Authors: Mercedes Keyes
From within her home, Hope sat with her legs crossed nibbling
on her finger nails with her heart pounding, praying the bees did not
enter, when suddenly, the cover was snatched aside. She let out a yelp
to see her husband shooting daggers down at her as he entered.
"I - I needed, some ... honey... dear."
As many returned to their homes to deal with their stings,
Cobenche, the only one who did not panic and run, sat rocking and slapping his thigh laughing again until tears
coursed down his cheeks. With so many moving targets for the bees
to strike, there was no need for him to run, so he sat perfectly still and
watched all those around him run, so it would seem, for their lives.
The next day, Red Crow could hardly walk through the village
without receiving angry glares from some. Many were covered in
salves to ease the pain and swellings from the bee stings. Others, who’d escaped the attack, could only laugh at those who had not.
Seven blissful days without mishap had passed with Hope back in
her husband's good graces. They both agreed that perhaps she should
stay in the company of his mother or remain within their dwelling and
leave Rain-dance to her own devices. Consequently, it was following those days of
peace that she was able to talk Red Crow into allowing her free reign
to venture out into the village again. The moment the villagers
became aware of her presence, all became alert, with murmurs of
warning to beware, she was free and roaming about and God only knew what was in store for them next.
Squaring her shoulders, nose in the air as regal and un-phased as
any princess, Hope carried on to her destination ignoring them all.
The day was incredible; though the season was changing it was still
warm and bright. With a smile and not a care in the world, she carried
her pails for water and decided that she would bathe at the stream,
swim a bit then return home and her husband would see, she
could very well conduct a day without worry from him.
"Summer, look at your face. How could he do this to you? Why do
you let him? It is worse than the last time. Doesn't it bother you to be
treated this way?" Hope asked, sympathizing with the second wife of
Gabriel Horne.
There was no way she could refrain from
speaking out against him while viewing his wife's face. Before all she
must carry on with another black eye that colored the white of one
eye in red this time. Her jaw was in multiple shades of blue, purple, red,
yellow and green in some areas, her ear ripped where once it had been pierced and her lip split in two places.
"Do not worry over me Gold Raven, I will be fine, as always — all
will soon heal." She returned in her quiet, gentle way.
"Yes it will, and soon as it does, more will be done to replace
what has healed. No woman should have to endure what you do, who
does he think he is!?"
"He is my husband. There is nothing I can do about it." She
imparted, in a matter of fact way.
"There is one thing you can do, divorce him! Leave him!" Hope shot.
Summer sucked in stunned to hear some one state the solution so
boldly. Shaking her head she responded, "I could not do such a thing. It would bring him great dishonor and shame."
"What he does to you does not dishonor you!?" Hope cried
incredulously.
"But how would I care for myself?" She questioned.
"The same as a man takes care of himself. When one is without
a wife, does he not hunt for his own food and then cook it? Does he not build his own dwelling and live in it? You are just as capable as
any man!" Others began drawing near to hear the things she was
saying.
"I cannot hunt."
"You can learn — I will teach you."
"A woman is vulnerable when not protected by a man."
"You call what he does protecting you!?"
She stared at Hope silently. Hope continued.
"I believe that if you were to call out for help and protection, you
would get it. As well you would have to learn to fight and protect
yourself, I am certain you will do a better job of it than he is at
protecting you."
"I don't know Gold Raven, I don't think he would allow me to
divorce him," She said softly, obviously afraid.
"Well I hadn't thought that you would ask him! No doubt if you
did so, he would strike you again!" She announced.
"Gold Raven, what you say is easy, because it is not you. What if Red Crow were to do such things to you, then what?" Leighteo,
Gabriel Horne's first wife inquired, including herself into the
discussion. "What would you do?"
"Red Crow would never do such a thing to me." Hope returned
sure.
"What if he did? What if he hit you, as Gabriel Horne hits us.
What would you do about it? Nothing, you would simply bow your head as we must and petition the gods that he leaves you alone.
"
"I most cert
ainly would not! First of all, no man who is in love
with you would hit you. I know, because my brother has told me
so. Men hit, because they know that they can ... because they are in a
position to take advantage of a woman who has said by her actions, here I am ... do with me what you will" More gathered to hear.
"I'm telling you now, you must show him, I will not take it! Men will take hold of you, possessively seize your life and they will squeeze and use you until there is nothing of you left. Your everyday, your every
hour will be used on them; and for what, for this!" Hope pointed
at Summer, while her words stirred her own anger, they had little effect on the reluctant and afraid woman before her.
"I'm telling you – you
must
defend yourselves! You must show
him that you are every bit as good and important as he is! You must
refuse to let him punch you and push you around! My brother
made sure that I would never fall into such a position! I tell you — I
would not take it! You cook his meals! Clean his dwelling! Make,
mend and clean his clothing! Why? I don't see any one here wearing
their husbands clothing! So why should you have to clean them?! I
will tell you why! Because all of our lives we have been told that this is
what a woman should do if she loves her husband. Well fine,
I will cook his meals! I will clean his dwelling! I will wash his clothing!
I will bear his children, but god damn it! He will love me and be
grateful for all those things! Or else, he can go straight to hell!!"
