Chapter 1

Summer, when a boy has the freedom to run, and be whatever and whoever he likes. Jeremy was sitting by the river just fishing quietly when his friend Laughing Stone popped up from behind. He and Laughing Stone had a wonderful friendship. Both had an affinity for languages, and both were the same age. They had met two summers ago when Jeremy and Joshua had both been allowed to stay at an Indian camp for the summer. Both Joshua and Jeremy had very different experiences and they had hoped to go a year ago but something else had come up.

"Hey, Laughing Stone, how are you? I am glad to see you!" Jeremy said with a smile.

"I am glad to see you as well. Are you coming to the Indian village soon? I thought we could spend the summer together. This is my last summer as a young warrior, next summer I will be considered a warrior, full-fledged even!" said Laughing Stone

"So, will you get a new name?" asked Jeremy.

"Yes. I will invite you to the ceremony next year."

Okay, I will ask Jason and see what he says. I think you should ask Tall Bear as well. The last time we were their Joshua got kidnapped!"

"I remember, they took us back home right away. Did your brother ever say what happened to him and Running Bear?"

"He won't talk about it. But he has a special feather from Tall Bear and Running Bear."

Laughing Stone thought for a minute and then said:

"If he has the feather, I think he has, then he and Running Bear are considered honorary or special warriors. I know that Running Bear has been initiated into the warrior clan, so we do not see him very much anymore." Jeremy nodded and then said:

"Where are we going to meet?"

"I will talk to my father Tall Bear and see what he says, I will get word to you through Sarah. Take care my friend and see you soon!"

Jason was at the logging camp and giving out his orders:

"Joshua, I need you to help out on with the crew out on the south side and to take this message to Corky as well. You will probably be there until the end of the day." Jason said handing him a note for Corky. Joshua ran out of the tent leaving Jason to wonder where all that energy came from. All of a sudden, he heard a shout not 'Timber' but a shout of alarm!

"Hey, kid, get out of the way! I need to move these logs!" A teamster shouted as he and his partner were guiding a log along the thoroughfare to the river. Jeremy, for his part was just standing around looking at something in the trees. He was startled by the shout and had not realized he was in the way. He scooted quickly over to the side to let the teamsters with the logs go by. He had to practically climb one of the trees in order to get out of the way. The logger who was steering the log while the other drove the horse had to keep the log along the trail but there were rocks and things in the way that caused the log to bump and be pushed in other directions.

As he was in the tree, he noticed another creature there as well. A large cat. A mountain lion who had been napping in the tree. He stared at the lion and stayed very still. Jason came and was ready to shout at him when Jeremy said very quietly,

"J-j-Jason. Don't make a sound go back there is a m-m-m-mountain lion in the same tree as I am in."

Jason looked up. He saw the lion, it looked rather sleepy. He stood there for a moment and then he said to Jeremy:

"Slowly climb down, don't make any sudden moves."

Jeremy nodded and started to climb down the tree. At first when he climbed the tree, it didn't seem like it was so far up but looking down to one side a cliff was there. The other side is where he had climbed up the tree. He looked at the mountain lion, she was sleeping but not all the way. So, he climbed down from branch to branch. When he got to the last branch it was a bit to high for him to jump. Jason said he would catch him but to be careful and to let go slowly.

"Let go with one hand Jeremy." Jason said as he positioned himself so he could catch his little brother. All thought Jeremy was 12, he was small for his age. Jason thought he wouldn't be a problem to catch, it was the cat he had his eye on.

"Now, I am going to count to 3 when I say 3, let go. I will catch you."

"J-j-Jason, what about the lion?" asked Jeremy, a little more scared than he cared to admit.

"The lion is fine. If you just let go, we won't disturb it too much! Now, 1-2-3 jump!" Jason caught Jeremy and then quietly they backed away from the tree, when they were out of sight behind a rock they stopped.

"Jeremy, why were you out on the road? I thought you said you went fishing?"

"I d-d-did but then I decided to take a walk and I forgot about the road being used. And I was looking up into that tree because I had seen something move and was about to climb it anyway when Mr. Rogers yelled and I saw what was happening, so I climbed the tree."

Jason looked at Jeremy, "What should I do about this?" He thought, he is too young to be at the camp and too young to be left by himself at the cabin." He pondered the question the rest of the day. Jeremy wanted to be outdoors. He did his chores quickly especially on Saturday but then he had time to fill. Making him read books all day just didn't seem like something he would stay still for. That evening when Jeremy was finally in bed, he left Joshua, and Jeremy in the cabin and went over to Lottie's.

Walking in the saloon the loggers were enjoying a night of games and drinks. Jimmie Rogers came over to him and said:

"Hey, I am sorry for yelling at your little brother, but he was in the main road, and I didn't want him to get hurt."

