Read Online Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson - Free Book Online
Authors: Tracie Peterson
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little while,” she said, straightening.
Night Bear considered the sweet roll for a moment. He poked at it with his finger then looked up. William explained as best he could in the boy’s language. This seemed to satisfy him. He picked the roll up and bit into it. The flavor apparently met with his approval, because he wolfed down the entire thing in only a few bites.
“Goodness, you must be hungry. Should I get another one for you?”
“Haa. I eat more,” Night Bear declared.
Hannah smiled and William thought it the loveliest smile he’d seen in some time. “I will get you another.”
Night Bear drank the milk and waited for her return. William couldn’t help but wonder if the boy’s father would appreciate the kindness they were showing Night Bear and in turn show mercy. If the warriors returned with a larger raiding party, there was little they could do to defend themselves for long.
“Is your father an honorable man?” William asked in the boy’s tongue.
“He is,” Night Bear replied. “He is most honorable. He is chief of our band. The Numunuu hold him in high regard. He is wise and just.”
“Will he be just with us?” William asked. “We have shown you mercy and cared for you. We did not wish to see harm done to you. Will He Who Walks in Darkness honor our kindness and do us no harm?”
The young warrior seemed to think on this for a moment. “My father hates the white man. He has lost many good people to the fighting. My grandfather and uncles are all dead because of the soldiers at the fort. My father would not agree to the treaties. He will not go to the reservation.”
“I can understand his anger, but we are not soldiers and we mean you and your people no harm. My family has lived here for many years and has done so in peace. Even when the Numunuu and Kiowa were fighting the soldiers at the forts, we did not fight with them.”
“How did you learn to speak our tongue?” Night Bear asked.
“We once employed a young man who had been raised with the Comanche. He had been traded back to the whites and came to work for us after a time. He taught me your tongue.”
Just then Hannah returned with not one, but two additional sweet rolls. “Here,” she said, smiling. “This should stave off your hunger for a while.”
“Ura,” the boy said.
“That means thank you,” William explained. “In the Numunuu language.”
“I thought he was Comanche,” she replied, looking oddly at the boy.
“He is Comanche, but that is not the name they call themselves. Numunuu is what they use. It means the People.”
“I see. Well, you are very welcome to the food, Night Bear.” She looked to William. “When did he wake up?”
William covered a yawn. “About ten minutes ago. We hadn’t been talking long when you came in.”
Just then Berto rushed into the room. “The Comanche are back. They are just beyond the pens—on the hill.”
Hannah put her hand to her mouth but said nothing. William looked to Night Bear. “It would seem your people have come to take you home.”
Night Bear ate the remaining piece of one roll and took up the other in his good hand. “I go to them. I make the peace.” He stood, but immediately began to sway.
William rushed to his side. “You have a head injury. You shouldn’t move too fast. Let me help you.”
Berto came to offer his assistance. “What do you want to do?”
“We will help him walk to his people,” William said. “Hopefully, they will see that we are treating him well and perhaps the boy will be able to tell them we are friends.”
“Comanche won’t be friends with the white man,” Berto declared.
William knew it was a long shot, but they had to try. “It’s our only choice.” He looked to Hannah, but found she was gone. “Where’s Miss Dandridge?”
Berto looked around the room. “I don’t know.”
“I can walk,” Night Bear said, struggling against their hold. “I am not a weak woman.”
William and Berto let go
Night Bear considered the sweet roll for a moment. He poked at it with his finger then looked up. William explained as best he could in the boy’s language. This seemed to satisfy him. He picked the roll up and bit into it. The flavor apparently met with his approval, because he wolfed down the entire thing in only a few bites.
“Goodness, you must be hungry. Should I get another one for you?”
“Haa. I eat more,” Night Bear declared.
Hannah smiled and William thought it the loveliest smile he’d seen in some time. “I will get you another.”
Night Bear drank the milk and waited for her return. William couldn’t help but wonder if the boy’s father would appreciate the kindness they were showing Night Bear and in turn show mercy. If the warriors returned with a larger raiding party, there was little they could do to defend themselves for long.
“Is your father an honorable man?” William asked in the boy’s tongue.
“He is,” Night Bear replied. “He is most honorable. He is chief of our band. The Numunuu hold him in high regard. He is wise and just.”
“Will he be just with us?” William asked. “We have shown you mercy and cared for you. We did not wish to see harm done to you. Will He Who Walks in Darkness honor our kindness and do us no harm?”
The young warrior seemed to think on this for a moment. “My father hates the white man. He has lost many good people to the fighting. My grandfather and uncles are all dead because of the soldiers at the fort. My father would not agree to the treaties. He will not go to the reservation.”
“I can understand his anger, but we are not soldiers and we mean you and your people no harm. My family has lived here for many years and has done so in peace. Even when the Numunuu and Kiowa were fighting the soldiers at the forts, we did not fight with them.”
“How did you learn to speak our tongue?” Night Bear asked.
“We once employed a young man who had been raised with the Comanche. He had been traded back to the whites and came to work for us after a time. He taught me your tongue.”
Just then Hannah returned with not one, but two additional sweet rolls. “Here,” she said, smiling. “This should stave off your hunger for a while.”
“Ura,” the boy said.
“That means thank you,” William explained. “In the Numunuu language.”
“I thought he was Comanche,” she replied, looking oddly at the boy.
“He is Comanche, but that is not the name they call themselves. Numunuu is what they use. It means the People.”
“I see. Well, you are very welcome to the food, Night Bear.” She looked to William. “When did he wake up?”
William covered a yawn. “About ten minutes ago. We hadn’t been talking long when you came in.”
Just then Berto rushed into the room. “The Comanche are back. They are just beyond the pens—on the hill.”
Hannah put her hand to her mouth but said nothing. William looked to Night Bear. “It would seem your people have come to take you home.”
Night Bear ate the remaining piece of one roll and took up the other in his good hand. “I go to them. I make the peace.” He stood, but immediately began to sway.
William rushed to his side. “You have a head injury. You shouldn’t move too fast. Let me help you.”
Berto came to offer his assistance. “What do you want to do?”
“We will help him walk to his people,” William said. “Hopefully, they will see that we are treating him well and perhaps the boy will be able to tell them we are friends.”
“Comanche won’t be friends with the white man,” Berto declared.
William knew it was a long shot, but they had to try. “It’s our only choice.” He looked to Hannah, but found she was gone. “Where’s Miss Dandridge?”
Berto looked around the room. “I don’t know.”
“I can walk,” Night Bear said, struggling against their hold. “I am not a weak woman.”
William and Berto let go
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