A woman, which Bright Star assumed was Annie, came running out. Bright Star, however caught a glimpse of four figures hidden in the trees. She was off running before anyone could catch her.

Reverend Paulson sighed. “I’ve been waiting the whole trip for her to do that,” he muttered and started racing after her.

“My,” Annie exclaimed, “the little devil sure can run fast!”

“She sure can, Ma,” John shook his head. “Last time she did it was nearly fast enough to get away from Edward, but not fast enough.”

“Oh, no,” Annie put a hand to her mouth, “the poor dear.”

“I wouldn’t go right to ‘dear,’” John muttered as he followed Annie into the house.

“Bright Star!” Reverend Paulson shouted. “Bright Star! Come back!”

Bright Star didn’t stop or even hesitate. She came to a sliding stop in front of Stream Runner and Bright Sun sheepishly stepped from behind the filly.

“OK, before you get angry…” Bright Sun said quickly, and explained that she had gone back to the camp, found only ruins, and followed Bright Star. Reverend Paulson jogged up.

“So this is what you took off for!” Reverend Paulson panted. “Who are you?”

Bright Sun looked pleadingly at Bright Star and that’s when Bright Star realized that Bright Sun only spoke Sahaptian. Bright Star quickly translated.

“Bright Sun,” Bright Sun nodded.

Bright Star translated again. It went on like that while they stabled Black Night and Stream Runner, unpacked Yucca’s Shadow and welcomed her into the house, and were introduced to their gigantic room. They would both sleep in the same bed but it was a fairly big room with a dresser and a vanity.

“Reverend Paulson…” Bright Sun started.

“Father or pa,” Reverend Paulson said.

Bright Star translated.

“Pa, will we have to dress like Mrs. Paulson?”

Bright Star translated.

“It’s mother or ma, and no, not if you don’t want to,” Reverend Paulson replied.

Bright Star translated and then Reverend Paulson left them alone.

“Are you sure you wanna do this?” Bright Star asked, looking longingly at the window.

“Yes,” Bright Sun nodded. “Bright Star, you can’t continue living your old life and I have nowhere else to go. C’mon, let’s do it together.”

Bright Star sighed but nodded. “Alright. Together.”

After dinner, Bright Star thought over her decision.

I’ll do it for Bright Sun, at least, she reasoned, never guessing how good it’d be for herself.

Finally, it was daybreak, and the rooster at the back of the house was crowing. Bright Star flung the blanket off and got dressed, Bright Sun not far behind her. Bright Star broke it to Bright Sun.

“Bright Sun,” she sighed, “I’m gonna to give it a real chance. I think we can make it work. I’ll make it work for us.”

“Thank you, Bright Star,” Bright Sun smiled. “They have things here called schools where I can learn English and other things and I know I’d like it but I couldn’t bear to do it without you!”

“Let’s go down together,” Bright Star smiled and they walked down, following their noses to the steak and eggs.

“Good morning,” Annie nodded.

“Good morning, Ma,” Bright Star nodded before translating what Annie had said to Bright Sun. Bright Sun nodded and smiled.

Reverend Paulson was glad with the news that Bright Star had spoken with a smile to Annie and continued to do so throughout breakfast, also busily translating.

A month later and three foals had been trained as John had been given a green colt to train and ride. Bright Star thought that maybe she could get used to this life. They were full-on Christians now, her and Bright Sun. Bright Sun could speak English and French, Bright Star could speak French, and John could speak Sahaptian and everyone was happy. And they were to be enrolled in school after Thanksgiving! Annie was in the kitchen, preparing the Thanksgiving feast for Sunday although Thanksgiving was Thursday. But Reverend Paulson was away at another town which had suffered a severe fire and wouldn’t be back until Sunday.

“Oh, shoot!” Annie said, wiping her hands on her apron. “Girls, I forgot to get the potatoes and have to go into town, would you like to come along?”

“Sure,” Bright Sun nodded. “Odd, isn’t it, that we’re preparing Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday when Thanksgiving was Thursday?”

Annie and Bright Star laughed.

“John!” Annie called. “Mind the farm, will you?”

“Sure, Ma!” John shouted from out in the fields.

“Let’s go, girls,” Annie beckoned to the door, her wristbag already on.

Bright Star and Bright Sun hadn’t been in town except for church. The Wards ran the store, and the only really decent one was Eric. Erica, the daughter, was a bully to the kids and Matilda, the mother, was a bully to the women.

But it was right to Matilda and Erica they were going. Erica was on the store steps, sucking a candy cane, when they trotted up next to Annie. They had a short conversation with Erica (which neither enjoyed) and then went in with Annie.

Annie, with Matilda very unsafely on the other side of the counter, was buying potatoes. Matilda tsked when she saw the girls, still dressed in buckskin, walk in. “Surely, Annie,” Matilda hissed, “they aren’t going to school in those!”

“Yes, they are, actually, Matilda,” Annie smiled. “Let’s see, that was 5 dollars for the potatoes, wasn’t it?”

But Matilda wasn’t listening. “My, they are so plain! Good thing my beautiful Erica looks nothing like them.”

“Both God and I like them just the way they are,” Annie replied, leaving five dollars on the counter.

Annie swept out of the store, leading Bright Star and Bright Sun. They walked home and Annie cast glances back at them, looking at how beautifully their jet black locks swung.

I love them just the way they are, she smiled to herself.