Heart of the Domini (Mates of the Domini Book 5) by Talia Rhea

Author:Talia Rhea [Rhea, Talia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Hattie

Giggling, laughing, Hattie and the other young women of the village were helping each other get dressed. Not just putting on clothes but dressing up.

“There is going to be a feast,” Belmira explained as she braided beads into Hattie’s hair. “We get too much when there’s a feast.”

“To celebrate you returning?” Hattie asked, stroking the flower Belmira was having her hold as she played with her hair.

“And to thank you.”

“You mean, Tuvo. He did everything. I owe you more than you owe me.” Hattie chuckled, then beamed when one of the other girls brought her a pot of red lip paint. One of the girls already had a red finger and offered it to her.

Hattie nodded and tilted her head as much as she could without disturbing Belmira so the other girl could pat it against her lips. Not everyone in the village spoke English. Only those who frequented the city bothered to learn – which was a minority. But those who could speak English combined with non-verbal communication and they were understanding each other just fine.

Hattie had been given a simple dress – a body sheath that wrapped around her and was kept in place with a brass pin. The other girls had traded their jeans and shirts for similar dresses, or skirts and tube tops. The dresses themselves were plain, but they were accented with beaded jewelry and belts and headbands and sandals.

Hattie had her own pretty sandals and necklaces and bracelets given to her by the others. Belmira took the flower and braided it into the end of her hair as one of the other girls came back in. She made an announcement that made the other girls break out into excited titters.

“What did she say?”

Belmira laughed as she came to sit beside her, flicking her face with the end of her braid. “The men have returned from washing.”

“They’ve still been washing?” Hattie snickered. They had finished a long time ago.

“Tuvo is huge, and he was very dirty. And apparently very well endowed.”

More giggles broke out as Hattie grinned. She could only grin as she accepted the various congratulations and remarks from the others. That was her male, big and glorious. She couldn’t help but be proud.

“We’ll have a place ready for you to sleep before it’s time for bed,” Belmira promised with a knowing look that made Hattie grin.

They were freshly cleaned and safe. She was dressed up and felt so pretty. If it was going to happen, she wanted it to happen tonight.

All the girls, looking pretty in their beads and flowers, left the building they had gathered in. Hattie was pretty sure it was a public building just based on how impersonal it was – and made their way to the center of the village.

Immediately, she was on the lookout for Tuvo.

Everyone had gathered. The young women were the only ones who went off to dress up. The guys had dressed up at the stream – though not nearly so elaborately. They were still puffing out their chests and approaching the women as they dissolved into the crowd.

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