The Fugitive Son by Adell Harvey, Mari Serebrov

dock when we get to Cairo!” just before the other slaves joined him and successfully maneuvered the big boat onto dry land.



Chapter 5
    Bannock Camp
    A NDY WOKE up shivering. He figured the tremors were due to the cold mountain air until he realized someone had placed a buffalo robe over him. Then he remembered the nightmares that had disturbed his sleep and the uncertainty about what today would bring. No wonder he was shivering!
    The same girl who had fed him last night stood nearby with a bowl of gruel made from the rice grass seeds he had watched the women pounding last night. Breakfast already? The canyon was so deep and the forest so dark, the sun hadn’t yet shown its presence over the rim. In truth, Andy almost wished the sun would stand still as it had in biblical times. He was in no hurry for this day to begin and the soldiers appear to seal his fate.
    After finishing the surprisingly tasty mush, Andy passed the time by watching the trout in the river making a breakfast of mosquitoes and other flying insects that ventured too close to the water. He looked on in amusement as the huge trout used their tails and fins to jump up high enough to snatch a low-flying bug. The good Lord surely provided food enough for all his creatures, he reflected.
    Unbidden, another thought flashed through his mind. How could a loving, creative God who made all this beauty be so demanding, so cruel? And how could a God who even provides for the fish demand blood atonement from someone who questions the church leaders?
    Struck by the contradiction, Andy struggled to pull himself up to lean against the tree.
Heavenly Father cares so much for these lowly trout
, he mused to himself.
All they have to do is swim along and trust him to send food now and then. Yet, we, his own children, whom he says he loves more than anything, have to struggle for everything we do – just like how hard I had to work simply to sit up and lean against something. Does Heavenly Father love the fish in the river more than he loves me, his very own child?
    None of it made sense. If God really was his Heavenly Father ever since he was a spirit child in eternity past, where was that fatherly love and concern now?
If I had children I loved, I wouldn’t make their lives so difficult and force them to endure hardships like the handcart trek
, Andy couldn’t help but think,
I’d do everything I could to keep them safe
.
    The sound of a bugle ripped through the canyon. Andy knew that sound. He had heard it many times near Fort Laramie – the clarion call of soldiers announcing their arrival. This one echoed off the steep, red canyon walls, sounding more like a bugle band than a single horn. Regardless of what Heavenly Father had in store for him this day, surely it wouldn’t hurt to beg him for mercy one last time. Andy bowed and prayed earnestly.
    As the small contingent of cavalry from Fort Laramie approached the camp, the chief stood to greet them. The soldier at the front of the queue dismounted and clasped the chief’s hand, then gave him a brotherly hug. Obviously, the two were good friends. They talked for a short time, then both looked over in Andy’s direction. It was clear he was the subject of their conversation.
    They came closer to where he was bound, and Andy looked up into a familiar pair of eyes – eyes that immediately flashed recognition right back at him. The two held a firm gaze for several seconds, but neither spoke.
    Finally, Andy murmured, “Major Crawford?”
    The major remained silent for a moment that seemed an eternity to Andy.
My fate is in his hands, and he hates me – the Mormon who led two beautiful young women away from the safety of his fort
, Andy thought. The situation couldn’t get any worse.
    Andy was taken aback when the major held out his hand. “Andy.” The name was spoken simply, more as a statement than a greeting.
    The chief smiled in relief. It was apparent that he hadn’t wanted to take time from the hunt to