Confusion and Pride

Sam stood and watched Toppy storm off. His heart was torn. He wanted to run after her, but the sun was beginning to set. Marley would not be safe on the Reservation at night.

He gave a disheartened cry, “Toppy!” He felt as if his heart was broken. Why would he feel this way? She was a friend, a close friend, his best friend. Had she become more than a friend to him?

That was the most emotion he had ever seen from Topusana. Even when discussing her parents, she had never been that angry. He knew he would need to keep contact with her. She was the dearest thing he had left on the reservation. Sam didn’t want to lose that closeness.

Was he doing the right thing. He looked to the porch, seeing his drunken father, who had been the one that struck him, standing there with a smug look upon his face, drinking straight from a tequila bottle. He thought of Topusana’s parents and the many others on the reservation with no hope, destined to live out their days sitting here expecting the community to suddenly pull them all together as the Great Spirit gave them their land back.

No! This was not the place for him. If a Comanche wanted land of his own, he must go out and claim it. He must go out, be successful, and buy his own piece of land, as the white folk do.

Sam checked the gate to the horse trailer, ensuring it was locked. He climbed into the driver’s seat, starting the engine. Turning to Marley, Sam quietly said, “Are you okay? I’m sorry! I didn’t want you to get hurt. My people are very proud. Their error is, their pride is in the past, not in who they are now.”

He waited for Marley to assure him she was good, then drove off the reservation. As the adrenaline began to wear off, Sam suddenly realized he hadn’t eaten all day.

“I’m sorry you missed your dinner party for this,” Sam admitted to Marley. “Can I make it up to you? Where would you like to go and eat?”

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Embry leaned forward in his seat. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t attracted to Kate. Her fiery nature was very appealing, heightening every desire within him.

He kept his eyes trained on her beauty, admiring her confidence in being able to take care of what was hers. “You let me worry about this, Miss King. You’re to ravishing a lady to allow your hands to get dirty with something like this.”

He held his hands up before him as if showing her his dirt. “These hands are already dirty. It’s what I do!”

Jack leaned upon the desk to be closer to her. Did she realize what she was doing to him. Perhaps it was her plan, get a man all riled up and shoot him down.

“I will ensure that the Kings and their property are safe.”