Days passed on the wide prairie, the
Sun pounded the tall grasses while overhead a lone cloud barely
shaded a distant clutch of cottonwoods, presently the woman emerged
from among the trees. She walked defiantly up the long incline, a
wooden bucket handle in either hand. Water tossed by her steady
movements, soaking either side of her long skirt, but gradually she
made her way up the slope toward the solitary wagon. The resounding
wind tugged at the canvas coverings and starlings cavorted in the
tall switches of grass, bounding from one stiff blade to another,
plucking the unsuspecting grass hoppers as they inched their way up
the long green stems.
Reaching the wagon the woman rested
against the wheel carefully avoiding the mass of brown grease at the
wheels center. Her small foot raised to step up on the hub and just
as directly her other foot held the hem and once up the height of
such a high step her wet skirt stayed revealing her slender waist and
hips to the young man beneath the wagon.
“Mercy”
she exclaimed in alarm, and just that moment he looked to see those
fine legs as the heavy wet skirt slide down to her ankles.
It's
good... good! some help?” he asked, perceiving her discomfort.
“No
, no, I don't!” she replied, stepping back down and reaching for
the missing waistband. Immediately her feet tangled in the heavy
cloth and she lost her balance, falling back into the tall grass.
“Josh
help, help good.” the brave stated resolutely, rising and gripping
her hand. He quickly lifted her to her feet. His strength was
surprising to her and she landed in his arms, flustered and
pleasuring at the chest muscles in her hands.
“Really,
it's fine, I am good, you are good, um very fine. Yes, you are fine
now?” She asked her patient. “You are much better today?” This
seemed all to obvious and the morning sun blinded her eyes while she
turned to cover her lower portions and pantaloons.
Injun Josh watched in confusion as she
struggled to get her feet stead properly to lift and cover her
embarrassment. She stepped back and turned modestly to fetch the
waist hooks back into place only to find them ripped completely out
and nothing to complete the clasp.
He
stood confused and wondered at the discomfort of all this clothing,
now he finally knew that white women had legs just like his kind. All
this confused him, since his fever came upon him he had suffered in
the hot days and nights in barely a loin cloth, and she suffered in
these long hot hip blankets and blouses over corsets.
“Leave!”
he said, pointing to the wrap. “So hot! You not need this.” a
long pause passed between them as she gathered he might be right. He
looked in her face and she knew he was right. Silently she went to
the water bucket and washed her sweaty face, a slight discomfort
passed as Injun Josh went about his business putting on his leggings,
drinking from the cool water and stretching up tall to finally feel
rested and alive after the fever, now searching the skyline for any
cause of concern. When he turned back he caught Mrs Gillette staring
at his bare back and she quickly looked to her grooming with a little
blush.
“They
come back now?” Josh asked in his awkward English. “It is time
they be come here back?” But there was a long pause from her and he
knew she was distressed at this question.
“No,
Josh, not for some time now. Say, 'they will be back in three
days'...” He repeated this and saw her distress. “Food is slight.
I am much more hungry and you must be too.” She studied the
direction of the wagon wheels and saw nothing that gave her comfort
there. Immediately Josh took up his knife and turned to go.
“I
am not asking you to leave, not go.” The small woman asked and went
to Josh, her wet face hid a tear of her fearful state. She'd had some
doubt as to what should be done for the young man, as it seemed his
illness may have come on with some reason to believe he could have
contracted it from her young girl at their first meeting. Scarlet
fever was serious for most and worse for the natives. But once the
men had left for supplies, she knew she had to remain at the wagon to
try to keep the young Indian from passing on with fever. Now he was
leaving her all alone in this huge flat grass land with no food or
protection.
“You
stay, I go...” He motioned with his hand toward his mouth, “get
food” he finished. And turned to go, as a hand landed on his
shoulder. He turned back to find Mrs Gillette fall into his arms,
weeping and holding his arms in her cools wet hands.
