"The Journey of Runs-Far" by Lori Benton

While Runs-Far, beloved elder of the Cherokee, lays dying, he dreams of Sedi, the wife who bore him two children and was carrying a third when she was captured by white soldiers, and never seen again. For the next forty years, Runs-Far taught his people the ways of Jesus, yet Sedi’s loss distanced him from the God he served. In his dream, his long-vanished wife accuses him of abandoning his search too soon. Even Creator is telling him it is not his day to die—he has unfinished business. But Runs-Far is old. Learning what happened to Sedi will lead him through lands settled by white men. He cannot go alone. Blue-Jay, his son, must go with him. Blue-Jay fears to lose a father as once he lost a mother—a loss over which he still carries guilt. Dare he believe forgiveness lies in making a journey seemingly born more of folly than faith? If he and his father find what they seek, will they wish they hadn’t? Knowing only that the journey begins where Runs-Far abandoned his search long ago, the two set out from the mountains of their home with little more than hope to guide them.

 I think the story could just as accurately be called The Journey of Blue-Jay, from whose perspective we follow most of the story. He's the one who is reluctantly along for the ride, and whose heart is in need of as much as if not more healing than his father's. Blue-Jay has suffered significant loss--his mother, two wives, and his children. He very nearly lost his father, and he doesn't want to lose him on what is likely to be a fruitless journey.

I probably should have made the connections sooner as to who Runs-Far is searching for, but it was a delight when I realized precisely who it was--all the clues were there, tucked between the pages of various novels, but I had completely missed it until this story!

To understand Runs-Far's journey, it helps to be familiar with pretty near all of the author's books. The King's Mercy tells how Runs-Far met Sedi, and the Kindred duology (Mountain Laurel and Shiloh) definitely precede this story. However, Burning Sky is helpful for understanding Shiloh, and there are cameos of characters from Many Sparrows and The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn along the journey. So if you're like me and have read every book by Lori Benton, it's a wonderful opportunity to look in on beloved characters a few years--or decades--later than their stories took place. But if you haven't read all her other books, it may feel like there are things you're missing. I'd highly recommend her novels, just for how excellent they are, and then read this novella for a satisfying conclusion to a story that has secretly spanned several novels.

Related novels in chronological order:

The King's Mercy (tells how Runs-Far met Sedi)

Many Sparrows (character cameos)

Burning Sky (helpful to read to best understand Shiloh)

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn (character cameos)

Kindred
1. Mountain Laurel
2. Shiloh
2.5 The Journey of Runs Far