Free Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis Page B

glanced atthe items Sister Adele held—a small slate and chalk. “English lessons?”
    “Yes. Isn’t she progressing marvelously?”
    “Yes, and your English is very good too.”
    “Thank you.” Sister Adele’s cheeks pinked. “Sister Natalie insists we speak English only with our guest.”
    “Is that difficult for you?”
    She shrugged. “I grew up in New Orleans, speaking French at home, but I learned English in school and from some friends. When I entered the convent, I continued to study English. My superiors felt it was important for our missions.”
    “Will you be teaching in the school here?”
    “I hope so. Teaching Taabe is a fulfillment of my dreams. I never thought I’d have a pupil with a background like hers—or one so apt.” She held out the slate, which held several small drawings. “We are using this to learn new vocabulary.”
    “Horse,” Ned said.
    “Horse,” Taabe repeated.
    He chuckled. “Very good.” He pointed to a small drawing of a bird and looked at her.
    “Bird.”
    “Yes.” He pointed to her. “Waipu. Woman.”
    Taabe eyed him with raised eyebrows. “Yes. Woman.”
    Ned pointed to himself and offered one of the last Comanche words he’d learned. “Tenahpu. Man.”
    Taabe reached out and touched the front of his leather vest. “Yes. Ned Bright. Man.”
    Sister Adele laughed. “In no time she’ll be communicating fluently.”
    “I think you’re right,” Ned said. “Taabe, soon I hope to bring another man here. A man who speaks your language.” Taabe frowned, watching his lips.
    Ned puzzled over how to get his meaning across. Hepointed at her and then at Sister Adele. “Woman. Woman.” He touched his chest. “Man.” Taabe nodded.
    Ned gestured as though someone else stood near him. “Man. Another man.” Slowly she nodded.
    Ned touched his mouth. “Talk. Man talk … to you.” He pointed to her.
    Taabe turned an uncomprehending frown on Sister Adele.
    Sister Adele touched her arm. “Ned Bright will go.” She made walking motions with her fingers. “He will come back.” She demonstrated, and Taabe nodded. “Another man will come with him.” She handed Ned the slate and made two sets of walking legs from her fingers. “He will talk.” She moved her lips and at the same time moved her hand, close to her mouth, opening and closing the fingers to signify talking. “To you.” She pointed to Taabe.
    Taabe nodded, but she still seemed unsure.
    “When will you do this?” Sister Adele asked Ned.
    “I’m not sure. The next time I take the stagecoach to the fort—which will be Friday—I hope to find someone who can translate for us.”
    “You’re not with the stagecoach today?”
    “No. I came with my partner, Patrillo Garza. He brought his daughter to meet Sister Natalie. He hopes she can come here as a pupil.”
    Sister Adele’s eyes lit. “I would like to meet her.”
    “I’m sure she’d like to meet you,” Ned said. “Especially if you are to be one of her teachers. Of course …” He glanced at Taabe. “She’s especially eager to meet Taabe. Do you think that’s possible?”
    “I think it’s a wonderful idea.” She turned to Taabe and made a fluttering motion near her cheeks, like flowing hair. “Woman.”
    Taabe nodded.
    Sister Adele held her hand palm down, about waist level. “Girl.”
    “Girr.”
    “Girl.”
    Sister Adele seized the slate and drew a hasty portrayal of a stick woman wearing a long, triangular skirt. “Woman.” Taabe nodded. Beside the woman, Sister Adele drew a smaller figure like it. “Girl.”
    “Girl.”
    “Yes. Come, let’s go and meet a girl.” Sister Adele took Taabe’s arm and led her out through the gate.
    Ned followed at a leisurely pace and closed the gate. When he reached the front of the house, the door was open, so he went into the cool hallway. In the sitting room to the side, Quinta was chattering eagerly. He stepped into the room and saw that Taabe was the object of the girl’s