Dark Journey [Ariel's Desire 2] (14 page)

A voice came from behind the stallion.
 
“As would I, Gray Dove.
 
He’s a proud stallion and I’ll also stand beside you and offer my help.”
 
It was Whispering Wheat.

The stallion was honored that Yellow Hawk’s wife would help him on his journey.
 
He was convinced more than ever he’d be a cougar.

The stallion would have liked to say thank you to Yellow Hawk.
 
He’d learned a lot on his journey with his training from dog to horse to stallion. Yellow Hawk simply walked up on the porch and sat down.

Gray Dove led the stallion through the village, holding his reins in a tight, quivering grip.
 
Fierce Bear walked proudly beside her ready to attack anyone who challenged her right.
 
They got back to the teepee.
 
She managed to tie the stallion off before she collapsed.

“Are you all right, Gray Dove?
 
The stallion didn’t kick you?”
 
Fierce Bear glanced at the stallion almost wishing for a reason to kill him.

“No, husband, I’m just so overwhelmed to be chosen to guide the stallion through cougar.
 
Teaching him his senses is such an honor.”

Teach me my senses?
The stallion watched the couple.
 
They would be his future in-laws.

“I’ll miss you in the evening hours while you’re gone,” Fierce Bear held her close.

“I’ll miss you too.
 
With Shining Star and Whispering Wheat helping me, I’m sure I can train the stallion to be a cougar.”
 
Gray Dove knew how proud her husband would be if she succeeded and earned them a feather.

Gentle Wave came out of the teepee and stared from her mother to the stallion.
 
She still couldn’t believe Wind Seeker had chosen her mother to guide him on his journey.
 
Her mother was a kind person, everyone in the tribe knew that.
 
No one would consider her to train a stallion, though.
 
Gentle Wave was almost reduced to tears when her mother told her.
 
How would the stallion ever be a man so they could be together?

 
Gray Dove was a wreck.
 
The honor of her husband and her family, the journey to man for her daughter’s heart, all would be decided on her training. She dove into the teepee to calm her nerves and prepare.

Gentle Wave followed her. “Mother, please.
 
My journey depends on you training the stallion to be a cougar.
 
I know you can do this.
 
Please, think of my happiness,” Gentle Wave begged.

“Daughter, I’ve only been on one cougar journey before.
 
Whispering Wheat and Shining Star said they’d help me.
 
We both know I’m not a dominant female.
 
Why Wind Seeker picked me, I don’t know.
 
I thought he wanted the stallion to succeed. Did he do something that would make Wind Seeker want him to fail?”

Gentle Wave hadn’t considered that.
 
She kissed her mother and ran from the teepee.
 
Mike saw her take off without looking back.
 
Gentle Wave found Shining Star sitting on their porch nursing the baby before the stallion’s training would begin.

“Why does Wind Seeker want the stallion to fail?” Gentle Wave planned to sound demanding.
 
It came out as a wail.

“What are you talking about, Gentle Wave?

“He’s named my mother as trainer,” she looked into Shining Star’s eyes, “of a stallion to cougar.”

Shining Star smiled and patted the chair beside her.
 
The baby’s fists were balled up as he sucked noisily and she twirled her finger in his long black hair. “I’ll tell you something, but you have to keep it to yourself.”

Gentle Wave nodded.

“You can’t tell anyone, not your girlfriends, and not the stallion.”

Gentle Wave’s eyes widened.
 
Shining Star knew she liked the stallion.

“Yes, I see it in your eyes when he walks by.
 
I think you’ve already spoken to him.”

Gentle Wave looked nervously at her lap.
 
“I snuck out to see him when he was stalled, twice.
 
I got caught the second time.”
 
She looked anxiously at Shining Star.
 
“I was so afraid when I saw Ariel and all her colors that he’d want her back.”

“I see.
 
Then you don’t believe he’s truly on the journey to being a man.”

Confusion crossed the young woman’s face.
 
“Of course he’s on the journey.
 
He’s already a stallion.”

“Then, you don’t believe he’s to be a part of your journey.”

“Yes, he is.
 
He wants me to wait for him to be a man,” Gentle Wave confided.

“Then why did you think he would look back?”

Gentle Wave thought about it.
 
“I guess it was me who stepped off my path with my jealousy.”

“I was concerned about Wind Seeker’s choice when he told me.
 
His reasons are good, Gentle Wave.
 
He believes the stallion will be a man and the two of you will be together.
 
Your father is going to have a hard time with that.
 
Fierce Bear could control Straight Arrow.
 
The stallion is going to be a strong man.
 
My husband thinks if Gray Dove can bring honor to your family with the stallion, Fierce Bear may be able to accept his strength instead of fight him. Whispering Wheat and I are going to be there to help her.
 
Trust in your stallion, Gentle Wave.”

Gentle Wave was glad she’d spoken with her.
 
She felt much better.
 
“Thank you, Shining Star.
 
While you’re helping the stallion become a cougar, I’ll be thinking about my own journey.”

