MERRY CHRISTMAS COUPON!!!

Coupon code is QS59N (not case-sensitive).

Places to Eat in Wyoming and Utah

So having traveled some around Wyoming and Utah here in the USA, I have always wanted to detail somewhere on the web places that I have found that were excellent establishments for food.  Interesting shows on TV and the internet usually depict places in cities where the competition is fierce and the locals know where the best food is.  So while I have included some in the bigger towns and cities, if you are traveling across the I-80 corridor of Wyoming or any other place in Wyoming or Utah, just passing little towns along the way and wondered what you could eat there, here is a list of my FAVES!

I have managed to find lots of gems in these small towns that I hope you will stop on your next trip and see for your self.

If you have any suggestions to add to this list, I will add them with a note that it is recommended until such time that I can try it out for myself.  I will also state if it has been a long time since I have visited the place when appropriate.

ENJOY!

Utah

Castle Dale

• On the east end of town there was a pizza place in an old gas station.  It used to have the BEST calzones!  Not sure if it still there, but if it is give it a try!

Green River

• It has been a while since I have been here too but I know people who say it is still there.  Ray's Tavern is one of only a few places to eat in this town, but the burgers are SO WORTH IT!!  Flame broiled and delish!

Provo

• It has been a while since we have been to Hot Pot in downtown prove but worth the stop if you like trying something more traditional Chinesey.

Wyoming

Bill [yes, I said Bill]

• Penny's Diner is associated with the railroad somehow but it has great hamburgers.

Buffalo [Interstate 25]

• The Dash is wonderful!  I love stopping here on the way north along I-25!  Their shakes and ice cream are very good too!

Casper

• Little House of Burgers has excellent burgers and I highly recommend this one!

Cheyenne [Interstates 25 and 80]

• This is the first entry of three for Anong's Thai.  They started out in Rawlins and have moved east.  GREAT place for Thai and Asian food!  Has buffet during the week for lunch.  Conveniently just off of I-80.
• Korea House is a great place but lately we have noticed that they are closed some days like weekends and often only take out for dinner.  But worth a stop if you are interested in trying.  Just off of I-25 in a residential area.

Douglas 

• The Depot is a great place for Americana
• Sapporo has pretty good Japanese food.

Farson

• Although this place doesn't serve real food [it may now though], the ice cream here is worth the stop.  Especially since you are 60 miles from anywhere and it can get hot out there in the Green River basin.

Laramie [Interstate 80]

• Anong's - another of those GREAT Thai places.  This one is a little harder to find since it is down by the tracks among the downtown historic area with all it's intricacies of one way streets and such but worth the find.

Medicine Bow

• The historic Virginian is a new fave of mine now!  GREAT burgers!

Orin Junction [Interstate 25]

• There is a little cafe attached to a Sinclair station about a half mile east of the off ramp and rest area here.  THIS is where I get the best chili!  It is so good!

Rawlins [Interstate 80]

• Anong's -  the original establishment.  Good food and has buffet during the week for lunch.
• I heard this last fall that Rose's retired (1/17/2020).  Rose's Lariat is a AWESOME Mexican place.  The food is good and the green chili is HOT!  Been a while since I have been here but I still here people telling me they ate there.  My cousin got me hooked on this one and every time I have been there the customers are from outta state.  one guy said, "We stop here for lunch on the way up to hunting camp from Colorado and then again on the way back!"  Place is small and seating is limited so consider take out.
• Check out Sinclair's entry for another Mexican goodie.

Saratoga

• The Wolf used to be a pretty good place, but have not been there in a while.

Sinclair [Interstate 80]

• Su Casa is simply awesome!  My cousin got me started on this one too and I have been hooked ever since.

I hope you find something good to eat from these GREAT places to eat!

Let me know in the comments if any are still around, gone or have changed ownership.  I know we have seen a GREAT place go to pot when someone else buys it so I can revise this list if you can warn me.  We are always looking for suggestions for places to eat so feel free to leave a comment if you like.  We travel a lot in these two states but are also known to travel to Montana, Colorado and South Dakota.  Of course other states are welcome, just not sure when we will be making those trips at the moment.

