Mine Eyes Have Seen

Land of Promise, Book Ii

This is the second novel in the trilogy, Land of Promise, and begins with Abe, Sarah Beth, and Helga building their new home as their family is expanding. An unexpected discovery and changes between them and their Indian neighbors bring about a different relationship to the land. The togetherness, separations and reunions between the three of them are all portrayed here, as well as the increasing difficulties of trying to maintain a single household on the Frontier. Further north, tensions and outbreaks of violence occurring between the Indians and settlers threaten to break into open warfare, as white patriotism and native hostility become more and more extreme. Helga ends up living with the tribe as this is happening and is swept up in their flight from the Army. She is wounded in one of the battles, and Abe has no idea where to look for her and his son. When Helga regained consciousness, she found her arm strapped to her chest and the chaos of the escape going on all around her. Ellen Standing Horse relayed the Chief's words and the details of the plan for the People. She'd strapped her white friend to a travois, and was now leading that horse and another one pulling her own bundles and one of Helga's that she'd found near the knife-slashed tipi. To keep from screaming as the rough trail jostled and shook her, Helga bit her lips until they bled.