Blue Thunder

by Spangaloo Publishing

  “I am glad my brother no longer needs the cane and only walks with a slight limp. His leg

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  is badly scarred and he feels pain when the weather is cold and damp, but Star Gazer can still ride and shoot his arrow as well as any brave.”

  She boldly stroked him lower. Her heart beat rapidly when he gasped in pleasure to her touch. Blue Thunder gently removed her hand saying he didn’t want to lose his seed prematurely. “Vixen,” he hissed and lavishly returned the attention, to tease her in the same manner. He found her lips and their breaths merged as his tongue was instantly inside her mouth. He left her lips and began to caress her hot flesh with feathery kisses and he wooed her with Indian words.

  His tender kisses sent ripple of flames pulsating upwards from the molten depths of her belly. Her fingers roamed his back as she savored the feel of his powerful muscles. His manly scent teased her nostrils and she wanted to experience every inch of him, delighting in his cries of pleasure. When he collapsed, she climaxed with him, their bodies one, wet with passion.

  The following month they moved to the highlands so that they could keep warm by the rays of the sun. When summer returned they would set camp near the water among stunted trees which sheltered them from its scorching glare. She was told by her husband that in winter they would huddled together for warmth and if the hut was large, a fire was built in the center. She was looking forward to that, though at the moment she was sad.

  Melissa stood and watched her hut burn, depressed over the memories she had shared there with her family and loved ones. It was the second time a home she loved was taken away from her but Blue Thunder promised they’d share new memories in their new home. As she and her family traveled the tribe subsisted on berries, nuts and the fruit of various trees, mesquite beans, and acorns, of which she and the clan were particularly fond of.

  In the months she lived with the White Mountain Apaches, she discovered that they relished the fruit of cacti and of the yucca. Fish they wouldn’t eat nor pork but horses and unborn calf and the entrails of animals they regarded as delicacies. Mule flesh was considered the best meat. She had drawn the line when it came to eating mule and entrails, though she did eat the shellfish which was their most hospitable food. They were scrupulous in keeping accounts and paying debts.

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  Melissa was weary after their traveling. She had lost some weight unable to keep down her morning meal in her second month of pregnancy. When the Apaches decided on an area they believed was hidden and safe enough, her husband told her to rest while he built their new wickiup. Blue Moon sat on her lap and she told her daughter stories and nursery rhymes she remembered from her childhood.

  “Mama, tell me the one about the lion, Leo and the rattlesnake Paco again.”

  Melissa patted the rock for her daughter to sit beside her. “Well, once upon a time there was a lion cub, named Leonardo. When he was only two weeks old, he grew tired of playing with his sister so he wet out to seek adventure.”

  “He was naughty, huh? To wander away from his mother,” intoned her daughter.

  “Yes. He wandered around until he heard a hissing sound from behind a tree. Not knowing what it was he sniffed the air and then he foolishly swatted at the sound.”

  Blue Moon giggled, “Silly cub.”

  “Yes, he was but he was also foolish because he gave the strange thing a shake, not knowing the rattle sound was attached to a snake. This annoyed he snake named Paco and he jumped out and the lion was so frightened he played possum. But Paco was too smart to be foiled and he said with a hiss, get up you silly lion. I’ll not bite you for no one had ever played with my tail before.”

  “And they became friend, right mama?”

  “Yes and they played until dark but then Leonardo lost his way and began to cry. So the snake took him home to his cave. The two strange friends slept there and in the morning Paco said he would help the lion find his mother.”

  “Poor Leo,” shuddered her daughter.

  “Um, yes. So they went out to find the lion’s home. They came upon a giraffe eating the green leaves high up in a tree. Paco stretched his body as long as it could go and yelled up, do you have any idea where Leonardo’s family is? Some place where zebras and antelope run, by a

  big old tree that keeps away the sun. Oh, gasped the giraffe, if you don’t bite me, I’ll look and look as far as my eyes can see. But the giraffe’s neck grew tired so they went along. It was getting late and the lion said that he was so hungry he could eat a buffalo.”160

  “Yummy!” declared Blue Moon.

