Loh-rhett-ah is here, eh?" Hunter reached to take Loretta's hand, pulling her close to the bed. "Her heart has been laid upon the ground, and she has wailed and wept. You will see into her, yes?"
Hunter joined Loretta's hand with Amy's. The touch was all it took. Amy disentangled herself from his embrace and threw herself at Loretta, sobbing and shaking. Loretta clasped the girl to her, swaying from side to side.
"You're here, Loretta! Really here! I was afraid I'd never see you again!"
"Oh, yes, Amy, I'm here, I'm here."
"They--they did awful things to me," Amy cried. "Awful, awful things!"
Hunter rose slowly from the bed. The time for woman-talk had come, and he was no longer needed.
Seeing that he was about to leave, Loretta worked one arm loose to touch his shoulder as he stepped around them. Their eyes locked. Pausing midstride, he touched his hand to her cheek. Once again Loretta felt curiously detached, disoriented. She wanted to lean toward him, to feel the steely warmth of his arms around her, to hear his voice saying all would be well, to feel safe--as only he could make her feel. She wanted those things with such intensity that she ached, and the realization frightened her. What was happening to her?
Hunter saw the glow of fondness in Loretta's eyes, and it was all the gratitude he needed. He left the lodge, standing a little taller than when he had entered.
Hunter joined Loretta's hand with Amy's. The touch was all it took. Amy disentangled herself from his embrace and threw herself at Loretta, sobbing and shaking. Loretta clasped the girl to her, swaying from side to side.
"You're here, Loretta! Really here! I was afraid I'd never see you again!"
"Oh, yes, Amy, I'm here, I'm here."
"They--they did awful things to me," Amy cried. "Awful, awful things!"
Hunter rose slowly from the bed. The time for woman-talk had come, and he was no longer needed.
Seeing that he was about to leave, Loretta worked one arm loose to touch his shoulder as he stepped around them. Their eyes locked. Pausing midstride, he touched his hand to her cheek. Once again Loretta felt curiously detached, disoriented. She wanted to lean toward him, to feel the steely warmth of his arms around her, to hear his voice saying all would be well, to feel safe--as only he could make her feel. She wanted those things with such intensity that she ached, and the realization frightened her. What was happening to her?
Hunter saw the glow of fondness in Loretta's eyes, and it was all the gratitude he needed. He left the lodge, standing a little taller than when he had entered.
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
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