-hobybuchanon- Native American Indian Girl Returns -

"They changed my name. Said 'Tala' was too hard to pronounce. Called me 'Margaret.'" She almost smiled. "I ran away seven times. The eighth time, I stayed gone."

Tala looked toward the mountain, and for a moment Hoby saw the child she'd been—the one who could speak to horses and find water in a drought and read the weather in the flight of birds. -HobyBuchanon- Native American Indian Girl Returns

"The chestnut's yours," he said. "Her name is Rain. She's stubborn, opinionated, and smarter than most people I know. You'll get along fine." "They changed my name

They rode east, toward the mountain, toward the spring, toward the water that remembered everything. And behind them, the sun rose full over Two Rivers Ranch, setting the dew on fire, as if the whole world was holding its breath for what came next. "I ran away seven times

"I know." Hoby put his hat back on. "But you came back first. That's enough for now."

"I'm not staying," Tala said quietly. "After this is done, I have to go back. My people need me."

"What do you need?" he asked.