Newton (Prairie Grooms Book 9) Read Free

my room with me! Bugger, what to do?”
    “Do?” she repeated.
    “Yes, do . You remembered that word,” he said and tweaked her nose.
    She swatted his hand away in a playful gesture. “Newton, do .”
    “Do what?”
    She took one of his hands and placed it over her heart.
    “Oh … do that ? Well, we are husband and wife … at least until the others figure things out. And, as we’ve already consummated our marriage according to the laws of your people, I guess that that law will have to do.”
    And it did.
----
    A rya awoke the next morning filled with a satisfaction she could not describe. Her new husband was beyond wonderful, and she thanked the elders of her people for choosing him for her.
    Speaking of Nu-tan, where was he? She’d slept so soundly that she didn’t hear him leave.
    She sat up, yawned and scanned the room. Yes, he was definitely gone – unless he was behind the closed door. She remembered how he’d opened it last night, then got out of bed and copied his actions. Sure enough, with a turn of the small lever attached to it, the door opened easily. She knew what a door was, but she’d never seen one like this before yesterday. She also didn’t know the word for it in Nu-tan’s language.
    But she would learn, and quickly. She’d have to in order to survive. So far his people were kind toward her, but after everything she and Nu-tan had been through, she wasn’t sure it would last. But best not to think about that. She had a whole new world to explore, and not much time to do it. After all, they were just visiting, weren’t they? Her people would be leaving soon to make their winter camp. If she and Nu-tan didn’t join them soon, they’d be left behind.
    She went into the other room, but there was no sign of him there either. She returned to the sleeping area, found her clothes and put them on. Should she look for him or stay put? She sensed no danger from anyone, so why not explore? But perhaps Nu-tan thought she’d sleep longer and had left to take care of things before she woke up.
    Her stomach rumbled with hunger. That decided it. She did have to eat. Perhaps he’d gone hunting. But no … the abundance of food she’d witnessed last night was astounding. Surely he wouldn’t need to hunt if there was still food left to eat. Perhaps the women had taken it all? How was she to know unless she left the room to find out?
    Arya went to the door that Nu-tan had carried her through the night before. She slowly reached for it, grasped the lever and turned it. There was a click and she smiled. She swung the door wide open and stepped into the hallway.
    She vaguely remembered being in structures such as this when she was younger, much younger. In fact, Nu-tan’s language was also familiar. As a child she’d had dreams at night about people who spoke his language. Had she known it before? But how could she?
    Arya took several cautious steps down the hall towards the staircase and studied her surroundings. Many of the things she saw were also familiar, because she’d seen them in books she found hidden in a wooden box. A man and a woman had given the books to her tribe many years ago. Unfortunately, she learned the names of the pictured items in her own language, not her husband’s, though she suspected the books were written in his.
    “Oh my goodness!”
    Arya turned around. A pretty woman with light hair and blue eyes stood staring at her. “Nu-tan?” she blurted, hoping the woman had seen him.
    “Ah yes, Newton. He’s downstairs in the dining room getting you both some food. I’m Eloise,” the woman said and pointed to herself.
    Arya furrowed her brow in concentration. Her words meant little, but she did recognize that the woman was trying to tell her who she was. “El …o … eez.”
    “That’s right!” the woman said brightly. “Newton was right, you are a fast learner.”
    Arya smiled at the mention of Nu-tan. “Elo-eez.”
    The woman’s face broke into a warm smile. “You