Gretjen wrung her fingers as she worked up the courage to approach the young chief. Although he was clearly much younger than her husband, Chief Long Knife had an intimidating aura about him. He wasn’t one to be messed with, that was certain, and yet, if she kept her own counsel, the secret would eat her alive.

Out of desperation, she clutched her infant to her heart and tentatively made her way to where he stood alone, shoulders braced against the blistering autumnal wind. ...