  “Yes, yummy. But snakes do not eat buffalo and he ran off saying that he would return with food. Many minutes later he came back with his treat and dropped a small mouse at the lion’s feet.”

  “Ugh!”

  “Yes, I agree. Leonardo frowned and said the same thing. Ugh, I’m a lion not a house cat! Aren’t we a fuss pot, Paco hissed but later they came upon a lake and the lion said that he didn’t know how to swim. The snake said it was easy, just paddle you legs, and watch me.” Blue Moon giggled again. She loved the innocent sound of her daughter‘s laughter. It was sweet as honey-comb and sounded like a bubbling brook.

  “Snakes do not have legs, that silly reptile was teasing the lion.”

  Melissa hugged her daughter. “Yes, he was. But then Leonardo heard rustling in the bushes and he took chase after a rabbit. But his meal was fast and he took a spill and he rolled down the hill. He landed in clover and something under him grumbled, get off me! He was astonished to find it was his sister. She yelled where have you been mother is worried sick? Then the snakes called, where are you, Leo? This is no time to play silly games; I had a terrible time holding this fish by its fin. When his sister saw the snake she screamed and his mother came to see what all the commotion was about. When mama lion saw her son she gave him a nasty blow

  to his ears. Ouch, he cried and he apologized and in time he learned to swim. And Paco would growl instead of hiss.”

  “Thank you mama, I am going to be with her father to watch him build our new home.” Felling lethargic, Melissa watched Blue Moon waddle towards Blue Thunder and she closed her eyes. She had no idea how long she napped, but she was roughly awaken by her husband’s prodding hand. “Where is daughter?”

  The seriousness of his question didn’t register immediately. She yawed, “What?”

  “Where is Blue Moon?”

  The angry reply hardened his features with impatience and his tone aroused and somewhat irked her. She woke instantly. Licks Too Much was also dozing by her feet, jumped up a growled. Confused, she rubbed her eyes and looked around. “She’s with you. Isn’t she?” she

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  exclaimed in annoyance as she jumped to her feet. Seeing the look of fear and panic on his features, she became increasingly fearful and screamed, “Blue Moon!” The other Indians stopped what they were doing and gathered around. One could see the tension in the camp when her husband cried, “Has anyone seen our daughter?!”

  Murmurs and a lot of negative shaking heads went around the camp but no one recalled seeing the child wander off. Melissa clutched her stomach. “Oh, dear Lord. Where could she have gone?” Blue Thunder held her fearing she’d faint and her husband was correct on his assumption. “I’ll never forgive myself if anything happened to her.” Anxiety spurted through her.

  Just then they all heard giggling.

  “Here, puppy, puppy; here puppy!”

  Bubbling joy reached all ears. From a distance she and her husband could see the child running after a small dog. Rather a wolf. It scampered and barked running back and forth making Blue Moon laugh with glee. Blue Thunder rushed to their daughter with her right behind him. Her mate stopped in his tracks and she collided into his back. Licks Too Much was by their side and began to growl low in his throat, then his pet bared his teeth, growling fiercely at the larger wolf that instantly appeared on a ridge. Mother wolf was doing her share of growling also, exposing its sharp fangs
and drooling as she stood on a bolder above the innocent child.

  Blue Thunder anticipated her scream and muffled it, whispering into her ear to be silent. “Hush, do not make a move.” The touch of fear in his voice was not lost to Melissa and she clenched her hands until her ragged nails entered her palms. He also ordered his dog to stay, whispering to her that he did not wish to have the wolves tangle close to his daughter. Melissa gasped, panting in terror and she trembled as hot tears ran over his palm. She heard her husband groan deep in his throat and he was as frightened as she.

  The she-wolf was eyeing her cub and the child who was now pulling its tail. Slowly, Blue Thunder released his hand as he continued ordering her to remain still and Licks Too Much to heel. She watched him creep with ease, and she new her husband could keep his hand from quivering, for he had told her when in danger, he would rule his heart to beat steadily and slowly. He quickly pulled his knife out of it sheath. Then everything happened at one.

