Swift Antelope caught Hunter's arm before he could go inside his mother's lodge. "Hunter, about the little yellow-hair."
"Yes, what about her?"
Swift Antelope glanced uneasily at Bright Star, then plunged ahead. "I would like to make arrangements with you--to take her as my wife. Not right away, of course. When she grows old enough." The young warrior straightened his shoulders. "I will pay a fine bride price, fifty horses and ten blankets."
Hunter smothered a grin. After a year of raiding, Swift Antelope had only ten horses. How much horse stealing did he plan to do? "Swift Antelope, I don't think she even likes you."
"Your yellow-hair doesn't like you too well, either."
He had a point. Hunter stroked his chin, acutely aware of a sparrow singing nearby, of cottonwood leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. Such a peaceful sound. He had enough problems without Swift Antelope adding to them. "Can we discuss this another time?"
"No! I mean…well, I've heard some other warriors talking. I'm not the only one who wants her. If I wait, you may accept the suit of another. She is very fine, is she not?"
Hunter wondered if they were talking about the same skinny girl. Then he focused on Swift Antelope, who was only a few years Amy's senior. He supposed a younger man might find Amy's coltish prettiness appealing. "I can see your concern. But you forget one thing, Swift Antelope. You have proven yourself my loyal friend. I will not accept the suit of another. Does that ease your mind?"
Swift Antelope still gripped Hunter's arm. "May I visit with her?"
"I don't know about that. She's been through a terrible time. Having a young man around might upset her."
"Old Man told me what happened to her. But someone must help her walk back to the sunshine, eh?"
Again, Hunter had to concede the point. A difficult path lay ahead of Amy, and her way would be made easier if she had a good friend, a young man who could teach her to trust again. "You will take great care with her?"
Swift Antelope grinned. "I will protect her with my life. Your mother says she will be strong enough to go on a walk tomorrow. May I take her?"
Hunter placed a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder. "She won't want to go. You do realize that?"
Swift Antelope nodded. "I can handle her until she gets used to me."
"She's a fighter."
"And I am twice her size."
Hunter almost wished he could go on this walk. It might prove interesting. Little did Swift Antelope know how useless strength could be when tussling with a frightened female. "Come to my lodge late tomorrow afternoon."
Swift Antelope beamed. "I think we should change her name. Aye-mee? It sounds like a sheep baaing. Golden One. That is a good name for her.
"Yes, what about her?"
Swift Antelope glanced uneasily at Bright Star, then plunged ahead. "I would like to make arrangements with you--to take her as my wife. Not right away, of course. When she grows old enough." The young warrior straightened his shoulders. "I will pay a fine bride price, fifty horses and ten blankets."
Hunter smothered a grin. After a year of raiding, Swift Antelope had only ten horses. How much horse stealing did he plan to do? "Swift Antelope, I don't think she even likes you."
"Your yellow-hair doesn't like you too well, either."
He had a point. Hunter stroked his chin, acutely aware of a sparrow singing nearby, of cottonwood leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. Such a peaceful sound. He had enough problems without Swift Antelope adding to them. "Can we discuss this another time?"
"No! I mean…well, I've heard some other warriors talking. I'm not the only one who wants her. If I wait, you may accept the suit of another. She is very fine, is she not?"
Hunter wondered if they were talking about the same skinny girl. Then he focused on Swift Antelope, who was only a few years Amy's senior. He supposed a younger man might find Amy's coltish prettiness appealing. "I can see your concern. But you forget one thing, Swift Antelope. You have proven yourself my loyal friend. I will not accept the suit of another. Does that ease your mind?"
Swift Antelope still gripped Hunter's arm. "May I visit with her?"
"I don't know about that. She's been through a terrible time. Having a young man around might upset her."
"Old Man told me what happened to her. But someone must help her walk back to the sunshine, eh?"
Again, Hunter had to concede the point. A difficult path lay ahead of Amy, and her way would be made easier if she had a good friend, a young man who could teach her to trust again. "You will take great care with her?"
Swift Antelope grinned. "I will protect her with my life. Your mother says she will be strong enough to go on a walk tomorrow. May I take her?"
Hunter placed a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder. "She won't want to go. You do realize that?"
Swift Antelope nodded. "I can handle her until she gets used to me."
"She's a fighter."
"And I am twice her size."
Hunter almost wished he could go on this walk. It might prove interesting. Little did Swift Antelope know how useless strength could be when tussling with a frightened female. "Come to my lodge late tomorrow afternoon."
Swift Antelope beamed. "I think we should change her name. Aye-mee? It sounds like a sheep baaing. Golden One. That is a good name for her.
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
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