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The Pony Wife
They called her Dark Moon, for she was born under the darkened light of a lunar eclipse--and blessed with the gentle gift of healing. As a woman surrounded by superstition, she struggled to gain the trust of her people through kindness and devotion. As a woman of beauty and passion, she was forced to divide her heart between the needs of her tribe and the one man who dared to love her. And as a woman of great power and strength, she vowed to challenge the winds of fate that brought the white man into her people's world, threatened to destroy it forever. Hers was a special destiny of love, course and pride known only to...The Pony Wife.
456 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
About the author
Beverly Bird
49 books22 followersBeverly confesses to having been the prototype of the rebellious teenager. By the age of five — when she tried to rewrite the ending to The Wizard of Oz because it scared her — she knew she would be a writer.
Therefore, the high school regimen was obviously not for her, and childhood was just something to get through before she could make her mark on the world. On one memorable occasion, she stood up in chemistry class to inform her teacher that she did not need to understand the subject because in a few years she would be writing for a living anyway. She failed the class, of course. Then, some 20 years later, she had to face the teacher at a reunion and admit that when she had to research DNA for a recent book she still had no clue what it was about!
Since words are meant to be read and not eaten, Beverly turned seriously to writing when she was 22. The stars aligned for a time — she was single and her rent was astronomically low because she looked after the elderly lady who owned the building. She’d just gotten laid off from an advertising job with a newspaper due to budget cuts and therefore had an unemployment check coming in weekly. She decided that it was now or never — and Emeralds in the Dark was born, published by Silhouette to launch the Intimate Moments line in 1983.
Since then, Beverly has published 20 books with Silhouette as well as several romantic suspense and historical novels. She prefers strong heroines with hidden soft spots and a penchant for getting themselves into trouble, figuring that she has had some experience herself in that area.
Though she has lived in several places in the United States, Beverly returned to her roots to live on a barrier island off the coast of New Jersey with her son and a Chihuahua named Taco, where periodically she risks running into that chemistry teacher. But these days, she is much less rebellious and tends to tuck tail and run when she encounters someone she probably ticked off 25 years ago!
Beverly loves to hear from readers but admits that she is seriously negligent about actually traveling to the post office and snail-mailing her replies. She asks that anyone who would like to contact her please do so via email at Bvrlye@aol.com.
Therefore, the high school regimen was obviously not for her, and childhood was just something to get through before she could make her mark on the world. On one memorable occasion, she stood up in chemistry class to inform her teacher that she did not need to understand the subject because in a few years she would be writing for a living anyway. She failed the class, of course. Then, some 20 years later, she had to face the teacher at a reunion and admit that when she had to research DNA for a recent book she still had no clue what it was about!
Since words are meant to be read and not eaten, Beverly turned seriously to writing when she was 22. The stars aligned for a time — she was single and her rent was astronomically low because she looked after the elderly lady who owned the building. She’d just gotten laid off from an advertising job with a newspaper due to budget cuts and therefore had an unemployment check coming in weekly. She decided that it was now or never — and Emeralds in the Dark was born, published by Silhouette to launch the Intimate Moments line in 1983.
Since then, Beverly has published 20 books with Silhouette as well as several romantic suspense and historical novels. She prefers strong heroines with hidden soft spots and a penchant for getting themselves into trouble, figuring that she has had some experience herself in that area.
Though she has lived in several places in the United States, Beverly returned to her roots to live on a barrier island off the coast of New Jersey with her son and a Chihuahua named Taco, where periodically she risks running into that chemistry teacher. But these days, she is much less rebellious and tends to tuck tail and run when she encounters someone she probably ticked off 25 years ago!
Beverly loves to hear from readers but admits that she is seriously negligent about actually traveling to the post office and snail-mailing her replies. She asks that anyone who would like to contact her please do so via email at Bvrlye@aol.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 5, 2016
1855 was a tough year for Native Americans. White settlers were pushing farther west. Many US citizens viewed the various tribes as a barrier to the inevitable development of American civilization. Some white politicians tried to engaged the headmen or chiefs to surrender their way of life and move to reservations. And several were unaware of the cultural distinctions between the different Indian nations. For some tribes, progress equaled extinction.
The Pony Wife was Beverly Bird's semi-fictitious account of what happened to the Nez Perce people beginning in 1855 with the birth of a baby girl. Dark Moon's father was expecting a son. Her mother knew that when she went into labor it was the beginning of the end. Before the day was over both adults were dead and the majority of the tribe believed the little one was cursed.
Dark Moon was an outcast. She depended on a select few who saw to her basic needs. The 'ponies' became her friends and a refuge. She developed a deep spiritual kinship with them. She invested and earned the title of The Pony Wife. Concerning that subject, you learn that in reality the Nez Perce tribe were historically known for their selective horse breeding practices.
This story was heavy on history including numerous real-life characters amongst the fictional ones. It also contained a no-holds-barred plot. There was a very disturbing incident in the first section of the book and a few characters died later on. For 99% of the story, you see a side of Native Americans rarely shown in the romance genre. White people were frowned upon for a good reason.
And yes, there was a special relationship but you will not find a dreamy, swoony hero. Dark Moon grew into her adopted name, Kiye Kipi; she was a kick-butt female that was at times strangled by a male-dominated society so typical of the times.
At 456 pages with a smaller-than-normal print and divided into three parts, this Native American quest for survival and love will tug at your emotions. If I didn't know better I would have sworn the author was a man. It was not mushy or over love-dovey, it simply was.
