Enduring Love (a sequel to Mountain Romance) by Richard Jones

Follow the lives of Mattie and Red as they make their way to the mountains to seek their fortune.

Excerpt:
“It’s a man,” Kena said, her keen eyes able see the profile.
Red nodded. “I figured the same,” he said. “So I came back and
got the spyglass out of my saddle bag for a better look.” He paused
to pull the glass from his belt and hand it to Mattie. “Try this.”
She reached over and took it from him then focused on the
crest. “It is a man,” she said trying to pick out details in the early
morning sun. “He has the look of an Indian.” Then she handed the
glass to Kena.
The young woman took it and quickly focused on the image.
“A very old man,” she added. “He must be from one of the local
tribes.”
“What is he doing sitting alone on that crest?” Mattie asked
then added. “He is alone, isn’t he?”
“As near as I can tell,” Red told her as Kena handed him the
glass. “He never moved once in the whole time I was watching him
and no one paid him a visit.”
They sat in silence staring at the crest each lost in his or her
own thoughts.
“I think he came here to die,” Red finally offered.
“Why?” Mattie questioned.
Red shrugged. “Hard times,” he replied. “Food or water might
be scarce. The old ones feel as if they’re a burden on the family so
they wander off to die alone.”
Kena squinted up at the lone figure on the crest. “He doesn’t
seem ill,” she said.
“He probably isn’t,” Red replied. “He may not be able to handle
a bow or see his target if he could. He figures he’s no use to the
tribe so why eat their food or drink their water.”

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