Page 64 of Red Hawk's Woman

At first she didn’t see it, so caught up was she in admiring the delightful scene unfolding before her. The smooth-standing water, which was laid out over the prairie like a gigantic mirror, magnified the sky overhead. It was as though she gazed onto a dark, star-laden canvas, and the stars twinkled not only above them, but below them, as well. Thus, it took a while before she noted the pony, which had stopped by the water’s edge to drink.

“He is wild,” Red Hawk said in a low voice, pointing to the animal. “There are no marks on him to show his master, so I do not believe there is someone close by who owns him. And he is young. Probably he has feuded with the leader of his herd and has been cast out as a result. He will have to fend for himself, get his own mares and create his own herd.”

“Is he all on his own, then?”

“Perhaps.”

“Isn’t that dangerous at this time of night?”

Red Hawk looked at her and smiled. “You sound like a mother, but you are right. He should not be alone, and there are most likely a few other young males with him, as they tend to herd together when they are this young.”

What a magical moment it was, for such was the peace and tranquility of this place that she found a part of herself reaching out into the environment. Was man really meant to live in cities? Apart from the earth? And was it really necessary to tame the wilderness, as well as the individuals who lived in it? Especially when it seemed perfect just as it was?

How long they sat as such, taking in the perfect harmony of the land, the sky, the water, she would never be able to estimate, nor did it cross her mind to do so.

At last, the young stud must have drank his fill, for he lifted his head, turned around and calmly trotted back the way he had come. Within moments, he was followed by a few more ponies.

She whispered, “I hadn’t seen those two.”

“Aa, it is to be expected. ’Tis difficult sometimes for the eyes to see so far away, at least in this light. Come, let us drink as well.”

She held him back when he would have moved forward. “Won’t we run the risk of washing off this mud? After all, didn’t you say it was our cover?”

“It is so, but there is the same sort of mud here which I used to paint our bodies. We can repaint ourselves, if we must.”

“Very well.” She followed him as they crept toward the stream.

The water was not deep, at least here at its shoreline.

Coming down onto their bellies, they reached out around the grasses to drink of the cool, liquid refreshment.

“Oh, it’s cold,” she said, as soon as her hands cupped the water.

“It is fed by mountain streams, so yes, it will be cold.”

“Oh.” She glanced toward him. It was then she realized he was not more than a hand’s breadth away from her. Not far at all. A rather easy target, actually.

All at once, a naughty urge took hold of her. No, she shouldn’t do it. She mustn’t, for she felt in all likelihood he might retaliate in kind.

The urge proved to be more than she could resist, however. Cupping her hands full of water, she splashed him, face first, and he jerked back.

She giggled. Indeed, he looked so odd with mud running down his face it was all she could do to keep from laughing outright.

Of course, as she had predicted, he gave her back as good as she gave, making it her turn to show a clownish face to him. Still she giggled.

And he did laugh outright.

“Shhh,” she said. “We don’t want the enemy to find us.”

“If there are enemies about, they will surely have found us out by now.”

“Then you think it is safe?”

“As safe as can be expected when in enemy territory.” He grabbed hold of her, and pulling her into his arms, with her full form against his, he rolled them both over and over until they fell with a splash into the water. He let go of her, and they both came up laughing. Getting up to their knees, they faced each other, and he took her hand in his. Looking up at her mischievously, he asked, “Have you ever stripped off all your clothes and swam naked in the water?”

Her mouth fell open. “Why, I…I…”

He didn’t wait to hear more. Taking full advantage of her while she was still gaping at him, he kissed her quite soundly.