T'on Ma (7 page)

"Lieutenant, won't you please come in for coffee?" May invited.

"Thank you." He followed May into the house and stopped just inside the door when he caught sight of Lana.

Joshua almost bumped into his back, but managed to step around him. "This is my daughter, Lana."

"Miss Cooper." Lt. O'Connell nodded, but didn't smile as he took off his hat.

Lana straightened up from the fireplace, the coffeepot in her hand, and walked toward the table as she quickly looked him over. "Hello," she said shyly. "Coffee?"

"Yes, please." He sat down and smiled at Paul. "You must be the one we saw running toward the house."

Paul blushed as he grinned.

"I've got two more boys," Joshua explained as he sat beside Liam, "but my oldest and youngest are out hunting right now."

Liam took a sip of the hot coffee and set the cup down.

"I assume you're from Ft. Worth. What brings you out this far?" May asked.

"Yes'm. I'm on a scouting mission, but I saw your place and thought I should stop by."

"A scouting mission? Is there trouble?" Joshua frowned.

Liam glanced at May and Lana, not wanting to alarm them.

"Whatever it is, Lieutenant," May told him, "tell us. My daughter and I live here, too, so we need to know."

Liam sighed, then looked at Joshua. "Apache trouble. They've been raiding all along the Brazos and are getting closer. We almost caught up to them two nights ago, but they got away."

"Exactly what kind of trouble?" Joshua asked.

"Mainly, they're stealing horses, though they've burned out two homesteads in the last month." Liam looked across the room at Lana, staring wide-eyed at this news. He made himself look away. A young woman shouldn't be out here, especially one that beautiful.

May walked over to stand behind her husband and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure we can handle whatever happens." Then she asked, "Can you stay for a while, Lieutenant? Or do you have to leave right away? We'd love to have you stay for dinner. We don't get much company out this way."

"My troops have been in the saddle for days now. We could use a break, almost as much as our horses could." He smiled at May. "If you can stand us, we'll spend the night by the river. And, please, call me Liam."

"All right, Liam. That will be just fine!" May patted Joshua on his shoulder in her delight.

"We'll camp by the river for tonight. And tell the men that no one - and I mean
no one
- comes over that hill and up to the house without my express permission." Liam pointed toward the river as he spoke.

"Yes, sir." The sergeant wondered at the strange order. But, just as he turned around, he saw Lana walk past the door. It all suddenly became clear. He walked away from the house and ordered the men to move to the river and make camp.

Soldiers repaired tack, washed dusty uniforms, played cards, and slept to pass the time. Inside the house, May and Lana prepared a small feast for their guest. At one point in the afternoon, Lana walked out of the house toward the river, carrying the two water buckets. Liam saw her from his temporary headquarters by the barn and crossed the yard.

"Miss Cooper. Wait!"

Lana stopped and half-turned, wondering what he wanted.

"Better let me," he said as he took the buckets from her.

"There's no need. I do this all the time." She reached to take the buckets back, but he pulled them away.

"You don't do this with the U.S. Army by the river."

"Oh." She stepped back, looked toward the river, and then at him. "I suppose not. But you can't very well fetch the water, either."

Liam smiled at that and then yelled, "Sergeant!" In less than a minute, the sergeant appeared, wondering what the young lieutenant wanted
this
time. "See that these are filled and brought back to the house."

"Yes, sir." He took the buckets and turned away.

While she waited for the water, Lana chatted with Liam. "So, Lieutenant, where are you from?"

"I'm from Georgia. And, please, like I told you in there, call me Liam."

"Georgia. I've never been there before."

"It's beautiful country. You'd really like it."

"How long have you been in the Army, Liam?"

He smiled when she said his name. "Not too long, Miss Cooper."

"No. If it's Liam, then you must call me Lana."

"Lana. All right. How long has your family been out here?"

"Just since June. We've got enough to get through the winter and then we'll plant next spring."

"That's a lot of hard work." Liam shook his head. "Why did your father pick such a far away place to settle? This is no place for..." He stopped himself.

