CHAPTER FOURTEEN #3
There was not the time to do more. Both she and Red Fox fell down to one knee to steady their arms and hands to take a shot; they both took careful sighting at the buffalo.
Of course, because the buffalo bull was coming up behind the others in their party, it must have looked to them as though she and Red Fox intended to shoot at them, not the enraged buffalo bull.
Then Red Fox said to her, "There is only the one buffalo, not more, and, again, this is your shot. I will use my rifle only if I have to."
Briefly, she glanced at him, stunned by his warm smile at her despite the imminent danger facing them both.
"Very well," answered Briella, "but I am glad to see you here beside me all the same."
Watching the awful sight of a buffalo bull running toward them, its horns pointed forward, its nostrils flared and its hooves kicking dirt up into the air, Briella's courage did not desert her, nor did she doubt the sureness of her skill in bringing the beast down.
She drew her rifle back into the crook of her shoulder, steadied her aim—even though she had to direct her shot around the four others, who were now scattering—and she fired.
Her shot was good, and the bull, after leaping into the air, took another few steps forward, collapsed and then was still.
The screams from the others, now panicked, and who, like wasps in a nest, were swarming around in different directions, did not affect her at first. But then, suddenly, the entire situation seemed unusually funny, and, try though she did to contain herself, she laughed.
Looking up at Red Fox, she placed a hand over her mouth and said, "I really should not be laughing. It's just…it's just that… Did you see them? Do you think they imagined we were going to shoot at them?"
Smiling, he said, "I believe they did."
She shook her head. "I suppose I should have waved them away, as you did. But, there wasn't the time. And, my shot had to be accurate or…"
"I knew you would do well. And, so you did; no harm to others was done, and we now have meat enough to last the family at least another week…maybe more, and all because you, my woman, are a good hunter and a warrior, true."
"Thank you, my husband. But, I think I had best tell them I'd had no intention of shooting any one of them."
"Why?" he asked, and then he laughed. "Let them consider, if only for a moment, how dangerous you could be to them if they do not treat you with more respect.
Yes, let them think this about you and what you could do if you chose to do it.
At least, say nothing for a little while. I am proud of you."
Briella thought she might surely faint because of the different and highly charged emotions flowing through her system. And, it was all because Red Fox had complimented her.
But, she didn't faint. Instead, she added her own chuckles to those of her man's.
As both she and Red Fox came up onto their feet, they paced toward the others; their object, of course, was to get to the bull to ensure it was dead. She was surprised when the four others, upon settling down, cleared a path for them, as though she and Red Fox were dangerous dignitaries.
She couldn't help grinning, though, as she called to them, "It's okay.
You can relax now. The buffalo bull, who had been about to attack you all from behind, is now dead and won't gore you to pieces.
Come, all of you, and help me skin this animal.
Although his meat won't be as tasty as the cow's, his hide will make a good buffalo robe and his ribs will be good to eat, too! "
Sheila screamed and turned away to run swiftly into the woods, and Maximillian fainted, right there where he stood.
Glancing at Frederic, Briella grinned at him, studying his white countenance as she commented, "Well, what do you know.
Y'all are not great hunters after all. Come, help me skin this bull. "
But, none of them came to help, except, of course, Red Fox and now George, who had just returned with the horse they would use to pack the meat upon and take it back to the homestead. Looking up at Red Fox, Briella beheld his wide grin and his shining eyes.
"A great hunter you are, my wife," he said in Blackfeet. "You have shown today what a great warrior you are, and I am glad to see those who have plagued you are now aware of all you are capable of doing…and perhaps to them."
Briella laughed. "You…you planned this!"
Red Fox looked stunned—a little too stunned. He asked, "I?"
"Yes, you," accused Briella, noting George, too, was grinning. And, in truth, even Briella couldn't help the smile that still remained upon her lips.
On the way back to the ranch, Briella's father, Frederic, Maximillian and his girlfriend kept a good distance behind Briella and Red Fox as she and he led the party toward the ranch house.
At the tail end of their group came George, who was leading the packhorse, which was now loaded with the skins and the meat from the two buffalo. They'd had to leave a good amount of the meat from the bull right there where it had fallen. The packhorse could only carry so much.
But, that meat wouldn't last long where it was. Meat birds, wolves, bears and other animals would soon make a good meal of it.
"And now," said Red Fox, as they approached the house, "let us see how the others speak to you and treat you. Hmm, I forgot to ask, do you still have both the papers you were forced to put your name to?"
"I do. But, I was only required to put my name to one of them for now. The other won't be signed until a priest can be dispatched to come here and witness the agreement between my father and Maximillian."
"May I see these papers?" he asked.
"Of course," Briella replied. "But, why do you want to look at them? I know you can read them, but some of the language is a little hard to understand, even for me."
Again he grinned at her before stating, "I will not be reading them. You shall read them to me; that is, my fierce warrior, if you will agree to do it."
Briella giggled a little, grinning at him before saying, "I am at your beck and call, my husband."