“It’s very commendable.”
“But you see?” Dega made bold to put his hand on her arm. “You commendable. You not want hurt life, not want hurt Manitoa. You have peace in heart. Nansusequa heart.”
Evelyn smiled. “Thank you for the compliment. A lot of my people don’t see it that way. They say we have to kill our enemies. Whole countries go to war and take great pride in the killing they do.”
Dega gently squeezed her arm. “They not you. You like Nansusequa. You, what is word? You cherish life.”
“I try.” Evelyn impulsively leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for trying to cheer me. You’re about the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”
A warm tingle spread through Dega. “Thank you,” he said, oddly hoarse. “You sweetest girl.” He started to kiss her cheek as she had kissed his but caught himself. The Nansusequa believed that a man and woman should not kiss until after the two joined hearts in a formal ceremony, as his father and mother had done.
Evelyn saw him lean toward her and sensed what he was about to do. Her pulse quickened. When he stopped, she thought he must be shy. So she figured she would peck him on the cheek again to show him he had nothing to be embarrassed about.
At that instant Dega decided that if it was the white custom to kiss cheeks, he should respect the custom and kiss her. He turned his head slightly just as her face rose to meet his.
Their lips met.
A lightning bolt seemed to cleave Evelyn’s body. She jerked back in shock and raised her fingers to her lips. “Oh.”
Dega thought his body was on fire. He trembled slightly, and felt his insides roil. “I sorry,” he blurted, afraid he had offended her. “I not mean kiss mouth.”
“It’s all right,” Evelyn said softly.
“It is?”
“I liked it.”
“You did?” Dega had broken out in a sweat and his tongue felt as thick as his wrist.
Evelyn leaned in close again. “You’re the first boy I’ve ever kissed. Did you know that?”
Dega wanted to respond, but his thick tongue refused to move.
“A girl’s not supposed to admit she likes a boy kissing her. If I’m being too forward, say so.”
Dega wondered how she could say she was going forward when she was sitting. “I like kiss, too.”
“Well.”
“Well,” Dega echoed, unsure what else he should say.
“Would you like to do it again?”
“I like do it whole life.”
Evelyn smiled. “That’s getting a little ahead of ourselves. Maybe we should take it one kiss at a time.”
Dega’s breath nearly caught in his throat as he asked, “I kiss you one time more?”
“You can kiss me ten times if you want.”
The breeze stirred the grass. The fire danced and flickered. Somewhere to the north a wolf howled.
Dega’s senses were swimming when after a while he drew back and let the cool night breeze caress his hot face.
“Why did you stop?”
“That ten kisses.”
“Silly goose,” Evelyn said, and pulled him close again.
Chapter Sixteen
Tihikanima brought her mount up next to her husband’s. “Have you noticed them today? He has ridden at her side since we started.”
“They are friends,” Wakumassee said.
“No. Something has happened.”
Waku gazed ahead at Dega and Evelyn. “You see more than there is to see.”
“Open your eyes. They cannot take theirs off each other.”
“Where is the harm in that?”
Tihi pursed her lips. “I sense they are closer to each other than they were before.”
“Do you want my opinion?” Waku had learned it was always best to ask. She took it better.
“I always hold your views in high regard, husband. You know that.”
“You are becoming obsessed. You do not think she is right for him so all you do is criticize. I say let them be. If it is meant for them to be together, nothing you do can keep them apart. If it is not meant for them to join, then they will drift apart with no need of help from you.” Waku hoped that would be the end of it, but knowing his wife, he had his doubts. He saw the object of her concern look back at them, and he smiled.
“I like your father,” Evelyn said. “He’s always so nice.”
“All my family like you,” Dega replied.
“Does that include your mother? Lately she’s been sort of cold toward me. Has she said anything?”
“My mother think you fine girl.”
“After last night I hope so,” Evelyn replied, and had to avert her face because she was blushing again. She coughed and focused on a belt of trees. Most were cottonwoods, and cottonwoods were common along water. “There’s a stream yonder, I suspect. We’ll water the horses and rest a spell.”
Evelyn assumed the lead. The undergrowth was thicker than she expected. She skirted a patch of raspberries and went around a log. Gurgling drew her to a ribbon of water no more than ankle deep and shoulder wide. Dismounting, she stretched. She knelt, placed her rifle beside her, cupped a hand, and drank. The others were soon doing the same, all except Tihikanima, who stayed on her horse.
Evelyn smiled at Dega, and he smiled at her. She dipped her hand a second time and was raising it to her lips when a square block of a white man came out of the vegetation on the other side of the stream and pointed a rifle at them. The hammer was pulled back. He grinned in wicked humor.
“The name is Logan, little lady. Tell your green friends to do as I say or I’ll by God shoot them dead.” He patted a brace of pistols at his waist to stress his point.
Dega started to reach for his bow, but the man swung the rifle toward him and he froze.
Waku had his bow slung over his shoulder. He motioned to his daughters to stay still, then demanded, “Who are you? What do you want?”
“You speak English, redskin? Good. That makes this easier.” Logan raised the rifle and took deliberate aim at Tihi. “Tell your woman to get off the horse. Make sure she understands I have no qualms about killing a woman. No qualms at all.”
Waku translated. Thankfully, Tihikanima complied without balking or arguing.
“Good. Now I want all of you to shed your weapons and raise your hands in the air.”
“No,” Evelyn said.
“Did my ears hear right?” Logan growled. “You don’t have any damn say, girl. Not if you care to go on breathing.”
“You’re one of them, aren’t you? A scalp hunter?”
“I’m on my own. Now do as I tell you. Shuck your hardware or bleed.”
“We won’t.”
“Evelyn?” Dega said.
Waku was as anxious as his son. “We do not want him to shoot, Evelyn. We must do as he wants.”
“That’s just it,” Evelyn said. “He’s going to kill us no matter what we do. If we all move at once, he’ll only be able to shoot one of us before we put lead or an arrow into him.”
“Maybe so, girl,” Logan said. “But which one gets it? You? That boy you were making cow eyes at? Or maybe the kid?”
“We will put down our weapons,” Waku said.
“No!” Evelyn had made up her mind. To surrender was certain death. “When I give the word, we attack him.”
Logan hadn’t expected this. Usually when he brandished a gun people did as he wanted. Inspiration struck, and he quickly said, “Look, girl. All I want are your horses. Give them to me and I’ll go my way in peace.”
“Our horses?” Evelyn said suspiciously.
“That’s all. You can keep your weapons and your lives.” Logan backed toward the undergrowth. “I’ll give you a minute to talk it over. Then you bring the horses over to this side one by one.” He paused meaningfully. “Try to run off and I’ll shoot you from the saddle.” With that, he whirled and darted into cover before anyone could think to shoot or loose an arrow.