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"Some, some do not care to learn. But most know a little about some things. To live out in the open like we do, one must know things to survive. Husbands and fathers teach them what is important. It is up to them to learn more."
He got his bow and arrow and showed her how to use it. It wasn't heavy but pulling back on the arrow was not an easy task at first. He stepped behind her, putting his arms around her and helped her pull it back. She looked around and his face was very close. She blushed and turned back. She had to practice. It took muscle.
"You just pull back?"
"That's the idea. Aim for the middle of the tree." He encouraged standing just behind her.
She reared back and fired but she went too high.
When she turned around proudly he was way to close and something stirred inside her. Something she didn't begin to understand. It was like a butterfly in her stomach, she reasoned.
He showed her how to judge her aim, by following the line of the arrow. She shot it again and did much better.
"Once you get used to the weight of the bow and the tension in it, you will do better. You should practice often until you can at least hit your target. You may use my bow and arrow for practice."
He let her try several times and each time she got a bit better.
Then he took a pistol out of his saddle bag and showed her how to load it, cock it and aim it. She watched carefully and shot the end of a branch off.
They practiced for a while and she became a little better each time. "Have you handled a pistol before?"
"Not to shoot it, no. I've sold many in the store."
He taught her to hunt for berries, to pick mushrooms and not toad stools. He taught her what wild onions looked like and how to find herbs to cook with. He taught her what part of plants were edible and how to prepare them.
It was a day full of surprises and learning.
At the end of the day he nodded with satisfaction. "You have done well. You learn fast."
"I want to learn these things. I have had no teacher all my life, that is what kept me from escaping the most, not knowing what to do when I left." She told him. "White women are not taught much. They rely on the husband for everything."
"It is good for you to learn." He agreed. "There are things my people can teach you too, like beadwork, tanning, how to build a tipi, and take it down to travel. How to splint a leg, make a travois. Many things you will learn while you are here."
She glanced at him, "You sound as though you have decided I will not stay."
His smile faded once more.
"I make no assumption, but either way you will make a fine wife for someone." He stared at her. "Perhaps you will fall in love with an Indian in our tribe."
"I am already someone's wife, Lone Wolf." She explained. "I cannot marry another."
"You choose to stay married to him even though you have no feelings for him?"
"I cannot change what already is. It's not choosing, it's law."
"He will not live long… " Lone Wolf said quietly.
Her heard whirled and she stared at him, "You are going to kill him?"
"No, not me. But he is an evil man, and someone will kill him. Eventually."
The thought shocked her. Not that she loved Liam, but that someone would hate him enough to kill him. Although she knew it was possible. Many customers had left dissatisfied with the bargains they struck with Liam. Still, did anyone hate him enough to kill him? She wondered.
"Have you taught many Indian maidens these things?"
"No, I have not. An Indian woman grows up learning them slowly from her mother and her father, and sometimes her brothers. By the time she reaches your age, she has a well-rounded education in survival." He told her. "Most Indian maidens marry young and learn to be good wives and mothers."
"White women are not taught how to defend themselves."
