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THIRTY-ONE
When Blue Moon was over a year old, Melissa
realized she was again with child.
“This time, my husband, I promise you a
son,” she said after telling him the happy news.
He beamed with pride. “I would love him no
more than my beautiful daughter, with her light brown curls and her
big dark eyes.”
She blinked back tears. Every day she grew
to love him more though she didn’t think it was possible. They
still made love passionately; the thrill continued to amaze her,
for the fire in her veins never cooled. He was a magnificent
warrior who sparked her nerves endings every time he was near.
“I’m so happy my husband. I have been
greatly blessed.” She snuggled closer, feeling his manhood swell.
It thrilled her to know she still pleased him. “Blue Thunder,” she
purred as she ran her hand up his hard chest, circling his male
nipple, slowly making him quiver beneath her touch. She giggled,
knowing she was being a tease. “I hope Star Gazer and Weeping Bird
will find as much happiness as us. It took them along time to know
the love they had for each other. I knew she loved him when she
helped carry him back from the attack by that bear.”
Her hands were all over her husband and she
couldn’t get enough of him. Her innards glowed with love and she
mashed her lips together wickedly, rubbing her hot thigh against
his
muscular leg. He always made her feel so
wanton that she abandoned all modesty with him. Melissa placed her
head on his broad chest, hearing his heart beat wildly. She
continued to play as she spoke, knowing he would soon turn the
tables on her.
“Weeping Bird came every day to see how he
was when he was injured. I saw the maiden’s eyes red and swollen
from crying over him. They will be perfect for one another.”
Melissa circled his hard nipple with her wet tongue causing Blue
Thunder to groan. Any minute, she thought, anticipating his love
making.
“I am glad my brother no longer needs the
cane and only walks with a slight limp. His leg
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is badly scarred and he feels pain when the
weather is cold and damp, but Star Gazer can still ride and shoot
his arrow as well as any brave.”
She boldly stroked him lower. Her heart beat
rapidly when he gasped in pleasure to her touch. Blue Thunder
gently removed her hand saying he didn’t want to lose his seed
prematurely. “Vixen,” he hissed and lavishly returned the
attention, to tease her in the same manner. He found her lips and
their breaths merged as his tongue was instantly inside her mouth.
He left her lips and began to caress her hot flesh with feathery
kisses and he wooed her with Indian words.
His tender kisses sent ripple of flames
pulsating upwards from the molten depths of her belly. Her fingers
roamed his back as she savored the feel of his powerful muscles.
His manly scent teased her nostrils and she wanted to experience
every inch of him, delighting in his cries of pleasure. When he
collapsed, she climaxed with him, their bodies one, wet with
passion.
The following month they moved to the
highlands so that they could keep warm by the rays of the sun. When
summer returned they would set camp near the water among stunted
trees which sheltered them from its scorching glare. She was told
by her husband that in winter they would huddled together for
warmth and if the hut was large, a fire was built in the center.
She was looking forward to that, though at the moment she was
sad.
Melissa stood and watched her hut burn,
depressed over the memories she had shared there with her family
and loved ones. It was the second time a home she loved was taken
away from her but Blue Thunder promised they’d share new memories
in their new home. As she and her family traveled the tribe
subsisted on berries, nuts and the fruit of various trees, mesquite
beans, and acorns, of which she and the clan were particularly fond
of.
In the months she lived with the White
Mountain Apaches, she discovered that they relished the fruit of
cacti and of the yucca. Fish they wouldn’t eat nor pork but horses
and unborn calf and the entrails of animals they regarded as
delicacies. Mule flesh was considered the best meat. She had drawn
the line when it came to eating mule and entrails, though she did
eat the shellfish which was their most hospitable food. They were
scrupulous in keeping accounts and paying debts.
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Melissa was weary after their traveling. She
had lost some weight unable to keep down her morning meal in her
second month of pregnancy. When the Apaches decided on an area they
believed was hidden and safe enough, her husband told her to rest
while he built their new wickiup. Blue Moon sat on her lap and she
told her daughter stories and nursery rhymes she remembered from
her childhood.
