Free Cheyenne Moon by Cathy Keeton

lips, the sky exploded with a thunderclap and jagged streaks of lightening illuminated the midnight sky.
    “You had better go to my parent’s lodge before you are caught in the rain.  I would not want you to get sick and my mother will wonder what has happened to you.”
    “I know but I don’t want to leave you,” Abby said. She clung to Shadow Spirit as if he were her lifeline.
    He kissed her gently. “Soon we will let everyone know of our feelings for each other. Then we can begin our life together as the Great Spirit has shown me in my vision. We will have many strong sons and perhaps we will have a daughter with eyes the color of the summer sky, just like yours.” Shadow Spirit said as he stared longingly into her eyes. “You must get back to my father’s lodge. It is not proper for you to be out alone this time of night,” he stressed.
    “I’m not alone Shadow Spirit, you’re with me.” Abby teased.
    “You know what I mean. There are several warriors who would like to claim a woman as beautiful as you as their own. They do not realize that their Chief’s son has already done so,” he said.
    “Okay,” Abby said.  “You win.  I’ll leave you for now but soon I’ll stay with you forever.”
    Abby returned to Chief White Feather’s lodge. All was quiet. She lay down on her sleeping mat only to lie awake for some time with thoughts of Shadow Spirit and her father running rampant through her mind.
    “ Oh Father, I wish you had some way of knowing that I am alright and that I am happier than I could ever have dreamed of being.” Abby prayed.

Chapter Nine
     
    The weeks that followed Yellow Dove’s wedding were a learning process for Abby. She learned how to do all the things that Indian women need to know to take care of a teepee and a family. She had a wonderful teacher in Green Eyes. She told Abby that if she remained with the people, she would eventually be asked by a brave warrior to be his wife and she would need to know how to take her place in his teepee as a wife and mother. 
    Abby wanted so badly to tell Green Eyes that she had already been asked to marry and that she had accepted. Abby and Shadow Spirit planned to tell his parents about their love as soon as his father was recovered from his latest setback, but that didn’t look like it was anywhere in the near future. He seemed to weaken with each passing day. Shadow Spirit was very worried.
    Abby was just finishing with her laundry at the stream when Shadow Spirit approached her very quietly from behind. He clasped his arms around her waist before she knew anyone was within a mile of her. She struggled with her captor for a moment before she realized who had accosted her.
    “Shadow Spirit, what are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?” she yelled as she fell backwards on the hard ground when he let her go.
    “If I had been and enemy, you would have been dead. I think I need to teach you to listen and beware like an Indian,” Shadow Spirit said.
    “You need to stop sneaking up on me. You could have caused me to fall in the water and I can’t swim,” she cried.
    “You cannot swim,” he stated with an air of disbelieve.
    .“No I’ve never learned. I never saw a reason to learn,” she complained.
    “Well it is now time that you had your first lesson,” he said.
    “I don’t want to learn. I’m afraid of the water,” she protested.
    He gently took her hand and pulled her to him. “There is nothing to fear if you put your trust in me, I will not let anything happen to you.”  His mouth leisurely came down to meet Abby’s anxious lips. The swimming lessons were forgotten.
    The kiss took Abby’s breath away. It didn’t matter to her anymore that she was miles and miles from her home. She felt like she belonged where she was, this was home now in Shadow Spirit’s arms. When the kiss ended, Shadow Spirit sat down on the ground slowly pulling Abby down beside him.
    “I have made a decision that