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Back Montana Territory Save as PDF
Chapters (25)
  1. Also by
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. CHAPTER 1
  6. CHAPTER 2
  7. CHAPTER 3
  8. CHAPTER 4
  9. CHAPTER 5
  10. CHAPTER 6
  11. CHAPTER 7
  12. CHAPTER 8
  13. CHAPTER 9
  14. CHAPTER 10
  15. CHAPTER 11
  16. CHAPTER 12
  17. CHAPTER 13
  18. CHAPTER 14
  19. CHAPTER 15
  20. CHAPTER 16
  21. CHAPTER 17
  22. CHAPTER 18
  23. CHAPTER 19
  24. CHAPTER 20
  25. Teaser chapter

Before she could go further, he interrupted. “You shouldn’t feel bad about that. I’m just sorry I didn’t have more to give you.”

She looked as if she was about to cry, and he knew he would be uncomfortable if she did. So, he quickly told her it was time for him to go; he had to get to Helena right away. Everyone else seemed to be caught up in the skinning and butchering of the three deer, so he said, “Take care of Black Elk. I hope he will soon be on his feet again, so he can hunt with Swift Runner.” He turned and went directly to his horse, climbed up into the saddle, and wheeled him back toward the path he had first entered the village on.

So busy were the others that they took no notice of him as he rode down the path, with the exception of one. Wounded Bear raised his head in time to glimpse the tall man on the buckskin as he disappeared into the trees. Then his attention was captured by the sight of a hawk flying across the clearing to a perch in the top of a cottonwood tree. He knew it was a sign—the medicine of the hawk was strong as iron. A random thought crossed his mind, and he wondered if he were to go to the trail now, would there be a man on a horse? Or was it the hawk he had seen overhead, no longer in the form of a man?

“Damn . . . damn . . . damn,” Hawk kept repeating as Rascal found his way back down the narrow path. “I’ve got business to attend to. I can’t waste any more time in these mountains. There’s no tellin’ if Booth and his partner are in Helena or gone on somewhere else without leavin’ a trail for me to follow.” Rascal understood his dilemma, but as usual, made no comment. “Here I am only halfway done with what I set out to do, and I’ve only recovered one fourth of the money that belongs to Donald Lewis and his people,” he went on, knowing he was losing the argument. “Oh, to hell with it,” he finally cursed, wheeled Rascal off the path, and rode up through the trees until he reached the back side of the clearing where the horses were grazing. Without getting out of the saddle, he rode into the small herd, grabbed the bridle of the horse Swift Runner had ridden on the hunt for deer, and led it back the way he had come. Then he continued on down the path, leaving the Blackfoot village to enjoy their celebration.

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 16

“What tha hell . . . ?” Rufus Bodine blurted. He found it hard to believe he was seeing the man who had just walked in his store. “Hawk!” he blurted again, and started to reach for a shotgun leaning against the end of the counter.