A/N.
So normally I would do more research while writing a story but since this is online and I'm not writing it as a midterm (smiles), I've been more lax. I apologize in advance if something is way off base or inaccurate. The prologue is a backdrop with not much dialogue. It picks up though. I promise.
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Light Heart
"Yes mother," Light Heart repeated again for what felt like the fifth time just that morning to her mothers interrogation before her usual walk into town. She knew her mother was even more worrisome because of the upcoming storm that was soon approaching and wouldn't have allowed her eldest daughter to travel into town alone without her if it weren't for her growing belly that carried her third child and Light Hearts younger sister or brother.
Her mother, Quiet Star, waddled awkwardly from her seat to once again make sure her daughter had packed enough food in her satchel for the four hour trip. Her husband, John Granger, was away with most men from the tribe hunting for more food. The winter proved to be harsher than expected and with the white men coming to hunt just for sport, finding meat wasn't as easy as it had once been.
Quiet Star, along with the rest of the woman from the trip, were strong and able to take care of the children with the older men who were too aged to hunt, but from time to time, she needed supplies from town. This time, she needed medicine for Song Jay, her second oldest, who had run a slight fever that the medicine woman in the tribe could not break. With Quiet Star seven moons with child, the best option she had was Light Heart to get the medicine.
Light Heart tucked her long plait into her bear skin hood and turned to her mother with a smile.
"Mother, you'll worry yourself sick and then the medicine woman will have to look after you and Song Jay," she admonished while giving her a kiss on the cheek. She glanced past her to look at her little sister who lay near the small fire asleep.
"Give her a kiss for me when she awakens."
Quiet Star nodded and gazed at her daughter who she still thought of as a young girl but was now a young woman standing before her with the same personality as her father. Her husband, John, was an African man who had purchased his freedom and had met her on his way to California looking for gold like all the other souls trying to find luck. The only difference between them and him was he never made it. One look at Quiet Star and he had fallen in love.
John made it as far as Texas and never thought of going anywhere else after laying eyes on her. Her quiet spirit and strength and captured his heart and after a few months of courting, they had married and he had engrained himself fully into her tribe. A year later, they brought Light Heart into the world who was named after the joy that she gave them; bringing light into both of their hearts. Like her father, she was quick to laughter and had a smile that lit up enough to make the sun envious. Her eyes were intense and her mind sharp and she had a voice that could soar as high as the clouds and make the angels weep with its sweet melody.
She favored her mother but there were hints of John here and there that couldn't be denied. Her stature was small with Quiet Star's cheekbones and lithe body that had the curves of a young woman. Her lips were full, courtesy of her father, with two dimples that pooled in her cheeks whenever she smiled, which was often. Her hair was black as night and fell down to her waist. From her father, she had ringlets that disobeyed every brush and from her mother, the silken softness and shine.
"Mother, I have to leave or I'll make it back by nightfall," Light Heart said, impatience tinting her voice.
Her mother embraced her. "Off with you then. May the Spirit guide your path and walk with you on your journey."
Light Heart straddled her horse bareback, Walking Light, a present from her father when she was ten seasons, and waved to her mother before riding off away from her tribe in the snow.
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Light Heart had made it into town around midday. The owner of the shop, Mr. Reed, made his usual joke of how old Light Heart was getting and how she was turning into a "lovely young lady," and offered her a sweet just as he had when she was a little girl. She tossed the sugary concoction around her mouth with her tongue as she saddled up Walking Light to make the journey back home with her sisters medicine in her satchel. Light snowflakes fell softly on her person as she swung herself onto Walking Light's back.
The clouds were looking darker by the minute and she debated making the trip home but she didn't want her mother to worry anymore than necessary.
Unbeknownst to her, two men had been watching her ever since she had bought the medicine and laughed with Mr. Reed at the shop. The two men stayed a pace behind her, plotting their move when the time was right.
In an hour, she had trouble seeing anything in front of her but doggedly pushed Walking Light on, determined to make it home to her mother and sister. The wind howled and blew the now huge snowflakes with mixed rain in a whirlwind all around her. She knew the path well and trusted Walking Light's instinct to spot any danger.
Just at that thought, Walking Light abruptly stopped and stamped her hoof on the snow covered ground. Light Heart leaned down and stroked her mane.
"Shh. Easy girl. I'm here."
Walking Light pounded her hoof again with a shrill "ney" this time and alarmed, Light Heart's eyes darted around her. All was silent except for the cry of the wind echoing throughout the maze of trees. The snow silently fell in an eerie calm and Light Heart felt the hair at the base of her neck stand on edge.
She didn't see anything but knowing the land, she knew that something... or someone was out there. She struggled to listen for footprints or any abrupt noises like a twig being broken, but nothing came to her. Walking Light's ears suddenly perked up and instantaneously, she heard it.
"Help, please! Help me!"
The voice was male and not too far from where Light Heart was. Light Heart stayed with Walking Light, waiting. Her father had taught her not too be a blind fool in no circumstances.
"Hello? Is anyone there? Please. My horse threw me and I think I might have broken my leg."
