You must teach her, eh? If you go down in battle and I have to take her into my lodge circle, I want to know her children are yours."
"She will learn. I will teach her honor if I kill her doing it."
Warrior plucked a blade of grass and began to nibble on it, his expression distant. Hunter recognized the signs. His brother's thoughts were flitting to yet another place. After a moment Warrior spat and said, "Old Man tells me that you may have to strike the girl to make her obey. That is their way. She may not understand anything else. This worries me. You have a heavy hand when you grow angry. Normally, I wouldn't be concerned, but with the yellow-hair I'm afraid your patience will snap like a wet bowstring."
Hunter scooped a handful of wood chips and tossed them into the flames. The flare of heat matched his mood. "She's my woman, Let me do the worrying."
"But her bones are like a bird's. If you lost your temper with her and used your fists, you would shatter them."
Hunter scowled and made no reply. Old Man, who had been standing nearby and listening, joined them at the fire to pour himself another measure of coffee. Once his cup was filled, he stepped back from the flames. "
, Hunter, are you planning to be our dinner? It's already so hot in these woods that I'm about to stifle."
Hunter had chosen to crouch by the fire because he hoped no one would join him there, but he saw no point in telling Old Man and his brother that. "A warrior can find great truths by searching the flames."
"You have troubles with your woman, eh?" Old Man smiled. "You young braves! All too proud to seek advice. I lived with the for many winters, remember. I know things about them that you don't." A rakish grin slanted across Old Man's crinkled face. "Especially about the women."
Hunter wasn't in the mood for advice. "The girl is half my size. I think I can handle her without calling council."
"You disappoint me, Hunter. Where is the patience you show with the wild horses you train? Has it gone the way of the wind?"
"A horse is worth the trouble. A yellow-hair is not.
"She will learn. I will teach her honor if I kill her doing it."
Warrior plucked a blade of grass and began to nibble on it, his expression distant. Hunter recognized the signs. His brother's thoughts were flitting to yet another place. After a moment Warrior spat and said, "Old Man tells me that you may have to strike the girl to make her obey. That is their way. She may not understand anything else. This worries me. You have a heavy hand when you grow angry. Normally, I wouldn't be concerned, but with the yellow-hair I'm afraid your patience will snap like a wet bowstring."
Hunter scooped a handful of wood chips and tossed them into the flames. The flare of heat matched his mood. "She's my woman, Let me do the worrying."
"But her bones are like a bird's. If you lost your temper with her and used your fists, you would shatter them."
Hunter scowled and made no reply. Old Man, who had been standing nearby and listening, joined them at the fire to pour himself another measure of coffee. Once his cup was filled, he stepped back from the flames. "
, Hunter, are you planning to be our dinner? It's already so hot in these woods that I'm about to stifle."
Hunter had chosen to crouch by the fire because he hoped no one would join him there, but he saw no point in telling Old Man and his brother that. "A warrior can find great truths by searching the flames."
"You have troubles with your woman, eh?" Old Man smiled. "You young braves! All too proud to seek advice. I lived with the for many winters, remember. I know things about them that you don't." A rakish grin slanted across Old Man's crinkled face. "Especially about the women."
Hunter wasn't in the mood for advice. "The girl is half my size. I think I can handle her without calling council."
"You disappoint me, Hunter. Where is the patience you show with the wild horses you train? Has it gone the way of the wind?"
"A horse is worth the trouble. A yellow-hair is not.
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
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