Transitions

Feeling strong enough to ride, and impatient to try out her gift, Ehawee leads her pony away from the teepees, speaking to it in a soothing voice. Once she's in the open, and the pony seems comfortable with her, she jumps up on its back and sits there for a bit, letting the pony get used to her. Then she encourages it to start moving forward, first at a walk, then faster. Finally, she digs her heels in. The pony is as fast as Kohana promised, sprinting over the plains like the wind. Ehawee loves it. She lets the pony run for a while, before finally turning her and heading her back in the direction of the camp, grinning from ear to ear. The expression makes her face hurt, but she's too happy to care.

As Ehawee gets closer to camp, she sees Takoda riding out to meet her. "So, it's true?" he says, as he pulls level to her.

She brings the pony to a stop by him and nods. "Father told you?"

"Father's telling the whole world, he's so excited."

"He is? Was he that certain that I'd never marry?"

Takoda shrugs. "After the lodge, he probably feared that no man would be brave enough for you."

"Oh. I hadn't thought of it that way." She grins. "Were you sent to fetch me?"

"Nope," he says with a big grin. "I just didn't believe it."

She swats at him, still grinning. "I'm not sure I believe it myself. I don't think the Council will object, do you?"

"No, I don't think so. Ehawee fat with babies is far less likely to get in trouble, or so I think they'll think."

She turns a bit red. "Leave it to you to think of that." She strokes the mane of her pony and changes the subject. "What do you think of Kohana's gift to me? Isn't she beautiful?"

"It's an excellent pony. I'd certainly never give my best to a girl," he says, still teasing. "Want to race?"

Her eyes light up. "Yes! Where to?"

He squints into the morning sun. "How about to that hill and back?" he says.

"You're on! Ready?"

He nods, waiting for her to give the word.

"Go!" she shouts, then digs her heels in and crouches low over her pony's back.

Ehawee and Takoda fly across the plains. Takoda's horse makes the turn better, but Ehawee's mare is quickly gaining. She urges the pony on faster, enjoying the feel of the wind across her face. "You can do it," she shouts to the horse, "I know you can!" The little black and white pony pulls even with Takoda's horse, and Ehawee thinks her horse gets over the finish point first by a nose.

Ehawee lets out a loud whoop and grins over at Takoda. "I knew you could do it!" she says to her pony.

Takoda doesn't spoil her joy by contesting her win, but he does say, "Of course, if you're well enough to race ponies, you're well enough for chores."

She makes a face. "I knew you had an ulterior motive!" She sighs. "I suppose you're right. And I should give her a rest." She pats the pony's flank. "I still don't know what to call her."

"That, I can't help you with," he says before turning his horse and galloping off.

Ehawee rides back towards the camp, mulling over possible names. "You're fast, but everyone calls their pony 'Swift of Foot,' or 'Swift as the Wind,' or something like that. Eyah, I never was good at naming things." She gives the pony a reassuring pat. "Don't worry, I'll think of something."

The pony flicks its ears back, listening to her.

"You truly are a wonderful gift. Maybe that's what I should call you."

Ehawee dismounts as she reaches the area where her father's horses are kept, gives the pony a little water and rubs her down. Then she starts working on her chores. And somehow, the chores don't seem quite as bad this morning. Her mind wanders to the thought that soon, she'll be doing the same things for her own teepee, and her own husband. Magaskawee keeps an eye on her at first, but when she shows herself to have enough stamina, her sister-in-law leaves her to her chores.

Sooner than normal it seems, it is time to start the midday meal. Ehawee pays a little more attention to preparing the meal than usual, since she's in a good mood. It is not long before the smell of cooking food brings the menfolk back to their teepees. Ehawee's father watches her finish the cooking, his joy tempered by the fact that soon he will lose her. Takoda, however, reaches in for a quick taste when she's not looking. Ehawee smacks lightly at his hand as she turns back and laughs. "Enjoy it while you can. Soon, you'll have to do the cooking."

He shakes his head no. "I'll guilt Magaskawee into cooking for us."

Ehawee chuckles. "And if Napayshni doesn't want to share his wife, what will you do then?"

"Steal his horses and buy a loose woman," he says, with a big grin.

Their father frowns at them both, but Ehawee pretends not to notice. "And if your loose woman can't cook, then what will you do?"

"I'll make sure she can cook before I buy her," Takoda says, matter-of-factly, then steals another taste.

Ehawee smacks his hand again, a bit harder this time, and moves between him and the food. "Then she'll just poison your food."

"Why? I'd treat her nice."

"Enough," their father says. "Ehawee, are you sure you're ready to get married?"

She looks startled. "I thought you approved."

"Oh, I do. I just want to make sure that you do. You're a bit young yet for all of that responsibility. Are you ready for that?"

"I've been taking care of you and Takoda, haven't I?"

"Very well," Akecheta says with a smile. "But you will have more to do for your husband than for us. Are you ready for that?"

Ehawee blushes and busies herself with the food. "Father!"

"Well, it's something you must think about," her father says. Takoda laughs out loud.

