Read Online Cora's Pride (Wilderness Brides Book 1) by Peggy L Henderson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Peggy L Henderson
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in a smile as he drew closer.
Cora sat on her gray saddle horse, her voice loud and insistent as she spoke to one of the Indians. The man spoke back in his own language, shaking his head and holding up her rifle. The woman sure had gumption, but she was going to be in a heap of trouble if she had wounded or killed one of those Indians.
The warrior who argued with Cora saw him approach first. He abruptly broke off talking to her and guided his horse toward him. Several of the others followed. A wide smile spread across the Indian’s face and he started to laugh. Nathaniel grinned broadly as he walked up to the man on horseback, holding out his hand. The warrior clasped it in his.
“Nathaniel Wilder, where is your horse?” the man asked in the language of the Shoshone. “And why do you walk behind a white man’s wagon full of women?” His smile widened, then broke out in full laughter. Several of the other men joined him.
Nathaniel shot a quick glance toward Cora, whose wide eyes were fixed on him. She didn’t look happy to see him at all. In fact, she looked rather annoyed and her glare intensified when the warriors’ laughter grew louder. Good thing these Shoshone didn’t speak English, to the best of his knowledge. If any of them did, they didn’t understand much. There was no telling what she might have already said to them. Most likely something insulting.
He returned his attention to the Indian. “Greetings, Proud Elk. It has been many moons since we last met. Harley will be glad to hear news of you.”
“Tell the old white trapper that we are well,” Proud Elk replied as his face sobered. He glanced over his shoulder at Cora. “I ask again, why are you without your horse?”
Nathaniel rubbed at the back of his neck. “I lost my horse and supplies while escaping a war party of Crow a few days ago.” He darted another glance at Cora, then smiled at the Shoshone. “I have angered my woman and she makes me walk behind as punishment.”
The men all laughed again. Nathaniel forced his face to remain contrite. The Shoshone chief handed him the rifle he’d taken from Cora. How had Proud Elk managed to get the rifle from her in the first place?
“That’s my rifle,” she called, her eyes blazing in anger. Nathaniel ignored her outburst and accepted the weapon from the Indian. The warrior leaned forward over his horse’s withers, a sympathetic smile on his face.
“Harley has raised you and your brothers to be strong warriors, but it seems you still have much to learn about the ways of women. A man must be strong and stand up for himself, or he will never find peace in his own tipi. Be a leader to your women, or they won’t respect you as a warrior.”
Nathaniel nodded, keeping a straight face. “I hear your words, and will follow your advice.”
The warrior nodded. “I believe we have found your horses.” He motioned to one of his men, who disappeared between a stand of trees, only to return shortly with two horses. Nathaniel’s horses. He rode up and handed the reins to Nathaniel. “They walked into our camp last night.”
“I won’t forget this,” Nathaniel said. Although he might have to bear the taunts from his brothers later when word got out that he’d lost his horses, this was far better than having to go look for them, or steal them back from the Crow.
The older warrior nodded. His lips twitched. “Harley has saved the life of my brother once, and has been good to my people. His sons are following in his footsteps. Take your horses, Nathaniel Wilder, and lead your women, especially that one.” He nudged his chin toward Cora. “A woman who shows no fear and has much spirit can be good for a young warrior’s heart and body, but you must guide her with a firm hand.” He held up a fist for emphasis. “I trust you will not be walking in shame behind her any longer.”
Nathaniel shook his head. He suppressed a grin. “I think I’ve learned my lesson,” he said, checking his
Cora sat on her gray saddle horse, her voice loud and insistent as she spoke to one of the Indians. The man spoke back in his own language, shaking his head and holding up her rifle. The woman sure had gumption, but she was going to be in a heap of trouble if she had wounded or killed one of those Indians.
The warrior who argued with Cora saw him approach first. He abruptly broke off talking to her and guided his horse toward him. Several of the others followed. A wide smile spread across the Indian’s face and he started to laugh. Nathaniel grinned broadly as he walked up to the man on horseback, holding out his hand. The warrior clasped it in his.
“Nathaniel Wilder, where is your horse?” the man asked in the language of the Shoshone. “And why do you walk behind a white man’s wagon full of women?” His smile widened, then broke out in full laughter. Several of the other men joined him.
Nathaniel shot a quick glance toward Cora, whose wide eyes were fixed on him. She didn’t look happy to see him at all. In fact, she looked rather annoyed and her glare intensified when the warriors’ laughter grew louder. Good thing these Shoshone didn’t speak English, to the best of his knowledge. If any of them did, they didn’t understand much. There was no telling what she might have already said to them. Most likely something insulting.
He returned his attention to the Indian. “Greetings, Proud Elk. It has been many moons since we last met. Harley will be glad to hear news of you.”
“Tell the old white trapper that we are well,” Proud Elk replied as his face sobered. He glanced over his shoulder at Cora. “I ask again, why are you without your horse?”
Nathaniel rubbed at the back of his neck. “I lost my horse and supplies while escaping a war party of Crow a few days ago.” He darted another glance at Cora, then smiled at the Shoshone. “I have angered my woman and she makes me walk behind as punishment.”
The men all laughed again. Nathaniel forced his face to remain contrite. The Shoshone chief handed him the rifle he’d taken from Cora. How had Proud Elk managed to get the rifle from her in the first place?
“That’s my rifle,” she called, her eyes blazing in anger. Nathaniel ignored her outburst and accepted the weapon from the Indian. The warrior leaned forward over his horse’s withers, a sympathetic smile on his face.
“Harley has raised you and your brothers to be strong warriors, but it seems you still have much to learn about the ways of women. A man must be strong and stand up for himself, or he will never find peace in his own tipi. Be a leader to your women, or they won’t respect you as a warrior.”
Nathaniel nodded, keeping a straight face. “I hear your words, and will follow your advice.”
The warrior nodded. “I believe we have found your horses.” He motioned to one of his men, who disappeared between a stand of trees, only to return shortly with two horses. Nathaniel’s horses. He rode up and handed the reins to Nathaniel. “They walked into our camp last night.”
“I won’t forget this,” Nathaniel said. Although he might have to bear the taunts from his brothers later when word got out that he’d lost his horses, this was far better than having to go look for them, or steal them back from the Crow.
The older warrior nodded. His lips twitched. “Harley has saved the life of my brother once, and has been good to my people. His sons are following in his footsteps. Take your horses, Nathaniel Wilder, and lead your women, especially that one.” He nudged his chin toward Cora. “A woman who shows no fear and has much spirit can be good for a young warrior’s heart and body, but you must guide her with a firm hand.” He held up a fist for emphasis. “I trust you will not be walking in shame behind her any longer.”
Nathaniel shook his head. He suppressed a grin. “I think I’ve learned my lesson,” he said, checking his
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