The Comanche Vampire by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

Author:Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy [Murphy, Lee Ann Sontheimer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

But on the day he recalled, the white people, the list makers, were far from his thoughts. Pea’hocso watched the herd with quiet pleasure. His family would eat through the winter and be warm. When the others caught up to him, they paused as he did to savor the majesty of the great animals, then they rode into the midst of them. Buffalo scattered as the wild warriors chased them. Pea’hocso chose a magnificent animal, a bull. He fancied the meat, but wanted the massive head to make a buffalo horned headdress. Such were few and often reserved for leaders and shamans but if he could take down this animal, he would claim it.

Without fear, with daring and skill, Pea’hocso chased the bull away from the rest of the herd. He rode it down and came in close. He fired a rapid series of arrows from his bow and his aim proved deadly and he brought down the buffalo with an arrow through the heart, another through the lung. It ran farther before it slowed, then stopped and dropped to the ground. Whooping and shouting, Pea’hocso claimed it and when they returned to the village, they brought plenty of meat, hides, and more.

He ended up with the horned headdress he’d wanted, too. The leaders granted it to him for his courage and cunning. Aiyana made beadwork to decorate the forehead of the buffalo as it became headgear and Pea’hocso attached a pair of eagle feathers, one on either side of the bonnet. He wore it on special occasions but when he did, he could feel the power of the animal.

Ned told the story and relived it. Anne didn’t interrupt and he thought she listened with an avid ear. When he finished, he wished he still had the headdress and said so, without thinking. “Too bad I still don’t have it,” he said. “It’d be something worth keeping.”

Until Anne stirred, her body warm against his, he’d almost forgotten his desire. It surged back with force as a light laugh shook her. “Thank you, Ned. You made it sound like you were there. You tell a good story and now I’m so sleepy.”

Emotions raw from remembrance, Ned adjusted his position so he could rub her back with a gentle motion. “I was,” he said, voice quiet. “I was there.”

Anne exhaled as her breathing shifted into sleep mode. When she failed to respond, he realized she hadn’t heard what she said. He didn’t move, but held her into the night, remained in position until his limbs grew stiff as he remembered his long ago. He missed those times but he liked the present well enough and loved Anne.

If he weren’t a vampire, things would be as close to perfect as he’d ever known them.

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