The Wandering One

Chapter 19

The next day at breakfast, Adam exchanged a look with Ben, both smiling hopefully.

"Terrin, you and I will be taking a trip today. Pa has cleared it." He grinned at her as she nodded, slightly confused as to why he was grinning like the cat that caught the mouse. "Where are we going?" she asked timidly, while also hoping desperately it wasn't to Virginia City.

"It's a surprise."

Terrin huffed in frustration. "Will I need my saddlebags?"

Adam shook his head in response and continued eating. Terrin huffed once more and ate a few more bites of food before declaring herself full. At this, the men exchanged concerned looks. Terrin had barely eaten since they had brought her back, and her breakfast this morning had only consisted of a single piece of toast. They decided to overlook it for now and revisit the subject at a later date. Terrin excused herself to go get ready.

After asking Adam if she would need her saddle and receiving a shake of the head in response, Terrin decided to just ride Lash bareback. She had always found that riding bareback was more comfortable for them both anyways. When she was settled on Lash's broad back and Adam finished tying his saddlebags onto the back of his saddle and mounted Sport, they set off. Terrin rode next to Adam in silence, taking in the scenery and trying to figure out where he was taking her.

Terrin lost track of the time as they rode, drifting off into deep thought. She wondered if what Ben and Adam had been telling her was true. Would everything turn out alright if she stayed? Could she bring herself to take the risk of believing them? She did feel more at home with them than she had anywhere else she had stayed since she was living with the Sioux. She thought back to her time with the Sioux and how much she had enjoyed living with them. They had truly become her family, her tribe.

Terrin was pulled from her thoughts as she and Adam rode out of the woods and into a stretch of open country. A quarter mile ahead of them, Terrin could see the huts of a Paiute village. As they rode closer, a figure ran out to meet them. Terrin recognised the young man as one of the first ones to have recovered from the typhoid outbreak. He greeted the two riders with a smile and a cheerful greeting, escorting them the rest of the way to the village.

Once they reached the outskirts of the village, Terrin and Adam dismounted. Adam ground tied Sport while Terrin removed Lash's bridle and let him roam free, knowing he would return at her whistle. The two then followed the young man further into the makeshift village, weaving between the huts and shelters. When they reached a clear area in the middle, Terrin saw Chief Tocho awaiting them. As she saw him, standing tall and proud, her mind flashed back to when she had tended to him as he lay sick with typhoid. He had looked much different then, thin and weak, a shell of the man she saw standing before her now. Now he stood, tall and broad, his authority clear in how he held himself.

"Hau." His deep voice greeted them in a friendly manner, a small smile spread on his face. "We welcome you back to our village. You have done much for us."

Terrin gave a small smile in return. Chief Tocho then turned to Adam, "We also welcome you back, Adam Cartwright."

"Thank you, Chief." Adam replied.

Chief Tocho invited the two of them to join him in sitting by the fire that was burning in the middle of the clearing. When they were settled, he gave a nod to the young man who escorted them into the village, who promptly ran off. The three began talking, with Terrin inquiring after the health of the village since the typhoid epidemic and smiling as she heard of their good health. The chief then studied Terrin for a moment before speaking.

"You speak the language of my people, yet you are not a Paiute. How did you come to learn our language?"

Terrin smiled sadly as she remembered her tribe.

"I was adopted by Chief Otaktay of the Lakota and given the name Mika. I was trained in the ways of their warriors. I learned your language when Chief Otaktay met with Chief Winnemucca to speak of peace making."

Chief Tocho nodded in understanding.

"Chief Otaktay was a brave warrior and wise to make you his daughter. You have the heart of a Lakota warrior, Mika."

Terrin smiled gratefully at his words, it had been a long time since she had heard someone call her Mika. It was a welcome reminder of her tribe and their traditions. The young man who had escorted them to Chief Tocho returned, carrying a large bundle of fur in his arms. He gave the fur to the chief and it was only as he handed it over that Terrin realized it was a young dog, about a year old. Chief Tocho rose and Terrin followed suit. He approached Terrin and set the young dog in front of her.

"In thanks for helping my people, I give you this pup. He is the son of Nahabanna, my dog."

"What breed is it?" Adam asked curiously.

"Essa togga, wolf dog." The chief smiled as the pup licked Terrin's face as she crouched down to pet him, causing her to smile.

The chief then invited the two to join them for the afternoon meal, which Adam and Terrin happily accepted. They ate well of rabbit and berries and then Adam and Terrin were invited to watch as two of the young men raced their horses. Terrin happily agreed, fondly remembering when she used to participate in races against the young men in her tribe. As they walked over to where the race would take place, Terrin whistled her signature three note call for Lash. Within thirty seconds he galloped up to her and slid to a stop, nudging her shoulder with his head. He then proceeded to investigate the young wolfdog that was walking beside Terrin on a rope.

The chief and several of the other Paiutes stared in awe at Lash as Terrin stroked his nose fondly. She soon noticed their stares and walked back over to Chief Tocho and Adam, Lash walking right beside her. Chief Tocho, Adam, and Terrin came to a halt and stood watching as the two young men mounted their horses. One was a pretty roan mare, and the other a paint stallion. Then at a word from the chief, they were off! Terrin watched excitedly as they flew over the ground. The roan mare and her rider quickly passed the paint at the start and kept the lead all the way to the finish.

As they made their way back, Adam turned to Terrin. "That was a good race."

Terrin nodded. "It was. I remember racing when I was younger. I used to be quite good."

"I used to race against Little Joe and Hoss when we were younger too. I beat them every time." Adam reminisced. Terrin's eyes began to gleam with mischief as an idea entered her mind. Chief Tocho looked knowingly at the two of them and called one of his young men over before speaking to him in Numu and sending him away. Adam wondered at the change in Terrin. Her smile reminded him of when they played together as kids.

"Hey Adam," Terrin began, smirking. "Feel like breaking that winning streak?"

Adam looked confused for a moment before breaking into a grin. "Oh I think you would be the one to break their winning streak."

"Care to test out that theory of yours?"

Adam smirked and nodded. As he did, the young man returned, leading Sport and carrying Lash's bridle. Adam checked his saddle and tightened his cinch before removing his saddlebags. He swung up into the saddle as Terrin decided to leave Lash's bridle with Adam's saddlebags and the chief took the dog's rope for her. She then leapt onto Lash's back and they made their way to the starting place. There were a few cheers from the gathered crowd before the chief gave the word and they both took off.

Terrin felt as though she was flying as she and Lash moved together as one. She and Adam were neck and neck. She looked over at him and met his eyes, and seeing the challenge in them, she urged Lash to go faster. He surged beneath her, truly letting go and they passed Adam fully, beating him to the finish by a length and a half. Terrin laughed in victory as they trotted back, and Adam smiled happily. Although he hadn't won the race, Terrin was genuinely happy and so full of life in this moment. A surge of hope ran through him as he joined her in laughing.