Chapter 5

Howie, April, and Janet jogged early in the morning.

Janet asked, "Howie could you come by? Ed and I want to talk with you about something?"

"Sure, be there after I get a shower."

Howie ran home, showered, dressed and drove to Janet's. Ed was sitting in the kitchen when he arrived.

"Janet is still in the shower."

Howie asked, "How is she doing?"

"Much better. Thank you for getting her to stay," he said.

Howie nodded and drank the glass of cold water Ed had gotten him.

Janet came into the kitchen.

"Ed and I want to get you something for all you have done for me, for us," she said.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"I am much better. I am drawing again," she said.

"I would love to have one of your paintings," he said.

"Sure, Could I do something special?" she said.

"I have a photograph of Black Eagle. He was my mentor. I would like to have a painting or sketch of him. He was very good to me," he said.

"Can you get it?" she said.

Howie said, "I will get the photograph now, if you would like?"

He got the photograph, Black Eagle's Medicine Man accoutrements, some of his sacred things and returned to Janet's.

Janet asked, "Do you mind if I call a student? I would like for her to draw you, while I work on Black Eagle. If you want him in that outfit, I would like for you to be my body model for Black Eagle. The student can draw you too."

Howie asked, "Ed, do you mind?"

"I think it is a great idea," he said.

Howie and Janet went to her studio, which was located in a building behind her house.

Two good-looking girls came over. "This is Jamie and her friend. Jamie will sketch you."

Howie thought, Two good looking girls, this might be all right. Jamie has very very nice breasts and now that I look a pretty face.

Howie adjusted Black Eagle's breastplate to fit, but the pants were much too small.

Janet said, "That's all right. We need see your muscles. Pose for us nude."

Howie shrugged and took off his clothes.

Jamie said, "He has a nice body."

Howie thought, She talks about me like I am not here.

Janet said, "Turn a little, good. Stand on your toes. Stretch, good."

As Howie walked back to put on the Black Eagle's breastplate, he heard one of the girls say, "He is all right for a man, but he can't compare to you."

Howie thought, Good god, they are lesbians.

He went to Janet and said, "You could have gotten hetro girls."

Janet said, "You were nice to me, really nice. You are right; I should have."

"Put on your pants and sit. I mean you are impressive nude and have quite a cock, but you don't have to impress me. I can't draw you like that," Jamie said.

Janet said, "I am afraid, most artist types don't go for the muscular jock type."

She took a little videotape of Howie. "I think that should do it. You are magnificent. If I were their age, I would probably be sucking your cock right now."

Jamie said, "You would now if we weren't here."

"Go sit on the stage," she winked at him.

"Jamie, stand behind him," she said.

"Something is not right?" she asked.

"If it summer, she wouldn't be wearing a top," Howie said.

"Let's see. Stand behind him nude."

She does have spectacular breasts.

When she was nude, Janet said, "That's not it. We have enough for today."

"I'm sure you have plenty of girls," Janet said.

Howie said, "Hate to disappoint you."

Jamie said, "Don't get that cock hard for me. You would be wasting your time."

"I will have it by Christmas," Janet said.

Jamie said, "If you don't pant on the canvas and melt the paint."

He called Wanda and asked, "How are you today?"

"Sore, but I love it. Mom is home. She was very nice," Wanda said.

Janet, April and Howie ran Monday morning. Wanda and Howie worked out as usual in the afternoon.

When he came in, April said, "Janet called. She can't run tomorrow."

Janet came over the Tuesday. "I couldn't stop. I had to finish this painting. See what you think."

She unwrapped the painting.

Howie went to her and gave her a lover's kiss. "It is perfect. You have a real gift. It captures his spirit too."

"Thank you. That is the best review I have every gotten. I have to leave now; my panties are soaked. Really. I hope Ed is home."

April looked at the painting, "She is good. Do you think she might give me a lesson?"

Howie said, "I didn't know you were an artist."

"I like to draw. I am not an artist," April said.

Friday, Howie had his final meeting with the CPA to go over the items on the Annual Business Meeting of the Kiowa. Howie was prepared.

