They'd arrived.

The trip had been a hard one. But the rewards for coming here to the Warren
far out weighted the negative parts of the trail. For as long as she who ran
the place allowed it, this was to be their new home.

At lease they were all here and healthy.

Dontey smiled as he looked back over his left shoulder to see his daughter
Kisama still asleep on the pallet her mother had made for her at their last
stop.

Poor dear had tried hard to stay up all night with him the night before to
keep him company, but come sun rise she was out like a light.... but didn't
know it.

He grinned as he remembered her trying to convince his wife, Tahsa that she
was still awake and not a bit tired!
It had only taken three minutes for her eyes to close and her sweet even
breathing to slow to the sounds of sleep.

In a way it was to bad. He never should have allowed her to try and stay up
with him last night. For now she was denied her first look of their new
home. Something she'd been looking forward to every since he and Tahsa had
decided to accept the offer of opening a Tanner & Leather shop here after
the old tanner had past on last month.

Of course he never would have even known about the job if Tahsa's father
hadn't of talked about it in front of his daughter that day long ago. 

Leave it to her to remember the little bit of news he'd told her earlier
that day. Something he'd found out. 

"*You need to go there, *" she had told him after telling him that her
father had sent in a request for employment under Dontey's name. "You know
you want to. So let's go. You'll have the chance you want to prove yourself,
and find out if things have changed. Besides... the move will be good for
Sammy. She'll have a safe place to grow up in and we won't have to worry
about her so much."

Dontey had made many mistakes in the past. The biggest one was letting this
woman who was now his wife get away before he realized how much she meant to
him. The fates had been kind to him over the last year by bring her back
into his life... as well as the daughter he never knew he had.

Kisama... his little second chance he called her. For it was her love and
the unconditional trust she had given him that let him grow and change. To
become the man he was today. She was so much like her mother. 

He couldn't fail them now. No matter what it took, he would be the man they
needed him to be. For without them in his life... he would have nothing....

No.. that wasn't quiet true. But near enough.

He never forgot the past and the terrible mistakes he'd made back then. How
could he when they haunted his soul day and night. 

Yes Tahsa was right. 

He needed to do this. Needed to find out if there was any forgiveness in the
world from those who he'd hurt with his selfish ways.

As they dray-beasts pulled the wagon into the Warren proper, he pulled up
and asked several young men where he might find the Warrenlady's office.

After receiving directions, he turned the wagon around and soon they were
pulling up outside a stone building.

Getting down off the high seat, Dontey turned to his wife. "I'll hopefully
only be a few minutes. Just long enough to let Lady Trinale that we have
arrived."

"It'll be okay Don...you'll see," Tahsa said softly, encouragingly. 

"I pray you're right wife," he said sadly, his light blue eyes looking
around the place. "For this is our home now. There's no turning back."

He wondered inside and asked a very young girl if she knew where
Warrenlady's Trinale's office was.

"Oh sure I do," the girl smiled shyly. "She's my sister. Come right this way."

He followed her down the hallway until they came to stand before a door, and
then he stood outside while the girl went inside and told the woman someone
was asking for her.

"Go on in," she said appearing a moment later. "She'll see you now."

"Well thank you young lady," Dontey bowed formally to her and it set her off
in giggles before she went on down the hall. 

"Oh Mr.!! You're welcome."

After she was out of sight, he pushed the door to the Warrenlady's office
open and stepped inside.  

"Yes?" came the beautiful voice of a young red headed girl seated behind the
desk. "My sister informed me you wish to talk to me?"

Dontey had heard she was young... but she had to be even younger than.... 

"Yes M'lady," he said and again bowed slightly from the waste. "My name is
Dontey. I believe you are expecting me and my family to set up shot in the
Leather store?"

"Oh you made it!" Trinale's smiled widen as she stood up and reached for his
hand over the top of her desk. "And made such good time too. I wasn't
excepting you for a couple of days yet."

"Well we had us some fine weather and were able to make a few extra miles
each day," he told  and then mentioned his wife and daughter who were still
outside by the wagon.

"My wife Tahsa is keeping an eye on our daughter who feel asleep in the back
of the wagon after trying to stay up with me all night. I would have brought
them in to meet with you..."

"Oh no that's fine. I wouldn't expect you to wake up the child if she's
asleep. But I would like a chance to meet your wife so I'll follow you back
outside and meet her, then show you how to get to the tanner shop."

Introductions where made and Trinale couldn't help but noticed how gentle
and kind the older woman was. She stole a quick peek inside the back of the
wagon and smiled when she saw the beautiful sleeping little girl.

"Well there is a home of sorts attached to the back of the shop. It has four
rooms and a small kitchen in case you don't feel like eating in the dining
hall," Trinale told them and saw Tahsa's face light up into a grin when she
heard the news. 

"Also the Tailor...Barry who has a shop next store to you will be quite
willing to tell you anything you need to know and offer such help as you
might need. But if you need to, I hope you will feel free to come to me with
any problems you might have. My door will always be open to you."

"Thank you M'lady," Tahsa thanked her warmly and Dontey nodded his head.

"Now here's how to find the shop, and the keys to get in...."

Minutes later they were pulling up in front of the shop, Trinale's
directions had been perfect. And as soon as Tahsa has Sammy laying down in a
small room in the family section, they were both unloading the wagon filled
with their supplies. 

Taheen, Tahsa's father had promised to send two additional wagons full of
goods within the week.... by late after noon, with Sammy awake now. They
decided to head over to the dining hall for their first meal in Whiteriver
Warren. 

Tomorrow they would find out where they could get supplies to fill their
kitchen....

But for now... they would wait to see the future would hold for them.

-------------------------   

Anyone wanting to visit the new Leather worker for saddle repairs or what
not... He'll be open for business come morning.... which could be on the day
we're on now....

****Submitted by: *********

Barbara (a.k.a.

Dontey (the Tanner)
Tahsa (his wife and co-worker)
Kisama (Their daughter... also called Sammy
Whiteriver Warren 

NRPG: Mini BIOS's

Dontey- 46, light blue eyes, blond hair. Wasn't always a Tanner by trade.
Though he knew the work. He met his wife several years ago, but was to wild
for her back then. He has only with in the last year found her again and the
daughter he didn't know they had together. He's promised to give up his old
way of life for the chance to apart of their lives. He's never regretted his
decision for a moment.

Tahsa- 32, light blue eyes, brown hair. Worked in her fathers Tanner shop in
town when she met the tall handsome older man. She knew she loved him from
the start, but his wild ways scared her and when she found out she was
pregnant with his child, sent him packing, fearing for her daughter because
of the crowd he hung around with. Years later, a tired almost broken man
came back into her life, promising to give up his old ways and start anew as
long as she would let him into their lives.

Kisama - 6yrs. Eyes a light almost aqua color. Light blond hair. A sweet
lovable child who never causes many problems cause she doesn't want her new
daddy to leave them. She'll do anything for him and her mommy. Very smart
and polite. A good friend for those who want to be friends.