  The she-wolf leaped.

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  Melissa screamed.

  Blue Moon noticed her parents and began running towards them as Licks Too Much

  began barking up a storm. The dog did not know whether to help or obey his master. She prayed the canine would not interfere as her husband’s silver knife found its target, hitting the jugular vein of the mother wolf. The animal howled and catapulted with a jerk in the air. Blood spewed over their child, but the wolf was dead before it hit the ground.

  Blue Thunder wasted no time in running to their daughter. He gathered the frighten child in his arms reassuring her that she was safe. But she squirmed and cried that she wanted her puppy. Melissa didn’t think her weak legs would carry her. Relived but angry for what her daughter put her through that she forgot the Apache rule that children have freedom and weren’t required to obey and were never punished. She hugged the child but began to reprimand her, “Never frighten me like that again!”

  Blue Moon looked at her, and then began to whimper. “Are you going to box my ears?”

  Her husband took their frightened child and placed her on the ground crouching to her level. Licks Too Much came over and his head was scratched by Blue Thunder. I am pleased with pet; you did the right thing,” he praised the dog. Then Licks Too much went over to the wolf and sniffed to make sure it was dead.

  “What your mother is trying to say,” Blue Thunder tweaked Blue Moon’s small nose, “was that you had us worried. Next time tell us that you want to take a walk. Daughter is smart enough to know it is dangerous for you to go away from the security of the camp.”

  Melissa knew that praise was more in order than a stern lecture at this time. Later she would have a more serious discussion with the little one.

  “Yes. I was bad like Leonardo.” Her daughter smiled in a way that she knew she had

  been naughty, but it was a smile that said, I am sorry,” and she quickly added, “Can I keep pup?”

  Her husband had to grin. Of course he did, but their daughter had no idea of the danger she put herself in and it was probably best that the child didn’t know. He kissed Blue Moon’s cheek.

  “It looks as if he likes you and since he no longer has a mother to care for him,” he looked up at her and she nodded teary-eyed. He yanked his daughter’s braid. “You may keep the

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  pup.” The baby wolf came over and licked the child’s hand sniffing his mother’s blood. Blue Thunder picked their daughter up. “Come, you need bath.”

  “Come, Licks Too Much,” Blue Moon called over her father’s broad shoulder. “And bring Little Licks Too Much.”

  Melissa followed behind, thanking God for sparing her daughter. Laughing Tree and the chief joined her to give moral support.

  “Do not become over wrought, Moon Glow,” said Laughing Tree. “Apaches always live in danger. You must be strong.” She nodded woodenly. Laughing Tree meant well but she could never survive losing a child.

  Melissa was only three months along in her pregnancy when a small band of White Mountain Indians from a neighboring village staggered, limped, or were carried into their camp. She was told that they had been attacked by white men who had discovered silver on their tribal lands. She was sick seeing the red men were more dead than alive; one woman carried a dead infant in her arms. When she passed out from a bullet in her side, Melissa took the dead baby from the mother. She removed the bloody blanket, discovering the tiny skull was crushed; it took

  all her strength not to vomit. She rewrapped the infant and wept, thinking about Blue Moon and the pain this poor woman had gone through. She spent many days nursing the wounded and taught Weeping Bird how to remove bullets, clean the wounded with spirits, and stitch.

  One young brave who had taken a bullet in the leg and shoulder was in bad condition; he had lost a lot of blood. It was a miracle he made it to their camp and Melissa spent much of her time with him. He was young, about her age, and she knew he wanted to live; he was a fighter.

  He ran a fever and had to be restrained like Star Gazer. When he finally opened his eyes, she knew he would survive. She was relieved when he asked for water and told her his name was Hawk Nose. Two other braves and a child died.

  She was tired of death.

