He stood back and ran his gaze up and down her
body. “You, I think I will take as my
wife.”
She gasped. “You cannot. I am promised to Thunder Eyes of the Santee.
“That makes my plan even better.
I cannot think of anything more vengeful than taking his woman...unless
of course I....” Plenty Coup slashed his forefinger across his throat to
emphasize his meaning.
Yellow Eyes lifted her chin skyward and let the sun wash over her
face. Pretending she was back at the Sun
Dance and dealing with the fear of becoming wife to another Sioux didn’t change
a thing. She turned pleading eyes to her
captor. “Please do not hurt Thunder Eyes.
I will not resist you as long as you promise to let him live.”
“Then tomorrow, I will have my wife, Pretty Shield, ready you for the
ceremony.”
“Your wife?” Yellow
Moon’s jaw dropped open.
Yellow Moon is my current WIP and almost finished. Books We Love will be open to submissions again in January, and this will be one of the first emails they receive. It's been a long time in the works because I'm a pantser and Yellow Moon has been a spoiled brat to work with. She rarely talked to me...until recently. I hope you enjoy this teaser from somewhere in the story.
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