Running Fox

Lakota Chief Running Fox doesn't expect to fall for the woman he kidnaps when he attempts to teach her father, a whiskey peddler, a lesson. Nancy Partain's life improves while living with Running Fox. She no longer fears humiliation at the local saloon where her stepfather forces her to sing. Now, she worries about her mother, alone under the control of Joseph Brock. It is 1879 in pioneer Michigan. Joseph Brock trades his whiskey directly to young Indian braves for valuable pelts. By day, he requires his beautiful stepdaughter, Nancy, to accompany him on his whiskey runs. Joe not only cheats the youths, but he introduces them to a substance that damages their lives. Chief Running Fox warns Joe to stay away and confronts him in Nancy's presence. She admires the chief's concern for the young members of his tribe and his self- control in dealing with her devious stepfather. *** Nancy misses her real father and feels her mother remarried in haste. In the evenings, Joe demands that Nancy sing for drunken men at his saloon where he introduces her as Naughty Nancy. Her eyesight is poor without her glasses. She intentionally doesn't wear them in order to avoid eye contact with the boisterous men who humiliate her with their chants. The flow of whiskey from Joe to the Lakota and Chippewa braves increases. Tragedy results when two drunken young men rape a young Indian maiden. The Lakota and Chippewa tribes are rival tribes, but when Running Fox punishes the braves, the Chippewa Chief supports him. Running Fox must curtail Joe's underhanded trading schemes. A single arrow would do it, but Running Fox must protect Indian land from white settlers without inflaming the entire white community. In an act of vengeance, he kidnaps Joseph's daughter, Nancy. It is a clear, cold night when Running Fox abducts Nancy. He tells her he is taking her in order to get Joseph's attention for what he's doing to his tribal people. Nancy tells him she knows about Joe's broken promises. She gropes around for something, and Running Fox thinks she's after a knife. He soon learns that she can't find her eyeglasses and finds them for her before they leave. He reminds her to bring warm clothing for the cold night. He is impressed with her fearlessness. Running Fox whisks her away and treats her as a guest. She begins to desire him but can't endure the thought of her mother, forced onstage and at the mercy of wild men in her absence. What can Running Fox do to help? Will there be disapproval within the Lakota tribe if Nancy wants to stay with him? Author Cassie Edward's beautiful love story is rich in Lakota lore. With each event that Nancy and Running Fox share, they learn something new about each other. Running Fox learns of her generosity and kindness. She admires his protectiveness of all concerned. Edward's memorable, warm-hearted characters moved me to compassion. I knew Nancy wanted to live her life as a Lakota when she envisioned her we

This was a good read as are all of Cassie's other books. However it does follow along the same plot lines as all the rest. Woman meets man, they spend loads of time with each other, villian abducts woman, man rescues woman, they live happily ever after. Even though the plot was predicable to someone who has read several of her books it is still a wonderful read and I would recomend it to anyone.