Paloma and the Horse Traders Read Online Free PDF Page A

knew Soli was already a good child of Valle del
Sol, born into trouble and raised to be wary.
    “ My love, you must be ever so quiet
now. Follow Eckapeta and the horses and do as she says,” Paloma
whispered. “Go now!”
    To Paloma’s relief, the child did exactly as
she was told, moving purposefully on sturdy little legs and without
a glance back. Ready to put her hand over her son’s mouth, Paloma
scooped him up, along with what remained of their gathering that
Eckapeta had not snatched. She ran after her daughter and crouched
with her in the welcome shade of the clump of trees.
    Eckapeta led the horses farther in, tied them,
and left them. She hurried back and led Paloma and the children a
little deeper, searching for the best place. When they were settled
and both children were on Paloma’s lap, their faces turned into her
breasts, Eckapeta climbed the tree with the agility of a much
younger woman.
    “ What do you see?” Paloma asked,
after a pause that seemed to stretch for hours.
    “ Many horses and a few riders. Maybe
they are going to the trade fair in Taos,” Eckapeta replied, making
no effort to speak quietly. “Still, we will stay here
until ….”
    She stopped. After another long pause, Eckapeta
spoke again, quieter this time. “But they are being followed by
Nurmurnah, The People. Don’t move or make a sound. These are not
Kwihnai’s people and I fear them.”
    Paloma did as she said, bowing her head over
her darlings, keeping them silent. She wished that Marco was there
to wrap his comforting bulk around the three of them. Calmly, she
tucked the foolish wish away and prepared to fight to the death for
her children.
    Eckapeta was too silent. “Tell me what you
see,” Paloma pleaded.
    She could have screamed with the silence, but
she only clenched her jaw tighter. Claudio began to whimper, so she
opened her bodice and nursed him; weaning could wait. He suckled
and was comforted, while Soledad burrowed closer.
    Paloma closed her eyes, remembering blessed
moments of nearly four years, moments that would never have been
hers, if Marco Mondragón had not ridden to Santa Fe to take his
yearly records to the governor, and gone in search of a little dog
to keep his feet warm at night. If this was all the joy she would
know, it was better than none at all. She thanked El Padre
Celestial for his kindness to her and put her terror away,
too.
    To her relief, Eckapeta nimbly retraced her way
down the swaying cottonwood and joined her. She put her hand gently
on Paloma’s neck and gave her a little shake. “Be calm, dear one!”
she murmured. “The smaller dust cloud has met up with the horse
herd. I think they are fighting. They are closer to Santa Maria
than to us, so let us ride for the Double Cross.”
    Silent, Paloma picked up Claudio and ran with
him to her horse, Eckapeta close behind with Soledad in her arms.
The Comanche woman helped Paloma put the cradleboard on her back
again, stuffed in Claudio, then heaved them onto Paloma’s horse
with no fanfare. Eckapeta handed up Soledad next and Paloma seated
the little one firmly in front of her.
    “ Ride and don’t look anywhere but
ahead of you,” Eckapeta ordered. “I will follow behind you and stop
anyone who might see us.” She took out the knife she wore in her
belt at the small of her back. “Go!”
    Paloma jammed her heels into her normally
sedate mare, which started in surprise at such unexpected treatment
from her mistress. She was not a speedy horse, but maybe she sensed
trouble. Perhaps she smelled strange horses. Whatever the reason,
the mare shot away from the bosque and thundered toward the
place where the road forked toward the Double Cross.
    “ Fun, Mama!” Soledad said as she
leaned back against Paloma, enjoying the wind in her baby-fine
hair.
    “ Yes, fun,” Paloma said as she
crouched lower in the saddle, wishing she could turn herself into a
Comanche rider. Her skirts billowed well above her thighs. She knew
Marco would