“Mama, tell me the one about the lion, Leo
and the rattlesnake Paco again.”
Melissa patted the rock for her daughter to
sit beside her. “Well, once upon a time there was a lion cub, named
Leonardo. When he was only two weeks old, he grew tired of playing
with his sister so he wet out to seek adventure.”
“He was naughty, huh? To wander away from
his mother,” intoned her daughter.
“Yes. He wandered around until he heard a
hissing sound from behind a tree. Not knowing what it was he
sniffed the air and then he foolishly swatted at the sound.”
Blue Moon giggled, “Silly cub.”
“Yes, he was but he was also foolish because
he gave the strange thing a shake, not knowing the rattle sound was
attached to a snake. This annoyed he snake named Paco and he jumped
out and the lion was so frightened he played possum. But Paco was
too smart to be foiled and he said with a hiss, get up you silly
lion. I’ll not bite you for no one had ever played with my tail
before.”
“And they became friend, right mama?”
“Yes and they played until dark but then
Leonardo lost his way and began to cry. So the snake took him home
to his cave. The two strange friends slept there and in the morning
Paco said he would help the lion find his mother.”
“Poor Leo,” shuddered her daughter.
“Um, yes. So they went out to find the
lion’s home. They came upon a giraffe eating the green leaves high
up in a tree. Paco stretched his body as long as it could go and
yelled up, do you have any idea where Leonardo’s family is? Some
place where zebras and antelope run, by a
big old tree that keeps
away the sun. Oh, gasped the giraffe, if you don’t bite me, I’ll
look and look as far as my eyes can see. But the giraffe’s neck
grew tired so they went along. It was getting late and the lion
said that he was so hungry he could eat a
buffalo.”
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“Yummy!” declared Blue Moon.
“Yes, yummy. But snakes do not eat buffalo
and he ran off saying that he would return with food. Many minutes
later he came back with his treat and dropped a small mouse at the
lion’s feet.”
“Ugh!”
“Yes, I agree. Leonardo frowned and said the
same thing. Ugh, I’m a lion not a house cat! Aren’t we a fuss pot,
Paco hissed but later they came upon a lake and the lion said that
he didn’t know how to swim. The snake said it was easy, just paddle
you legs, and watch me.” Blue Moon giggled again. She loved the
innocent sound of her daughter‘s laughter. It was sweet as
honey-comb and sounded like a bubbling brook.
“Snakes do not have legs, that silly reptile
was teasing the lion.”
Melissa hugged her daughter. “Yes, he was.
But then Leonardo heard rustling in the bushes and he took chase
after a rabbit. But his meal was fast and he took a spill and he
rolled down the hill. He landed in clover and something under him
grumbled, get off me! He was astonished to find it was his sister.
She yelled where have you been mother is worried sick? Then the
snakes called, where are you, Leo? This is no time to play silly
games; I had a terrible time holding this fish by its fin. When his
sister saw the snake she screamed and his mother came to see what
all the commotion was about. When mama lion saw her son she gave
him a nasty blow
to his ears. Ouch, he cried and he
apologized and in time he learned to swim. And Paco would growl
instead of hiss.”
“Thank you mama, I am going to be with her
father to watch him build our new home.” Felling lethargic, Melissa
watched Blue Moon waddle towards Blue Thunder and she closed her
eyes. She had no idea how long she napped, but she was roughly
awaken by her husband’s prodding hand. “Where is daughter?”
The seriousness of his question didn’t
register immediately. She yawed, “What?”
“Where is Blue Moon?”
The angry reply hardened his features with
impatience and his tone aroused and somewhat irked her. She woke
instantly. Licks Too Much was also dozing by her feet, jumped up a
growled. Confused, she rubbed her eyes and looked around. “She’s
with you. Isn’t she?” she
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exclaimed in annoyance as she jumped to her
feet. Seeing the look of fear and panic on his features, she became
increasingly fearful and screamed, “Blue Moon!” The other Indians
stopped what they were doing and gathered around. One could see the
tension in the camp when her husband cried, “Has anyone seen our
daughter?!”
