Bright Star woke up on the grass, panting. Then she was sitting up and looking wildly about her.

A dream, she thought, nothing but a dream.

“Are you up?” Wolf’s Cry asked. “What were you dreaming about?”

“Where are we?” Bright Star asked quickly.

“Just outside New York, New York,” Wolf’s Cry tilted his head to the city behind him. “You must have been a million miles away!”

“Not even 100.”

Bright Star stood as her companions woke up. Mountain’s Breath gave her a reassuring nod as Bright Star walked nervously off to the hospital. She made sure to remain inconspicuous, and in New York it wasn’t too hard. She finally got into the hospital and asked about the nurse’s quarters. A receptionist gave her directions to her “family member that she wanted to visit,” and Bright Star walked down the hall. Bright Sun was on her break.

“Bright Sun?” Bright Star asked as she opened the door. Bright Sun was there but no Edward. Bright Star breathed a sigh of relief.

“Bright Star?” Bright Sun looked up in surprise and leapt up from her cot joyfully. “I’m sorry, I’ve been meaning to write every week, but I never imagined how busy I’d be! I never got any letters either. You guys must’ve been busy like no one’s business!”

“You could say that,” Bright Star muttered.

“The Nez Percé roundup into the reservation and then the gold discovery and the removal to Idaho was in the news, I’m so sorry, Bright Star,” Bright Sun’s eyes showed sympathy even though she had no idea that Bright Star had been a part of that. “Where are Ma and Pa? And Black Bird, if he came.”

“Back in Oregon,” Bright Star admitted.

“Excuse me? Oh! You just came on your own,” Bright Sun realized.

“Um, no, actually,” Bright Star muttered. This was going to be harder then she thought.

“Who did you come with?” Bright Sun demanded.

“They’re outside the city. I came with my brother, my friend, my husband, and my daughter,” Bright Star explained.

“Ooh, you’re married!” Bright Sun exclaimed. Then she grew serious, “You told me you didn’t come with Black Bird.”

“I didn’t,” Bright Star shuffled her feet.

“Bright Star, what are you not telling me?” Bright Sun demanded. “Come on, fess up!”

Bright Star started slowly. “I found my real family.”

Bright Sun brightened. “And?”

Bright Star explained her relatives, how she met Mountain’s Breath, and what had happened. Bright Sun’s eyes bugged out.

“So you fled through Canada—a place you have never been to before in your life!—to come to me seeking assistance in getting back to Oregon?” Bright Sun raised an eyebrow.

“Kinda, yeah,” Bright Star said quietly. “And, if we could somehow get 4 horses there, that would be great too.”

“No problem!” Bright Sun assured. “I’ll get you all to the train station, and they can board the horses. They don’t charge much here at the hospital for your room and board so I have plenty of savings. But you have to write me every week.”

Bright Star sighed in relief. “That’s an easy deal! Done.”

“Let’s go. I want to see my niece before I leave and my brother-in-law. Both of my brothers-in-law, actually,” Bright Sun smiled.

The two sisters linked arms and walked to the outskirts of New York where Bright Sun fawned over Moonstone and met the others. Then they walked their horses to the train, and Bright Sun bought all the tickets to get to Oregon. They said their final good-byes and then Bright Star and her family and friend boarded.

“Bright Star,” Waterfall asked after the train lurched forward, “do you have any other not-real siblings?”

“I had a brother too, but I think I’ve lost him now,” Bright Star sighed.

“Who was he?” Wolf’s Cry asked.

“His name was John,” Bright Star explained. “He used to be really nice, but, well, he went off to college as an arrogant, upstuck nerd, and I haven’t seen him since. In the end years, he would only talk French.

“I pray for him every night,” Bright Star continued. “And I always pray in French. Then I can only hope.”

“Maybe you’ll see him again,” Wolf’s Cry offered.

“Unlikely, but just maybe,” Bright Star sighed, looking out the window.

—

Later, in Oregon, Moonstone recited the tale to her children, little John, little Black Bird, little Wolf’s Cry, and little Bright Sun.

As she finished, her kids were silent for a moment. Then little Bright Sun lisped, “Mommy?”

“Yes, Bright Sun?” Moonstone asked.

“That’s not a very good ending. Did Grandma ever see John again?” the little girl asked.

Moonstone nodded. “Yes. John was actually waiting for her as she came back to Oregon. He was sad that he had become arrogant and apologized.”

“I’m glad he did,” little John said, wrinkling his nose.

Moonstone laughed.

The room fell silent again as the children pondered the message of the story. Moonstone looked out proudly on her children. She was confident that her mother’s story would give them strength in the coming years of their life. For Bright Star’s story testified to the saving power of her Creator.

THE END