Table of Contents
On the Edge
“Hold on!” Black Eagle shouted. “I’m going to sweep you both to shore!”
She slipped.
“I can’t!” hollered Sarah, crying, bringing up her other hand to obtain a better grip. “I can’t keep hold. It’s too slippery!”
“
Nyoh
, you can! You must!”
“I’m trying to, but—”
“She’s slipping away from me!” It was Marisa.
“I’ve got you!” Black Eagle yelled at her. “Keep hold! Keep hold!”
But Sarah’s hands were too wet, as were Marisa’s. Though Sarah tried with all her might, her grip was loosening. Meanwhile, Black Eagle was pitching them toward shore with all his might, but Sarah’s strength was failing. She was crying.
However, Marisa wouldn’t let go. “Sarah! Keep hold!”
It was not to be. With a deafening scream, Sarah’s grip broke and she fell, her screams echoing over the rushing water, drowning out for the moment the sounds of the pounding weight of the falls.
The last thought she had as she swooped down into the water was that she had failed in her duty—she would not be there to chaperone Marisa and Black Eagle. Indeed, her fate now lay elsewhere.
Praise for Black Eagle
“Engaging … Fans of Cassie Edwards will enjoy.”
—Genre Go Round
Berkley Sensation Books by Gen Bailey
SENECA SURRENDER
BLACK EAGLE
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
eISBN : 978-1-101-18637-4
A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / April 2010
Copyright © 2010 by Karen Kay Elstner-Bailey
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For Michael Badnarik,
author of the book
Good to Be King
and stepfather of the Constitution;
Mellanie K. DeLisle,
for her help and assistance;
and for my husband, Paul Bailey,
who holds my heart.
Acknowledgments
A special thanks goes out to the following who are Gen Bailey’s Warriorettes. You have not only my appreciation, but my utmost respect.
Frances Miller
Cathie Morton
Janet Hughes
Diana Tidlund
Jane Squires
Sheila Lawson
Sharon Crumper
Katherine M. Kakegamic
Dena Walton
Beth Reimer
Terry Stuart
Emma L. Metz
Kristy Centeno
Catherine Abernathy
Denell Wieczorek
Melissa Keith
Amy Lytle
Raeann Williams
Arlene Jones
Marilyn Wigglesworth
Jenny Cooper
Kimberly Roulean
Katherine Edgar
Debra Guyette
Lori Barnes
June Phyllis Baker
Rebekah Elrod
Heather Bennet
Diane Dicke
Tami Bates
Melinda Elmore
Jennifer Johnson
Deanna Fullbright
Sonja Dimitrovski
Dianne Westbrook
Malana Whited
Linda Barnes
Monica M. Carter
Kathy Lynn Reed
Jean Paquin
Robin Priddy
Debbie Mercer
Tressa Thorp
Donna Bratton
Deidre Durance
Carla Corless
Lillian Gilliers
Vickie Batten
Kristen Waxler
Sarah Wendt
Heather Wentz
Paula Willhoite
Pepper Cash
Michele Rose Sonnenberg
Debbie Cosentino
Tamara Miranda
Charlotte Everhart
Author’s Note
I would like to acknowledge the following sources of reference:
The book
White Savage
by Fintan O’Toole. It was in this book where I first learned the story of how the white race came to America, and learned more of the Condolence Ceremony.
And the book
The Code of Handsome Lake, the Seneca Prophet
by Arthur C. Parker, 1913.
Both of these books reference the story of how the white race came to America.
Also, the book
Roots of the Iroquois
by Tehanetorens. It was in this book where I learned the early history of the Iroquois.
One
It is a time of unrest. Both the English and the French are battling for control of the North American continent. Both seek the support of the united and strong Iroquois Confederation. Deprivations are extant on both sides of the quarrel, the French and Indians of Canada against the English, the Mohawk and Seneca of the Americas.
As always, in any time of dissension, there are those who seek to profi t from the ruin of others.
The Territory of the Iroquois Indians
Lake George area in what is now upstate New York State
By the Lake-That-Turns-to-Rapids
Saskekowa Moon
, September 1755
There were eight enemy warriors paddling their two canoes on the lake. One canoe held four of the Ottawa warriors. The other carried two Frenchmen and two more of the Ottawa. At the sight, Sarah’s stomach twisted. They were all heavily armed with guns, tomahawks, hatchets and knives, some carrying two muskets. Sarah’s guide, on the other hand, possessed only one musket, a hatchet, a tomahawk and perhaps several knives. And he was only one against eight.
Sarah bit her lip and placed her arm around Marisa, a younger woman who was under Sarah’s charge. Although Marisa was now full-grown, Sarah, at twenty and nine, was the elder by ten years. Plus, Sarah was Marisa’s confidant and companion, as well as her maid. She was also Marisa’s tutor, and most probably her best friend. So it had been for most of Marisa’s life, and fourteen years of Sarah’s.
“They have seen it,” whispered Black Eagle.
“What? ” muttered Marisa.
“The silver dish. They will come here. And when they discover it, they will find us. Go to the horses now, mount them and ride away from here. Go now! Go fast! Ride to Albany. That will be safest.”
“And leave you? ” It was Marisa speaking.
Sarah watched as Black Eagle looked long and hard at Marisa, his glance emanating a love so deep, it caused Sarah to sigh. In truth, for a moment she wondered if she might ever be on the receiving end of such attention from a man, one who was so deeply in love with you that he was willing to give his life to protect you.
Sarah shook her head and gazed away. She might never know. Indeed, if circumstances continued in the same vein as they had begun this day, this might very well be her last day upon this earth.