Excerpt of White Shadows by Susan Edwards

Swaying heavily on slender pine branches, ravens cried loudly from their high treetop perches. Below, standing on the limb of a tree split by lightning, a squirrel chattered at a silent enemy crouched behind a thick wall of pines and brush. Night Shadow ignored the warning chatter and cries. He held himself perfectly still. From his vantage point he had miles of unobstructed view. Around him the trees were so tall and thick, there was little light. But just a short distance in front of them the trees thinned as though someone had drawn a line separating forest from prairie. Shifting his gaze without moving his head, he picked out dark shadows far away. Buffalo, he thought. Sudden movement drew his attention to the left. A hare sat tall on its powerful hind legs. In the blink of an eye it was gone, a blur of gray among green. Night Shadow returned his attention to the Sioux camped a short distance away. Like the Cheyenne, the Sioux preferred to make their camp out in the open prairie, where the danger of surprise attack was minimized. He narrowed his eyes as he studied the Sioux camp. The number of tipis remained the same, yet something had changed. He studied the herd of horses, then smiled grimly. The groom bad arrived. Night Shadow fingered a long scar running down the side of his face. At last. After years of waiting, months of careful planning, and weeks spent watching the Sioux, he would soon have his revenge. A low rustle in the bushes warned he was no longer alone. "We take her tonight," he said as his companions settled beside him. Crazy Fox hunkered down on his left. "We are four against so many." Night Shadow's gaze followed a group of warriors riding out onto the prairie. "The Sioux prepare to celebrate. The wedding will take place today." He narrowed his eyes. "I have waited long for this day." His plan was a good one. He'd wait until after the marriage ceremony, then, after the new couple was left alone for their first night together, sneak in and kidnap the woman. A woman for a woman. When he got Jenny back, they'd get Winona back.

Night Shadow breathed deeply. Anticipation flowed through him. For fourteen years he'd suffered.

He'd hated and he'd despaired and he'd survived—just for this day.

He flexed his fingers over the hilt of his knife. So close, yet he dared not act too soon. Not until he had

Jenny back. Then the bastard who'd taken her would die a slow, torturous death.

Without taking his eyes off the Sioux camp, he stood. "Come. We have much to do before the sun lowers." He took one last look at the Sioux camp, then froze when he spotted a lone rider heading toward him.

Motioning the others down, he watched the rider draw near. Long, shiny black hair flew behind her as she entered the sparsely wooded hillside just below his hiding place. She said something and laughed. The young woman sitting behind her didn't look so happy. Night Shadow studied the Sioux women. A ray of sunshine pierced the thick canopy of pine leaves, falling on the upturned face of the woman controlling the gleaming mare.

"The spirits smile down upon us," he said under his breath. He recognized the young, carefree features of the Sioux chieftain's eldest daughter. As soon as he'd learned of her upcoming marriage to Hoka Luta, he'd made it a point to learn everything he could about the woman.

Weeks ago he'd shown up at the Sioux camp with his loyal warriors to trade. They'd spent three days with the Sioux, and during that time he'd watched and studied the one called Winona.

He grinned. The Sioux chief was foolish to allow his daughters to ride without escort. Incredulous at this turn of events, he let his gaze follow the women and horse as they rode past. As soon as they were out of sight he stood, his heart thudding with anticipation.

What a stroke of luck this was. Although he'd been interested in taking only Winona, he couldn't pass up the opportunity to take them both.

The spirits watch over you.

He grimaced at the words his mother had often said to him. Once he'd believed in unseen forces, but no more; not in the white man's God his father spoke of, or in the many spirits of his mother's people.

Life was nothing more than a long string of events, some good, some bad. A man had to take control of his own destiny. And right now he planned to take advantage of this turn of events. The horrific events of the past would soon be avenged.

He motioned to the others. The four warriors separated, each merging with the shadows.