Thanks!!!

WOW!

Has it been 6 months since I posted here?!!?

Well, just got finished watching EM Kaplan's blog on eating vegemite and spam.  Pretty funny.  Especially since I LOVE spam!

Anyway, I will be trying to keep up on this thing!

Thanksgiving!!! Shameless promo - CONTINUED!!!

Good Evening!

My Thanksgiving give away of book 2 of The Way of the Horse Series in a Thanks-for-Giving way was so popular that I decided to extend it through the end of the year!!!  Use the following coupon to get "Here and Now" for FREE at Smashwords:  UF98E

The coupon is public so just click the yellow "Buy with Coupon" button in the upper right corner and read away.

Check out Book 1, "Memories of a Distant Future" as well since it is free too!

If you aren't interested in either of these, feel free to browse around Smashwords and find something else you might like.

Thanks and I hope you find something you can enjoy for the next year!!!

MR

Interviewed!!!

Matt Kendrick over at Prattlefog & Gravelrap did a wonderful interview of me and a few other authors on Indie Publishing, The Joys of Self-Publishing.

Thanks Matt!

I hope you all will click over to see his website and read the article.

Thanksgiving!!! Shameless promo!

Good Evening!

For this Thanksgiving I am giving away my book 2 of The Way of the Horse Series in a Thanks-for-Giving way.  Use the following coupon to get "Here and Now" for FREE at Smashwords:  UF98E

The coupon is public so just click the yellow "Buy with Coupon" button in the upper right corner and read away.

Check out Book 1, "Memories of a Distant Future" as well since it is free too!

If you aren't interested in either of these, feel free to browse around Smashwords and find something else you might like.

Thanks and I hope you find something you can enjoy for Thanksgiving!!!

MR

WOW!

I did not realize how long it had been since I had posted.  I apologize to those who might of wondered.  Life gets in the way often times and I have been busy with that.  But I am hoping to be able to get going again.

Book 3 cover design by WillowRaven is coming along and I hope to see something soon.  I am also seriously contemplating book revisions, title revisions and cover redesigns to see if I can up the quality of the last few books.  Those are also thanks to Willowraven who has been a huge asset!  You might check out her website linked above and see what all she has going.  From our discussions, I have learned where I might have gone wrong and what might need to change to be more in line with this genre.

I have also picked up a few new hobbies and those kept me busy over the summer as well.  I am looking forward to the winter to actually sit down and write some more.

I hope everything in your life is good and that as the holidays approach, you will find joy with family and friends.

CYA!

52 Week Reading Challenge (UPDATE)

I am a updating this about every month now, so hope things are going well for you.  Found some help in Goodreads which has many lists and other helps to find many of these.  In fact, I have already created a list called the 52 Week Reading Challenge 2018 to help me and anyone else who needs the help.

I have really enjoyed this challenge and I have found some new writers to dive into and read.  But I have also found a subject that really hit me this last book.  Prelude to Glory, Our Sacred Honor is about the Revolutionary War and it really piqued my interest in that era of History.  I have marked a bunch of books in Goodreads for reading and look forward to trolling Amazon for some others.

So if I have anything to say about this challenge, it has been wonderful in getting me to expand my horizons and get back into reading!  Yes, a few of the books have been slogs and have made me wonder why even picked them up but others such as Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child showed me some action and adventure that really got me rolling again.  I have had more than a few days where all I wanted to do was read!  That is awesome considering there are so many other things out there vying for our time and attention.  It feels good but I also feel it challenging me to write on my own novels.

OH and I have completed 29 of the 52 challenges with 6 and a half more months to go so maybe I can accomplish this challenge!

I hope you have found some enjoyment from this and find some authors that you can further explore their world with.

