Lone Arrow's Pride by Karen Kay

Author:Karen Kay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2012-07-16T16:00:00+00:00

“His eyes…not…leave you.” This statement was made to the accompaniment of a series of hand motions.

Carolyn shook back her hair, placing the few strands of the chestnut mane behind her ears. Feigning disinterest, she glanced up from where she and Pretty Moon were sitting, looking in the direction where her friend pointed.

Carolyn muttered, beneath her breath, “His eyes don’t leave me?” It certainly did not look that way to her. Lone Arrow was deep in conversation with Big Elk, and, as far as Carolyn could determine, she might as well have been a tree stump for all the notice he took of her.

But Pretty Moon was continuing, “The friend of Pretty Moon’s husband…do…much to…not let you see. But…he watches.” It was as though Pretty Moon had read Carolyn’s thoughts. “This one,” Pretty Moon pointed to herself. “…has gift…of…how to see to heart…beneath.”

Carolyn nodded and gave her friend a reassuring smile. “I’m sure you do,” she agreed as she sat back on her haunches. She sighed. Fact was, what use was it, even if he were watching her?

It wasn’t as though the man had any great feeling for her. Oh, yes he felt responsible for her; of this she was certain. Perhaps he was even a little fond of her. But that seemed to be as far as it went.

For almost a week now, their party had been traveling over Absarokee terrain, traversing their way from one butte to another, tramping over hills and valleys, picking their way across rolling prairies and mountainous grades. And during that entire time, Lone Arrow had barely acknowledged her existence.

Undoubtedly, there were a multitude of reasons why he avoided her. After all, during the day, one of the men was required to lead their party, while the other pulled up the rear. And at night the two men were obligated to stand guard. But even during moments when Lone Arrow might have rested, he kept well clear of her.

True, Carolyn could have approached him. But she’d be darned if she’d do that.

Carolyn gazed skyward and blinked. The sun had finally ascended to midpoint in the sky, she observed, the time of day when the men usually called a break. Carolyn hoped that they would make camp here, if only so that she could catch her breath. They might be able to press on; she, however, was tired.

Carolyn ran her hand over her brow, which appeared to prompt Pretty Moon to observe, “Mountain…air…weak. Take heart. Soon…your body…breathe…easy.”

Carolyn nodded.

While Pretty Moon continued, “You…ride…pony. This one,” she pointed to herself, “will walk when we…begin our…march again.”

Carolyn smiled but shook her head. “No, you go ahead and ride. The higher we go into these mountains, the colder it gets. To tell you the truth, if it’s a matter of riding and freezing or walking and being tired, I’ll take being tired.”

Pretty Moon nodded, but said, “Runs-with-bears could ask…husband for…robe. Runs-with-bears’s husband…not wear it.”

Carolyn met this statement with silence, as she gazed around her, surveying the lay of the land. Several wildflowers and different tufts of grass grew here in this higher elevation.

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