"That night," Running Bear continued, "Everyone in my hunting party was killed when the river flooded its banks and wiped out the wash and all who had taken shelter for the night there. You have granted me twenty-two years of life I would not have had. I wish to give our brother that chance now."
Taylor cocked his head to the side. "I never heard that story of your cousins," he said, his mind leaping in a new direction. "That night, you were supposed to die, and Fighting Badger would've taken the place as shaman instead of you?"
Running Bear nodded. "He had a strong connection to the spirits but was wild. I think he could've been trained."
"Then he would …" become the man who would be my grandfather. He didn't know how to take the news that his blood was tainted by the same madness as Fighting Badger. And who would marry the crazy Indian? Did the death of his brother in the original timeline alter Fighting Badger's position in the tribe, his madness?
There was always danger when it came to going native in a new time, the potential for unwittingly messing with the past. He had lived a quiet life here, one without much interaction or impact with the world outside of the town. He was always careful about altering the history of a time period, even one with little to no impact on the course of major events in history. The name of this town didn't make it into history; it was of no real importance, a quiet hamlet where he could retire and get to know his family tree without worrying about altering the past.
"I am not worried, Taylor," Running Bear said. "You must do what you must. We must preserve the peace, and my death will do that."
"I won't let this happen," Taylor told him firmly. "Speaking Wind is staying here tonight, along with the deputies I trust. You'll be safe. I need to talk to Josie about what we can do."
"Very well, but I believe the spirits have spoken."
Taylor shook his head and strode away, unwilling to accept Running Bear's offer to go quietly to his death. Troubled, he gathered his things and left with a nod to the deputies. By all rights, he should've stayed in town until morning in the hopes the latest autumn storm cleared up.
But he was edgy, worried about Josie and Running Bear, and didn't fully believe the deputies he sent to look over Josie were any match for The Mongol.
Wired with urgency he wasn't able to control, he raced home.