52 Week Reading Challenge 2018 (one for each week of the year):
Completed:  29/52
1. A book by your favorite author.
2. A book by an author whose work you haven't read previously. The Scarlet Pimpernil by Emma Orczy.
3. A book released in the year you were born.
4. A book released in 2018.
5. A book released in 2008.  Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child.
6. A book released in 1998.  Prelude to Glory Volume 1, Our Sacred Honor by Ron Carter.
7. A book released in 1988.
8. A book released in 1978.  Eight Tales of Terror by Edgar Allan Poe.
9. A book released in 1968.
10. A book released in 1958.
11. A book released in 1948.
12. A book released in 1938.
13. A book released in 1928.
14. A book released in 1918. My Antonia by Willa Cather.
15. A book released in the 20th Century [outside the years above]. The Scarlet Pimpernil by Emma Orczy.
16. A book released in the 19th Century.  Eight Tales of Terror by Edgar Allan Poe.
17. A book that has had a movie or TV adaptation. The Scarlet Pimpernil by Emma Orczy.
18. A book written after a movie or TV.
19. A female author. The Scarlet Pimpernil by Emma Orczy.
20. A male author - The Last Exodus by Trever Bierschbach.
21. A graphic novel.  Star Wars - Absolutely Everything You Need to Know.
22. A fiction. My Antonia by Willa Cather
23. A romance. The Scarlet Pimpernil by Emma Orczy.
24. A fantasy.  Firebolt (The Dragonian #1) by  Adrienne Woods.
25. A sci-fi.  Star Wars - Absolutely Everything You Need to Know.
26. A suspense/paranormal.  Eight Tales of Terror by Edgar Allan Poe.
27. An action/crime/adventure - The Last Exodus By Trever Bierschbach.
28. A war.  Prelude to Glory Volume 1, Our Sacred Honor by Ron Carter.
29. A thriller.  Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child.
30. A mystery.
31. A historical fiction.  Prelude to Glory Volume 1, Our Sacred Honor by Ron Carter.
32. A Native American.
33. A young adult book.  Firebolt (The Dragonian #1) by  Adrienne Woods.
34. A western.
35. A literature classic. The Scarlet Pimpernil by Emma Orczy.
36. A non-fiction - The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
37. An author's debut book - The Last Exodus by Trever Bierschbach.
38. An author from your state/province/[country] - The Last Exodus by Trever Bierschbach.
39. A book originally published in a language other than English - The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
40. A book by an African author.  Firebolt (The Dragonian #1) by  Adrienne Woods.
41. A book by an Asian author - The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
42. A book by an Australian author.
43. A book by a European author. The Scarlet Pimpernil by Emma Orczy.
44. A book by a North American author - The Last Exodus By Trever Bierschbach.
45. A book by a South American author.
46. A book set in Africa.
47. A book set in Antarctica.
48. A book set in Asia.
49. A book set in Australia.
50. A book set in Europe. The Scarlet Pimpernil by Emma Orczy.
51. A book set in North America - The Last Exodus By Trever Bierschbach.
52. A book set in South America.

Some Off Topic Writing

Here is an off topic poem I wrote years ago.  ENJOY!!!

Ol' Friend

End of Year Sale at Smashwords!

SMASHWORDS is having their annual year end sale!  Get both my books for 50%!!

I am sure that you can find something for your holiday vacation to read and maybe a few more!

ENJOY!

Book 3, Suspicions and Darkness Update

Well, I dove back into Book 3, found some things I really liked and some others that I didn't.  Have started on my second run through, this time after having pulled some scenes out that added little to the story and consolidated a few chapters that were too short.

The story is coming along well, but there is still a LOT of work to be done.

Book 3, Suspicions and Darkness

As you can see if you have been following my blog, the title has changed.   Aidana WillowRaven has been kind enough to team up with me on design of this third book in the series.  As usual, I have found that crossing over in the creative realms is a fascinating adventure full of 'oh, wows' and 'oooo, I like that's'!!  I really enjoy this part of the novel creation process.  I love to see what the other artists can come up with especially when they ask good questions and then give me feedback on their ideas or edits they think I need in the story line.  In this case, Aidana gave me goose bumps early on in our interview and I knew this was where we needed to head to make the cover rock.

As soon as we come to the conclusion of this wonderful process, I will have a cover reveal here.

Until then, you can check out my other books and be ready for when this one hits the streets.  I am really excited to get back into this one after several years of being shelved and it is like reading an old book, editing and getting back into the story again.

Big SHOUT OUT to Aidana WillowRaven for her enthusiasm!

