Once a Father by Kathleen Eagle Read Free Book Online

DoubleD Wild Horse Sanctuary. Both subject to the whims of politics.”
    â€œNow that the Tribal Council has stepped in on behalf of the sanctuary…”
    â€œTribal politics is still politics,” he allowed with a shrug. “But your instincts are good, and you chose well.”
    â€œWith a little guidance,” she allowed back. “How long will you stay out here?”
    â€œUntil he agrees to live among people.”
    â€œThat sounds pretty mystical.”
    â€œGood. That’s what I’m goin’ for.” He looked up, a new sparkle in his eyes. “Psychology is out. It’s mysticism that sells these days.”
    â€œThat’s right. You wrote a book. I’d better get a copy so I can start doing some homework.”
    â€œWait for the next edition.” He grinned. “First one’s out of print.”
    â€œThey’ll print more, won’t they?”
    â€œYeah, if I revise it—put a hook into it, like whispering or shape-shifting, something like that. I just wrote about gentling horses. I didn’t get into any mysticism. I figured, you write about talking to animals, you got yourself a kids’ book.”
    She laughed. “So you’re working on a revised edition.”
    â€œThinkin’ about it. I don’t wanna come off sounding like some Hollywood Indian.”
    â€œBut you’re not one. Whatever you say is going to sound like a South Dakota Indian.”
    â€œThat’s not what you want to hear.”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œYou in general. People. ” He leaned closer with that engaging glint in his eyes. “I thought you’d like the idea of making an agreement with the animal, but you didn’t really buy in.”
    â€œYes, I did,” she said too quickly. “I totally bought in.”
    â€œNo, you didn’t. You said it sounded mystical. You nibbled at the bait, but you didn’t swallow my hook.”
    â€œMaybe I don’t need a hook. I’m not people in general. I’m a trainer. I’m already interested. But for the general population, why not use your profile on the cover?” She took his chin in hand and turned his head to the side. “Now there’s a hook.”
    He laughed, and then he turned his head slowly, his chin still resting in her hand. Their eyes met on a willingness to exchange something more.
    Lean closer.
    You first.
    He smiled. Not yet.
    She withdrew her hand and glanced away. The tingling in her hand had spread to every nerve in her body. A disconcerting moment of the kind best left to eighth graders.
    She cleared her throat. “You wouldn’t have an extra vehicle, would you?”
    â€œYou mean one that runs?”
    â€œI’ll ask Sally. You can just drop me off at the Double D.”
    â€œDrop you off? I thought we were in this together.”
    â€œWe are.” And I thought you were going to kiss me. “But I can’t stay here. I didn’t bring any stuff.”
    â€œWhat do you need?”
    â€œNot much, but I thought this was just a go-see. I wasn’t planning on staying.”
    â€œI don’t know what it’s like in today’s army, but my tipi is a step up from what barracks life was like in my day.” He tipped his head to one side and surveyed the structure from the ground up. The tips of more that a dozen pine lodge poles pointed toward a smattering of early stars in the purpling sky. “Decorated it myself,” he said of the canvas skin.
    Mary recognized a howling gray wolf on one side of the door and his tracks leading around the circle and out of sight. On the other side of the door a paint horse seemed to be racing for shelter, leaving tracks of his own. She wondered what happened behind the tent.
    â€œYou were in the army?”
    â€œGulf War. Show me an Indian man hasn’t served some time in the military, I’ll show you one…” Heglanced skyward and sighed.