  Hawk Nose told her that he had fought hard and bravely when the white men attacked his small village. Having witnessed his mother and father being cut down in front of him made him wild with outrage and he fought his parent’s slayers. Someone shot him in the shoulder and he

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  fell to the ground, lying quietly for a moment. Dazed, he raised his head. Renewed rage gave him the strength to run after the same man he fought before. Taking his knife from its sheath, he drove the blade into the back of his parent’s murderer. Before he could pull the knife free, he heard another explosion and pain ripped through his leg. The world went black.

  “You must rest, my wife,” Blue Thunder ordered her one night when she lay exhausted in his arms. “It is not good for our child that you work so hard. What you do for my brother gives me much pride and love, but you must remember the baby growing in womb.”

  Melissa grew to care for the wounded warrior but her feelings were those of a good

  friend. The two spent time talking, learning about each other’s race. Her husband didn’t like the idea of them spending so much time together but Melissa assured him that Hawk Nose needed a friend and their talks took his mind off the pain.

  A council decided that Blue Thunder would go to the destroyed village to track the attackers and kill them and to stop their brutal rampage. Star Gazer and Weeping Bird left with her husband along with many braves. They were gone over a week and she worried about them. She missed her husband although Hawk Nose tried his best to take her mind off her worries.

  One afternoon, after her chores, Melissa decided to take a swim in the pond. She knew she should wait until the women bathed, being warmed many times by Blue Thunder not to swim alone. Safety in numbers, he reminded her so often. But she wanted some time to herself to think, and she would make it a quick trip.

  Licks Too Much trailed behind her. “Stay with Moon Glow,” she ordered him back to the wickiup. At the pond, she stripped, feeling her slightly swollen stomach, proud of the fact that she wasn’t too heavy for four months. She sighed, touching her tender breasts, thinking of Blue Thunder’s gentle touch. Her thoughts of him sent tremors up her spine and her nipples hardened. “Please hurry home, I miss you so much” she whispered aloud.

  After her bath she stood in the sun, drinking in the warm rays on her cool flesh. Closing her eyes, she soaked up the wonderful feeling that spread over her body. So absorbed was she in her daydreaming, she didn’t realize that the sun was gone and a shadow fell across her face. When she opened her eyes, she nearly leaped back into the water. She never suspected for a moment she was being watched.

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  “Hawk Nose,” she gasped, “What are you ...?” She tried to cover her nakedness with her hands as she felt heat
from the roots of her hair to her toes. “Please, go away. This isn’t right for you to be here!” she snapped furiously. Although they were friends, a fear of dread caused her to shiver. Now she was sorry she made the canine go back.

  “You are so beautiful, Moon Glow.” He stated when he put his hand out to touch her face but she backed into the water. “Get out of here!” she screamed. But the brave merely lifted his shoulders indifferently and bent over to retrieve her dress. He handed it to her and she snatched it quickly, angered that he should spy on her. Why did he come here? Would their friendship ever be the same? She no longer was comfortable in his presence and it pained her that he had to ruin it by this unforgivable act.

  After Melissa donned her dress, she quickly scooted ahead of the brave but she only took a few steps when she was grabbed and thrown roughly to the ground. She screamed, fearing he was about to rape her. Dazed for a moment, with her face in the dirt, she lay still with panic. There was no movement around her. Did he leave? Feeling a little relief, she quickly rolled over onto her backside. Her heart stopped; Hawk Nose was standing over her. He grabbed her arm and lifted her to her feet. Her legs trembled but she managed to pull away from his grip. He looked hurt and confused by her actions but she didn’t care.

  “Don’t touch me!” she snarled, wiping the dust of her dress.

  “I am sorry if I hurt you but it was necessary to push you.”

  Melissa shook her head, puzzled by his remark.

  “Look,” he pointed to something in the path.

  She couldn’t make it out at first but when she took a closer look, the sight made her gasp and clutch her stomach. Lying there was a rattle snake with its head cut off. The brave’s knife had killed it. Completely forgetting his rudeness at the lake, Melissa now owed him her life and the life of her unborn child. She inhaled deeply and said, “Thank you,” then placed a chaste kiss on his cheek although she was still annoyed by his uncalled for presence. It had to be forgotten, her humiliation was nothing compared to the alternative.