Annie-Many-Ponies had worked in pictures since she was fifteen and did
only “atmosphere stuff” in the Indian camps of Luck's arranging. She was
wise in the ways of picture jealousies. Already she was jealous of this
slim woman with the dark hair and eyes and the slow smile that always
caught one's attention and held it. She waited. She wanted Wagalexa
Conka to call her in that kindly, imperious voice of his--the voice of
the master. This leading woman would see, then, that here was a girl
more beautiful for whom Luck Lindsay felt the affection of family ties.
She waited, flattened against the wall, listening to every word that
was spoken in that buzzing group. She saw the last bundle taken from
the machine, and she saw Luck's head and shoulders disappear within the
tonneau, making sure that it was the last bundle and that nothing had
been overlooked. She saw the driver climb in, slam the fore-door shut
after him and bend above the starter. She saw the machine slide out of
the group and away in a wide circle to regain the trail. She saw the
group break and start off in various directions as duty or a passing
interest led. But Wagalexa Conka never once seemed to remember that she
was not there. Never once did he speak her name.
Instead, just as Rosemary was leading the way into the house, this slim
young woman they called Jean glanced around inquiringly. “I thought you
had a squaw working for you,” she said in that soft, humorous voice of
hers. “The one who did the Indian girl in The Phantom Herd. Isn't she
here any more?”
“Oh, yes!” Luck stopped with one foot on the porch. “Sure! Where is
Annie? Anybody know?”
“She was around here just before you came,” said Rosemary carelessly. “I
don't know where she went.”
“Hid out, I reckon,” Luck commented. “Injuns are heap shy of meeting
strangers. She'll show up after a little.”
Annie-Many-Ponies stooped and slid safely past the window that might
betray her, and then slipped away behind the house. She waited, and she
listened; for though the adobe walls were thick, there were open windows
and her hearing was keen. Within was animated babel and much laughter.
But not once again did Annie-Many-Ponies hear her name spoken. Not once
again did Wagalexa Conka remember her. Save when she, that slim woman
who bad come to play his leads, asked to see her, she had been wholly
forgotten. Even then she had been named a squaw. It was as though they
had been speaking of a horse. They did not count her worthy of a place
in their company, they did not miss her voice and her smile.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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