“Good girl.
 
I remember when I first knew I was in love with Wind Seeker. He’s fifteen years older than I am, and my father was afraid I would bring disrespect to our family because I wasn’t strong enough for the chief’s first son.
 
The road for my journey seemed to twist and bend.
 
Now,” she smiled at her son, “my path is straight, and yours will be again soon.”

Gentle Wave walked back to the teepee thinking about what Shining Star had said.
 
She was right about her father.
 
There might be many bends in her path because of him.

Gentle Wave would like to have known what other wives would be helping her stallion.
 
She knew no one would tell her.
 
She sat by the fire between her father and her stallion while her mother served dinner.
 
She snuck a hand beside her and the stallion felt her thumb caress his leg.

After dinner, Gray Dove stood.
 
She ran hands down the front of her buckskin dress, smoothing imaginary wrinkles.
 
She took a calming breath and Fierce Bear stood next to her.
 
“I’ll try to be back soon,” she said.

Fierce Bear pulled her head against him.
 
“Take as much time as you need, Gray Dove.
 
You were chosen for this honor because of your way.
 
If they wanted the stallion hurried, they would have chosen someone else.
 
The warriors all say the stallion is going to be a strong man.
 
I’m going to be outnumbered when Gentle Wave chooses him, so I want him to be the best man he can for her.”
 
He kissed the top of her head.
 
“So, you take your time and train him your way.
 
I’ll be waiting here for you.
 
I’m proud that you were chosen no matter what happens.”

Gray Dove squeezed him.
 
She knew everyone thought he was disagreeable. She knew different.
 
She straightened and took the stallion’s reins, leading him toward the stream.

The small fire was already lit and surrounded by the other women.
 
They were all friends and had grown up together.
 
Shining Star was the youngest. The women stood and hugged her.

“I was so happy to hear you were chosen, Gray Dove.”
 
Wild Flower studied the stallion.
 
“You have only had the warriors train you for your journey so far, stallion.
 
If you are a man, one of our sisters or daughters may become your wife.
 
We train with that goal.”

What the hell does that mean?
 
The stallion turned his shoulders so he could see the six women.
 
A thought crossed his mind that they must keep the plain girls out of sight.
 
He had yet to see a tribe woman who wasn’t at least very pretty.

Gray Dove walked behind him and he felt her untying the tracers from his ring.
 
She stood and untied them from his collar.
 
She moved his hands so they were bound in front of him, resting low on his stomach.
 
Next, she removed the front tracers putting them all in a pouch on her hip.

Pulling the ring on his collar so he bent down, she hooked a finger through the rubber ring in his mouth working it free.
 
She looked into his eyes.
 
“You are a stallion.
 
Stallions don’t speak.”

He didn’t care if he had to keep still.
 
Finally having the ring bit and reins removed was a reward in itself.
 
He watched Gray Dove add them to the pouch and remove a two inch wide strip of soft black leather.
 
She tied it over his eyes, blinding him.

“We’ll teach you to use some of your senses differently.”

That doesn’t sound too bad.
 
No sooner had that thought come to mind, when he felt hands all over him …
all
over him.
 
The woman started laughing softly as he gritted his teeth, twisting his cock away from them.
 
It was stiffening anyway.
 
He was going to get hard in front of all these wives.
 
He couldn’t imagine what the husbands would do to him.
 
His dance kept up for a minute longer until he reluctantly stood still in defeat, waving his pole in the firelight.

“You’re not allowed to harden at the sight of another man’s wife,” Gray Dove reminded him as she placed her hand under his cock. He groaned, waiting for the painful slaps.
 
“Whose wife do you see?”

He was blindfolded.
 
He didn’t see any of them.
 
Gray Dove saw the slight tilt of his head in confusion.
 
“You don’t see any man’s wife.”
 
She dropped his erection.

“First, you’ll use your sense of smell.
 
Each of us has on a different scent. Inhale the scent I’m wearing and remember it.”

Mike leaned forward.
 
He nervously bent down and moved closer to her neck.
 
It was the smell of some kind of flower and spice.
 
He inhaled again and smelled something close to cinnamon.
 
He stood.

“We are all standing in front of you and will guide you to us.
 
When you’ve decided, stand in front of the woman you think is me.”

Mike thought back on what he could remember of the women.
 
Two of them were tall, so he could discount them automatically.
 
That left four to choose from. Hands reached out and pulled him close.
 
He bent and breathed in a flowery fruit scent.
 
He straightened.

Two more hands reached out.
 
It was one of the taller wives.
 
He inhaled anyway.
 
The test was sort of fun.

The next woman was shorter, but smelled like spices, no flowers.

As he inhaled the next woman, he stood then leaned forward and inhaled again.
 
It was her.
 
He was sure of it.
 
When two more hands reached for him, he planted his feet.

“I told you we should have all stuck to flowers or spices,” one of the woman laughed.
 
“You did well, stallion.
 
Though I think you passed me because you could tell I was too tall.”