Interesting Blog

Should be going but just had to share this blog post I found!!!

ENJOY!

path-of-life

Reviews of Memories of a Distant Future

Review by: L. G. Cullens on Oct. 04, 2016 :  5 STARS
Review by: L. G. Cullens (author of Calan's Eden) on Oct. 4, 2016

As the author notes in his book description, a current day young man finds himself several hundred years in the past, in a North America before Europeans began to arrive. He recognizes the terrain of northern Wyoming, but is understandably confused by the absence of modern man's hand. So begin his adventures in a time closer to Nature.

The story is both awe inspiring and endearing, especially to me in being familiar with both the locale and people depicted. To those that look for depth in a story, the author's use of a simpler setting brings out humankind's good and bad proclivities.

My only issue with this book was the author's stumbling, drawn out start, where he might have better captured the reader's mind's eye and attention. I got over such though, as the author quickly hit his stride in presenting an engrossing story.

This isn't the kind of book where one can note snippets to interest potential readers, so I'll say only that many should find this book an immersing and enjoyable read.


Kim rated it 5 STARS

it was amazing

This is the best book I'd ever read. I love how the story in the beginning until the end. M.D. Robinson knows how to create a story and this is it. I want to read more of his books.

Sad NEWS.

Many of you may not have known her but I was informed through #FB that Digital Donna passed away on October 15, 2015.

Who was she, you ask?

Digital Donna of course wasn't her real name but she was listed on the #Smashwords website as a cover designer.  I contacted her for a design for my first book, Way of the Horse, Memories of a Distant Future.  She took my dumb idea and then came back with her own.  It was so AWESOME!!!  In a matter of days we had a book cover that I was impressed with.

What stunned me later was when book 2, Here and Now was getting close to being ready, I contacted her and she made time from her busy days to create that ebook design.  I sent her the info she needed and she turned the cover around in a day.  I sat there looking at the design and all I could think of was, "THAT'S IT!!"

She was an amazing designer and what's more she did this all while battling a major health issue.  I never asked but from her communications she struggled with it months at a time.

It was amazing to have spent what little time I did with her and I pray that her family will be blessed with peace as they learn to deal with the emptiness I am sure they feel for her.

God Bless you on your journey to the ancestors, Digital Donna!

Onward...

Well, Book 2, Here and Now has been published.  Thanks to all that have helped get the word out.  Now that the holidays are over and life is getting back into shape, it is time to start working on something again.

Now I am editing and revising Book 3.  Still no good name for it yet but I have a pretty good idea for one.  I got a really good start on it before I started rewriting/editing Book 2 so I hope it doesn't take as long to get that one to get out.

#amwriting #WotH

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S and to Celebrate...

...I am presenting to all my blog readers a coupon for 33% off of the newly released Here and Now, Book 2 of the Way of the Horse!  Go to Smashwords and use the promotion code CK22J at checkout.  It is also located on the right column on the linked page.  If you haven't been to Smashwords before, browse around and see if there isn't anything else you might want to read.

I hope you find time to enjoy this great opportunity and that you enjoy reading it or that you find something else!

GOOD READING!

Book 2 Is HERE!

Hours away from Book 2, Here and Now going live!  So excited to see my 2nd book out there!

Here and Now, Book 2 of the Way of the Horse Series is now available for preorder!!!

IT IS DONE!  I have finally started finalizing Book 2.  It has been a long road but I am very happy with where it has gone.  I did not plan for it to take so long nor be so hard to get here, but it did.  Just doing some final brush up on things in preparation for its release.

Oh, when is the release?  December 23, 2016 so that everyone will have the long weekend to enjoy the read.

It is on Smashwords now with other retailers taking it up as the week starts.  I will place links herein as well.

Thanks for the patience while I have struggled with this second book and feel free to leave a comment or two if you see something of interest in the books.

Thanks again!

