Chapter 38

The trip back to our cave took three days, but by four hours into it on the first one I was hoping it would take weeks. I had a passenger you see. Her name was Kita and she was five years old. She'd been stolen from Juko's camp during the initial attack, but since her mother and father had both been killed everyone assumed she was dead too.

Kita was still sad over things, but she was smart as a whip and wanted to know about everything. Sucker that I was, I wanted to teach her everything. Juko had come to me asking for advice about whom to give her to since she couldn't care for herself.

"If you want to give her to someone you'll have to take her away from me first," I said, only halfway joking.

"I would be honored if you'd take her in and I can see with so many mates you'll have little trouble caring for her," he said, and actually smiled.

I knew in my heart Juko thought he'd put the big britches on me, but I also knew he'd shit and fallen back in it. Rose was going to go crazy over Kita as soon as she saw her and she'd probably try to thank me to death for bringing her home.

Kita and I had a lovely trip. She was thrilled when I let her take the reins and drive, even though she didn't do anything except let Jingo follow the crowd. She was also very curious about our rifles and after I explained they weren't really magic she wanted to know exactly how they worked. She was fascinated when I explained the difference between bullets and cartridges to her and she begged me to show her the powder soon.

There was something I dreaded coming up when we made it home though, but I couldn't figure a way around it. Since now I'd taught Juko and his group to use firearms I expected Goondoe and his men to want to learn and use them too. I thought it was probably a bad idea to have so many men getting their first taste of powerful weapons so quickly and in such close quarters, but I couldn't think of a way to avoid it without offending Goondoe and his people.

Worries about Goondoe, Neanderthals, and firearms were pushed to the back burner as soon as Kita and I dismounted in front of the cave. I'd spent no little time coaching her on Rose, Catla, the rest of my mates and the proper greeting. She'd even practiced on Shayta, Keeta, and Nanita during the long way back and it was already a hit with them.

Of course Rose was in the lead coming out to greet us and Kita secured her place right away when she ran toward Rose nearly screaming, "Mommy Rose." Kita had her arms raised toward Rose in the universal signal for pick me up and Rose did it at once.

Of course Catla was right beside Rose and Kita hadn't even been coached for the line she gave next.

"Oh, Mommy Catla, you are just as pretty as Daddy told me." Apparently Shayta, Keeta, and Nanita had been helping her with her manners too, because I hadn't been the one to tell her what all the others looked like well enough for her to get their names right. She even knew Daro and Rayta.

Goondoe came up next and I was even more surprised when Kita greeted him in his own language and according to the translation I got later she called him Leader Goondoe. The differences between Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon language were small, but they were there and I could see right away Goondoe was pleased over such a young child being able to get it right. I knew good and well Keeta had been her tutor for that little trick and I was going to thank her later.

Kita wasn't the only one to benefit from her hard work. Rose and Catla put on a pot of coffee at once and ushered us all to the table for a magnificent surprise. Rose had taught Catla to make Bear Sign while we'd been away and they had plenty for us by the time the coffee was ready.

Catla, Layta, and Leita had to handle the serving though, because Rose wasn't about to let Kita out of her clutches so soon. Rose sat at the table right away and Kita was in her lap with one smooth move. Nothing aids strong mother and child bonding like doughnuts.

Rose, Kita, and I had left Juko to tend to his own new group, but as he led them toward his section of the cave I could see things were already rearranged so they'd have plenty of room. His new group was mostly culture shocked and it was nearly to death. The horse rides home had caused some of it, but I could hear Juko explain about the lights and indoor plumbing as he led them to their area and I figured it was doing a number on their heads.

No matter their initial confusion the new women caught onto cooking before long. In fact suppertime was approaching and most of the women were cooking something. Both Goondoe and I were pleased for more than one reason. Rose had joined Catla and the others at the stove and she'd left Kita with Goondoe and I. For some reason Goondoe seemed thrilled. I was nearly stunned when he asked Kita if she'd like to meet his mates and when he asked I told him it was fine with me.

Kita left in his arms and she even seemed to be holding herself up like a little princess. I wanted to follow and watch the fun, but I didn't. I did seen Kita and Goondoe whispering together as they went though and I thought Kita would probably arrive knowing all three of the names of Goondoe's mates exactly right.

Fifteen minutes later I began to wonder about what was going on in Goondoe and his people's section of the cave. Hell, it seemed all of them were gathered around in a big wad talking, but mostly quietly. Keeta was near me and I asked if she knew what was going on.

"Kita is an orphan and The People always treat them well. They realize what a loss the child has gone through and it's their way to help make up for it. No orphan goes hungry in our camps unless everyone is hungry," she said.

It was a side of their behavior I hadn't realized before and to my mind it spoke well for them. Rayta had been an orphan too because of the actions of Jumjop, but she hadn't been one long because we took her into our family right away. I suppose Daro was technically an orphan too, but he hadn't been without a family for even thirty minutes before I came along to save him and take him in.

Goondoe returned with Kita in his arms in a few more minutes. Both of them were smiling and talking and both appeared very happy. He handed her off to me and she settled back into my lap as Goondoe left saying his supper was nearly ready.