This is a historical romance fanfic.  Gary and his family are Indians and they live on the range with the other members of their tribe in their own teepee.  There is no paper in this one.

Standard Disclaimer Applies

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Man With Mud Puddle Eyes
by Lori Anderson

Chapter 1

Gary entered his teepee tired from the hard riding he did with other men of the tribe looking for food.

"Greetings wife.  I bring much food for us tonight for dinner," he told Toni as he showed her the meat.

Toni put down the knife she had been using to scrape something off of her shoe and came towards her husband.  "Welcome home my husband.  That will fill us nicely tonight.  You look tired.  Go rest on your rug.  I will get you some water to drink," she said kissing him back.

Gary nodded and went over to his rug that was his bed in one part of their teepee.

"Where are the children?  I don't see them."

"They are at your mother's teepee.  She wanted to spend some time with them while you and the other men went hunting.  I took them over there, and will get them pretty soon."

Toni handed him the cup of water from the water flask and sat down besides him on the rug.

"We should call your father "Man Who Complains Too Much."

"Did he start complaining that he should go out and hunt with the rest of us again?"

"Yes, and your mother almost hit him with her leather strap that she was working on."

Gary laughed.  "I can see her doing that, and the look on my father's face."

"Lois wishes that the chief would find something for your father to do so he wouldn't sit around their teepee moping all day.  Ever since he retired from his position, she says that he's been a pain."

Gary handed his wife back the empty cup and laid down on the rug to go to sleep.

Toni took the buffalo meat and cleaned it while Gary took a nap.

An hour later, Lois appeared with Rose and Jeff besides her as she entered her son's teepee.

"I see my son was successful in the hunt today.  Hello Gary," she said smiling at him.

"Hello mother.  I hear that father is getting on your nerves again," Gary replied.

"Not that bad, but I warned him that if he didn't quit complaing, I was going to make him help me with the washing by getting water from the stream."

"Come here my children," Gary said holding his arms out to his twins.

Rose and Jeff walked towards their father and Gary hugged them in greeting.

"Were you good for your grandma?"

"Yes Papa.  We were good," Rose replied smiling at her father.

"Good.  Get washed up for supper.  We're going to eat soon."

"Would you like some water Lois?," Toni asked her mother in law.

"No thank you Toni.  I must get back to my teepee and fix dinner for Berine and I.  My son, I must warn you.  Your friend "the one who wants to get rich quick" as we call him, will be coming to see you later.  Do not let him talk you into any foolish schemes he has.  The chief does not trust Chuck too much."

"Don't worry mother.  I will tell Chuck gently, but firmly, that I do not want  any part of his hair brain schemes. Sometimes I think he speaks with forked tounge."

"That is for sure my son.  I will see you later.  Good bye for now."

Lois left Gary's teepee and walked back to hers and Berine's teepee.

"Father, why does uncle Chuck want to have money so bad for?," Jeff asked.

Gary placed his hand on his son's shoulders.  "You know how your uncle is my son.  Always wanting to have the wapum in his hands.  Go get ready for supper."

Toni liked Chuck, but didn't care for his crazy ideas on how to make easy wapum.

"Husband, your friend had better stop thinking about getting wapum before the chief calls a meeting on him."

"I know wife, but he will not listen sometimes.  I will make him understand just what will happen if he does not stop with his crazy schemes to get wapum."
 

Chapter 2

Gary was talking to another warrior by the fire while Toni was getting the dishes cleaned in their teepee.

"The hunt was good today.  My children ate everybit of their supper and even wanted more," he said.

Man With Good Sense nodded.  "That is a good sign my friend.  Your children will grow much strong.  Your daughter, Name of beautiful flower, is getting prettier everyday.  The chief even notices it," he told Gary.

"We named her Rose because my wife loves that flower.  I've had to take her one at one time."

"Were you apologizing for something that you did or say wrong to her?"

Gary shook his head.  "No.  I took her a rose because I wanted to show her how much I love her."

"You both are a good match.  I see your friend is coming this way."

Gary saw Chuck coming towards them and sighed.  "I like him, but he has to give up his crazy schemes to get easy wapum.  Have a good evening Man With Good Sense."

The other man told Gary the same and went to own his teepee where his wife was at.

"Greetings friend Chuck," Gary said smiling at Chuck.

"Greetings Gary.  How are you tonight?", Chuck said smiling back.

"I am fine.  It is you that I am worried about.  The chief wants you to stop thinking about getting easy wapum."

"I know he is displeased with me.  I have just come from his teepee.  He told me that I was supposed to be a warrior, and not want the easy wapum."

"I hope you told him that you would as he said."

"I did.  He is wise beyond his years."

"That is why he is the chief.  You will have to go with us hunting the next time we go."

"I will, but there is one problem with the hunt, I almost get sick when I see the animal's blood."

"You will get used to it.  I was almost sick myself the first time I went hunting, but I got over it."

"I almost forgot to tell you.  Our friend, Marissa, sends you a letter from town."

Chuck took out the letter and gave it to Gary to read.

