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Sixteen year old
Grace Cummings found herself the lone survivor of her family when a
Lakota raiding party attacked. Her parents and older brother were
murdered and when she was found she feared the same fate would fall on
her. Fate had spared her when a young brave, Little Elk stepped in to
stop Black Crow from carrying out his plan. She was taken to the Lakota
village and became the captive of Black Crow. At Black Crow’s lodge she
was beaten, humiliated, and often tied to the main pole of the lodge,
she prayed that she would die, but the Great Spirit Wakan Takan had
other plans for this young woman. When Black Crow could no longer keep
her at his lodge because she was a white woman, he gave his captive to
Little Elk for safe keeping. The young brave who had saved her from
death was now protecting her from all evils. In Little Elk’s lodge she
found kindness and his promise that no harm would ever come to her.
She befriends the
other white woman in the camp, Green Eyes who is the wife of Chief Lone
Eagle. Green Eyes helped Grace not only adjust to her new home but along
with her mother in law taught her the traditions and culture of the
Lakota. Soon both women was as close as sisters and Grace no longer felt
that need to leave. Little Elk’s heart was captured by the young woman
and he would move heaven and earth to make her happy. Dancing Fawn, her
new name grew fonder of the young man who saved her life twice. Their
friendship grew and their marriage was the sealing of her heart to her
new people.
When the soldiers
attacked the village it was Green Eyes who helped Dancing Fawn to
safety. Together they hid as they heard the cries and screams of the
other woman and children in the village knowing they could not help
them. It was only after Green Eyes ventured back to see if her son and
mother in law were safe that the soldiers find Dancing Fawn. She was
taken back to the fort and once again torn from her family .As they
passed by the bodies of the dead women and children Dancing Fawn
couldn’t believe that this had happened and she vowed that she would not
let these innocent people ‘s deaths be go unaccounted for. She prayed
that Green Eyes and her mother in law and her son were safe and that
somehow Little Elk would find her and bring her back home.
A wonderfully written
story that captures the heart of the Lakota people. The author has done
more than write a story, she has honored the Lakota people.
Reviewed by Louise
Riveiro - Mitchell for The Road to Romance
October 23, 2005
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