Friday, Howie lifted and Wanda did her exercises. She lifted some to tone her muscles.

They didn't have class on Friday. "Howie, I am at my goal," she said.

"I am proud of you. You couldn't look much better," he said.

Wanda called. She was crying. "Howie, mom got a job offer from Washington and Jefferson. It would double her salary. We move in two weeks. Can we go home, I want to say goodbye?" she said.

"Oh, Becky. I'll take a shower and be right over," he said.

They spent an hour and a half in bed.

Wanda said, "I can't believe it. It was even better. And now I am leaving."

Wednesday after school, Howie went home after school. He planned to leave for Oklahoma and the Annual Business Meeting as soon as he got Black Eagle's painting.

On the way he stopped at Janet's. When Howie went to pick it up, he saw Jamie and April on the couch making love.

His mother was in the kitchen when he returned. Howie said, "Hi mom."

Janet said, "Howie, April moved out. She lives over the loft at the Janet's studio."

"I thought she might," he said. He went back to get the painting.

Janet said, "I am sorry. I have messed things up again."

They walked to the loft. When she opened the door, they heard the girls as they scrambled. Obviously they were in bed.

April came down with her head down. Jamie, the big-breasted lesbian who had drawn him was with her.

"April, could I speak with you a minute?"

Jamie said, "She doesn't have anything to say to you. Leave her alone. Get out."

Janet said, "Give them some time."

"No Janet, you are too soft," Jamie said.

Howie look at April and said, "Let's talk privately."

He held out his hand and she walked toward him. Jamie ran to her.

"You stay here," she said.

Howie looked into April's eyes. He walked to her, picked her up and turned to leave.

When he did, Jamie hit him.

Howie ignored Jamie and carried April to his truck. He backed out and drove to the park where he parked.

April said, "Sorry. I wanted to tell you I had moved out and that Jamie had moved in with me. It just happened. I know you are going back today. I won't cause problems, I will return with you."

"I won't require you to come with me. If you prefer Jamie to me, that's your choice. Will you clean our house, so mom can go to school?" Howie asked.

"Yes. I owe you and your mom more than that," she said.

"I can pay you," he said.

"A goodbye kiss?" April said.

Howie didn't say anything about the taste and smell of Jamie that was on her lips.

When he got back, Jamie and Janet were waiting.

He looked at Janet and knew that April was not Jamie's only conquest in the studio.

Howie didn't say a word, he got the painting and started toward Oklahoma. He stopped at the Interstate and called Wanda, "Baby, can I see you one more time?"

Howie and Wanda spent an hour saying goodbye in her bedroom.

Then he drove until four and pulled off and slept in his sleeping bag in a grocery store parking lot in Illinois. He got up at daybreak, went to the restroom, bought some pastries, and orange juice. He drove straight through.

He arrived at council headquarters in the late afternoon. He got his materials for the meeting.

He saw the police chief. "Will you be at the meeting tomorrow?"

The police chief said, "I present a budget for my department in the afternoon. I keep an officer outside. We haven't had any trouble at the meetings."

Howie said, "I would appreciate it if you could come for the first part of the meeting. I will need you."

"Of course, Chief," the police chief said.

Howie went to his village. He talked to the residents and then he went to Dolph's.

Dolph said, "Come in out of the cold. You don't look too good."

"It has been a hell of a last few days," Howie said.

"What happened?" Dolph asked.

"I have liked a girl for a long time, and finally it looked like something might happen. She asks me to take her to a dance and them acts like she wishes I would drop off the face of the earth. I have been exercising with a girl that had a beautiful face and was grossly overweight. We work out together five days I week. She lost the weight and became a knockout. So I take her to the Christmas Dance at the country club. We had a great time. And she gave me her most precious prize. The next week her mother gets a much better job, across the state. And April moved out and is shacked up with a woman. A pretty good week."

"A good fuck is the best cure for bad news. Take one or two or three of them back and have at it."

"How are you and Dawn doing? Do you want her to stay?"

Dawn was at the kitchen sink as they talked.

"I would like to keep her. Hell, I have even been thinking about getting married," Dolph said.

A pot fell loudly to the floor.