Chapter Reveal for getting 6,000 followers on Twitter a tidbit from Chapter 6 of Here and Now, Way of the Horse, Book 2

Chapter Six

The Way of the Horse

The whole camp seemed to be holding their breath as they waited for news of the buffalo herd returning to the area. Black Moose had told no one about his dream except Old Crow and Blue Jay and they had not let on that anything more need be done. He wanted to ask but knew that they had heard his story and would answer him in their own due time. Still the camp seemed more edgy as the summer wore on with tempers flaring over petty things and even the children cautious and jumpy. When Black Moose would walk out to the horse herd to visit his horses and give them tasty morsels he pondered his dream and the two medicine people's reaction.

His mind would constantly flash back to the spring and the near starvation that nearly destroyed the band. His mind, always busy and fueled by his heart, would not let the worry rest. He felt his every waking hour was a waste if he wasn't somehow preparing for the coming winter. He also saw many of the men jumpy and jittery. These same thoughts infected their minds and hearts. More than one would look off to the southeast for a sign of the coming buffalo herd. Every day it was the same thing, not even a cloud on the southern horizon. He even caught Old Crow gazing off in that direction on more than one evening. But when the old man noticed Black Moose watching him, he would quickly look into the valley pretending to be looking there.

One afternoon Black Moose stood up suddenly. His heart had taken over. I am going to do something, he thought readying himself.

He approached his friend, Flying Hawk, "The buffalo are not coming and we must prepare for another winter without their bounty."

The young man jerked as his friend spoke as if he had been dreaming. "But brother, the elders, the chief and the medicine man counsel us to have patience."

"They can have patience, I will hunt while I wait!"

"HO! I will gather my gear and we shall meet at the horse herd."

Black Moose smiled at his friend and his willingness to be off on a hunt. "Where are Rising Star and Sacred Bear?"

Flying Hawk smiled turning and pointing across the camp at the far ridge to the south saying, "Chasing Lovely Rose's charms and long dress..."

"Who?"

"Lovely Rose" an accusatory arm flashing up towards the southwest.

Black Moose looked across the valley and saw two young men following a young woman as she walked west up the slope searching for tubers for the evening meal. Black Moose shook his head and said, "After you and our brothers, Flying Eagle and Little Antelope pack, meet at the horse herd, and are ready, ride by them on your way out south and laugh at them! The fools need to see that we are going and they can choose to stay here with the long dresses or come with the men!" Flying Hawk laughed heartily at the joke and set to quickly gathering his gear.

At this he turned to see another set of eyes on him, a set that he hoped would be on him for the rest of his life. Those dark eyes shone with that little something some called love. Black Moose smiled at her and signed that he was going hunting. She winked at him and smiled as she turned to enter the tipi. I know I break her heart when I leave, he thought, but she says she is proud of me. I must talk with her to see if that is real or not. Then he looked at the scrambling Flying Hawk, maybe he could tell me.

With a shrug, Black Moose set off for the other brother's family tipi, "Saying I will get the other two."

"Where shall we meet, brother?" came the question to his back.

Black Moose turned and signed, if you can't find me, you will sleep with the coyotes.

Flying Hawk laughed louder and set off for the horse herd with his gear slung over his back.

Black Moose smiled again, feeling the familiar Flying Hawk returning. He had not seemed the same since the attack on the camp. He had been badly beaten with his ego crushed as the result of that beating. Black Moose's actions that fateful night had become a sour memory of his failure but as friends usually do, they had gotten over it, mainly by returning to the things that they liked to do together.

As he approached Flying Eagle and Little Antelope's family tipi he yipped like a coyote and they tore through the flap in excited anticipation.

"Brothers, we hunt until the snow flies!"

They both yelled out, "HO!" and began scrambling scrambled for their possessions. The father, Summer Badger, strode out of the shade from the behind their tipi and stood watching them quietly. Both boys were almost exact copies of him, short and stout with high brows and round noses.

Black Moose signed with respect to their father. His slight nod was enough to let Black Moose know that he approved.

"Meet Flying Hawk at the horse herd."

"Ho!" came the dual reply.

Black Moose turned and set off for his gear at Old Crow's tipi. As he approached his tipi he whistled loudly and moments later his two favorite mounts came prancing up to the tipi with their tails high in the air and throwing their heads. Both anticipated his feelings and knew something exciting was in store for them.

He tied his gear onto Lady and leaped onto Red set off for to the south for the rest of his horses who were meandering up the slope towards his. As they approached him, he gathered and tied their mane ropes into a train, and then he set off at a quick pace to the south.