Ehawee elbows Takoda in the ribs, still blushing furiously. "I know that."

"Oof! Hey!" Takoda protests.

"Okay, okay," her father says. "If you have thought about it and still want to get married, you have my blessing. I just wanted to be sure you had thought about it."

Ehawee looks relieved to be done with the subject. "The meal will be ready soon," she notes, changing the subject. "Do you think maybe...since Kohana has no one to cook for him right now...can we invite him to join us?"

Her father nods his consent.

"Don't hit me in front of him, or he'll give you back," Takoda snorts.

"Hah!" Ehawee makes sure everything is ready for the meal, then gives Takoda a stern look. "Don't you dare touch any of it until I get back!"

Takoda makes a face, then crosses his arms across his chest as Ehawee hurries off.

When Ehawee arrives at Kohana's teepee, she can hear him rummaging about within. She pauses outside, feeling a bit self-conscious, then calls out, "Kohana? May we speak?"

He lifts the flap of his teepee and steps out. "Yes?"

She smiles upon seeing him. "I was wondering if you wanted to join us for the midday meal today?"

"I would, yes. Is it ready?" he asks, as he brushes himself off a bit.

She nods. "What were you doing in there?" she asks curiously.

"Looking to see what skins I have left," he says, somewhat sheepishly.

She giggles. "That can wait. We have all summer to get more. Come join us." She holds out her hand.

He takes it and follows her willingly back to her fire, where he nods a respectful greeting to her father and brother. Takoda looks purposefully innocent and her father has been tying heads to arrows. Ehawee gives Takoda a suspicious look, then invites Kohana to sit and begins serving up the meal.

It is a rather quiet meal. Kohana compliments Ehawee on her cooking. Takoda gives her many teasing looks when Kohana isn't looking. Ehawee glows when Kohana compliments her, and shoots Takoda a few quelling looks when Kohana isn't looking. Her poor father follows her lead from earlier and ignores all of it. He nods to Kohana when he finishes his food, and is quickly out of there. Takoda, on the other hand, seems to be taking his time, much to Ehawee's annoyance. Eventually Ehawee smiles at Kohana and says, "You were right about how fast my pony is. She's even faster than Takoda's."

As Ehawee figured, berating Takoda in front of another man is a sure way to get rid of him. He gets to his feet slowly and stretches. "It is a very good horse, and so was the food," he says to Ehawee with a smile. He walks off and leaves the two of them alone.

Now that she's alone with Kohana, Ehawee feels terribly shy again. She busies herself with cleaning up, although she keeps stealing glances at him when she thinks he won't notice. He ate an awful lot, so he's leaned back to let it digest for awhile. His eyes are half closed, and he's pretending to sleep, but she can tell that he's really watching her. She colors a bit when she realizes that, but she's rather pleased as well. She finishes cleaning up, then looks back over at him again. "I know you aren't sleeping, Kohana," she says softly.

He smiles. "Do you mind me watching you? I can stop."

"No. I don't mind. It's kind of nice, actually. No one's ever done that before," she admits.

He stops trying to hide it. "Did you want to see your new home?" he asks.

"I would love to," she says, curiosity over coming her shyness.

He gets to his feet and takes her hand, leading her back to his teepee. He opens the flap for her and she steps inside, her stomach fluttering nervously as she gets her first look at where she will be living soon. The fire has been banked and everything has been neatly tidied. There is a pile of furs in one corner, and a great bear pelt covers the bed. Ehawee recalls that Kohana killed the bear two seasons ago, by himself, and looks impressed. "I knew you had killed a bear, but I hadn't realized how big it was," she admits. "You were very brave that day."

Kohana smiles. "You can rearrange things the way you want them, of course," he says. He's still standing at the entrance, holding the flap aside so she can see.

Ehawee continues to look around inside, comparing the layout to her father's teepee. Although she's careful not to touch anything, since in her mind it will not be her teepee until they are actually married, she does examine the furs closely enough to determine that Maka didn't leave Kohana many, and certainly not the best ones.

"Is it okay?" Kohana asks.

Ehawee nods and smiles reassuringly at him. "It will make a good home."

"Good. I will go buffalo hunting in a week or so. A fine bull skin should cover what I'm lacking for you, I think."

"Have you spoken to the Council yet? About our marriage?"

"Not yet. Now that I know the teepee is all right, I will," he says with a smile.

Ehawee chuckles. "You have been living with Maka for too long if you thought that I would not marry you based solely on your teepee."

He grins. "I have to give you enough time to change your mind. It's only fair."

She rejoins him at the entrance to the teepee. "Well, you'll have to do more than this if you really want to dissuade me."

"Good. I will go speak to the chief and council now. Wish me luck."

She impulsively gives him a kiss, being careful to avoid his cuts, and says, "Luck." Then she hurries off, afraid that she might have been too forward.

"Deadwood"
Ehawee's Page | Ehawee's Story

All text on this page is © 2000 by Kris Fazzari.

Last modified on December 14, 2000 by Kris Fazzari.