New-wappy Te-ah (Part Four)
Screaming with fury, the Ute charged toward Te-ah’s helpless form. His reddened eyes smoldered within features so twisted by rage he appeared more demon than human. Then his right leg shot forward, his heel slamming toward her already battered head.
Te-ah threw her arms across her face and drew her legs to her chest in a futile attempt to save herself. Holding her breath and scrunching her swollen eyes closed, she prepared for the assault that would most likely end her life.
“Katz! Katz! (No! no!) Do not harm her. I will set up the tepee and gather the wood.”
The force that fell upon Te-ah was so heavy it knocked her breath away. And it did cause unimaginable pain, but it was not the heel of a Ute warrior’s foot, disconnecting her head from her neck. The body that covered her, now, was protective and strangely familiar.
“Please – She is badly injured. I will work for her.”
The voice belonged to Kah-o-weep. What could she be doing here? The moment the question formed in her mind, Te-ah knew the answer. The Utes had captured her friend as well.
The young warrior, who for some reason, had restrained his attack moments before his foot connected with Te-ah’s head, whirled and began to storm away. But before going far, he turned to shout over his shoulder, “You will do her work until she is better. But I do not know why you should do such a thing. She is a devil.”
Te-ah tried to lift her head and whisper thanks to her friend, but Kah-o-weep laid two fingers across her swollen lips and smiled before saying softly, “Do not talk now. You are badly injured. I will go to set up his tepee and carry wood. I will also prepare the meal while you rest. But when I come back I will bath your wounds and we can talk. You should know that your brother Pow-inch is here as well.”
Before she could attempt to say more, Kah-o-weep was gone. Through swollen eyes, Te-ah watched her friend work to climb the tall lodge poles and attach the skins as the Ute women were doing. Kah-o-weep had a difficult time. She had done nothing like this before. But she kept trying until the job was done. When her friend went inside to prepare the meal, Te-ah fell asleep.
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