Black Moose found himself alone with his thoughts as he ventured south ahead of his group of hunters. He wrestled with the idea that the band did not trade horses with the Dog People. It would seem that a horse would be able to command a better price than some of the skins and food stuffs that they had traded. He wondered what the People had missed by not offering to trade horses. Could better food be provided? How about better clothing or blankets for the winter? There had to be something that would make up for the loss of a single horse.

Many nights later, after the group returned to the camp, Black Moose quietly hung his endeavors on the drying racks by the light of the dying fire outside his old friend’s tipi. Before Black Moose touched the tipi flap, the old gnarled voice spoke from within, “Come in young brother.”

Black Moose shook his head thinking to himself, how does he do that? He opened the flap and slid into the interior space. His nose was immediately assailed by all the varied herbs and medicines that hung from the poles and ropes within. The smells always overpowered him when he first returned after several days but had begun to carry a welcoming feel to it at which his body immediately relaxed.

“Old brother, why do you not sleep. It is late.”

“Young brother, when you get to my age, you will s' that sleep is like the thunderstorms on the prairie, it comes when it wants, not when you want it,” the old man chuckling to himself at his wit.

Black Moose stood smiling at his old friend, then noticed that they were not alone. Blue Jay sat next to Old Crow with her eyes closed and humming a chant. Black Moose made to leave saying, “Sorry to interrupt...”

Blue Jay’s eyes opened and engulfed him in their warmth and love, “Hold son, do not go," her singsong voice light in the half darkness, "We both have been in discussions concerning you.”

Black Moose paused and sat back down with a curious look on his face. “You were waiting for me?”

The old man huddled deeper into his robes and nodded while Blue Jay continued, “The spirits whispered to us that you were coming,” her voice trailing off.

Black Moose sat back and waited as was the custom of the People. He knew that to ask questions would rush them and put a damper on whatever they wanted to talk of. He had learned much of patience since being adopted by the People, especially as he lived with the old medicine man. His mind leapt to the immediate questions he had of his vision of the buffalo herd and the answer that he was promised from the two before him. His mind wandered through the vision and his own determination to hunt until winter if need be. Perhaps they wanted to talk to him of following the counsel of the elders?

The silence spanned on for what felt like half the night although Black Moose was sure it was only half of what would be called an hour in the future. Finally, Blue Jay began looking up into the poles above their heads, “Something troubles your spirit. You have questions concerning the People and our ways. Your ways are as strange to us as we are to you. But we as the People have adopted you and you have taken well to being a part of our band”.

She paused and then went on more humbly, “I and my family have directly benefitted from your strength and skill. Your sacrifice on our behalf has caused me to become more of your kin than many of my own.” Her voice changed again, more humble if that could be accomplished, “I am proud that you have chosen my daughter as your lifelong companion.”

Black Moose sat listening to this introduction, remembering every part, knowing what each word meant and how much feeling she put behind each statement. His heart was once again full of the love for the People, but still doubt crept in.

“Yet, having been through all that, you are still troubled...” Black Moose looked up startled that she knew something about how he felt. Her gaze was fixed on him now and her eyes bore into his soul. He felt that familiar connecting of spirits as his spirit shared his memories and hers with him. He felt her fear of being a medicine woman, the fear of being called a...witch was the only word that he could describe it although the translation wasn't right. He could feel the fear of losing her family and of them losing everything, of them being cast out. But there was something else lurking in the background…a gift that she had, a gift to be able to discern the spirits and to see into a living spirit's soul and hear what they said. He marveled at such a gift. Then it was all gone.

Black Moose blinked as did Blue Jay but her sly smile told him that his secret questions were known to her. He looked down into the fire ashamed of having doubts and questions.

Turning she spoke up, “Old Crow,” at which the old man almost jumped out of his robes, “the young man is ready to learn of the Way of the Horse.”

The old man glanced up quickly, eying her closely then looked back to Black Moose. “THAT is reserved for only the one or two in the band to learn and guide us. H' has not been selected."  Blue Jay stared steadily at the old medicine man.

