A Maiden's Love: Book 1

A Maiden’s Love

Desiree Love

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright 2016 ©

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means. This includes electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, scanning or recording, or by any electronic transmittal service or device, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Except for brief quotations or reference for reviews or were permitted by non-commercial copyright laws. This novel is the original work of fan fiction. All characters’ names, places or any other aspects mentioned are trademarked and the sole property of those stated and their respected owners.

All Rights Reserved

© 2016

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Going to Town

Chapter 2 – Lost

Chapter 3 – A Mystery

Chapter 4 – Forced Marriage

Chapter 5 – Runaway

Chapter 6 – Home Sweet Home

Chapter 7 – The Stranger

Chapter 8 – A Helping Hand

Chapter 9 – First Time for Everything

Chapter 10 – Spilling the Beans

Chapter 11 – Memories

Chapter 12 – Just Another Story

Chapter 13 – Long Lost Family

Chapter 14 – Namesake

Chapter 15 – Something Amiss

Chapter 16 – Mysterious Hunt

Chapter 17 – A Taken Life

Chapter 18 – Another Visitor

Chapter 19 – Empty Handed

Chapter 20 – Bad Feelings

Chapter 21 – A Spirit Walk

Chapter 1

Going to Town

The sun shone down across the large prairie. Kate had never seen anything so beautiful. The way the sun seemed to touch the horizon and shower the land with its light and warmth was something that she would always love and admire. Spring was her favorite time of year. She had loved it since she was a child. Then again, who didn’t love the beginning of life? It was when all the flowers bloomed, and the animals of the forest gave birth. It was a time of celebration. A time to rejoice in life all on its own. She smiled out at the love she could feel radiated around her. She turned to look back in the direction of the house.

Sighing, she knew she needed to head back. Her mother had expressed how she wanted to get on their way as early as they could. Kate was excited. Although she was 17, her parents had only left her home alone a few times. This would be one of them. Her mother wasn’t too happy about her being there alone, but her father had known how important it was for her to prove to her parents that she could do it. She was strong and brave and had two of the best teachers in the world. Both of her parents taught her how to live off the land. They both had plenty of experience doing just that.

She was close to her parents. She was also their only child and wondered why her parents never pursued having any more children. She didn’t know if it was because they didn’t want any more or if they couldn’t. Either way, she would have loved to have had a brother or sister in her family growing up. She never mentioned it to her parents, knowing that if they had tried and failed it would only upset them further. It was the last thing she wanted. To hurt her parents. There were many nights that she would just watch her parents together. She knew that they loved each other deeply. They showed it every time they looked at one another. She also knew some of the stories regarding how they had come to be together.

Kate’s father used to be a Calvary soldier. He was fighting in the war against the Indians when the two of them met. They were on opposite sides then as he saved her mother from a group of soldiers who had been attempting to mistreat her. He had stepped in and helped her to escape their grasp. He had saved her from the evil men. Her mother had thanked him but that was it. She turned and left, sprinting through the forest like she was a carefree deer. At least that is what her father said. It was a lot different from her father’s heavy footsteps as he followed right behind her. She disappeared however, and her father said he vowed to come back and find her when the wars were over. He still had a few years left to serve and then he would be free to leave the military.

As the story goes her father was true to his word. He had finished serving his time in the militia and came back to where he saw her mother. He didn’t know at the time, but her mother had been a prisoner of the tribe they had attacked. Thanks to him she was set free and she quickly returned to her people. Litonya was a beautiful woman and her father continued to tell her to that day. She was the daughter of an Indian woman and a mountain man. The man and woman had been together for a few years before he left one morning and never returned. Kate’s grandmother never remarried or had any other children. Litonya was raised with her mother’s people. Her uncle who was the shaman of the tribe helped to care for her and her mother. Her mother’s beauty was incomparable. Her skin complexion and hair were the same as her people. The only thing that told others that she was not complete Indian were her eyes. They were a hazel color with sparks of bright green. They did not match the dark brown color of the rest of their people.

Kate’s father had told her that he had found her mother and they had fallen in love. He was not welcomed at first but when he saved the chief’s daughter from drowning in a swift current, almost giving his own life for her, they had accepted him into the tribe. This was very rare. There were only a select few that were welcomed into the Indian camp. Most were told to stay away and met with in the woods to do their trading and business. Her mother had many men there who wanted to be with her, but she chose Craig. Soon after his arrival amongst her people they were joined together. An Indian marriage was different than a white man’s and consisted mainly of the bedding between man and woman and giving of themselves to the other. They were soon married by a priest as well when they returned to settle on the land where they now lived.

