Trail of Darkness
by
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Her commitment to Panther was deep and lasting as a Viking's should be. Nothing and no one was going to interfere. She took a deep breath, sat up ram-rod straight, raised her chin, looked directly at Manuelito and shook her head no, her blue eyes narrowed with resolve. She shook her head once more. Viking tenacity locked with black eyes which emitted silent orders to obey. She did not move. Finally, Manuelito gave a disgusted grunt and indicated by a hard push on her shoulders that she was to remain where she was. He rose and went out. He was back almost immediately with Kit Fox. The young man hunkered down beside Yucca Flower.
He translated as Manuelito talked. "He will give you a horse, food and water." Kit Fox translated. "You are to leave before Panther wakes up. It is best for Panther, best for the clan."
Yucca Flower stood up, not breaking eye contact with Manuelito even through she knew it was not polite. "Ask him why. I saved his son's life twice." She held up two fingers. "He saved mine twice." Two fingers were placed under Manuelito's nose. "Panther has told me we are locked together by the Holy Ones." When translated, the words seemed to infuriate Manuelito. He spoke harshly to Kit Fox.
"There are many reasons why you must leave. A Headman does not like to be questioned or not obeyed. He says your being with the clan will only bring the soldiers to the big canyon to look for you. That will put many Dineh in danger. The men of Tsiegi are not ready to fight them."
"Fight? I thought he signed a treaty of peace."
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About the Book
Ingrid Swanson is living at Fort Defiance, in the Arizona Territory, after her family was killed by Mexican bandits. The time is 1860. Chee Panther, a Navajo warrior is scouting this fort, newly built on Navajo land. He rescues lngrid from a brutal assault by a Ute Indian. Attracted to her golden haired beauty, he takes her to live with his clan in Canyon de Chelly. Fearful of becoming an Indian slave, Ingrid flees. Panther searches for and finds her severely injured by a flashflood. Although Panthers father, Headman Manuelito, is angry about the white woman being in the settlement again, he cannot fight his son’s feelings for his Yucca Flower, Ingrid’s new name.
The gentleness and caring of this fierce warrior, the healing skills of his grandmother and two sisters, during her recovery, bonds Ingrid to a new family. Attraction blossoms into love, two cultures are united. Panther and Yucca Flower leave to live by themselves until a hunting injury to Panthers legs forces their return for help.
Kit Carson is ordered to lead the army to “round up” the Navajo. This is the only way to stop their interference with the expansion and settling of the Southwest. Panther leads the fight against Carson and his “scorched earth” policy with his wife at his side.
The odds are overwhelming. Carson invades Canyon de Chelly. The clan is captured, the settlement and crops burned. All are forced to join the mass of Navajo herded on the Long Walk to internment at Fort Sumner. lngrid is forced to rejoin the white world, but remains steadfast in her goal to find Panther. She connives to get to Fort Sumner where she searches among the several thousands of Navajo. His family is there, but Panther is not, Ingrid remains resolute that the love they shared will prevail. Somehow they will be reunited to live as Chee Panther and Yucca Flower.
About the Author
When Wisconsin born Carn Jensen went to Gallup, New Mexico to teach, it seemed as if she were in a new world. The beauty of the Southwestern vistas, the lure of ancient civilization sites and the proximity to a large area of the Navajo Nation was truly exciting. The need to express this developed a series of articles for her hometown newspaper. This was the beginning of her writing career.
Her husband shared her enthusiasm, but after several years, family circumstances dictated their return to the Midwest. There, she continued writing as a publicist for an arts guild and as a girls’ sports reporter. Following the graduation of their third child from college, the remembered enchantment of the Southwest found an outlet in fiction writing. TRAIL OF DARKNESS is her first Native American historical and published work.