Murmurs and a lot of negative shaking heads
went around the camp but no one recalled seeing the child wander
off. Melissa clutched her stomach. “Oh, dear Lord. Where could she
have gone?” Blue Thunder held her fearing she’d faint and her
husband was correct on his assumption. “I’ll never forgive myself
if anything happened to her.” Anxiety spurted through her.
Just then they all heard giggling.
“Here, puppy, puppy; here puppy!”
Bubbling joy reached all ears. From a
distance she and her husband could see the child running after a
small dog. Rather a wolf. It scampered and barked running back and
forth making Blue Moon laugh with glee. Blue Thunder rushed to
their daughter with her right behind him. Her mate stopped in his
tracks and she collided into his back. Licks Too Much was by their
side and began to growl low in his throat, then his pet bared his
teeth, growling fiercely at the larger wolf that instantly appeared
on a ridge. Mother wolf was doing her share of growling also,
exposing its sharp fangs and drooling as she stood on a bolder
above the innocent child.
Blue Thunder anticipated her scream and
muffled it, whispering into her ear to be silent. “Hush, do not
make a move.” The touch of fear in his voice was not lost to
Melissa and she clenched her hands until her ragged nails entered
her palms. He also ordered his dog to stay, whispering to her that
he did not wish to have the wolves tangle close to his daughter.
Melissa gasped, panting in terror and she trembled as hot tears ran
over his palm. She heard her husband groan deep in his throat and
he was as frightened as she.
The she-wolf was eyeing her cub and the
child who was now pulling its tail. Slowly, Blue Thunder released
his hand as he continued ordering her to remain still and Licks Too
Much to heel. She watched him creep with ease, and she new her
husband could keep his hand from quivering, for he had told her
when in danger, he would rule his heart to beat steadily and
slowly. He quickly pulled his knife out of it sheath. Then
everything happened at one.
The she-wolf leaped.
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Melissa screamed.
Blue Moon noticed her parents and began
running towards them as Licks Too Much
began barking up a storm. The dog did not
know whether to help or obey his master. She prayed the canine
would not interfere as her husband’s silver knife found its target,
hitting the jugular vein of the mother wolf. The animal howled and
catapulted with a jerk in the air. Blood spewed over their child,
but the wolf was dead before it hit the ground.
Blue Thunder wasted no time in running to
their daughter. He gathered the frighten child in his arms
reassuring her that she was safe. But she squirmed and cried that
she wanted her puppy. Melissa didn’t think her weak legs would
carry her. Relived but angry for what her daughter put her through
that she forgot the Apache rule that children have freedom and
weren’t required to obey and were never punished. She hugged the
child but began to reprimand her, “Never frighten me like that
again!”
Blue Moon looked at her, and then began to
whimper. “Are you going to box my ears?”
Her husband took their frightened child and
placed her on the ground crouching to her level. Licks Too Much
came over and his head was scratched by Blue Thunder. I am pleased
with pet; you did the right thing,” he praised the dog. Then Licks
Too much went over to the wolf and sniffed to make sure it was
dead.
“What your mother is trying to say,” Blue
Thunder tweaked Blue Moon’s small nose, “was that you had us
worried. Next time tell us that you want to take a walk. Daughter
is smart enough to know it is dangerous for you to go away from the
security of the camp.”
Melissa knew that praise was more in order
than a stern lecture at this time. Later she would have a more
serious discussion with the little one.
“Yes. I was bad like Leonardo.” Her daughter
smiled in a way that she knew she had
been naughty, but it was a smile that said,
I am sorry,” and she quickly added, “Can I keep pup?”
Her husband had to grin. Of course he did,
but their daughter had no idea of the danger she put herself in and
it was probably best that the child didn’t know. He kissed Blue
Moon’s cheek.
“It looks as if he likes you and since he no
longer has a mother to care for him,” he looked up at her and she
nodded teary-eyed. He yanked his daughter’s braid. “You may keep
the
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pup.” The baby wolf came over and licked the
child’s hand sniffing his mother’s blood. Blue Thunder picked their
daughter up. “Come, you need bath.”