Amy talks about that bastard Hunter like he's reg'lar people," Henry hissed.
Loretta walked over to the window and unfastened the doeskin membrane to gaze out into the twilight. She curled her fingers around the windowsill, digging her nails into the wood. Gazing up at the rise, she remembered Hunter's gentleness with Amy when he brought her back to the village after her ordeal with Santos. "Uncle Henry, you may as well know. That bastard you hate so much is my husband." Wood splintered from under Loretta's fingernails. "I married him before a priest, and I--I love him. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't speak ill of him in front of me."
Behind her, the cabin grew so quiet that Loretta could hear the others breathing. Rigid, she waited for the explosion. It wasn't long in coming.
"Say what?" Henry cried.
"Hunter is my husband." Repeating the words lent her courage. She turned from the window to face her uncle, who had lurched to his feet. "We're married, and our union is blessed by the church."
"He forced you?"
"Unlike some I know, Hunter has never me to do anything." She met Henry's gaze, well aware her meaning wasn't lost on him. "He's never mistreated me in any way, never intimidated me. I'm proud to be his wife. When he comes for me, I'll be going with him."
"Jesus Lord, she's lost her mind," Henry whispered. He sank onto the bench, looking like a billows that had just been emptied of air. "Go with him? Back to the Comanches? Rachel, talk sense to her. I never heard of such."
Making a visible effort not to follow Amy up the stairs, Rachel searched her niece's eyes, then sighed. "I reckon if she loves him, Henry, all the talkin' in the world won't change it. Loretta? Are you sure of this?"
"Yes. I love him, with all my heart.
Loretta walked over to the window and unfastened the doeskin membrane to gaze out into the twilight. She curled her fingers around the windowsill, digging her nails into the wood. Gazing up at the rise, she remembered Hunter's gentleness with Amy when he brought her back to the village after her ordeal with Santos. "Uncle Henry, you may as well know. That bastard you hate so much is my husband." Wood splintered from under Loretta's fingernails. "I married him before a priest, and I--I love him. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't speak ill of him in front of me."
Behind her, the cabin grew so quiet that Loretta could hear the others breathing. Rigid, she waited for the explosion. It wasn't long in coming.
"Say what?" Henry cried.
"Hunter is my husband." Repeating the words lent her courage. She turned from the window to face her uncle, who had lurched to his feet. "We're married, and our union is blessed by the church."
"He forced you?"
"Unlike some I know, Hunter has never me to do anything." She met Henry's gaze, well aware her meaning wasn't lost on him. "He's never mistreated me in any way, never intimidated me. I'm proud to be his wife. When he comes for me, I'll be going with him."
"Jesus Lord, she's lost her mind," Henry whispered. He sank onto the bench, looking like a billows that had just been emptied of air. "Go with him? Back to the Comanches? Rachel, talk sense to her. I never heard of such."
Making a visible effort not to follow Amy up the stairs, Rachel searched her niece's eyes, then sighed. "I reckon if she loves him, Henry, all the talkin' in the world won't change it. Loretta? Are you sure of this?"
"Yes. I love him, with all my heart.
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
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