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Chapter Nine
A Trapped Bear
1837, Southwest of Three Forks, in what would later become the State of Montana.
"He addeth rebellion unto his sin."
~ Job 34:37 ~
 he
days following their chance meeting with the Shoshone hunter, Josiah enjoyed his
family for the first time. There were no big revelations, but just the general sense
that he possessed something of value. Mary was a smart child, and no wilting wildflower
when it came to danger. Josiah felt pride that she was his daughter. And Emma-- even
the Shoshone had wanted her for his wife. What man in his right senses wouldn't?
He and Emma were even expecting a child of their own. Yes, Josiah figured he had
it pretty good.
A week later, Josiah lazily rested on the buffalo robes, listening to Emma as she
read from the Bible to Mary. Careful to keep his eyes shut so as to appear asleep,
Josiah mulled over the words Emma read out loud: "Whoso committeth adultery
with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul."
(Proverbs 6:32)
As much as Josiah tried not to, his mind wandered back to the beautiful Blackfoot
woman who gave birth to Mary. The woman had been the wife of another man, but Josiah
hadn't cared. Grimly, his eyes drifted to the fireplace. He remembered the woman's
terror when her husband discovered them together. Only after being forced from the
village, did Josiah learn of the woman's fate.
Fixing his gaze on the child seated beside Emma, Josiah felt his insides again turn
to stone. Guilt lived in this cabin with him, and it came in the form of a small
girl. Once more, he wished he had stopped his mother from forcing Mary onto Emma
and himself. It was easier to put the past behind him, without being reminded of
it on a daily basis.
As Josiah entertained these morbid thoughts, Mary looked up at him with a bright
smile. Letting his disdain freely show, Josiah stared back until Mary's pretty smile
disappeared.
Hanging her head with a loud, patient sigh, Mary scooted a little closer to Emma.
Josiah's conscience smarted, but only a little. It was then he noticed the cabin
had gone silent, for Emma had stopped reading. He frowned as Emma stared at him in
displeasure.
"Please, try to get along with her," asked Emma, in obvious disappointment.
"You've been doing so much better lately."
With a curt grunt, Josiah stood to lift down his Hawken from some pegs on the wall.
"Where are you going?" asked Emma, closing the Bible.
"Hunting," came Josiah's one word reply. He had let himself think too much
about Mary's mother this morning, and it was all Emma's fault for reading out of
that Bible of hers.
"Will you be back for lunch?" asked Emma.
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