The silence stretched on as the old man finally filled it with, "H' is young. H' will not b' able to retain what h' is taught."

Her look told the old man her answer as he looked back at Black Moose, “It is like I am married to her, not her to Brave Elk,” he grumbled as he retreated back into his robes.

Black Moose’s interest stirred and he felt his attention drawn to this new concept, “What is this Way of the Horse?”

Blue Jay looked to the old medicine man who seemed to be hiding in his robes now. “If you do not tell him, I will.”

The old man grumbled something intelligible about only men knowing of such things. Her stare softened as a knowing smirk crept across her face. As it lit up her face, the wrinkled old face changed to doubt, then question, then disbelief and finally to astonishment.

“You don’t…” his words burst forth from his furs.

“My grandfather taught me,” was the soft reply as she turned back to stoke the dwindling fire.

“HOW! Your grandfather was not of the Way of the Horse. I knew your father and his father. They may have been medicine men but they could not have known.”

She looked down and smiled into the fire, memories dancing in her face while her eyes glowed. Old Crow watched as she turned back to him, “I had two grandfathers...” letting her voice trail off.

Old Crow sat up straight and blinked and sputtered as if he had been doused in the ice cold water from the nearby mountain stream. Black Moose sat watching the exchange forgotten.

“Your mother’s father?”

She turned back to the fire nodding.

The old medicine man watched her closely. He searched his mind but it betrayed him now. It did a lot of that lately. He dug through old memories but still found nothing.

When she looked back to him, tears rolled down her cheek. Her eyes glistened as she said, “You were not part of the band when he was with us. He moved on with another band sometime after he and my paternal grandfather began teaching me the ways of the medicine man. He was a sacred Elder of the Horse as well as a powerful medicine man and he taught me much of their ways long before I knew what it all meant. I have never known what ever happened to him or where he crossed over to be with our ancestors. It is the one thing I never forgave my mother for.”

Old Crow sat listening and piecing things together. “Why would h' leave the band and where did he go?”

Blue Jay looked back into the fire, “My mother would never tell me. She only said that grandfather had left and would not be returning. That was the only explanation I ever received. My other grandfather saw the devastation that this had on my young mind and realized that I needed to focus my talents on things that were more to my liking instead of my ill feelings for my mother and her secrets. He listened to the spirits and they told him where I needed to be led to keep me safe. He focused my mind on much of their teachings."

"How long have you known this?”

"I have probably known it my whole adult life, but it wasn't until after you selected me to be your student that I realized what my paternal grandfather had done for me," her cheeks wet in the dim firelight.

The old man sat thinking, knowing the story of her father, the old medicine man knew better than to ask why he did not offer an explanation to her.

His old mind returned to the problem at hand. To teach a man the Way of the Horse would need the approval of the elders and the chief, in fact he did not even know who the present Master of the Horse and Apprentice were. Those were closely kept secrets only the elders and the chief knew. Their acceptance of Black Moose as a member of the band was enough in their eyes. To ask to teach this stranger the Way of the Horse would not be looked upon with any kindness and could damage a lot of what he had built over the last season. His status in the band was not enough to be elevated to that. He may be ready but the band was not.

His mind went on, but Blue Jay knew the Way of the Horse and therefore could teach him. If she were found out her family could be cast out but she was already on the same path in preparation to be a medicine woman. She had nothing to lose but what would the band gain by having Black Moose learn of the Way of the Horse? Old Crow could see nothing, the spirits refusing to whisper to him on these thoughts. He looked at Blue Jay, she would not offer such a thing if the spirits did not whisper it to her. His skin began to crawl at the realization, the student may not be the student much longer, he thought. The spirits began dancing and singing around him.

“Black Moose, Blue Jay has something important to teach you. You will need all your skill to keep from revealing these things, for it is forbidden knowledge, to b' shared only with those prepared and ready for such things. It is dangerous to even speak of it. Blue Jay feels you are ready, therefore I do as well,” at which the old man sat back in his robes and began chanting. Black Moose noticed that this chant was different from any he had ever heard. Blue Jay noticed it as well.

Blue Jay spoke up louder than before, "Enter my dear sister."