"For what?"

"For a young lady such as yourself."

"Don't worry about me. I'll do just fine."

The sergeant returned with the buckets, stopping their conversation. Liam took the buckets from him and carried them into the house for Lana.

"Thank you, Liam," she smiled.

"Sure. Let me know if you need any more water. I'll see to it."

A little while later, Nathan and Jake came home with three rabbits and six fish, much to May's delight. Now, she could have rabbit pie with wild onions and turnips, fried fish, pinto beans, cornbread, her next-to-last jar of blackberry jam and coffee. No one would leave her table hungry that night.

After dinner, Lana cleaned the kitchen and then stepped outside. She had been in front of that fireplace all afternoon and wanted fresh, cool air. Knowing better than to go toward the river, she walked behind the house. When she heard someone behind her, she turned to see Liam approach.

"Would you mind some company?" he asked.

"No. Not at all." She continued walking. They were silent for a while, neither knowing what to say. Finally, Lana spoke. "Liam, may I ask you something?"

"Certainly. What?"

"Is it true that the Kiowa steal people and sell them into Mexico?"

Her question startled him. That was the last thing he expected from her.

"Well," he stopped walking as he considered his answer. "Yes. It's true. Mainly, they steal children, but sometimes women." He could see her frown in the night. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason. Just something my pa said."

"If you see
any
Kiowa - or Apache - stay away! They are dangerous and they hate settlers, more and more lately."

"Why? Because we're taking their land?"

"Lana. That's a serious subject for a young lady."

"It's a serious subject for anyone. But I'm right, aren't I?"

Liam didn't say anything to that. He simply turned and started walking again. Instead of going with him, Lana stood there. She didn't want to talk to him about the Kiowa anymore. He sounded just like her father.

"I'll say goodnight, now, Liam."

"You're turning in?"

"Yes. It's been a long day and the sun shows up mighty early around here." She smiled and began walking toward the house. He caught up with her and fell into step.

"I've enjoyed getting to meet your family," he said as they neared the house. "And I've especially enjoyed meeting you."

"Thank you. You, too."

He stopped her. "I mean it, Lana. You're a beautiful woman and I'm glad we've met. I just wish Ft. Worth weren't so far away."

"Why?" she teased him. "Would you come courting?"

The boldness of her question surprised him, but he put his hand on her shoulder and leaned down to look closely into her eyes. "You better believe I'd come courting," he said with quiet sincerity.

Smiling sweetly at him for a second, she touched his face. "Goodnight, Liam. Sweet dreams." Without waiting for him to escort her, she found her way to her own front door and into the house.

The next morning, Lt. O'Connell and his troops left at first light. He said goodbye to Joshua briefly outside the barn.

"Tell your wife and daughter that I really enjoyed dinner last night."

"I will. You take care out there." The two men shook hands one last time and Liam rode out.

As the troops continued their patrol, Liam's mind filled with images of his stay at the Coopers. He liked the family and hoped they could survive the rigors of settling such untamed land. Lana, though, filled his mind the most, with her sweet voice and vibrant laugh. He would have to come back soon, if only to look into those amazing eyes one more time.

As the cool fall weather chased the heat off the high plains, Two Hawks knew his band would move to their winter camp soon. He needed to see Lana before he left, but didn't want to risk another confrontation with her father.

Two Hawks waited until the day T'on Ma called Sunday, got on his horse and rode out of camp. Making his way to her cottonwoods, he found that she wasn't there. Tethering his horse on the other side of the river from the house, he waited for night and then walked to the barn. He sat beside it, away from the house, and continued to wait. When he was sure the family was asleep, he cautiously crept up to the house, slowly opened the door, and silently made his way over to Lana's bed. Holding his hand over her mouth, he gently woke her.

Startled, she jerked up. Then, realizing who it was, she got out of bed and threw a shawl around her shoulders as she followed him back to the barn. Once there, he grabbed her up in his arms and let his kiss tell her how much he had missed her. When he finally let her go, she stepped back to look at him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked with real concern in her voice. "Pa will kill us both if he finds us together."

