A Novel I Read

I usually don't have the patience to read long novels, but this one arrested and captured me*. I don't recall where this book was obtained, nor do I have a clue where another copy could be found. I was enriched by its interesting story. It portrayed events that happened during the westward movement of 1847 in the United States. Three of the main characters were Julie, David, and Five Crows. It is the complexities of their lives that I found most intriguing. This is not meant to be a book review, but rather an attempt at passing on some treasured nuggets I received from an old book. My heart was pulled into the story of the endurance and pain of a small group of brave Americans searching for a better life out west. So many others like them, in wagon trains year after year, could not afford to fail but continued pushing west toward the Oregon Trail, never knowing what it entailed. In the midst of the ruggedness and violence, there was romance. In the midst of the romance, there was deceit, intrigue, suspense, and treachery. In the midst of the treachery, there was a Christian Establishment serving as the willing participant, not in the name of love, Christ, or justice, but in the name of survival. I was deeply touched by the love demonstrated by Five Crows, a young Indian Chief who fell madly in love with Julie. I might add that the love portrayed by Five Crows was three-dimensional. It was Eros, Philio, and agape love**. Unfortunately, Julie never loved him. When love is unrequited, we might never cease loving, but we must learn to move on. Julie was deeply loved by Five Crows, but she never loved him, even though she legally married him under deceptive circumstances initiated by the spiritual leaders. Yes, the marriage was a muse, a trick played on Five Crows designed to save the lives of Americans. Fortunately, the marriage was never consummated, and Five Crows proved to be a man of his word with enough integrity to let Julie go before his death. I must say that I was deeply touched and moved by his character. Five Crows died from the wounds of war, but his spirit of selfless love lives on. After Five Crows' death, and after repeated pleadings from David who loved and waited for Julie, David and Julie finally came together and mutually agreed to wed. 062021PSCtest, All Yours (Jun 23), Brain Strand 11/2018cj;*Shadow On The Plains by Alice Wheeler Greve. Copywrite 1944 **Greek words for "Love".