The men laughed again.
He shook his head amused. He would share no knowledge with them. They were brash, but he respected the woman.
“Tell us sachem (chief), is it any good with the white devil? Is she as wild as our women?” The women of the tribe were known to be fierce in bed, taking pleasure for themselves. He perceived the woman was not like that. She was innocent. Untouched. And it made him want her even more. This thing called patience was driving him crazy.
The men continued to ask questions as he left, roaring in laughter as they provided answers to those questions. He noticed Juh follow him. The man had not shared in the laughter.
“What upsets you friend?” Bear Claw asked.
“The woman does not belong here,” Juh said.
“She does. She will be one of us,” Bear Claw said.
“You want to take her? Lay with her?” Juh said with disgust.
“My plans for her are none of your business,” Bear Claw said.
“But… What of Anika? She adores you,” Juh said.
Bear Claw sighed. Anika was a cousin of Leaping Deer, and his friend was concerned about her. But he had nothing to worry about. “She will find a good man, and the spirits will bless their union,” he simply said.
He climbed on his horse and rode off, leaving the man and his questions. He was not the first to ask, and neither would he be the last. As the days went by and the woman stayed in their midst, the questions lingered, wondering her purpose amongst them. He had shared none of such plans with the men, nor his confidants. They thought she was going to be a woman he laid with and disposed of, but then he was not such a man. He respected women, more than most of the men, because of the women who had raised him. Others thought she was going to be used as a tool of negotiation with the white devils, but he had no plans of doing that. She was his. And it frustrated him that she treated him with disdain. How long would this keep on going? Before she finally gave into him? She was so close to him, yet so far away. Like one of those fruits his mother used to make when he was younger. She would warn him not to touch them, and place them right before him. Whenever he reached for one, she would swat him hard and he would pull away from all that sweet.
Sparrow had said to be nice to the woman and he would win her heart. Fortunately, he was a master of seduction, and although he barely used his charms, they still existed. He grinned as a plan formulated.
Hannah sat apart from the women, running her fingers through the freshly harvested peas. She looked up as he got off his horse. He called out in greetings to the women, who returned his greetings. Their attention was turned back to the steaming pots, but he knew they watched him.
She ignored him, her attention on the peas.
“Come with me,” he said stretching out his arm.
She frowned. “I’m busy.”
Bear Claw chuckled, earning a look from her. “Would you cook. Or explore?” Her eyes lit up, and he could see the thoughts running through. She thought to explore to see for herself the terrain for when next she would escape.
“Explore, but I have work to do,” she said.
He called out to the women to handle the peas. Understanding what he had said, she set the tray aside and followed him. She squealed when he lifted her by the waist, onto the horse. He chuckled when she glared at him. Then he got on the horse. With a slap, the horse took to the wind, the two of them on the horse. Yet, in the distance four of his men followed at slow pace, but if needed, they would come to his aid.
Her laughter joined the wind, and his heart warmed. He longed to hear that sound everyday of his life. She did not protest when his arms went around her waist, pulling her to him as he steered the horse. They rode through the lands, and she threw looks around, as if registering the land. It saddened him, her quest to leave, but if his plan succeeded, he would make her realize that she needed to stay here.
The trail went thinner, and was filled with more rocks, but the horse knew how to navigate through. Their destination was no stranger to the mare.
The land became steep, going lower. The air became cool, and a chill ran through Hannah. The sound of rushing water greeted them. She gasped as the horse stopped at a clearing. In front of them was a waterfall. It was small, but beautiful, torrents of water running down, on the rocks which had become divided with time.
“This is beautiful,” Hannah said. She had never seen such a beautiful sight as this before. It was so calm. And peaceful here. He let go of her, and got off the horse, offering her a hand. She found herself smiling at him, despite being angry. She went off, towards the waterfall. She knelt by the bank, scooping cold water in her hands.
“Is this safe to drink?” she asked.
He nodded.
She scooped it to her mouth and had a taste of the cool water. It tasted refreshing. The water was so clear she could see the rocks and fauna underneath.
“We call this place claypan haven,” Bear Claw said.
“And what does that mean?”
“Hidden. It is tucked away. Many do not know it is here. It is calm. Peaceful,” he said with a distant look.
