It seemed to Hunter that every time he turned around, Bright Star hovered nearby, fluttering her lashes and blushing, making such an obvious play for Hunter's affections that he knew it couldn't escape his wife's notice for long. Hunter didn't want to shame Bright Star by scorning her. At the same time, he didn't want Loretta to believe he was encouraging the girl. He already had enough problems.
While he mulled the situation over, trying to think of a kind way to discourage Bright Star, the young maiden intensified her campaign, and, as Hunter had feared, Loretta at last realized what was going on. When she did, Hunter took the brunt.
"Who is that girl?" Loretta demanded one evening.
"What girl?" Hunter felt heat rising up his neck and avoided meeting his wife's flashing blue gaze.
" girl, the one who seems to have something in her eye."
Hunter obliged Loretta by giving Bright Star a bored glance. "She is sister to my woman who is dead." He bent back over the arrowhead he was sharpening. "She is called Bright Star."
"She doesn't very bright. Is that a tic, or does she always blink that way?"
Hunter smothered a snort of laughter. "She makes eyes, yes?"
"At you?"
He straightened and lifted a dark brow. "You think she makes eyes for you?"
Loretta's spine stiffened. "You think this is funny? Doesn't she realize that you're a married--" The flash in her eyes grew more fiery. "Oh, yes, how remiss of me. I forgot that you can have an entire of wives."
Hunter sighed and set aside the arrowhead. "This Comanche has no wish for a of wives. One is sure enough plenty trouble."
"Are you saying I make your life miserable? If that's the case, why did you marry me? Why didn't you marry ?"
Hunter knew jealousy when he saw it. Everything else had failed. New tactics were called for. "I could have. Bright Star thinks I would be a fine husband, yes?"
"She can have you."
That wasn't exactly the response Hunter had been hoping for.
While he mulled the situation over, trying to think of a kind way to discourage Bright Star, the young maiden intensified her campaign, and, as Hunter had feared, Loretta at last realized what was going on. When she did, Hunter took the brunt.
"Who is that girl?" Loretta demanded one evening.
"What girl?" Hunter felt heat rising up his neck and avoided meeting his wife's flashing blue gaze.
" girl, the one who seems to have something in her eye."
Hunter obliged Loretta by giving Bright Star a bored glance. "She is sister to my woman who is dead." He bent back over the arrowhead he was sharpening. "She is called Bright Star."
"She doesn't very bright. Is that a tic, or does she always blink that way?"
Hunter smothered a snort of laughter. "She makes eyes, yes?"
"At you?"
He straightened and lifted a dark brow. "You think she makes eyes for you?"
Loretta's spine stiffened. "You think this is funny? Doesn't she realize that you're a married--" The flash in her eyes grew more fiery. "Oh, yes, how remiss of me. I forgot that you can have an entire of wives."
Hunter sighed and set aside the arrowhead. "This Comanche has no wish for a of wives. One is sure enough plenty trouble."
"Are you saying I make your life miserable? If that's the case, why did you marry me? Why didn't you marry ?"
Hunter knew jealousy when he saw it. Everything else had failed. New tactics were called for. "I could have. Bright Star thinks I would be a fine husband, yes?"
"She can have you."
That wasn't exactly the response Hunter had been hoping for.
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
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