Free Song Of The Warrior by Georgina Gentry Page A

of those very men pleasure themselves with our women.”
    â€œThat’s terrible! I’ll tell the officers at the fort.”
    â€œWhere do you think the whiskey and money for our pretty women comes from?”
    â€œYou must be mistaken!” Willow said.
    â€œAm I?”
    â€œWhy must you always answer a question with a question?”
    He shrugged. “I tire of this, Green Eyes. Let me warn you to be wary of the young coyote who rides in your buggy.”
    She had to exert a great deal of self-control not to slap him. “That’s insulting! Lieutenant Warton is a perfect gentleman.”
    â€œMaybe around white girls; I’m not even sure of that. Consider yourself warned.” He turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Willow staring after his broad, buckskin-clad back. She started to yell after him, but she had a feeling he would not answer the angry shriek of a mere woman. This one had simiakia, all right; that swaggering pride of manhood that said he was all male and knew it.
    Raven came from another direction and joined her. “What has happened with Bear? He just brushed past me, looking as angry as I’ve ever seen him.”
    She didn’t want to discuss Bear. His adoring younger brother would only rush to his defense. “He was merely proving to me that indeed he was named for his disposition,” she said wryly.
    â€œWillow, I think you should know …”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNothing.” He fell in step with her as they walked toward the tree. “It is not fitting that I discuss him with you.”
    â€œThat certainly suits me fine,” Willow snapped, “he was quite rude to Lieutenant Warton.”
    â€œYou brought the young officer with you?” When she glanced over, Raven looked disappointed. “Are you afraid of your own people?”
    â€œNo, of course not. The officer was being gallant and it was difficult to refuse.”
    â€œThe lieutenant sees us all as a bunch of dirty savages.”
    Willow didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure what to say, because she sensed that it might be true. “Raven, I’m glad there is at least one member of your family who is eager to learn and doesn’t wish I would go away.”
    Raven chuckled, but his tone was sad. “That is exactly what Bear says you will do, so I and the children should not count on you too much.”
    â€œBut I intend to stay!” Willow protested.
    Raven shook his head. “I would like to believe that, but Bear says you will find us too primitive, too savage, and leave.”
    It dawned on her then that Bear was trying to run her off. Why, she couldn’t imagine. She could be as stubborn as he was, she thought. She would prove to him that she was no delicate, fainting white girl. She was Nez Perce herself and she was committed to helping her people, even if she had to fight hostile males like Bear to do it.
    They settled down under the tree and for the next hour, she showed the eager children how to write letters with sticks in the dirt. “Sometime, we will learn to read.”
    â€œWe have nothing to read,” Atsi said matter-of-factly.
    Willow remembered last night. “I have asked the Indian agent’s wife about some supplies; maybe we’ll get storybooks and then you can read them yourselves.”
    Cub had lain his dark little head in Willow’s lap and drifted off to sleep. She patted him automatically and reached for her favorite novel.
    One of the other children said, “Is that a real book?”
    Willow nodded, held the book up. “I will pass it around so you can see what the letters look like. When they are put together, they spell words that say things.”
    â€œSpirit magic,” Atsi whispered and reached to touch the novel. She handed it to Raven who stared at the cover.
    â€œI have never before touched a book,” he said, “it is indeed magic. Is it your wyakin , your special