Land of the Dogs (The Colter Saga Book 5)

by Joel Baker

  “Who are you?” the leader asked.

  “I am James Colter,” James said. “This is my daughters husband Dalton Cooper, and this is Mato, leader of the Lakota warrior clan.”

  The leader continued to stare at James and the others.

  “What are you doing sitting on this rise?” the leader asked, curiosity showing on his face.

  “We were warned that a large body of Sioux warriors was coming,” James said. “They were coming to exact vengeance on us.”

  All the warriors now surrounding James and the others began laughing. The leader still stared at James. He leaned over the shoulder of his horse and spit.

  “We are not Sioux,” the leader said. “We are Chippewa.”

  At first James was confused. Then a sense of relief swept over him as began to believe he might not die. James looked around quickly and saw the warriors all smiling at them.

  “What are you doing out here?” James asked. “The Sioux have left this place.”

  “James Colter,” the leader said. You and the others must dismount.”

  The three dismounted and stood waiting for whatever would come next. The leader dismounted and walked over to Dalton. He stood towering over Dalton looking down at him.

  “You once rubbed horse piss on me Dalton Cooper,” The leader said. “My name is Stands Tall. I owe you my life.”

  It finally dawned on James and the others they were in no danger. It took a few moments for Dalton to understand the situation.

  “Is that really you?” Dalton asked. “You’re huge! I would never have recognized you.”

  “I heard of a story,” Stands Tall said. It was about a massacre of Sioux warriors by a small group of Lakota and their pilgrim friends. They also said the pilgrims had large black dogs that lived with them. The dogs were called dog people by those who knew them.”

  Stands Tall smiled down at Dalton.

  “The story sounded crazy,” Stands Tall said. “Except to me and my father Kills Many. We talked about the story and decided it could only be James Colter and his family. So here I am James Colter and Dalton Cooper. It makes me happy to see you both after all these years.”

  The Chippewa made camp and a day of celebration declared. James and the others sat through a story telling of how Dalton had rescued Stands Tall from the hated Sioux and how James Colter had led the Chippewa in the Horseshoe Massacre.

  The fires were burning low, when Stands Tall came over to James and Dalton.

  “It is late,” Stands Tall said. “I want to ask you something that I hope you will consider. My father is unwell. He told me to ask you to come east to live with the Chippewa. He said you would be welcome and would be able to live a life of ease as honored members of the Chippewa nation.”

  James looked at Dalton for a moment before answering.

  “We are very honored by your offer, Stands Tall,” James said. “If we could, we would return with you this very day. But we cannot. The Colters now live in the land of the dogs. Your father may have told you of our special attachment to the dogs. We cannot go east with you Stands Tall. But we thank you for your offer.”

  “My father told me you would say this,” Stands Tall said. “I am happy to find you and Dalton are well and happy with your situation. If things change, please know you and your friends will be welcomed in the land of the Chippewa.”

  James, Dalton, and Mato headed home the next day. The Chippewa turned east and disappeared from sight. James thought of the days of his life, the places he’d been and people he’d known. How fate had intervened time and again in the most unusual way. He thought of how his Molly had entered his life and given it meaning. He felt the sense of wonder the dogs brought into all their lives. James was at peace and looking forward to whatever the future held for his family.

  All of them living in the Land of the Dogs…

  Author Notes

  I believe in life, it isn’t about the destination; it’s all about the journey. I cannot thank you enough for having come on this journey with me. You have been loyal and have made writing these books a joy this old man didn’t expect and probably doesn’t deserve. All I can do is say thank you.

  In the first book of the Colter Saga, Friends of the Family, I wanted to consider what a decent person would be willing to do to protect their family during a breakdown in societal norms. When the old rules no longer apply, who is going to make up the new rules?

  Along the way something happened that touched the readers and sparked their interest. It was a short phrase spoken by a little girl named Lily that changed everything.

  “Here doggy, doggy… Nice doggy.”

  Suddenly the Colter Saga was all about the dogs.

  The characters in these stories are strong and brave. They love and laugh and are all people I would want to know as friends. I think you feel the same. The women in these stories are strong and equal in every way. They lead because sometimes they have to pick up the load and carry it by themselves.

  Much of what I write is serendipitous. When I write, I am there. I am standing to one side, listening and recording everything I see or hear. I am on the journey with them. I’m in the canoe, on horseback, or lying on the ridge beside them. I feel the heat or smell the freshening of the wind before a storm.

  If this is my last book of the Colters, I will miss them. I will miss you dear readers, and the kind words you said about the people I created and love.

  Thank you,

  Joel