(_[previously...](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/phoenix-chapter-35-swan-valley)_)
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# 36
.
Sage Eagle looked around the sites being prepared for the new earthships. His own bedroom window would look out at the first one. This was disconcerting as he knew that Phoenix was being considered for the first home, if she chose to remain in Ba’a O’ng. He would look at her house every day. How could he cope with that when he had enough trouble keeping her out of his mind as it was?!
Pronghorn joined them, having been selected to be the one to talk to Dancing Bear. Maybe if someone else fell in love with Phoenix, he could gracefully bow out of her life. Pronghorn would be a good choice for her.
“You’re not going to like this,” Pronghorn warned Sage Eagle.
“What?”
“She told us to figure it out for ourselves – and for you to deal with your difficult feelings. Said that the young men of her generation were brave and that we are like kittens.”
Sage Eagle winced. He knew Dancing Bear to be forthcoming when she felt it was needed. He had always tried to avoid her censure, but now he felt it and was grateful for his dark skin to keep the burning showing on his cheeks.
“She’s right,” Pronghorn continued. “Since when have you let a woman influence your plans?”
“There’s no woman in my life!” Sage Eagle barked back. He wasn’t lying. She wasn’t part of his life – and shouldn’t be.
“Then you will have no objection to me asking her out on a date?”
“You’re a free man. You may do as you see fit. Better you than my cousin… though you may wish to wait until her ankle heals.”
“I’ll bring the date to her tonight then!” Pronghorn replied.
“Go for it,” Sage Eagle replied, feeling hollow as he said it. What if she stayed? What if she married his best friend?
They got back to business, surveying the land and working out where the earthships should go. They would need to hire an excavator to make the parcels ready for building. It would make the most sense to get them all done at once. Maybe if Pronghorn married Phoenix, they could live at the other end of the village. Except that he couldn’t keep avoiding his best friend! Why did things have to be so difficult?!
♥
Tanya sat with her book on Ba’a O’ng history. Her mind, again, drifted back to the future. She couldn’t help it. She wanted to live in Ba’a O’ng, with all their faults. They were a family that she wanted to be a permanent part of. She couldn’t help feeling that her true husband lived here. There were a few single young men in the tribe, surely one of them wouldn’t mind her with all her problems… Maybe one of them had a child already. Jade Wolf had a few, from what she understood. Why were people so adamant that she not date him? Was it just the fact that he was too forward? It wasn’t his fault that he had run into one of the things that Frank had done to her. She almost wished to feel his fingers on her breast again. She would do her best not to over-react to his touch.
Pronghorn was handsome, she reminded herself. And a good choice, from what Dancing Bear had hinted. He seemed to like her too – smiling at her whenever their gazes met.
Noise outside drew her attention.
Dancing Bear opened the door to admit Rose along with Little Deer, Dove, Jade Wolf. Tanya realized that the time had come to face the facts about Jade Wolf, who brought a small box of donuts to her. “Rose said we had to share.”
“You’re spoiling her!” Tanya complained, but taking the donuts.
He nodded and grinned. “And you! Good women need spoiling from time to time,” he argued. “But I have to go and help Sage Eagle with some things about the new earthships we’re going to build as soon as it warms up a little more.”
Tanya smiled and bade him farewell.
Dancing Bear got some playdough set up for the little ones, then sat in her usual chair. Little Deer sat on the couch near Tanya.
“Tiger Lily was my dearest friend,” Little Deer began. “She was with me all the time since we were very small. Her cousins were Star and Sterling, whom she adored. She was only ten when they died.”
“I’m sorry,” Tanya sympathized.
“Dancing Bear is right when she says you apologize too much!” Little Deer smiled. “But I understand why you do. It’s an endearing quality – lets me know that you care.”
“I do,” Tanya replied.
“Anyway, after Star and Sterling died, Tiger Lily was even closer to me – maybe too close for her own good. She’s five years younger than me. But it was a good thing because she helped me so much when I was pregnant with Dove. She knows all about me and Dove… the first one to know I was pregnant. Likewise, I was the first one to learn she was pregnant as well… but I’m jumping ahead in my story.”
“You’re doing fine,” Tanya encouraged.
“It wasn’t until it was too late when I realized that one of the reasons she hung around my house was to catch any glimpse of Jade Wolf.”
The ringing of Dancing Bear’s phone distracted them. Tanya watched as the woman pulled out her extension and answered it.
“She’s right here, you could ask her yourself, Pronghorn… oh, I understand. Let me just ask her real quick.” Dancing Bear met Tanya’s curious gaze. “Pronghorn would like to come this evening. He’s bringing pizza and movies.”
Tanya smiled. “Yes, that would be lovely,” she replied.
Dancing Bear relayed the reply. “Seven o’clock is just fine. We’ll see you then.”
“I’ll have Rose and Skye over tonight,” Little Deer volunteered as Dancing Bear hung up.
“It’s a school night,” Tanya protested.
“They’ll be fine! I insist.”
Tanya felt nervous. It was obvious that everyone else thought this was a great idea. She couldn’t go out, but the date would come to her! She needed to get back to the much safer topic of a dangerous Jade Wolf!
“Back to your story…,” Tanya urged.
♥♥♥
</div>
[Next chapter...](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/phoenix-chapter-37-swan-valley)
Back to [the prologue](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/phoenix-prologue-swan-valley)
[Character Info and Notes](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/phoenix-characters-and-notes-swan-valley)
Available to purchase at [Books2Read](https://books2read.com/b/bwoDEY). Print version will be available soon.
THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased one of my books. I appreciate every single one!
### Image Credits
**Phoenix**
Genesis 8.1 by DAZ 3D Studio
Summer Dress by Pusey Designs
Mitsu Hair
Dice Earrings by Fisty
.
**Sage Eagle**
Genesis 8.1
Mada TnC Jeans by DAZ
Gypsy Shirt by Pusey Designs
PH Classic Hair
.
**Kitten**
Housecat by HiveWire
.
**Background**
Room4 by SmidA
***
### Previous Swan Valley Stories:
* **Native Concession** either in [ebook form](https://books2read.com/b/mgg87K) or [print]( . (June 2014, approximately 9 months before **Phoenix**.)
### Location:
Swan Valley is a fictitious American Indian reservation located in the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming, USA. The Neme'o'ng (Swan People) are based on the idea of blending the Shoshoni and Arapaho peoples - as might have happened if they were stranded in a desolate area as a small band of misfits. I have developed their language from the same ideas.
***
Please read [my note](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/author-s-note-regarding-teenage-relationships-in-my-books) on romance, teenage intimate relationships and underage sex. I apologize if my understanding conflicts with your sense of morality, but I'm only looking at things realistically, not ideologically. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing!
***
**Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2105 – all rights reserved.**
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AmaraBooks/) or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
***
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**Lori Svensen**
author/designer at **[A'mara Books](https://terrenden.wordpress.com/)**
photographer/graphic artist for **[Viking Visual](https://www.facebook.com/vikingvisual/)**
(Buy my work at [RedBubble](https://www.redbubble.com/people/vikingvisual/shop?asc=u), [TeePublic](https://www.teepublic.com/user/viking-visual), [PicFair](https://www.picfair.com/users/VikingVisual) and [DeviantArt](https://www.deviantart.com/clatsopduck).)
verified author on [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8349742.Lori_Svensen)
(Buy my books at [Books2Read](https://books2read.com/ap/RDD3NR/Lori-Svensen) and at [LBRY](https://lbry.tv/@LoriSvensen:6))
find me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/LSvensen)
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