Wolf Mountain Moon: The Battle of the Butte, 1877

of a man he called Horse Rider—a vision in which Horse Rider could not be killed by the white man. Instead, Crazy Horse knew Horse Rider was to die at the hands of his own people … the way they clawed at him, tugged at him, trying to hold him back.

With his fight against the white man done, Crazy Horse knew he had those last terrible steps to take along the trail that would lead him to his fate.

And to the spiritual death of his people.

The Battle of the Butte was his last fight.

So what did death matter when his people no longer had need of a warrior, no longer had need of a Shirt Wearer … no longer had need of this Strange Man of the Oglalla?

—Terry C. Johnston

   Battle of the Butte

   Quarter Circle U Ranch, Montana

   8 January 1996

^*A Cold Day in Hell, vol. II, The Plainsmen Series

TERRY C. JOHNSTON

1947-2001

Terry C. Johnston was born on the first day of 1947 on the plains of Kansas and lived all his life in the American West. His first novel, Carry the Wind, won the Medicine Pipe Bearer’s Award from the Western Writers of America, and his subsequent books appeared on bestseller lists throughout the country. After writing more than thirty novels of the American frontier, he passed away in March 2001 in Billings, Montana. Terry’s work combined the grace and beauty of a natural storyteller with a complete dedication to historical accuracy and authenticity. He continues to bring history to life in the pages of his historical novels so that readers can live the grand adventure of the American West. While recognized as a master of the American historical novel, to family and friends Terry remained and will be remembered as a dear, loving father and husband as well as a kind, generous, and caring friend. He has gone on before us to a better place, where he will wait to welcome us in days to come.

If you would like to help carry on the legacy of Terry C. Johnston, you are invited to contribute to the

Terry C. Johnston Memorial Scholarship Fund

c/o Montana State University-Billings Foundation

1500 N. 30^th Street

Billings, MT 59101-0298

1-888-430-6782

For more information on other Terry C. Johnston

novels, visit his website at

http://www.imt.net/~tjohnston

send e-mail to

[email protected]

or write to

Terry C. Johnston’s West

P.O. Box 50594

Billings, MT 59105

The Fifth Infantry in action against Crazy Horse’s warriors

at the Battle of the Butte.

(Painting by Frederic Remington)

WOLF MOUNTAIN MOON

Bantam edition / February 1997

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 1997 by Terry C. Johnston.