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Authors: Tracie Peterson
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and waited to see if the boy would fall again. He drew a deep breath, however, and stood his ground. “I will make the peace. You have treated me honorably.”
They made their way to the hall and then to the front door. William and Berto walked in support beside Night Bear in case he stumbled or lost consciousness. The one thing that amused William was that the boy never lost his grip on the sweet roll.
To William’s surprise the front door was standing open to the world. He stepped forward with Night Bear, fully expecting to find the Comanche waiting in the yard. Instead, the area looked deserted. They walked around the side of the house, however, and that was when William spotted Hannah.
She was walking toward the Comanche as if they were long lost friends. She held out her hands, palms up as if to show them she had nothing that could bring them harm. William and Berto stopped. Night Bear did likewise. The Comanche could clearly see him, but what they thought of the situation was yet to be determined.
William wanted to call to Hannah, but he was afraid of what might happen if he said anything. He watched the breeze play with her long brown skirt as she crossed the open span. What was she thinking?
He caught sight of a horse and rider separating from the line of some fifteen men. The rider directed the ebony horse slowly down toward Hannah. The warrior seemed in no hurry.
“That is my father,” Night Bear announced. “Come, we will go to him.”
William knew that now would be the moment of decision. He had no weapon with him. He’d not even thought to take up his rifle. He didn’t know if Berto had a pistol or knife, but either way they would be no match for fifteen trained Comanche warriors.
Hannah stopped and waited for the rider to approach her. William couldn’t help but admire her bravery. He hoped that the Indian chief would esteem it, as well. People always said that the one thing that impressed the Comanche was shows of strength.
By the time William, Berto, and Night Bear reached Hannah, He Who Walks in Darkness had already stopped just a foot away from her. He fixed Hannah with an intimidating stare. His face was painted black with two red stripes at the forehead and chin. It was a sure sign of war.
“We mean the Numunuu no harm,” Hannah said in a loud, clear voice.
The chief stared at her for a moment longer. William and Berto held back as Night Bear moved forward. He began speaking in rapid fire Comanche, gesturing with his good arm. He pointed to his head and then his arm. The sweet roll still remained firmly in his grasp.
“You saved my son?”
William was surprised to hear the chief speak English so well. Hannah stepped forward, seemingly unafraid.
“He fell and was hurt. We did what any good Christian folk would do.”
He Who Walks in Darkness looked beyond her to Berto and William.
William held up a hand. “Maruawe,” he said in greeting.
It was a traditional welcome and William could only hope that the chief would accept their friendly gesture. He hoped, too, that the man would listen to his son, who was even now defending the whites who had taken him in.
God, if you do still care, William prayed, feeling like a hypocrite, we could use some help about now.
7
H annah could scarcely believe her own actions. Why in the world she had done this thing—this very foolish thing—was beyond her. She hadn’t even had time to think when she’d headed out of the house to greet the Comanche. Her only thought had been that if she didn’t act fast, her family might well be killed.
She looked into the face of the Comanche leader and tried not to let her fear show. The man was fierce looking with his painted face. She could see his piercing dark eyes slowly assess her. This was a man who had no doubt killed many whites. His only concern at the moment was for his son—just as her concern was for Andy, Marty, and the others.
“We do not wish to be at war with you or the Numunuu ,
They made their way to the hall and then to the front door. William and Berto walked in support beside Night Bear in case he stumbled or lost consciousness. The one thing that amused William was that the boy never lost his grip on the sweet roll.
To William’s surprise the front door was standing open to the world. He stepped forward with Night Bear, fully expecting to find the Comanche waiting in the yard. Instead, the area looked deserted. They walked around the side of the house, however, and that was when William spotted Hannah.
She was walking toward the Comanche as if they were long lost friends. She held out her hands, palms up as if to show them she had nothing that could bring them harm. William and Berto stopped. Night Bear did likewise. The Comanche could clearly see him, but what they thought of the situation was yet to be determined.
William wanted to call to Hannah, but he was afraid of what might happen if he said anything. He watched the breeze play with her long brown skirt as she crossed the open span. What was she thinking?
He caught sight of a horse and rider separating from the line of some fifteen men. The rider directed the ebony horse slowly down toward Hannah. The warrior seemed in no hurry.
“That is my father,” Night Bear announced. “Come, we will go to him.”
William knew that now would be the moment of decision. He had no weapon with him. He’d not even thought to take up his rifle. He didn’t know if Berto had a pistol or knife, but either way they would be no match for fifteen trained Comanche warriors.
Hannah stopped and waited for the rider to approach her. William couldn’t help but admire her bravery. He hoped that the Indian chief would esteem it, as well. People always said that the one thing that impressed the Comanche was shows of strength.
By the time William, Berto, and Night Bear reached Hannah, He Who Walks in Darkness had already stopped just a foot away from her. He fixed Hannah with an intimidating stare. His face was painted black with two red stripes at the forehead and chin. It was a sure sign of war.
“We mean the Numunuu no harm,” Hannah said in a loud, clear voice.
The chief stared at her for a moment longer. William and Berto held back as Night Bear moved forward. He began speaking in rapid fire Comanche, gesturing with his good arm. He pointed to his head and then his arm. The sweet roll still remained firmly in his grasp.
“You saved my son?”
William was surprised to hear the chief speak English so well. Hannah stepped forward, seemingly unafraid.
“He fell and was hurt. We did what any good Christian folk would do.”
He Who Walks in Darkness looked beyond her to Berto and William.
William held up a hand. “Maruawe,” he said in greeting.
It was a traditional welcome and William could only hope that the chief would accept their friendly gesture. He hoped, too, that the man would listen to his son, who was even now defending the whites who had taken him in.
God, if you do still care, William prayed, feeling like a hypocrite, we could use some help about now.
7
H annah could scarcely believe her own actions. Why in the world she had done this thing—this very foolish thing—was beyond her. She hadn’t even had time to think when she’d headed out of the house to greet the Comanche. Her only thought had been that if she didn’t act fast, her family might well be killed.
She looked into the face of the Comanche leader and tried not to let her fear show. The man was fierce looking with his painted face. She could see his piercing dark eyes slowly assess her. This was a man who had no doubt killed many whites. His only concern at the moment was for his son—just as her concern was for Andy, Marty, and the others.
“We do not wish to be at war with you or the Numunuu ,
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