Westward Moon Read Online Free

normal.  At night she lay awake not only because she was leery about Panther trying something, but because all she could think about was Jack.
                  She remembered everything about him.  His sky blue eyes had always looked at her with such love in them.  She’d loved running her fingers through his hair that was the color of wheat in the summer.  Jack’s firm, muscular body had always been enticing to her and his kisses stole away her breath.  Sparrow missed his easy laugh, his stubbornness, and his lack of tact.  His blunt words had always amused her and she knew that sometimes he said things on purpose just to make her laugh.
                  Although they’d had to keep their romance a secret, Jack still treated her to special dinners that he cooked for her and had bought her things he thought she’d like.  When he’d proposed to her, it had been the happiest day of her life.  She hadn’t been able to wear her ring publically, but she would take it out and look at it when no one was around.
                  Thinking about it now, Sparrow put a hand around the amulet that hung from her neck.  His ring was safely tucked inside of it.  She never took off her amulet and guarded it especially well because of the precious item it contained. 
                  Sasha and she were planning on leaving in two days.  Sasha would drive her to Riverton in her enclosed light carriage.  She had a nice pair of Morgan horses that would eat up the miles quickly. Sparrow would say that she had her monthly so she could go to the woman’s tipi and not be missed by her husband.  Then she would sneak away during the night to Sasha’s house where they would immediately depart so that they could get as good a head start as possible. 
                  Sparrow wasn’t taking anything with her because carrying a lot of items would slow her down and there was really nothing she needed.  Sasha had clothes for her to change into and when she arrived back in Dawson, there would be plenty of her friends that would loan her clothing until she could make some of her own.
                  As she lay holding her amulet, Sparrow went over the plan in her mind over and over and prayed to the Creator to help her escape be successful.
     
                  Sasha was anxiously waiting for Sparrow on the appointed night.  The moon was high in the sky as she stood by the carriage.  Everything was packed and ready.  She had Sparrow’s clothing waiting for her.  The dress, petticoats and outer coat would help keep her warm.  Sasha had also decided that Sparrow should wear a bonnet so she could hide her face and hair.  No one would know that she was a Lakota woman that way. 
                  “Oh, Sparrow.  I hope you were able to get away,” Sasha said out loud.
     
                  Sparrow waited until the other women in the woman’s tipi were asleep before slipping from it.  If anyone stopped her, she would say she was going to relieve herself.  Having scoped out where all of the sentries were located, Sparrow had planned a route that would let her bypass them and avoid detection. 
                  As she entered the woods and slowly began making her way through them, Sparrow was careful to avoid twigs and leaves that would make sound and give her away.  Keeping her speed down allowed her to walk silently, but it wore on her nerves and she stopped frequently to listen to any sound that reached her ears. 
                  After what seemed hours, Sparrow reached the trail she always took to Sasha’s house and she was able to run along it.  She burst out of the woods at the back of Sasha’s house and made a beeline for the front.  Sasha was there with the carriage at the ready.
                  “There you are!” Sasha said and hugged Sparrow.  “I was so scared that you hadn’t