Cheering sounded out from many, along with nods of agreement, most unified with her words, each
fired up, reflecting on their own circumstances.
"With all of these things that you do... who is the one to be
proud of it all! Why the man! And why the hell is he so proud? He
hasn't done a damn thing! But give his name and strut about to say,
"See there, my woman! Look what she does for me!" Yeah — he is proud
all right... but look at you!" She stopped to let her words sink in and the heat from them rise.
"If you stop the cooking, stop the cleaning and prostrating
yourselves before him-..."
The women all collectively
gasped, shocked by her words.
"Yes I said it, and it is true... these
things we do to bring them pleasure, to make them feel pride and honor, yet... why are we not worthy of honor? Why? Can someone
give me one reason why not?"
Murmurs sounded out, but no one could respond... nor did they
wish to.
"So we are to love, honor them, obey them, remain loyal to them,
and yet... receive nothing for ourselves in return? No, that is not
right.”
“
For all of that, the most we can expect to receive is their
disdain, their ridicule, their wrath, their displeasure... this... is our
reward? Making you bow your head in shame, as if you've done something that says you are worthless and worthy of nothing more than that. No, not I! Not ever!"
Hope finished impassioned, breathing hard as she watched the
twenty some odd women mutter from being wound up.
"But still, Gold Raven, if it were Red Crow what would you do? If that is, he was one to strike you?"
"Why, why I'd strike him back! And though he might
come up as the victor in the battle — he would not walk away without
battle scars! If you should bear the shame of his treatment for all to
see... then so should he! Yes, if it was me and Red Crow dare
strike me, I would fight back." She declared hotly.
All sucked in with their minds reeling at the thought.
"Fortunately, I don't have that problem."
"I'm telling you Red Crow. That woman of yours is much too
high spirited! If you do not put a strong hand to her, she will have
people laughing at you at every turn,
you
, our chief and leader. Why,
before long, they will seek her out before coming to you. It is
apparent to all, that she is more able to handle you, than you her.
Listen to what I say, a woman will squeeze you, and press upon you
until you cannot breath. I am older and wiser, you are young and she
is your first wife, so it is understandable. Mark my words, or you
will regret it. Occasionally, a woman such as she, needs a sound slap
across the face, or they will surely forget who is the man in your dwelling. Heed my warning,
do as I say, right away, nip this problem while it is still small."
Gabriel Horne advised with the nodding agreement of a few other
men who worked along with them in constructing a home.
"No, Gold Raven knows her place. She knows me well enough
to know that I say what I mean. Like this morning, I allowed her out to wash and bathe at the stream. She also knows to be back at our
dwelling by midday with a waiting meal, fit - for a chief."
"Hmm, if you say so; speaking of which, it is that time now. I will
join you on your way to your dwelling." Gabriel Horne invited
himself as he stepped through the framework structure, they took a
break from building.
As for Red Crow’s sure boast of his position with his wife, upon reaching their dwelling, he discovered that she was nowhere to be seen,
nor was there a hot meal waiting.
When he came
back out, he looked around to see where she might be, but there was
no sight of her and there stood Gabriel Horne, with a look of,
‘I
told
you so,'
on his face.
"Come Red Crow, perhaps she is searching for "honey" for a
special meal for you." He chuckled, adding, "Come, at my
dwelling a hot meal is always ready, no need for you to wait for her return."
Red Crow felt his face burn with shame, never had he been so
embarrassed, thinking
‘
Where are you? And why are you not where
you promised me you'd be?'
The thought raced through his mind as Gabriel Horne
entered his dwelling, to find it empty and no meal cooking either. The
same thing applied to several others who had returned to an empty tepee or home.
"What is going on here? I do not understand?!" Gabriel Horne
voiced angrily as he stood looking at the others who came out looking
for their wives. A group of small children ran past the men,
one being Gabriel Horne's son, he stopped him and asked.
"Where is your mother? Leighteo, and my other wives, Summer, Dana?"
"They are all at the stream, they seem angry. Gold Raven has told
them that all men are dogs and they should serve themselves until they
learn-..."
"Gold Raven... said that?" Red Crow asked as Gabriel Horne
looked up from his son to him. The young boy nodded and said
before he took off, "Yes...and much more. I don't think they will be
back soon."
Red Crow's nostrils flared with anger, this was the last straw.
'How
dare she disobey me! My word was firm... she has disgraced me for the last time!'
His mind blazed.
With his face burning, and his braves following, he stormed
toward the stream where the women had gathered, uncaring if any
were indecent or not. A line of men beside and behind him, one in
particular, Gabriel Horne; his presence alone made Red Crow
shamefaced beyond reason.
Hope and two of the other women were laughing at something
funny Leighteo was saying about Gabriel Home, openly making fun
of him and a habit of his that only his wives knew of. For the first
time ever, they were enjoying each other's company, all so distracted
they had no idea of the time that had flown by.
Each of them took turns, so caught up in what they discussed and the unfairness-taking place in their lives. It had not been their intention to
neglect their duties, but no one was in the mood to end
the gathering, so no one gave heed to the time.
Suddenly a loud gasp came from Summer's lips. All turned to see
what had alarmed her when they saw coming their way, a crowd of
angry men.