*At this time, it is not available in any e-format.*
The Pony Wife was Beverly Bird's semi-fictitious account of what happened to the Nez Perce people beginning in 1855 with the birth of a baby girl. Dark Moon's father was expecting a son. Her mother knew that when she went into labor it was the beginning of the end. Before the day was over both adults were dead and the majority of the tribe believed the little one was cursed.
Dark Moon was an outcast. She depended on a select few who saw to her basic needs. The 'ponies' became her friends and a refuge. She developed a deep spiritual kinship with them. She invested and earned the title of The Pony Wife. Concerning that subject, you learn that in reality the Nez Perce tribe were historically known for their selective horse breeding practices.
This story was heavy on history including numerous real-life characters amongst the fictional ones. It also contained a no-holds-barred plot. There was a very disturbing incident in the first section of the book and a few characters died later on. For 99% of the story, you see a side of Native Americans rarely shown in the romance genre. White people were frowned upon for a good reason.
And yes, there was a special relationship but you will not find a dreamy, swoony hero. Dark Moon grew into her adopted name, Kiye Kipi; she was a kick-butt female that was at times strangled by a male-dominated society so typical of the times.
At 456 pages with a smaller-than-normal print and divided into three parts, this Native American quest for survival and love will tug at your emotions. If I didn't know better I would have sworn the author was a man. It was not mushy or over love-dovey, it simply was.
*At this time, it is not available in any e-format.*
March 20, 2014
I really love Beverly Bird's historical novels because she really does a great job of capturing the spirit of the people, the time they were living and many aspects of the true history and culture of the people she's talking about. While a few changes were made for the sake of the story (all of them noted at the end of the book) this book is far more of a historical novel than it is a romance. The overriding story is that of the Nez Perce and the horrific tragedy that overran their lives when they fought so hard to continue living in the territory they had always called home.
It's a very powerful story to begin with and here we see it through the eyes of a child who herself feel displaced and alone among her people. The story of her life is a series of tough and often seemingly insurmountable events, but time and again Dark Moon is able to see her way through, to grow stronger despite the many reasons she has to feel hurt and separate. One of the few people who sees her, who time and again is there for her is Twelic, an older boy who has played a part in most every part of her journey. After a terrible attack and the seeming rejection of all she knows she is sent to live with Old Joseph a kinder and more kindred man who with the help of his wife and the kindness of his sons is able to help her to begin healing.
In time she goes out to seek her wyakin and as the powerful Pony Wife she begins to set off on a long journey to save both herself and her people. As she grows into adulthood she is met again and again with Twelic, a man who she has come to see as difficult, proud and teasing. The fire between the two is clear but so is the clash of their independent spirits and most powerfully of all the foreboading future laid out in their wyakin dreams.
Kiye Kipi, the Pony Wife is a strong woman who time and again faces up to the proudest leaders of her people, the strife the Nez Pece face as a tribe in the turbulent 1860s and 1870s and her own very conflicted future. Nothing is certain here and so much could be lost, but she goes forward, a true leader and guide to her people.
It's been a long time since I got so wrapped up in a book and the drama, characters and the historical connection of this book make for a very action packed historical. There's a reason I keep an eye out for Beverly Bird and this book was a solid payoff.
It's a very powerful story to begin with and here we see it through the eyes of a child who herself feel displaced and alone among her people. The story of her life is a series of tough and often seemingly insurmountable events, but time and again Dark Moon is able to see her way through, to grow stronger despite the many reasons she has to feel hurt and separate. One of the few people who sees her, who time and again is there for her is Twelic, an older boy who has played a part in most every part of her journey. After a terrible attack and the seeming rejection of all she knows she is sent to live with Old Joseph a kinder and more kindred man who with the help of his wife and the kindness of his sons is able to help her to begin healing.
In time she goes out to seek her wyakin and as the powerful Pony Wife she begins to set off on a long journey to save both herself and her people. As she grows into adulthood she is met again and again with Twelic, a man who she has come to see as difficult, proud and teasing. The fire between the two is clear but so is the clash of their independent spirits and most powerfully of all the foreboading future laid out in their wyakin dreams.
Kiye Kipi, the Pony Wife is a strong woman who time and again faces up to the proudest leaders of her people, the strife the Nez Pece face as a tribe in the turbulent 1860s and 1870s and her own very conflicted future. Nothing is certain here and so much could be lost, but she goes forward, a true leader and guide to her people.
It's been a long time since I got so wrapped up in a book and the drama, characters and the historical connection of this book make for a very action packed historical. There's a reason I keep an eye out for Beverly Bird and this book was a solid payoff.
May 25, 2015
This book was a very welcome change of pace. I know it's just a fiction book but I still really liked one with a Native American point of view and not just from one character but from many. The story was set in the Native American culture. I really liked that.
This was a love story though it was more than that too. I appreciated the greater story. I liked the characters well enough, well enough to read the 400+ pages but I still think it was a little long.
I was hopelessly lost with the different tribes and how they are connected. I know of Cherokee, Sioux, etc. but mention of different bands and who belonged where... I was lost almost from the start and then just gave up trying to figure it out.
I recommend this book to those that like romance and those that like something of wider scope. I recommend this book to those that would like a historical novel and one that is not from a white point of view.
This was a love story though it was more than that too. I appreciated the greater story. I liked the characters well enough, well enough to read the 400+ pages but I still think it was a little long.
I was hopelessly lost with the different tribes and how they are connected. I know of Cherokee, Sioux, etc. but mention of different bands and who belonged where... I was lost almost from the start and then just gave up trying to figure it out.
I recommend this book to those that like romance and those that like something of wider scope. I recommend this book to those that would like a historical novel and one that is not from a white point of view.
January 24, 2026
GREAT story! I loved the strong female character. Based on true events but not 100% factual. Read the author's note for clarification.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews