PHOTO PROMPT © Danny Bowman
Henry crossed the Sweetwater for the third time that day. He was thick in Cheyenne country, or so cautioned the pamphlet that had lured him on this journey. He had not seen a living soul since Jackson. The pamphlet had been right about little, Henry mused as he wiped the film of sweat and dust from his forehead. With providence, the land of Oregon would be as rich as promised. Leaving Ohio seemed rash when he considered the miles of barren land he’d seen since Laramie. What manner of people would choose to live here?
And then, he saw them.
—
100 words
This has been an edition of Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. To read more stories inspired by the prompt or to submit your own, click here.
It seems like every time I try to toss my hat in the ring for the Fictioneers, I get busy with one thing or another and do not get a chance to read and respond to all the Fictioneers like I mean to. This week looks better, so here I am, showing up for the party.
k. Rawson 
I feel as though I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. Very suspenseful.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading. I think I cheated and didn’t write a full story. I’m going to beg Rochelle for another 50 words 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Karen,
The suspense is killing me. Them? The Cheyenne? Aliens from outer space. Love the way you left it hanging. Well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol I wasn’t thinking aliens, but that could make for an even more interesting tale! Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Fantastic. If they are natives who have had experience with white men, then Henry is probably in for it!
LikeLike
Thanks J. Hardy.
LikeLike
So much great suspense in this story, Karen.
LikeLike
Thanks Moon, thanks for reading!
LikeLike
Now I’m wondering who “them” are.
LikeLike
Good question James. I thought it was “what matter of man would choose to live there” but ever since Rochelle brought up aliens, I’m wondering myself. Or then again, maybe none of it’s real. Can’t remember if it’s the red or blue pill… 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Left me with a smile, and a dream.. Thanks!
LikeLike
Thanks Jelli, thanks for reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great write. An even greater read. Such a sweeping feel. With that clincher of a last line that seems so natural, so obvious once you read it. Well done, Karen, I am nearly speechless – which doesn’t happen all that often!!
LikeLike
You are too kind! I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very suspenseful, I can anticipate ‘them’ appear on the horizon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gee, I hope it wasn’t that band of gypsies from outside Kansas City. A troublesome lot, they are. Snake oil salesmen practicing to be televangelists from what I heard. I’d rather take my chances with the indians or aliens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe my guy should swing by–I imagine he’s completely out of snake oil. Thanks for reading!
LikeLike
You do not need anymore words, as it is your story allows the reader to use their imagination, I saw a gang of motorcycle hell riders bearing down on him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s great!
LikeLike
Sweetwater immediately made me think of ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’. This one was filled with suspense. I’m really curious now and would love to read a longer version. Cheers, Varad
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Varad, thank you for reading!
LikeLike
Oh… that’s when i want to understand what the pamphlet says about scalping…. shudder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! One can never read those things too closely.
LikeLike
Gypsies tramps and thieves?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a feeling things will go downhill from here! Nice one 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great cliffhanger!
Click to read my FriFic
LikeLiked by 1 person
Karen
I’m so glad you ‘tossed your hat in the ring’ this week, because you’ve written a really good story. You persuaded me to feel interest in Henry and his quest; then you subtly led me to consider who he might meet; and then, in the last five words, you told me he’d met them – but not who!
Now that’s a masterly use of a cliffhanger!
Excellent work!
Best wishes
Penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Penny, you really made my day. Thanks for your reading.
LikeLike
Sounds like the beginning of a western where the naive easterner encounters the natives. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sasha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Way to leave us hanging. Are they good people, or bad? Hmm…
Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe both. Thanks for reading!
LikeLike
Great story. When traveling I often question why people live in certain areas and how they survived. I like the ambiguous “them”. I have written several endings to your story in my head.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your comment made me grin. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Great line leaving us to wonder what the future holds for him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m guessing he saw a tribe of lizards being chased by a roadrunner. 🙂
I’m thinking no humans could live without shelter or water and aliens, if they landed, would soon move on, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lizards! Of course 😉 thanks for reading Christine.
LikeLike
Go west, young man. And he did. I hope all his dreams come to fruition. Well done. :o)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every cowboy or western show or movie I’ve ever seen is now running in my head. Run! Run!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha cue the spaghetti western theme song! Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Intriguing! Wonder what’s going to happen next – good, the bad or the ugly? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the idea Henry would up sticks and change his life on the strength of a pamphlet! But people did the same on rumour back in the day, so why not. Lovely atmosphere here, so nicely constructed. Loved it Karen
LikeLike
I loved this, Karen.It had so much atmosphere. I’ve taken the locals as Indians.
xx Rowena
LikeLiked by 1 person
First of all, I love the Ohio mentions, since I live in Ohio!
My first thought, based on the pamphlet, was that he encountered some kind of cult.
As the others said, great cliffhanger!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I moved to Jackson Hole in ’98, having never been to the state, I got an hour past Laramie and looked in all directions and wondered this very thing.
Fortunately, Jackson cured me of that the moment I spied the Tetons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do take one’s breath away, don’t they?
LikeLike
I loved the way you ended with a nail biter. Nicely done, Karen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lavanya!
LikeLike