Chapter 9

"I don't know if I have that much gold," I joked.

We all worked and loved and talked the time away for a couple of weeks. Luke came up and asked if I was ready to go catch the horse for his bride price. I told him I was, so we got our things together and I asked my wives if any of them wanted to go to catch horses. Sherry and Betsy both wanted to go, so we got some food and loaded up Jenny, and away we went. Needless to say Jack came with us also.

We went back to the same place and the snubbing post was still there and still solid in the ground. Luke and I practiced roping, and Betsy and Sherry hunted for our supper. They killed one of the large emu-like birds. No horses came into the water that day. We had a really good supper that night. Sherry was on her time, but Betsy wanted to make love, so we did. Luke just ignored us.

About midmorning the next day a herd of the horses came in to the water. I roped one and Luke got another. I quickly tied mine off to a tree and helped Luke with his. The small colt that I had caught choked itself down so I got a halter on it and tied it off to the tree I had originally tied it to. We tied Luke's catch to the snubbing post and it choked itself down and we got a halter on it. We spent the rest of the day resting and bathing in the pond and hunting.

I was getting much better at stalking into range of a thrown spear, and managed to kill an antelope. We had plenty of meat for the rest of our horse catching.

We were able, with the help of the girls, to get both of the animals leading within three days. We worked with them for two more days and pronounced them tame enough to take home. The girls took turns leading Jenny, while Luke and I lead the new horses. By the time we got home, they were leading well.

Alice, Bossy and Pet took a while getting used to the new horses, but Jenny and Jack were used to them already. We staked them out and let them graze.

Luke was getting antsy to go get his girl, but I told him we needed to have the horse trained or it might not go well in the trading. We worked with both of the new horses in leading and hauling a pack basket and a travois. I considered them trained after about another week of working with them every day.

We got ready to go make Luke's bride trade if we could. Maggie wanted to go with us, so we took Davey also.

We found the prospective bride's family camp after about two and a half days. Luke's prospective bride, Amelia, was a cute brunette about 5'4" tall. A good match for Luke's blonde 5'10" height. Her "sour" sister was a strapping six footer. She was very beautiful and sort of reminded me of Xena, but bigger and more muscles. She looked at me like she couldn't believe there was a man taller than she was. She was introduced to us as Zepha. Maggie called me off to the side and whispered, "Ricky, you have to take her."

"What?" I said, "I have four wives now."

"If you don't take her, she will never find a husband. If you had not come along, Sherry, Betsy and I would never have married either. Besides, think of the big fine children she will bring you, my beautiful husband," she cajoled.

The girl's father, Alto, met with us and was very receptive to having a domestic horse to help with his hauling. We showed him how to lead the horse with the travois and bargained for both girls. Luke was not happy, since he thought he was to have both.

After the deal was struck, I told him that I was going to take Zepha. He was pleased by that turn of events.

I talked to Zepha and introduced her to Maggie and Davey. I asked her if she thought she would like to join our family. I said, "Zepha, we came here with the intention of Luke bargaining for both of you girls, but when I saw you, Maggie told me that I should take you for a wife. I could see that you were very beautiful, but of course Maggie said to me 'Think of the big fine children she could bring for you, ' I knew that if you will have me, I wanted you."

Maggie said, "Zepha, my man has four wives already, but I know he can take care of your womanly needs. He easily takes care of all of us. Besides, he is beautiful, isn't he?"

I almost laughed at Maggie's comment, but Zepha said, "Yes, Maggie, he is very beautiful. I have never seen a man big enough to make me feel like a normal woman. I wanted him as soon as I saw him. I also can tell from talking to him that he is gentle and kind. I would love to join your family.

We stayed long enough to spend one night and pack all of Amelia and Zepha's things. They both thought Jenny was wonderful and that Jack was very cute. They talked to him and scratched his ears and played with him. He was very spoiled. Zepha was glued to Davey and me. Maggie had to ask Zepha to carry her own child. Zepha said, "I am sorry Maggie, I love Davey. I have dreamed for years of having my own child, but never thought I could have the chance. I want our man to get me with child as soon as he can."