ROMANCE HEARTBREAK TRAGEDY Abbey, a young teacher on the American frontier falls in love with a handsome Cheyenne brave. Shadow Spirit is a half breed, his mother a beautiful Irish redhead, his father a noble Chief. Shadow Spirit rescues Abbey from a perilous situation and certain death. Feelings grow, but adversity separates the star crossed lovers. What event from the past stands between Abbey and Shadow Spirit, the man she desires? Can they reunite and will they find lasting love despite the hardships life throws at them? The answers are within the pages of 'Cheyenne Moon'.
Chapter One All three of her captors had been out cold for sometime now. Abby had worked diligently at getting her hands untied. She had pulled and tugged at the rawhide stripes until she was completely exhausted, but there was no use she couldn’t get loose. She lay back on the hard baked earth, just to rest for a few minutes, and fell promptly to sleep. Suddenly Abby felt a hand over her mouth, she came abruptly awake and struggled to get to her feet. She thrashed wildly and kicked with all the power she could rally, considering her hands and feet were tied. “Be still woman, I will not harm you.” A voice from behind her said. Abby glanced to where her captors had passed out, they were still sleeping off the whiskey. If the man holding her now was not one of them, maybe he was going to help her escape. She stopped struggling as the man moved around in front of her. “Not another savage, oh please God not another savage.” She whispered to herself as she saw that this man was also an Indian. She began to panic again at the thought of just going from one bad situation to another. “Be still! I am trying to help you, or would you rather I leave you here with Black Heart?” All Abby could do was stare at the three heathens sleeping a few yards away. Why had it never occurred to her that these men might be part of Black Hearts band? “Well, do you want my help?” “Yes, please help me,” she said as he cut the bands that held her hands and feet. She tried to stand once the bands were completely off, but couldn’t due to being in the same position for such a long period of time. The stranger lifted her up into his strong arms. He quickly carried her past a clump of trees where he had hidden his horse. Once again Abby was placed on the back of a horse, only this time she was not tied and there was only one Indian. Something was different about him, he was gentle when he mounted the horse behind her. His arms around her didn’t feel like a vise and his scent did not offend her. He smelled of soap and sunshine. The stout Indian pony traveled tirelessly though the night. As dawn broke over the horizon they came to a halt and Abby got her first real look at her rescuer in the daylight. She watched as he moved about removing the saddle from the horse’s back and led it to a small stream. He really was quite spectacular. She had never seen that much of a male body before. He was naked from the waist up, and his long muscular legs were also bare, the only clothing he was wearing consisted of a small swatch of some type of animal skin tied around his genitals and buttocks. His face and body were a golden bronze tone, his hair was past his shoulder and held back with a band at his forehead. His nose was slightly long which gave him a regal look. His lips were full and his teeth straight, and white, she suspected that if he were to smile the affects would be heart stopping. He glanced at her and caught her staring at him, she blushed but didn’t turn away, it was then that she noticed his eyes were not black like the other Indians. His were a brilliant green, unlike anything she had ever seen. This man was not an Indian, Indians do not have green eyes. Who was he and why was he dressed like some savage heathen? “Come we will stay here for the day,” he said pointing to what looked like a bush growing out of the base of a large rock. She followed him to the bush, where he pushed it aside, revealing a large cave. Inside the cave was very roomy, with an amazing amount of light, looking up Abby saw that there was a big opening in the top of the cave. “I will put the horse out of site, go sit and rest, you have had a long tiring night. She had to get away! There was no telling what he would do when he returned. Just because he was not an Indian didn’t mean he wouldn’t harm her. But where would she go? She was miles and miles from her home. She didn’t even know which way home was with all the twists and turns they had made. She started to go back outside the cave just as he reentered. The contact of his body with hers sent a shiver the entire length of her spine. He remained steadfast as she began to fall backwards, he grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her back against him. “Did I not tell you to sit down? What is wrong with you, do you prefer the company of Black Heart? If you do I will return you to him!” He let go of her and walked to the center of the cave where he laid out two buffalo robes. “No! Please don’t take me back to him. I just want to go home I’m scared. Will you take me home please?” “I cannot take you home.” “Why? What are you going to do with me?” “How long do you think I would live if I were caught with a white woman close to a town?” “I will tell them you helped me! I’ll tell them you saved my life, I won’t let them hurt you,” Abby told him. “No!” He exclaimed. “I will take you to my village, one of the younger warriors will claim you as his woman.” “No! I don’t want to be an Indian’s woman. Why can’t you take me home? You are not even an Indian you have green eyes.” “I am Indian, my father is Chief White Feather of the Cheyenne. My mother is white,” he explained. “Did your father capture her? “Yes, twenty-five years ago, but my mother and father love each other very much.” “Indians don’t know what love is! They’re savages! They live like dogs!” Abby thought she had gone too far as a look of utter rage crossed his face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.” “Yes you did. That is what you have been taught, but you have much to learn. Now you must lie down.” “What are you going to do to me? I will fight you!” She said with her fists flying in the air. “Are you loco woman? I want you to sleep today. We will travel tonight. I would not take you unless that was what you wanted,” he said with a grin. “Oh you… you brute! It’s not enough that you will not take me home, you have to humiliate me also!” “I am sorry. It’s just that you looked so funny jumping around with your fists ready to kill me at my first move. What is your name?” “Abigail Anderson,” she answered. “I am called Spirit Shadow. We need to trust each other if we are to avoid Black Heart recapturing you.” Abby went to the buffalo robe that Spirit Shadow had laid out for her and tried to relax. She didn’t think sleep would come, but exhaustion over took her and she was soon sound asleep. As she lay there sleeping peacefully, Spirit Shadow watched her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. She had a small, slightly turned up nose, her mouth was absolutely perfect, with full pouty and very desirable lips. She had the kind of eyes that a man could lose his soul in. They were large, shimmering, and very blue. They reminded Spirit Shadow of crystal blue water. He shook his head as if to clear his mind. She was beautiful but he did not want to fall for this woman or any woman now. Things were too unsettled with the people, his father was not well, and the white man kept coming farther and farther into the sacred Black Hills. No, he could not take responsibility for this woman, he would turn her over to one of the other warriors, perhaps Brown Dog would take her. He was Two Shadow’s friend and had lost his wife shortly after the birth of his son.
Cathy Keeton graduated college at the age of fifty-four. Ms. Keeton is avid cook and has written over one hundred of her own recipes and plans to write a cookbook in the future. She lives in Paris, Kentucky and is the mother of two sons. She is well into her next book that is a modern romance taking place in her hometown.