"That is okay Jimmie." Said Jason who took his beer and sat at a table. Lottie came over and said:

"Jason, are you and Jeremy, okay? I heard there was a mountain lion nearby?" said Lottie with some concern.

"We are fine Lottie. I just need to find out what I can do with Jeremy this summer. He will be alone in the cabin, and I could have him at the camp, but I am afraid with all the logging we are doing he might not be safe there. Besides, remembering myself at that age. I think Da was almost ready to tear his hair out with the shenanigans that I pulled!" said Jason taking a swig of beer.

Lottie looked at him and then suggested:

"Well, he could come here and help me with running the saloon, but I suspect that that would only work for a little while. He needs to be outside with other boys his age."

Jason thought that might not be a bad idea. But he wanted Ben and Emma first. He finished his beer and went to see Ben and Emma. They would like to have Jeremy for a visit, but Ben was worried that maybe Jeremy would be too wild for Emma. She was expecting he did not want anything to happen to his first child. Jason wasn't sure who he could ask when Ben and Emma, said no. If Lottie had Jeremy, she would have had a hard time with her visit as well.

Not that Jeremy was always a bad boy, it is just that he had a way of doing something or being somewhere and trouble would follow him. Most everyone in the town agreed that Jeremy was a sweet, kind, and loving boy, but there were times that he just didn't seem to stay out of trouble.

As Jason headed home, he thought he saw an Indian sneaking around the cabin. He took a round about way and came up on the Indian.

"Well, hello there Laughing Stone, what brings you here?"

"I wanted to let Young Eagle know that he is welcome to visit with us this summer. I asked my father, and he said yes."

"Are you in the same place as a couple of years ago?"
"Not exactly but if it is okay, Young Eagle and I can get there on our own this time!" Laughing Stone said hoping that Young Eagles brother would let them go that night.

Jason looked at him and then decided to invite Laughing Stone in for something to eat and drink.

Tall Bear was already in the cabin speaking to Yellow Fox and Young Eagle. He had knocked on their door expecting to see Jason, but Joshua answered the door. They were talking about visiting that summer when Jason and Running Bear came in.

"Eagle Eye how are you, my son!" said Tall Bear.

" I am good, May I offer you something to eat or drink?"

"Some tea if you don't mind!" Said Tall Bear.

"Joshua, would you mind heating up some water for tea?"

"Already started, it will be ready in a few minutes Jason." Said Joshua as he checked the fire under the pot. When the tea was ready, Joshua poured the tea and gave it to Tall Bear first. Then he gave a cup to his brother. Jason waited a proper amount of time and then asked:

"What brings you to our town, Father?"

"Eagle Eye, Laughing Stone would like to have Jeremy visit with us as they did two summers ago. Would it be possible for him to do that?" Said Tall Bear

Jason looked at him a moment and then said:

"If my father wishes, yes, but we do not want to impose upon your friendship. Perhaps one month, or one cycle of the moon?" said Jason.

Tall Bear stood up and motioned for Jason to stand as well. "I understand your reluctance to impose upon us. But Jason, there is something else I need you for. But I do not want to talk in front of the young warriors at this time. Could we go outside to talk? He went to the door and stepped out, Jason followed him with a look at Josh and Jeremy, he too stepped outside. They walked away from the cabin and stood by the totem pole.

"Jason, there is a group of Indians who have begun raiding some farms. We have heard of them but cannot find a trace of them. I have sent my warriors out to find out who they are. Your brother Yellow Fox's friend Running Bear, now called He Who Shoots True, has been sent out with the warriors as well. He has not been returned; they have said that he was injured but I have not found proof. They do not say what happened. I fear that these renegades may have killed him. But they will soon be heading toward your town. Please be on the lookout for these renegades. If you find them let us know.

"I will as soon as I possibly can. Do you need help from anyone in this town?"

Tall Bear sighed; he did not want to ask for help but he did need help.

"Eagle Eye, we may or may not, but if you offer to help, I will not refuse it!"

"Then let it stand that I offer you help to find these renegades."

They shook hands and went back into the cabin. The boys had been having a talk of their own. When Josh found out about his friend he was visibly upset.

"Jason, Running Bear has disappeared, I want to help go look for him?" said Joshua.

Jason looked at Joshua and said: "Let's wait and see first, I have offered help to tell Bear and when he needs it, he will get in touch with us. Now, Tall Bear, will you sleep inside with us?"

"No, Laughing Stone and I will sleep outside. We will leave tomorrow with Jeremy. Jason nodded his head, Jeremy and Laughing Stone were happy and excited. They both went to Jeremy's room. The night was peaceful and silent. No one knew what would be ahead of them but the boys both dreamed of swimming, hunting, fishing and having a wonderful time together.

Meanwhile, a group of men, sat on top of their horses. They had torches and were ready to burn some crops and perhaps a village as well.