Two Hawks placed his forefinger over her lips to quiet her. Then began the task of telling her that his band was leaving for their winter camp and would be gone for months.

Her eyes grew wide. "Oh, Centas Yi, I don't want you to go."

He drew her to him again, holding her, kissing her, missing her already.
"Come with me,"
he murmured against her hair.
"Live with me."
Even though he knew she couldn't understand all of his words, he began telling her his thoughts.
"I love you, T'on Ma, and I want to marry you. I know you're not Kiowa, but you could learn our ways. I would teach you."
He looked down into her eyes and smiled.

Then he spoke in English, "When we go, come with me."

"I don't know," she shook her head. "I don't know what to do."

He kissed the tips of his fingers and placed his hand over her heart. "I love you. You are my heart." His question filled his eyes. Did she love him, too? Lana looked at the question, searched her own mind, and then, with tears in the corner of her eyes, kissed her fingertips and placed her hand over his heart. Two Hawks closed his eyes for a second as the meaning of her gesture washed over him. She loved him. That's all he wanted to know.

They stood together, underneath the quarter moon, so close that it was hard to tell in the shadows where one of them stopped and the other began. He held her against his body, enjoying how that felt. She wrapped her arms around his waist and simply held him, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I can hear your heart beating," she whispered. "Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump." She smiled up at him, only to get another of his kisses, filled with longing and promise. He knew what to do with a woman; how to use his hands and body to bring them both pleasure. He knew what he wanted to do with her. But knowing this wasn't the right time or place, and certain that he would be her first lover, he made himself be content with kisses and embraces.

After a time, she stepped back. "I need to get in," she sighed, regretfully. "But I'll think about what you asked me."

He watched her walk back to the house, determined that when his band moved, she would be with them.

Two days after Two Hawks' midnight visit, Lana went on another foraging trip along the river. It was gorgeous fall day, the air crisp and cool, the sky beautifully blue. Lana found some interesting plants and, wondering what they were, set her gun and basket down for closer inspection. She had just knelt in front of the plants when someone grabbed her from behind and dragged her forcibly to the river. There, to her dismay, stood a band of five warriors, paint on their faces and on their horses. They didn't look like Kiowa. One of them arrogantly held up her gun. It was his now.

"Let me go!" she yelled as she leapt at the brave closest to her, grabbing at his chest and pulling something from his throat. Beads scattered to the ground like colored raindrops. The brave hit her across the face with the back of his hand, sending her head snapping back. Lana staggered, but didn't fall.

She glared at him, ready to charge again, when a noose was thrown over her neck, choking her. Just as quickly, her hands were tied. The men mounted their horses and headed southwest, forcing her to walk behind them.

Lana spoke what little Kiowa she knew, but none of them responded. She continued in English. "Where are we going? - Do you know that soldiers are looking for you? - My pa will come after me! - You'd better let me go while you have the chance. - That's not your gun, either!"

As her nonstop chatter continued, the warrior who had the other end of her ropes turned on his horse and shook his head at her, saying what she assumed was, 'Quiet.'

But she wouldn't be quiet. She was angry rather than frightened. Didn't they know she knew Two Hawks? After a few minutes of her endless commentary, another of the braves turned his horse around and, riding up beside her, kicked her in the chin, yelling at her. She bit her tongue in the motion, blood running down the side of her mouth. But at last, she was quiet. And, for the first time, she was afraid.

The small band of warriors rode for hours before they stopped. Lana fell exhausted on the ground right where she stood. She had had time to think about who they might be and, when one of them walked close by, she risked another question.

"Apache?" she asked. When he nodded, her heart sank. But she gamely tried again. Pointing to herself, she said, "T'on Ma." That surprised him. He didn't speak Kiowa, but he knew it when he heard it. What was she doing with a Kiowa name? Shrugging it off, he walked away. After a few minutes of rest, the warriors mounted their horses, and the trek continued.