Lure of the Wild (Wilderness, No 2) by David Thompson

Author:David Thompson [Thompson, David]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing -A
Published: 1995-07-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Nate was too flabbergasted to speak for a full 30 seconds. He glanced at Winona and saw her smiling at him expectantly, then looked at her father and inwardly recoiled at the warrior’s stern visage.

“Cat got your tongue?” Shakespeare quipped, then became serious. “Remember what I told you about insulting an Indian.”

Nate’s emotions were swirling in a whirlpool of indecision. He wanted to say yes, but his memories of Adeline prompted him to decline. On the other hand, he certainly didn’t want to offend Black Kettle or hurt Shakespeare’s feelings, and he adopted the latter justification as the motivation for his answer. “Tell Black Kettle I find his daughter extremely attractive.”

Grinning impishly, Shakespeare complied.

“Also explain to him that my knowledge of Indian ways is very limited. Let him know I’m unaware of the proper way to court an Indian maiden,” Nate said slowly, selecting his words carefully.

Again the frontiersman translated.

Nate wasn’t finished. “Tell him that for the white man courtship can be a long, drawn-out affair. A man and a woman should get to know one another before they become involved.”

Shakespeare faced his companion. “You expect me to tell him that?”

“Yes,” Nate declared. “And that I’m asking you to relay my words beause I want to be sure they are spoken perfectly. I respect him highly and would not want to accidentally insult him through my ignorance.”

An appreciative smile creased Shakespeare’s weathered visage. “You’re a lot like your Uncle Zeke.”

“I am?”

“Yep. You pack more wisdom between your ears than most men have in their little finger,” Shakespeare said. He turned to the warrior and spoke at length.

Nate waited anxiously for Black Kettle’s response. He studiously avoided gazing at Winona. What would his family think if they could see him now, discussing the courtship of an Indian woman with her father? His father and mother would probably throw a fit.

The warrior held forth next, speaking in a somber tone.

“He says he’s not offended in the least,” Shakespeare related. “In fact, he’s pleased that you’re so considerate of his feelings. He also believes a man and a woman should get to know each other. The Shoshones have a custom they adhere to in courtship, and he believes the custom will serve you well.”

“What custom?”

Shakespeare twisted and pointed at a rolled-up buffalo robe lying against the side of the lodge. “A courting couple throw a robe over themselves for privacy and take a stroll in the moonlight.”

“He wants me to take a stroll with Winona?” Nate asked, slightly shocked at the father’s brazen attitude toward romance with his daughter.

“Whether you go or not is up to you,” Shakespeare said. “All he’s saying is you’ve got his permission.”

Nate made the sign for “thank you” and indicated he would be delighted to walk with Winona.

Smiling contentedly, Black Kettle grunted and said several words to the frontiersman.

“What did he say?” Nate’s curiosity impelled him to inquire.

Shakespeare smiled. “Why not now?”

“Now?”

“There’s no time like the present.”

“Just like that?”

Lines furrowed the mountain man’s forehead. “What is the problem? You want to go walking with Winona.

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