T'on Ma Read Free

woman? Would harming her bring a curse to their village? These questions needed time in order to be answered properly.
    "I touched her," Two Hawks said. "She felt real. Also, I've given her a name. I told her what it is, but I don't think she understood."
    "What name?"
    "Water Woman."

    * * *

    "Pa, that was the Kiowa from the river," Lana said once they were all inside.
    "The one that grabbed you just now?" May asked.
    "Yes'm." Lana walked over to the fireplace and poked at the fire. "Pa, why was he staring at me like that?"
    "I have no idea, child," Joshua shook his head.
    "I don't think he would have hurt me. He just wanted to stare," she added.
    "You need to stay close to the house from now on," Nathan ordered in his position as her oldest brother. "Unless you're with one of us." Nathan was as tall as his father, but more muscular. He wore his dark brown hair to his shoulders; his light brown eyes and handsome face much like his mother's.
    "Paaaa," Lana whined.
    "No. He's right. You stay close. And from now on, you take a gun with you. You hear me?"
    "Yes, sir."
    That night, after supper and chores, Lana wearily climbed into bed. It had been another exhausting day. But this time, her mind wouldn't get quiet and let her sleep. She thought of Two Hawks standing so close, staring so hard at her. What was he looking at, anyway? Hadn't he ever seen a girl before? And then she blushed, covering her face with her blanket. He had seen much more of her at the river than she ever intended.

    * * *

    That evening, in preparation for the feast, Two Hawks put on his best leggings and the moccasins with the intricate beadwork that his mother and sisters had labored over. Their beading skill was unsurpassed in the village. Skunk tails pompously trailed behind each of his heels. His freshly braided hair had red vermilion down the center part. Two Hawks felt as handsome as he looked.
    When he joined the others at the feast, he deliberately sat close to a young woman he liked. Corn Flower was shy. In the past, whenever he tried to catch her eye, she would only look down, never at him. Once he threw a plum stone at her, trying to get her attention, but she acted as if nothing happened, as if nothing stung her cheek. Other young men were also interested in her, but she treated them all the same way.
    That night, however, in the flickering light of the fire, Two Hawks caught her looking sideways under her long lashes at him. He sat up straighter and ignored her. He had brought the sugar; let her work for his attention this time. There were other young women smiling at him across the fire. He deliberately winked at one of them, aware that Corn Flower could see. Her scowling face made him secretly grin.
    Strips of buffalo hung from sticks over the fire, where the fat melted and dropped, sizzling and hissing, into the flames. The enticing aroma sharpened everyone's hunger. People chatted and gossiped among themselves, all the while keeping one eye on the meal. All who had contributed pelts for the trade that day would get to taste the sugar and molasses first. The others could squabble over any that remained.
    After the meal, the people grew quiet when Broken Man rose and stood close to the center. He recounted the day's events in great detail. They all shook their heads at the description of so many guns. Laughter filled the camp when he imitated a hen with its ungainly walk and funny sound. A hush fell over them as he told of the woman with blue eyes. So the rumors were true then.
    When he told of Two Hawks touching T'on Ma's face, several of them looked wonderingly at Two Hawks. Had some of her power gone into him now? Or perhaps he would fall ill. They would have to wait and see. But he had done a very brave thing. On that, they all agreed.

    * * *

    Several days later, Lana and her mother picked rosehips not too far on the other side of the river. Rosehips were good for medicine and tea. Properly dried, they would last all winter. Each woman