Read Online Silken Savage by Catherine Hart - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Catherine Hart
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have your own horse from now on. Do you like her?”
Tanya looked from the mare to Panther and back again, her golden eyes mirroring her delight. “Panther! Is she truly mine, to keep always?”
“For as long as she pleases you,” he nodded.
“Oh, she pleases me, Panther. She is beautiful! Is she already trained?”
“Little Wildcat, I would not place your life in danger by presenting you with an unbroken mount,”
Panther admonished with a frown. “She is trained by my own hand.”
Her eyes shining like twin suns, Tanya looked up at him. “Thank you, Panther, for such a wonderful gift! I will take good care of her.”
Panther dismounted in one lithe motion. “Come,” he said, approaching the mare. “Come let her smell you. Let her get your scent into her nostrils and feel your hand upon her. You must learn to guide her with your knees, as a Cheyenne does, and not hurt her. She was gently broken, and you must treat her with care. Do this and she will always give her best for you.” Tanya ran her hand along the long, smooth neck of the mare. “I will not mistreat her, Panther. I know it would displease you, and I have never mistreated an animal in my life.”
Panther cupped his hands and boosted Tanya into the saddle. “Ride beside me and I will teach you how to ride like a Cheyenne brave,” he teased with a broad grin and a chuckle.
Winter Bear gave a gruff laugh. “Cousin, if you can no longer tell a woman from a brave, you are beyond help!” He gave Tanya a sly wink and she giggled.
Panther scowled at him. “Winter Bear, when I need your advice, I’ll ask for it. You would do better to direct your energies toward your own courtship with Shy Deer. I’ve noticed how she follows you with those doe eyes of hers.”
Winter Bear laughed. “There is nothing wrong with my eyesight, Panther. I’ve noticed that and a lot more.”
They travelled north for eight days, stopping each night to set up a temporary camp. Tanya had learned that they were journeying to a meeting spot where they would join many other bands and tribes, both Cheyenne and Arapahoe. There the tribes would celebrate their spring festival and hold ceremonial rites, the most important being the Sun Dance.
Mid-morning of the eighth day, they reached their destination. Hundreds of tipis had already been erected. Dogs and children swarmed everywhere and chaos seemed the order of the day, but Tanya knew that under all the confusion, the women had everything under control.
Quickly and efficiently, with help from Walks-Like- A-Duck and Shy Deer, Tanya erected Panther’s tipi, taking care to face it east. Then she began to unload the pack horse. She collected fresh water and firewood, and started meat boiling in the pot.
Finally she had time to tend to her horse. Tanya had just fed and watered Panther’s horse, Shadow, and her own, which she called Wheat. Intent on combing the burrs from Wheat’s mane, she was shocked to hear the hiss of a whip, followed by a blinding, searing pain across her back. Stunned and gasping for breath, she stumbled against the mare. When she found her balance, she whirled about to face her attacker.
Before her stood a beautiful Indian girl Tanya had never seen before. She probably belonged to another tribe. About Tanya’s own age and size, her dark eyes sparkled with arrogance, her manner haughty and overbearing. “Get away from that horse, slave,” she ordered as she brandished the whip again. “Were you trying to escape?” Her voice was almost drowned out by the whine of the whip as it lashed toward Tanya once more.
The leather wound itself about Tanya’s arm and back, cutting into her tender flesh. With a hiss of pain, Tanya grabbed the thong and held it firmly. “Stop this!” she screamed. “The horse is mine!”
Her tormentor’s face hardened with hatred. “Ha! You lie! I know that mare. She belongs to A-Panther-Stalks.” The girl tried to retrieve the whip, but Tanya held on, swiftly
Tanya looked from the mare to Panther and back again, her golden eyes mirroring her delight. “Panther! Is she truly mine, to keep always?”
“For as long as she pleases you,” he nodded.
“Oh, she pleases me, Panther. She is beautiful! Is she already trained?”
“Little Wildcat, I would not place your life in danger by presenting you with an unbroken mount,”
Panther admonished with a frown. “She is trained by my own hand.”
Her eyes shining like twin suns, Tanya looked up at him. “Thank you, Panther, for such a wonderful gift! I will take good care of her.”
Panther dismounted in one lithe motion. “Come,” he said, approaching the mare. “Come let her smell you. Let her get your scent into her nostrils and feel your hand upon her. You must learn to guide her with your knees, as a Cheyenne does, and not hurt her. She was gently broken, and you must treat her with care. Do this and she will always give her best for you.” Tanya ran her hand along the long, smooth neck of the mare. “I will not mistreat her, Panther. I know it would displease you, and I have never mistreated an animal in my life.”
Panther cupped his hands and boosted Tanya into the saddle. “Ride beside me and I will teach you how to ride like a Cheyenne brave,” he teased with a broad grin and a chuckle.
Winter Bear gave a gruff laugh. “Cousin, if you can no longer tell a woman from a brave, you are beyond help!” He gave Tanya a sly wink and she giggled.
Panther scowled at him. “Winter Bear, when I need your advice, I’ll ask for it. You would do better to direct your energies toward your own courtship with Shy Deer. I’ve noticed how she follows you with those doe eyes of hers.”
Winter Bear laughed. “There is nothing wrong with my eyesight, Panther. I’ve noticed that and a lot more.”
They travelled north for eight days, stopping each night to set up a temporary camp. Tanya had learned that they were journeying to a meeting spot where they would join many other bands and tribes, both Cheyenne and Arapahoe. There the tribes would celebrate their spring festival and hold ceremonial rites, the most important being the Sun Dance.
Mid-morning of the eighth day, they reached their destination. Hundreds of tipis had already been erected. Dogs and children swarmed everywhere and chaos seemed the order of the day, but Tanya knew that under all the confusion, the women had everything under control.
Quickly and efficiently, with help from Walks-Like- A-Duck and Shy Deer, Tanya erected Panther’s tipi, taking care to face it east. Then she began to unload the pack horse. She collected fresh water and firewood, and started meat boiling in the pot.
Finally she had time to tend to her horse. Tanya had just fed and watered Panther’s horse, Shadow, and her own, which she called Wheat. Intent on combing the burrs from Wheat’s mane, she was shocked to hear the hiss of a whip, followed by a blinding, searing pain across her back. Stunned and gasping for breath, she stumbled against the mare. When she found her balance, she whirled about to face her attacker.
Before her stood a beautiful Indian girl Tanya had never seen before. She probably belonged to another tribe. About Tanya’s own age and size, her dark eyes sparkled with arrogance, her manner haughty and overbearing. “Get away from that horse, slave,” she ordered as she brandished the whip again. “Were you trying to escape?” Her voice was almost drowned out by the whine of the whip as it lashed toward Tanya once more.
The leather wound itself about Tanya’s arm and back, cutting into her tender flesh. With a hiss of pain, Tanya grabbed the thong and held it firmly. “Stop this!” she screamed. “The horse is mine!”
Her tormentor’s face hardened with hatred. “Ha! You lie! I know that mare. She belongs to A-Panther-Stalks.” The girl tried to retrieve the whip, but Tanya held on, swiftly
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