Dances Naked (21 page)

Rachel listened but didn’t comment. She knew there was more to the story. “My father insisted that I marry Sylvester. I didn’t want to, really I didn’t. I knew, sort of, what a man did to a woman after they were married. He told me not to worry about that even though I never brought up the subject. He wante
d to talk about it all the time—
he was obsessed with it. ‘You see,’ he said, ‘I wanted to make sure I knew how to pleasure my wife so I’ve been going to the whorehouses since I was yay high,’” Prudence quoted in a squeaky voice
,
and
then indicated a youthful height. “He said he knew all about,” she shook her head in disgust, “all the places he could put his prick to make me happy.” She shuddered in recollection. “Daddy didn’t believe me when I told him about the way he talked to me. He said that I had to do what my husband told me to, that I shouldn’t be so picky because I was so ugly
,
and that I should be happy that a nice gentleman like Sylvester was willing to make me his wife.”

Baby Brother started squirming in her arms as she attempted to finish her story. “Here,” Rachel said and took him from her. “It’s his bedtime,” then bared her breast to feed him.

She gave Rachel the baby, grateful for the break in her story. She didn’t like thinking about Sylvester or her father
,
but she needed to explain to this young woman why she didn’t want to go back. Maybe she could convince her husband to let her stay. But
,
whether she could or couldn’t,
Rachel could
probably ask him ‘not’
to
let her stay. Two arguing women in one house, or small tribe, would make life miserable for everyone.

“You have a beautiful son,” Prudence praised as Rachel settled herself, now ready to resume the conversation.

“He’s not my son,
he’s Number Two’s. Big Sister here is his daughter, too. Their mother died while he was out hunting. I’m feeding him until he’s old enough for big people food. That’s my husband and my son,” she said as she nodded to Red Shirt, playing his poke and tease reflex game with his charge. “We were just married a couple of days ago. He’s a good man. So, did Sylvester
hit you?” she asked sincerely—
she was starting to like Prudence. There had to be another reason why she wasn’t willing to marry the man.

“No, he just touched me where I didn’t want to be touched,” she answered. Rachel nodded that she knew how that felt but didn’t interrupt. “But his spots: I knew what they were. He had syphilis. I read about the symptoms in a book. I told him I thought that was why he had the bumps. He got mad, real mad. He said I’d better not tell my Daddy about it. Anyway, he said it was a lie. He said that some of the whores he’d been with had it
,
but that he couldn’t get it. He was
imbued or commune or something—
I forget the word. Anyway, it’s like if you had the measles once, you’d never get them again.”

Big Sister inhaled sharply then brought her knees up to her chest in fear. She didn’t understand much of what the women were talking about
,
but she did know the word measles. She pointed to Prudence and asked, “Measles?”

“Oh, no, no, no, sweetheart,” she said and gathered the frightened girl close, rocking her like the young child she was. “No measles, no diseases of any kind. I’m very
healthy. I just look funny and I’
m a bit old.”

“So you don’t have the pox,” Rachel asked Prudence. She shook her head and held Big Sister even closer. She had always wanted a daughter and now that she felt the young girl in her arms, her desire for one was even stronger. She looked up and smiled at Number Two, the girl’s father. He was nice to look at, strong
,
and
,
she sighed, he didn’t cringe when he looked at her.

Number Two watched the women as they talked together. He was glad that they let Big Sister stay with them. She had been very close to her mother and missed her terribly. Now there was at least one good woman in their tribe who she could learn from. Maybe two. He had seen the large mark on the new white woman’s face but that didn’t bother him. He had one on his belly and it didn’t make him different from any other man. She was nice to his daughter, had held her
as if
she was her own,
and smiled at his son, too. It would be good i
f she had milk to feed his son—
then he would take her for sure. But
,
she had let Rachel feed Baby Brother. He sighed. Even if she didn’t have milk, he’d like to keep her.

“I’m sorry,” Prudence apologized and looked away from the handsome brave back to her confidant. Rachel had been speaking to her and she wasn’t paying attention. “I didn’t hear you.”

“Would you keep him here with you tonight? You can sleep here and if he wakes
up,
just bring him to me and I’ll feed him. I want to sleep with my husband and son,” Rachel said, the unmistakable grin of anticipation of lovemaking showing across her whole, slightly twitching body.

“Sure, but if you think that Big Sister and I can handle both of them, you can leave your son here, too. I don’t know how it is to lie with a husband
,
but I think it might be nicer if you didn’t have a wee one right next to you.” Prudence didn’t have any personal experience
,
but Sylvester had gone on and on about what a husband and wife did when they were married. Some of it had to be true.

“Wow, thank you. That would be nice. I’ll just go feed Juni…” Rachel bit off the name. This was their new life. She would not use that name again. She’d have to remember to ask Marty not to use it either. “I’ll feed my son and bring him over here in a little bit,” she said then took her leave.

Number Two watched as his daughter tried to communicate with Prudence, the woman who did not like her name. He’d give her another one if she stayed.

Baby Brother had fallen asleep and now Big Sister was running her fingers through the white woman’s hair, getting ready to plait it like her own. There were very few words between them but they seemed to understand each other. And
,
like each other. There would never be anyone like his first wife
,
but he could have a new one. He co
uld make good memories with her
. And
,
make more children, too.

