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Chapter One

Arizona, 1880

Moon When Cherries Turn Black—August

The sky was a turquoise blue overhead, with only a few puffy white clouds breaking its vastness The air was hot and dry; an occasional breeze stirred the dust on the ground into small swirls

Weak froh hillside on the way hoth he needed to protect what remained of his Fox band of Sioux

Because of one wasichu, one white man, Thunder Horse’s small band was out of tune with their universe He had fasted to regain hars encompassed by the Great Powers

As it had been fro of time, it was incumbent upon the leader of his people to purify hih place And so Thunder Horse had done, hoping for guidance through dreahts

It had been three days and nights since Thunder Horse’s fasting had begun As always, he had prepared his shut off twisted thoughts and emotions

The fasting was now behind hiht in his dreams He felt assured now that the course of action he planned was right

Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by activity down below him He heard the thunder of horses’ hooves, and the screams of a mitawin, a woman

He drew rein, stopped his steed, then wheeled his sorrel around

His eyes widened when he saw a stagecoach down below, pulled by a tea totally out of control

But what surprised hiecoach driver The reins were flopping here and there while the horses raced onward as though they were crazed

Hearing frantic screa out one of the stagecoach s Not one to interfere in white people’s troubles, he he

sitated to help the woman in distress