“Oh,
thank God!” she weep-ed at his ear and he could only hold her and
patted her distressed head. There was weakness in her body and Josh
knew she was suffering, weak probably from lack of food. Slowly he
set her in the matted grass and she gripped his hand hesitantly. “You
will return?” she asked passionately, a crack in her voice. “I
shall simply die, if you fail to return to me.” In the long spells
of his fever while he deliriously shivered and cried out, she bathed
his dark shape in cool water and studied his good form. She had lain
next to him as he shivered, his chill shook them both to the bone.
Certain he was marked for death, her reservations had flown and with
no medicine or anyone to see she had become enchanted with his
handsome features. Now she was torn from fear of his loss and ashamed
at having grown so close to the young man.
Josh
could not possibly understand what this woman was feeling, his
confusion was growing with his own fascination for her cheerful voice
and the box with strings she played so magically from her shoulder.
He had been smitten by her early on but thought it better to make
that silent in his heart.
Now
he stood and lightly held her hand with both of his looking like
rough dark paws. Quickly she wrapped her arms about his waist and
hugged him from where she knelt, in a moment Josh took her arms from
his hips and looked down into her light blue eyes, the tears shown
wet in her gaze as he touched her pale cheek. She held his hand tight
against her cheek, and felt his pulse pounding under his flesh. He
was beginning to stroke her long curly hair as slowly a noticeable
growth was swelling in his britches. She smiled and blushed with her
impassioned thoughts. Tugging on his arm she pulled him onto the
grassy thatch and they held tight to one another rolling into a full
embrace in the throws of sighs and soft eyes holding a close gaze
their minds became fixated in longing bliss.
A
warm gust licked at the wet skin of their bare arms and picked and
twisted at their clothes now slowly loosening and tiny buttons in
fumbling fingers. His young desire was callow in her hands, gently
she stroked his warm face, a butterfly landed on her bare shoulder
opening and closing it's bright wings, it seemed to be curious and
approving.
“You...
this is your new name, what's called?”
“Butterfly?”
She asked softly putting her finger near the visitor. It opened it's
wings to draw in the sunshine and gently lifted to drift about their
bright smiles.
“Butterfly
Woman” Josh said clearly, and put a light kiss on the spot.
“Think
you” She responded in her clean musical French accent, “Bootefly
Wemin” her voice soft and lingering. She held his face close and
gave him the longest kiss she had ever known. His hands were under
her blouse holding her against his bare chest and she pulled back
with a gasp. His face was full of curiosity and she knew that this
was what she wanted so very badly and nothing would ever compare with
what she had known with her husband. Here was a power of true passion
and it gave her heart more fire than she had ever imagined possible.
Slowly she slid off her shirt and unhooked the front of her bodice.
The pale soft flesh of her ginger chest showed fine round breasts
with small pink nipples. Josh was surprised to not see the dark brown
orioles of his women, the firmness gave an inspired rise in him and
tenderly his hands closed on both to find perfection in such as this
touch. Her mind was spinning with anticipation as her hand caressed
his back while pushing his long black hair off his face.
“The
butterfly opens to the sun, I am a son...” He lowered his hand to
touch her rump and indeed she opened to the son.
“Give
me all your manly organ...I know it is ready for me.” As her hands
explored his britches and she was not incorrect. She discovered the
thing of her expectant joy and removed it for him with her gentle
hands. Deliberately she made firm her grip and instantly Josh shirked
with excitement and exploded into her hands. Momentarily she waited
to see if what she thought, had just happened, and then she began to
softly laugh to herself. He was so new to this, probably a virgin,
she thought. But he looked pleased and soon he had risen back to his
feet.
“Make
soon food, wait you.” Josh said with a big smile and turned to go
search for a good willow limb to make a rabbit snare. As he walked
off disappearing into the tall grass she laughed aloud and dreamed of
what she would do differently come dark.
