Zekial by Dusty Richards

Author:Dusty Richards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oghma Creative Media

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THEY PUSHED SOUTHWARD most of the day. He spotted some buffalo grazing in a grassy meadow and noted their location near some prominent hills. Higher mountains rose on the horizon, and they headed toward them. He wanted to find the headwaters of this tributary of the White River they’d been following. Somewhere in the south where the streams came from rose the Boston Mountains. He planned for them to winter there if he could find a suitable cave and pasture for the mounts.

“Boston Mountains?” Tilly repeated as he explained his thoughts to her.

Broome nodded. “They’re south of us. I was there once before. There ain’t many go there. We can be alone.”

“You been thinking on this business for a long time?”

“Going to the mountains?” He guided Red around a great fallen walnut tree, the twisted roots towering over their heads even on horseback.

“No, no. This business of you and me.” She took a firmer hold around his stomach, then righted herself on the saddle behind him, pressing her body against his back.

“I studied on it long enough.”

“You could have had me, anyway. You know that?”

“I didn’t want that.”

“Why not? Most white men would have. You didn’t have to go ask me like I was some high-class white woman.”

“You’re a person, ain’t you?” He shifted the rifle and dried his sweaty palm on his pants leg.

“No. I be black.”

“You ain’t been that since we left Choctaw Landing.” He shook his head and wished the growing discomfort in his belly would go away. He didn’t like this kind of talk.

“Sure, you says I ain’t a slave, but you’s don’t own me.”

“No one owns you now.” He rose in the stirrups and peered down the open, grassy park ahead. Maybe they should graze their stock for a few hours. “Do you smell anything on the wind?”

“No, why?

“Good. I haven’t seen a sign of anyone since we set out this morning. We may let the horses graze here for a while. Lots of tall bluestem grass.” He reined Red in and studied the mountain to the west, then down the river bottom they’d followed. No sign of anything threatening. The south wind had swung around in their faces and warmed the air.

“Fine with me.” She took a deep breath, stretched, then eased herself off the horse. Gathering her blanket around her against the cold, she took the lead ropes.

Zeke dismounted and moved to loosen the cinches. “We better get some more blankets out.”

“No, right now you better listen to me.”

He turned.

She wore a pained expression on her face, tears matting her thick lashes and running down her cheeks. “You be a good man, Zekial Broome. You done this poor black girl a big favor, but I ain’t what you think I is.” She shook her head in disappointment.

“What’s that?” He took her in his arms and raised her defiant chin upward with his hand until he could look into her wide brown eyes.

“Oh, don’t you see? I don’t be no virgin.”

“Neither am I.” Then he kissed her.

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