Dawn was standing with her mouth open with a look of utter amazement.

Howie said, "You are right. I need a good fuck."

He walked over to Dawn, he hugged her and whispered in her ear, "But not with you sugar, you need to fuck him silly."

Howie took the haughty one, Louise, and went to the bedroom. One hookup and it was lights out for Howie.

Howie was up at daybreak, plowed a little haughty and went to the council meeting.

The first presenter was the oil company. The executives were around the table when Howie came in.

Before the oil company president spoke, Howie was asked about the shootings.

Howie said, "When I returned to my village, I was told that a gang of men beat, raped, and stole possessions of my villagers. I asked the police chief about this. He said it was true, but that the villagers were so intimidated they would not report the incidents. They took all the coal from my village and most of the food.

"I purchased coal and food for my village. I delivered it and waited to see if the gang came. The gang came. I saw them beat an old man and steal his coal and food, and repeat it with an old woman. I shot them on the spot. I brought the beaten old man and woman, and the bodies of the men to the police station.

"I will not have men beating my old men, raping my women, or stealing from my village. I will shoot them without notice," Howie said.

The Council Chief said, "I doubt if anyone else will."

One old chief said, "And you took their women. Don't forget that part."

The president of the oil company that had a contract with the Kiowa Nation heard what Howie said. He was a bit nervous as he spoke next. He explained why the royalties were so low. He explained that the costs were very high and not much money was made.

No one asked any questions until Howie, who was the last chief.

"You have an expense for depletion. Would you explain that?" Howie asked.

"That is an accounting term for cost of minerals like oil," he said.

"Depletion is the allowance for the worth of the oil taken from the ground. You have it as an expense. It is only an expense if you pay the Nation that amount. Over the last five years, you have underpaid the Kiowa Nation by eight hundred seventy million dollars."

In Kiowa, Tall Grass said, "He has stolen from the Kiowa and should be jailed. I, Tall Grass, Kiowa Medicine Man say." He looked at the police chief.

The police chief said, "You are under arrest."

"You can't do that. I paid per the contract," he said.

"Give him a copy of the contract, one from his table. I direct your attention to page 104, line thirty-six. Would you read the line?" Howie asked.

The man read, "The payment shall be the greater of the market value or the depletion allowance."

Howie said, "He should not be released until the full amount is paid."

"Civil suits do not allow you to hold a person," the company's attorney said.

Howie said in Kiowa, "I charge him with theft."

The Council Chief said, "He is charged with criminal theft. Police chief handcuff him and lead him to the jail."

The attorney asked, "This is unheard of. He has not been charged. This isn't Fort Apache."

Tall Grass put his long knife on the table and said, "Traditionally, we would cut his cock off to speed payment from the next in line."

The attorney looked at him.

"Maybe we should do that again," Howie said.

He picked up his large knife.

The attorney was alone, "It may be hard to get anyone to come here."

Tall Grass said, "We should seize and guard our oil property."

The Council agreed.

The meeting adjourned.

In the afternoon, he returned to council headquarters. The oil company agreed to pay the amount owed with interest.

The company president was brought before the council. Howie looked at the large knife, "I think he knows what will happen if he steals from us again. Let him go."

The chiefs were talking about what to do with the money from the oil company.

One chief asked, "Tall Grass, what do you think we should do with the money?"

"Better health care and good schools for everyone, old and young," Howie said.

"How would you do that?" one chief asked.

"Train our women in medicine. We should have programs to train nurse aides, nurses, and medics. Then equip some motorhomes as clinics," he said.

One chief asked, "How about electricity, telephone, and television?"

"We need better food for our people. Is it better to give the old people raw food or set up a kitchen and serve everyone?" Howie asked.

A chief said, "A kitchen in each village is a good idea, but where would we get the cooks."

"Why not train people from the village?" Howie said.

"You mean to train them in the village kitchen," a chief asked.

"Why not? Learn and eat. The village kitchen could also serve as a meeting place and a place where classes could be held." Howie said.

"Who would teach these classes?" another one asked.

"The bureau could help there," one chief said.

"How would we do it?" a chief asked.