other Kiowa woman, for his wife. But he couldn't get Lana out of his mind or his heart.
* * *
Sundays were days of rest for the Coopers. After breakfast, Joshua read scripture from the family Bible and then said a prayer. After that, everyone was left to their own devices. Sundays provided Lana with the rare opportunity to indulge in her favorite pastime - reading. They only had four books and she had read each several times, but it didn't matter. She loved those books.
One Sunday afternoon, she announced that she wanted to read outside and would be back in time for supper. Picking up her worn copy of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare," her ever-present rifle, and a blanket, she headed for her favorite place. Half a mile from the house stood a small copse of cottonwoods and cedars on a small rise overlooking the river. Even on the hottest days, a breeze blew from the river, making it one of the cooler places on the homestead. She considered this to be 'her spot'.
Lana spread her blanket close to the trunk of the largest tree and soon had her back propped against it, her book opened on her knees. She was soon magically transported to Denmark where she dashed up castle stairs with Prince Hamlet, looking for ghosts.
* * *
Two Hawks rode with four friends, presumably to hunt, but in the heat, all the game hid in shady places. Now, the men simply meandered across the plains, talking about the young women in camp and who liked whom.
"You like her?" Two Hawks shook his head. "She's crazy."
"So? I like them crazy," Black Stag defended his choice. "She's better than Red Sky."
"Hey! I like Red Sky," Tall Lodge argued.
"Why? She's so shy, she never says anything," Black Stag made a face.
"It's better than yours. Talk. Talk. Talk," Tall Lodge made the universal gesture with his hand for talking.
"Of course, we all know who Two Hawks wants. Corn Flower," Big Hand laughed and looked sideways at his friend. They all wondered at Two Hawks' silence on the matter.
"Look!" Howling Dog exclaimed, nodding his head over his shoulder. All the young men turned to see Lana across the river, totally engrossed in her book, unaware of her visitors.
On reflex, all but Two Hawks jumped off their horses, pulled their weapons, and searched the area for Lana's people.
"Get down!" Tall Lodge hissed up to Two Hawks. "She's got a gun."
Ignoring his worried friends, Two Hawks prodded his horse closer to the river. Hearing the horse splash through the water, Lana finally looked up. When she saw Two Hawks, she closed the book and stood up, taking a few steps toward him.
The Kiowa braves watched in consternation. What was Two Hawks doing? And why wasn't the white woman screaming and trying to shoot them?
When Two Hawks crossed the river, he dismounted and climbed the small rise. To their surprised amazement, she stepped into his outstretched arms and reached up for his kiss.
"Hmmm. I guess he doesn't want Corn Flower," Big Hand corrected himself.
With his arm around Lana's shoulders, Two Hawks waved to his friends to go on without him. Tall Lodge raised his hand once in acknowledgment. They mounted their horses and rode toward the village, full of curiosity at what they had just seen.
"Is that the one with blue eyes?" Black Stag asked.
"They say she's bewitched him," Tall Lodge frowned.
"I wish a pretty girl would bewitch me like that," Big Hand sighed jealously.
* * *
"Hello, Centas Yi," Lana stood in his embrace and smiled into his handsome brown eyes. Then she glanced over her shoulder toward the house, but it was too far away. No one would see them.
"T'on Ma." He kissed her once more and then let her lead him to the blanket. Lana sat down and picked up the book. When he got settled beside her, he reached for the book and turned the pages, wondering what the strange marks meant.
Gesturing his question, he held the book out to her for explanation. Lana studied his face, trying to figure out how to explain reading and
* * *
Sundays were days of rest for the Coopers. After breakfast, Joshua read scripture from the family Bible and then said a prayer. After that, everyone was left to their own devices. Sundays provided Lana with the rare opportunity to indulge in her favorite pastime - reading. They only had four books and she had read each several times, but it didn't matter. She loved those books.
One Sunday afternoon, she announced that she wanted to read outside and would be back in time for supper. Picking up her worn copy of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare," her ever-present rifle, and a blanket, she headed for her favorite place. Half a mile from the house stood a small copse of cottonwoods and cedars on a small rise overlooking the river. Even on the hottest days, a breeze blew from the river, making it one of the cooler places on the homestead. She considered this to be 'her spot'.
Lana spread her blanket close to the trunk of the largest tree and soon had her back propped against it, her book opened on her knees. She was soon magically transported to Denmark where she dashed up castle stairs with Prince Hamlet, looking for ghosts.
* * *
Two Hawks rode with four friends, presumably to hunt, but in the heat, all the game hid in shady places. Now, the men simply meandered across the plains, talking about the young women in camp and who liked whom.
"You like her?" Two Hawks shook his head. "She's crazy."
"So? I like them crazy," Black Stag defended his choice. "She's better than Red Sky."
"Hey! I like Red Sky," Tall Lodge argued.
"Why? She's so shy, she never says anything," Black Stag made a face.
"It's better than yours. Talk. Talk. Talk," Tall Lodge made the universal gesture with his hand for talking.
"Of course, we all know who Two Hawks wants. Corn Flower," Big Hand laughed and looked sideways at his friend. They all wondered at Two Hawks' silence on the matter.
"Look!" Howling Dog exclaimed, nodding his head over his shoulder. All the young men turned to see Lana across the river, totally engrossed in her book, unaware of her visitors.
On reflex, all but Two Hawks jumped off their horses, pulled their weapons, and searched the area for Lana's people.
"Get down!" Tall Lodge hissed up to Two Hawks. "She's got a gun."
Ignoring his worried friends, Two Hawks prodded his horse closer to the river. Hearing the horse splash through the water, Lana finally looked up. When she saw Two Hawks, she closed the book and stood up, taking a few steps toward him.
The Kiowa braves watched in consternation. What was Two Hawks doing? And why wasn't the white woman screaming and trying to shoot them?
When Two Hawks crossed the river, he dismounted and climbed the small rise. To their surprised amazement, she stepped into his outstretched arms and reached up for his kiss.
"Hmmm. I guess he doesn't want Corn Flower," Big Hand corrected himself.
With his arm around Lana's shoulders, Two Hawks waved to his friends to go on without him. Tall Lodge raised his hand once in acknowledgment. They mounted their horses and rode toward the village, full of curiosity at what they had just seen.
"Is that the one with blue eyes?" Black Stag asked.
"They say she's bewitched him," Tall Lodge frowned.
"I wish a pretty girl would bewitch me like that," Big Hand sighed jealously.
* * *
"Hello, Centas Yi," Lana stood in his embrace and smiled into his handsome brown eyes. Then she glanced over her shoulder toward the house, but it was too far away. No one would see them.
"T'on Ma." He kissed her once more and then let her lead him to the blanket. Lana sat down and picked up the book. When he got settled beside her, he reached for the book and turned the pages, wondering what the strange marks meant.
Gesturing his question, he held the book out to her for explanation. Lana studied his face, trying to figure out how to explain reading and
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