~Prologue~

Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota,

1869.

"So, Elizabeth… you finally did it!"

Twelve year old Maddison Morgan spoke, as she leaned in the doorway of the cabin.

Elizabeth Bennet, 19, glanced up from the potatoes she was slicing for dinner as her cousin stood in the entrance of the wooden home. She blinked when she remembered that she had just moved from Milwaukee, Wisconsin after her grandparents had died in a wagon train ambush between the pass from Minnesota and North Dakota. Her aunt, Beatrice Morgan, when she'd learnt of their deaths, had written to Andrew, suggesting that she move up and stay near them. Being her only living kin, Elizabeth had agreed. Five foot inches, tan skin, dark brown eyes, with shiny black hair, Elizabeth could easily have been mistaken for being a native herself but this was piece of mystery her parents never informed her about. But this matter little as she replied to her cousin,

"Ah, I see that you've noticed my late arrival." She smiled at Maddie as she finished,

"It wasn't a fun journey but I was blessed enough to make it through."

"You're already preparing your own dinner," her cousin replied, her arms crossed her chest. She frowned as she suggested,

"Ma and Pa were wondering if you'd like to join us for our meal," as she spoke, she made her way over to the table, before placing her palms on it.

"I'd sure love to have you there,"

Andre peered at her cousin. Noticing the blonde girl's curly hair, which hung over her shoulders, Elizabeth reached out, and taking hold of a strand, she gave it a little pull as she asked,

"What does Aunt Beatrice have in mind? Is it better than my potatoes?"

"Ma's chili, honey bread, and fruit salad!' Maddie exclaimed, reacting to the pull.

Andrew shook her head and released Maddie's hair as she responded,

"Please inform her I accept,"

Maddie, who was an only child, squealed in excitement, before she rushed around the table and gave Andrew a sweet kiss on her cheek. Before she returned towards the door, Maddie curtsied as she finished,

"I bid you farewell until then, ma'am!"

Elizabeth laughed as she shooed her cousin out the door but her merriment was a joyful one. She loved how her cousin, though younger, felt more like a little sister to her. Both she and Maddie were only children and could relate to each other. Once the front door was open and Maddie had mad her exit, Elizabeth stood in the doorway, as she watched her cousin slowly trot from the cabin. She had ridden by horseback and it was a customary way to travel, as Elizabeth knew finely because she'd traveled by wagon train and the majority of the riders rode on horseback. In the middle of nowhere, Elizabeth's cabin was fair distance away from the local town of Sakakawea. It was summer when she moved, a major shift for Elizabeth. She had lived with her grandparents after her own died from pneumonia when she was ten and her memories of them were treasured and held dear. She swallowed when she remembered the last time she'd seen them: both had kissed her farewell before they left, intending to visit her grandmother's nephew. Unknown was the sudden ambush, resulting with their deaths. Her mother's sister, Beatrice Morgan, when the information had reached her, quickly wrote and invited Elizabeth to stay near them. Elizabeth responded, heavy hearted and feeling weak when news reached her. She then packed and prepared herself for the journey and was soon, seated in a wagon herself, in the direction of the country of North Dakota to start a new life.

She also remembered she had bided farewell to her beau, Daniel Evans, a commander in Wisconsin's ranger scouts, who made her promise to write him as soon as possible once she arrived. He was twenty-two, six foot two, light skin, hair like hers, green eyes, and owned an incredible smile. Whenever Elizabeth spotted him, her heart always beat with love.

Returning, Elizabeth bit her lip when she replayed the memory of how Daniel bent down and kissed her hand before her departure. Then another thought crossed her mind.

"I'd best prepare myself to ride over to Aunt Beatrice's," Elizabeth thought as she returned her attention back to the trotting figure of Maddie, who was still visible in the distance.

"I can't delay and have that chili grow cold!"

Suddenly, she heard a sound of a distant scream. Placing her hand on the doorframe, she peered a little over towards the right, and her heart leapt in her chest: five figures of what appeared to be Indians were riding directly for her cabin!

Elizabeth's mouth dried suddenly and her lips parched. Indians?! What were they doing here and galloping towards her cabin?! Elizabeth let out a scream as their figures rapidly appeared and her heart pounded harder. Letting out a scream, Elizabeth returned to the safety of her cabin, before she locked the door. She could feel the earth tremble underneath her and the cries of the Indians outside could be heard. They were growing closer and she frantically scanned the cabin; she then spotted her bed and rushed over to it. Leaning forward, she took out her pistol. She glanced at it; great, it was loaded. She gulped when the sound of the horses' hooves grew louder. Moving her eyes over to one of the windows, a figure suddenly appeared and Elizabeth nearly fell over backwards. Two muscular Indians stood there, placing their hands on the glass. Their gazes were piercing and fierce; instantly, Elizabeth clicked the pistol, but just when she thought she'd shoot, the front door suddenly broke open with a bang!

She let out a gasp when three other natives pushed down the remaining pieces of wood with strong feet which she'd never before witnessed. The one in the center, who seemed to be the leader, met her eyes with piercing forcefulness. Elizabeth quickly pointed her gun at him but was too slow. He quickly rushed forward and with one swift movement, knocked the weapon out of her hand. Then he did something which sent chills running down her spine: as fast as he'd kicked the gun out of her hand, he advanced forward, used one hand to take hold of her wrist, while he used the other to take hold of her upper back.

Letting out a scream, she attempted to fight back but he was too strong. In one movement, he had her in his arms and flung her over his shoulder, in a potato sack hold. She kicked and tried to punch but he only held her firmly. Turning to the others, he spoke in a tongue unfamiliar to Elizabeth. Before she knew it, he was carrying her out of the cabin, along with the other braves behind him, in the direction of their horses, who seemed to be calm at the approach of their riders. As she waved her hands, Elizabeth screamed,

"Help! Someone help!"

She drew her head in the direction to spot if Maddie was in the distance but to her disappointment, she wasn't there. Again, she tried to fight the native but he only held her tighter as they approached one of the horses. Elizabeth let out a grunt and pinned her eyes forward when she was roughly made to sit on top of the stallion not long after. Once this was done, the native turned and waved his hand, he gestured for the other four to mount their horses and this was quickly obeyed. Elizabeth felt the stallion move its feet under her as the lead native spoke again and with a war cry, which rang through her ears, he mounted his own stead, before the men urged their rides forward and it wasn't until then where Elizabeth realized her horse was attached the leader's stallion with a rope. Within moments, the group was galloping away from the cabin. Elizabeth held onto the horse's mane, before she turned back, and watched as the cabin slowly started to disappear. Tears filled her eyes as the wind blew through her hair as Elizabeth thought,

"I've been kidnapped! And no one's here to know where I'm off to!"