The Brand: A Tale of the Flathead ReservationBroderick, Therese
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The Brand: A Tale of the Flathead Reservation
Broderick, Therese
Flathead Indian Reservation (Mont.) -- Fiction; Salish Indians -- Fiction
“Even the dogs thought Miss Bess was a really squaw when they saw her
all wrapped in a blanket,” put in “Peter Pan” as she came inquisitively
forward to see their visitor.
Slowly the explanation of the squaw by the road-side forced itself into
his brain. For a moment he held his breath wondering if he had made a
fool of himself. Perhaps she did not recognize him, but if she did he
would easily convince her it was a joke—that he had known it was she
all the while.
What could be keeping Bess so long? Why did she not return to camp with
the gathered thorn-apples? Each moment a glance went up the trail,
hoping that she would soon be coming. No one saw the silent pseudo
squaw as she crept softly on her hands and knees in the shadow of the
logs and the close covering of the brush. No one saw her now as she
lay flat on the ground securely concealed by the thick leaves and the
tall grasses, watching the occupants of the camp with glowing eyes. No
one? Yes, one alert pair of ears had heard a twig snap; one keen nose
had sniffed the air, and now a pair of appealing eyes were looking into
hers.
“Charge Gladdy!” she said to the dog with a wriggling tail, as
emphatically as she could in a whisper. Then she flung her arm about
him holding him close lest he betray her concealment. Would the visitor
never go? Should she be compelled finally to come forth and rejoin the
others at the camp? If she could only convince herself that the Agent
had recognized her in the road and had not really thought she was a
squaw she would not now hesitate in meeting him. But somehow a feeling
of uncertainty crept into her heart and for the moment made her fairly
hate him. The approach of horses along the highway caused her to sit
upright and listen. Gladstone, too, heard the sound and before he could
be checked, began a vigorous barking. She could hear the horses coming
through the tangled brush, and in a moment more she stood face to face
with James Fletcher and Henry West.
“Great guns! Bess; you are a regular Pocahontas! How’s that for a
‘peachy’ squaw?” he said to West, as he nearly tumbled from his saddle
and gave his sister a vigorous hug. Henry West had also dismounted and
caught his horse’s bridle over his arm. In his glance was a look of
questioning approval which caused Bess to ask:
“I am wondering, Henry, if you like me this way?”
“If all squaws looked as well, a man wouldn’t mind being an Indian,” he
said significantly, walking by her side.
“Oh! here you are; where did you hide?” cried little “Peter Pan,” as
she ran forward to meet her favorite.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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