Realizing that she was daydreaming again, as she did often, Kate pulled on the reins, turning the horse in the direction of the house and applied pressure with her knees to his flanks making him run faster. When she got there, she saw the irritated look on her mother’s face.

Sorry Ma. I was daydreaming again.

Her mother sighed but she couldn’t keep the small smile from her face as she looked up at her. What about this time?

You and Pa.

She looked at her with a weird look. What about us?

You know the way you are so in love and whatnot. I was remembering when Pa told me how you met.

Oh. Her mother chuckled then. Those were memories that Litonya would think of her whole ride into town. She smiled at the thought.

She was lucky. Her father said as he winked at Kate before helping her mother into the buggy.

I wasn’t the only one.

Kate laughed at the both. You two are silly.

Her father walked to her then and caressed her cheek. No, my darling girl. It is love and one day you will feel it and know what it is like to love someone with all that you are and have.

I hope so.

You will. Now, make sure to feed the pigs and check on the horses ok?

Ok, Pa. You need to go on before Ma gives me any more of those looks. She is in a bit of a hurry I see.

Kathleen Yazhi Sellers. I heard that.

Kate hid her grin as her father muffled his chuckle behind his hand. Kate’s mother had given her a middle name from her people that meant little one. The two times she had seen people from her mother’s tribe were when she was younger. She did remember however one man that talked to her and he had called her by her middle name. Her mother told her later that in her tribe that was what she would be known as. She was confused at first but as she got older she realized that they were accepting her as Yazhi, a member of their tribe which in turn made her feel accepted and happy.

She looked back over at her mother right before sliding down from Buckeye. She grinned sheepishly up at her mother in the buggy. Sorry Ma. Have fun in town. I’m going to go feed the pigs, so I don’t forget.

Ok, I love you and stay close to the house.

OK.

Kate turned away but not before she saw her father take her mother’s hand in his own and squeeze it comfortingly. It was his way of telling her that it was alright. His way of telling her that everything would be fine. Kate would be alright by herself.

Kate stood there and watched the buggy roll away. She watched it sway and rock back and forth on the uneven ground as it made its way farther and farther from her. She stood there even after the horizon swallowed them whole. It didn’t take long before she was standing there looking at nothing.

Sighing she turned towards the barn. She knew her father had made some feed for the pigs before he left that morning. They only had three, but they were eaters. Then again, they were pigs.

It was some time later when she stood in the barn with her favorite horse Buckeye. She had wanted him the first moment she saw the horse. He was a light brown in color except the dark brown patch that covered one eye. She remembered when she got the horse. It was a warm night when she had awoken to the sound of the horses neighing. She had woken up to investigate the living room where she heard her parents talking. Nosey as always, she had come out, but her parents told her to go back to bed. She had tried to do what they told her, really tried, but sleep would not take her that night. She tossed and turned, listening to the horses pained cries. It was later that morning when she finally came from her room to see her mother standing in the kitchen looking out at the barn.

What’s going on Ma?

Oh, its Pearl. She’s in labor and I think that she is having problems having the foal. Your father is out there trying to help her through it.

She would find out later that her father had been out there all night. The horse was her mother’s gift from the chief of her tribe and her father knew how important she was to her. She had eaten her breakfast in a hurry and rushed from the house before her mother could tell her to stay away from the barn. Pointing her feet in precisely that direction, she ran as fast as her feet would carry her to see what was going on.

As she reached the barn she began walking farther and farther until she came to the last stall. There lying on the ground was pearl. She was writhing back and forth on the hay, apparently in a tremendous amount of pain. Kate watched as her father tried to soothe the horse. Slowly Kate walked into the stall. She didn’t know what she was doing or even what was going on other than Pearl was giving birth.

Her father had looked up at her then and smiled. You think you can help me with this pumpkin?

Yes, Pa. I can help. I’m a big girl now.

Alright then big girl, come here. She made her way over to where her father was kneeling at the horse’s head. I want you to stay right here, though. Don’t go down under her, because her legs may kick. That might hurt a little if you get in the way. I want you to stay up above her.

Ok, Pa.

Now I want you to pet her head like this and whisper to her. Tell her how pretty she is and how she’s going to be a mommy and stuff. You don’t have to say anything at all. Just talk to her. Ok?

Ok, Pa. She moved her hand up and down in the horse’s mane and across her muscled cheek. She could feel the vibration from the horses cries as she felt the pain ripping at her body. The onslaught of the foal being born was taking a toll on her body.

Her father looked up at her and encouraged her telling her she was doing a good job. She watched in awe as her father went to work, trying to help Pearl deliver her baby. It was like nothing she