Rachel walked over to Prudence, her slumbering son in her arms. “Here, he fell asleep already,” she said
,
then lay him down gently on the little bed that Big Sister had prepared, hoping that he’d stay asleep. “I guess the potato he ate for dinner agreed with him. I’ll just be over there,” Rachel pointed to the private area near the food cache. “Thanks again. And these men are nicer than any white men I’ve ever met. Be good to them and they’ll be good to you. Oh, a
nd Marty and I aren’t prisoners.
W
e’re here because we choose to be.”

Big Sister settled the two boys together then curled around the pair, keeping them warm with her body heat, her back to the fire. It felt so good to have a full belly.
Pfrat!
But those potatoes gave her gas.

Prudence saw that the sleeping pallet Big Sister had set up for her was in between the cozy little baby boys’ nest and one other. She looked over coyly to see if her suspicions were correct. Number Two was still watching her. He appeared to be the only one who hadn’t claimed his spot. Maybe he was the sentinel tonight. Mar
ty wasn’t there yet but the bed
roll on the other side of the fire looked like a white man’s
,
not an Indian’s. Rachel and Red Shirt were
in their ‘suite’ near the food cache
, already making soft, happy noises. Yes, the bed next to hers was most likely Number Two’s. She glanced over in his direction again, this time feeling brave enough to smile at him. She rearranged her skirts and got ready to lie back. Her hands reached up and felt the two braids Big Sister had put in her hair
. A warm glow covered her body—
she was starting to feel like an Indian already.

Number Two made his decision. He came to his conclusion with the big head on his shoulders
,
but he had to admit, it was also influenced by the little head in his breechclout. He’d see if the woman would lie with him tonight. The near fight with Red Shirt earlier made it clear to him that having only one young woman between the two adult braves was dangerous. It was even worse because Rachel was so close to his son. He was grateful that she could give him her milk
,
but watching her feed his child stirred up feelings that he shouldn’t have for another man’s wife. He was grateful that Dances Naked had interceded in the misunderstanding even if it wasn’t his family involved. No, the white man was a part of their family now. He had been clever and generous in getting food for them. He would always be a member of his tribe, his family.

Number Two walked over to the fire and thrust the end of his pitch soaked stick into the flame, twisting it around to catch fire. He was sure the new woman was still watching him. He didn’t want her to go to sleep yet. He had something to show her. He stood back and waved the torch at the woman who did not like her name
,
to
show her
he wanted her to come away with him.

“Okay,” she said pensively then nodded to make sure he understood she’d come with him. Rachel had said these were good men; she’d have to trust her new friend’s judgment.

The quiet young father led her thirty feet away from the campfire then handed her the torch. “Thank you,” she said nervously, not knowing what to expect but wanting to say something.

The brave bent sideways and pulled out the knot in the leather thong holding up his breechclout. He held his clothing in place; he didn’t want to scare her by giving her the wrong impression. But
,
she wasn’t frightened, not much anyway. She looked into his face, trying to read his intentions. What she saw wasn’t threatening; he meant her no harm.

He could see that she wasn’t afraid of him. He was glad that she trusted him already. He sighed loudly then pulled out the leather belt and let his breechclout drop to the ground. His shirt was long and covered him. Hopefully
,
she wouldn’t think he was there to take her against her will.

Prudence didn’t take her eyes off Number Two’s face. She knew he was taking off his pants, as they were, but could see that he wasn’t aggressive. He gently guided her torch bearing hand down toward his groin. He lifted his shirt to the side with one hand and pointed with the other: he wanted her to see it.

Prudence was bashful and didn’t want to look down, “Umph,” he grunted, as he looked her in the eye then peered down to where he wanted her to look. She let her eyes follow his gaze then saw it: the port wine stain birthmark just like hers, only lower, much lower. It didn’t cover his privates but was off to the side.

His hand was covering the area that he would only share with
his
wife. He left his hand there then reached up with the other, the one he had been pointing with, and gently touched the deep reddish purple side of her face. Yes, it felt just like the rest of her skin, just like the skin on one side of his lower belly felt like the other.

“Thank you,” she said softly, placing her hand on top of his cheek-caressing palm. “You’re beautiful, too.”

Num
ber Two inhaled deeply.
H
e wanted to be with her tonight, to join with her
,
and make her his wife. She was beautiful despite the berry-colored skin on her face
,
and she smelled like springtime. He dropped his other hand, letting the shirt hide his man parts that were beginning to
swell with happiness and hope—
he didn’t want to scare her. She looked older, as old as he was
,
and much older than Rachel, but she also looked pure. He would be gentle with her, take his time
,
and guide her so she would enjoy becoming one with him. The night was long. They would have time. Hopefully
,
the children wouldn’t waken.

“I think we should go back,” Prudence said as she looked back to the campfire and the others who were now filling in the empty spaces. Marty had thrown out his blanket and was trying to cover his bare legs by pulling the edges
up
over them. Just as he got one side arranged, the other would fall down. He groaned in frustration and decided to sleep on his side. Red Shirt was already with Rachel. They both could hear her giggles and the chief’s short, abbreviated grunts of satisfaction.

Number Two took her free hand into his
,
squatted down quickly
,
and retrieved his leather belt and breechclout with the other. He should put it on before going to his bed but he didn’t want to dress in front of her. Yes, he’d let her keep the torch and lead the way to their adjoining beds.

Prudence
put the torch into the fire and walked to the pallet that Big Sister had prepared for her. Number Two kept hold of her hand as she settled onto it. Or maybe she kept hold of his hand as she lay down
. No, they were both holding on
to each other
,
even though it was awkward. Neither one of them wanted to
be the first to
let go.