Read Online Earthbound: Science Fiction in the Old West (Chronicles of the Maca Book 1) by Mari Collier - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mari Collier
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at each other, and to Anna's ears, they began jabbering. One middle-aged woman stepped out of the tent. She returned within minutes carrying a flat piece of wood and a large stick.
“If she doesn't clean it, we will use this on her.”
They left Anna bruised and stunned on the dirt floor. Most were certain there was a trickster involved or she had gone mad.
That afternoon, one of the younger women moved into the tepee. Two others accompanied her for her protection.
Chapter 14: The Woman Who Would Not Listen
“Why have you not listened to us?”
Anna's woman's cycle had ended. Her clothes smelled. The tent reeked, her body was a mass of bruises, her hands were swollen, but healing, and still she glared at them.
“Do you promise to act like a human being?” It was the dark-eyed white woman.
“Vhat does dot mean?”
“You will be given to one of our warriors and never speak to the one that came with you.”
“He ist mein sohn.” There was no mistaking her words. “I vill not such a promise make. God vould punish me. I vill not go mitt von of your men. Du are all savages.”
This time they left Anna lying on the ground with both her ears cut off. Blood streamed down both sides of her face. They had not killed her as they were not sure she was sane. Her hair had turned white overnight. Women did not fight as she had when the warriors raided the ranch. Women were to run and hide. Women accepted what men decided for them.
“If she lives, the Great Spirit wills it. She will become a slave. Let her be. She will remain on starvation rations. Sane people soon eat.” The old woman led the others out.
Anna crawled over to the cattails and split two down the middle and then held them against the sides of her head. The white woman had stayed just long enough to translate.
She stopped at the tent flap before leaving.
“Stop being so stubborn. You can have a good life here. My man doesn't beat me like the one in my other life. All of the men here ain't like him, but most are.” Pride was in her voice. “They got a really good way to live. It's just different. Just remember, you caint ever talk to that boy you called son. He has another name and he likes it here.” She stepped out into the sunshine.
Anna had tried not to hear her words. How could Daniel like it here? Didn't he remember any of her lessons, her hugs, her blessings, her prayers, the joy of sitting in church, and at the holiday family dinners?
She felt dizzy, her stomach ready to heave, and her chest was hurting. It was the heartache of losing all of her God-given children. She would not give in to their pagan ways. She was Christian. She prayed she would be brave enough to hold onto her faith in Christ. Anna collapsed on the fur pallet one of the other women had left.
The next morning another woman entered the tent. Anna was still asleep, her face flushed with fever. The woman set the water jug and bowl of food down and backed out of the teepee. There was no need to wake this mad woman. Maybe she could be the slave of her family. Her warrior was a brave hunter with many coups.
Chapter 15: Schmidt's Corner
A discouraged Kasper Schmidt returned to the Rolfe ranch house where his wife, Gerde, and son, Hans, were waiting for him. Dirty, rough workmen's clothes and boots comprised his outfit. His features, his carriage, his speech all seemed ill-suited to any hard toil. While he had been in Arles, the town's women had looked at him with approval; rough clothes and boots made no difference to their lingering eyes. He was a handsome man, standing five feet and ten inches when most men were at least three inches shorter. His shoulders were broad, his features straight, the mouth firm, and a small cleft split his chin. The dark mustache was luxurious and glossy.
When the word of the Comanche attack on a small ranch in Texas reached the Schmidt's in St. Louis, he had not been surprised. Anna was his twin. He had known she was in mortal danger that summer
“If she doesn't clean it, we will use this on her.”
They left Anna bruised and stunned on the dirt floor. Most were certain there was a trickster involved or she had gone mad.
That afternoon, one of the younger women moved into the tepee. Two others accompanied her for her protection.
Chapter 14: The Woman Who Would Not Listen
“Why have you not listened to us?”
Anna's woman's cycle had ended. Her clothes smelled. The tent reeked, her body was a mass of bruises, her hands were swollen, but healing, and still she glared at them.
“Do you promise to act like a human being?” It was the dark-eyed white woman.
“Vhat does dot mean?”
“You will be given to one of our warriors and never speak to the one that came with you.”
“He ist mein sohn.” There was no mistaking her words. “I vill not such a promise make. God vould punish me. I vill not go mitt von of your men. Du are all savages.”
This time they left Anna lying on the ground with both her ears cut off. Blood streamed down both sides of her face. They had not killed her as they were not sure she was sane. Her hair had turned white overnight. Women did not fight as she had when the warriors raided the ranch. Women were to run and hide. Women accepted what men decided for them.
“If she lives, the Great Spirit wills it. She will become a slave. Let her be. She will remain on starvation rations. Sane people soon eat.” The old woman led the others out.
Anna crawled over to the cattails and split two down the middle and then held them against the sides of her head. The white woman had stayed just long enough to translate.
She stopped at the tent flap before leaving.
“Stop being so stubborn. You can have a good life here. My man doesn't beat me like the one in my other life. All of the men here ain't like him, but most are.” Pride was in her voice. “They got a really good way to live. It's just different. Just remember, you caint ever talk to that boy you called son. He has another name and he likes it here.” She stepped out into the sunshine.
Anna had tried not to hear her words. How could Daniel like it here? Didn't he remember any of her lessons, her hugs, her blessings, her prayers, the joy of sitting in church, and at the holiday family dinners?
She felt dizzy, her stomach ready to heave, and her chest was hurting. It was the heartache of losing all of her God-given children. She would not give in to their pagan ways. She was Christian. She prayed she would be brave enough to hold onto her faith in Christ. Anna collapsed on the fur pallet one of the other women had left.
The next morning another woman entered the tent. Anna was still asleep, her face flushed with fever. The woman set the water jug and bowl of food down and backed out of the teepee. There was no need to wake this mad woman. Maybe she could be the slave of her family. Her warrior was a brave hunter with many coups.
Chapter 15: Schmidt's Corner
A discouraged Kasper Schmidt returned to the Rolfe ranch house where his wife, Gerde, and son, Hans, were waiting for him. Dirty, rough workmen's clothes and boots comprised his outfit. His features, his carriage, his speech all seemed ill-suited to any hard toil. While he had been in Arles, the town's women had looked at him with approval; rough clothes and boots made no difference to their lingering eyes. He was a handsome man, standing five feet and ten inches when most men were at least three inches shorter. His shoulders were broad, his features straight, the mouth firm, and a small cleft split his chin. The dark mustache was luxurious and glossy.
When the word of the Comanche attack on a small ranch in Texas reached the Schmidt's in St. Louis, he had not been surprised. Anna was his twin. He had known she was in mortal danger that summer
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