"Gary," the letter began, " I wanted to tell you that everything is fine with Ottis and I.  We are making a good life for ourselves in town.  Ottis is a partner with a friend of his in the law office, and I am working at the salon. No, I am not one of those wild women you will hear about when you come into town.  I am helping the owner with the customers, and with his books.  I hope to see you and your family sometime.  Love Marrisa."

"I am glad for her and her husband.  How are things with your and your wife?"

"She's in the teepee finishing up her sewing on the shoes she was working on."

"Since you married Amber, you have done wonders with her.  She no longers for things she cannot have."

"She has made a request of me recently my friend."

"She has?"

Chuck nodded.  "Yes.  She wants to be with child."

"If that is what she wants, then grant it my friend."

"I want to Gar, but I want to be sure that she truly wants it before I do it."

"I would suggest that you ask her, and then if her answer is yes, then you can procede.  I must return to my family.  I wish you and Amber good luck ."

Gary bid Chuck goodnight and returned to his own teepee where his children were getting ready for bed.

"What did Chuck want with you my husband?," Toni asked.

"He said that he had a talk with the chief, and promises to quit his schemes for easy wapum.  He told me that Amber told him that she wants to be with his child," Gary replied sitting down on his rug.

"She will be a good mother.  She has changed since marrying your friend."

"That is true wife.  I see the children are preparing for bed."

"They wish for you to tell them a story so they can sleep through the night with pleasant dreams."
 

Chapter 3

Gary decided to tell his children the story of how he met their mother and his wife.

"When I was courting your mother many moons ago, she was a daughter of the one of the members of the council tribe.  They called him "Man Whom Had Seen Many Moons."  They called him that because he had seen a lot of warriors come and go as well as the seasons.  Anyway, I was out by the stream one day getting water to wash my clothes in, and I saw her there getting water for something herself.  She was and still is the most beautiful Indian maiden I had ever seen.  I knew then and there that I wanted her to be my wife.  So, I went over to her and introduced myself to her.  She looked at me and said, "You are the one they call Man With Mud Puddle Eyes.  I can tell by just looking at your eyes."  I said that it was my Indian name, and that my real name was Gary Hobson.  She said that her name was Toni, and that she was pleased to meet me," he began.

"That's right children.  Your father's eyes were so cute that they caught my interest.  I wanted to know more about him and why his eyes were like that," Toni said smiling at her children and husband.

"Anyway, we started talking and discovered that we had a lot in common living in the tribe.  She took me to her fahter's teepee, and introduced me to him.  He smiled and said, "Man With Mud Puddle Eyes has caught your attention I see.  Are you here to court my daughter young warrior?"  I was so nervous that I almost couldn't speak, but I finally nodded and said that I wanted to court her.  He told me that I had his permission."

"Grandfather had to give you pernission to court mother?  I thought only certain warriors had that," Jeff said.

"You are correct my son, but like I told you, she was very beautiful when I first saw her.  We began dating, and pretty soon, were very serious about each other.  One night, we were walking by the lake and she turned to me with a serious expression on her face.  I thought something was wrong, but everything was fine.  She asked me how much I loved her, and I told her that I loved her very much.  I even went so far as to give her my necklace to prove it.  She then told me that if I was that serious, that I should ask her father for her hand in marriage. "

Toni nodded when her children looked at her with question in their eyes.

"I loved him very much that I wanted to be his wife then and there.  That is why I told him to ask my father for my hand in marraige plus the usual payment one gives to the father of the maiden he is asking to marry."

Gary smiled.  "When I asked for Toni's hand in marriage from her father, he wanted two things as payment. One was one of my horses, and the other, why were my eyes the color they were?  I gave him the horse, and then told him that I was born with my  eyes the color that they were.  That is why they looked the way they do at times when I get upset about something or someone.  He accepted both gifts, and the arrangements for the marriage were quickly discussed inside his tent. The chief at the time was called in for his consent, and we were told that we were to be wed during the next moon festival, and we were.  That is the story of how your mother and I met,  courted, and got married.  Now, it's time for both of you to shut your eyes and visit the land of dreams.  Good night my pretty flower, and my son who shares my looks."

He kissed them both goodnight, and returned to his own rug where he and Toni slept at nights.

"Good night my precious children.  Sweet dreams," Toni said kissing her children goodnight.

"Good night mother.  Good night father," both twins closing their eyes.

Toni went over to her husband and sat down besides him on the rug.

"I had forgotten certain parts of our courtship husband.  I am glad that you told you our children how we met," she said leaning against him and Gary put his arms around her.

"I thought they would like that sweetheart.  They are growing, and they will need to know much more in their young years.  I did not tell them that you almost hit me with your fist one night during a fight we had."

"That they do not need to know.  When is the next time that you hurt the buffallo?"

Gary sighed.  "We go three days from now.  This time, Chuck will go with us."

"I pray you are sucessful like you were today."

"We will be.  Are you tired my lovely wife? Let me rub your shoulders for you."

"I would love that very much my handsome husband."
 

Chapter 4

Toni Hobson was so warm and cozy in her husbands arms that she almost fell asleep.

"I had better keep myself awake in order to go to my own rug," she said yawning.

Gary shook his head.  "No wife.  You will sleep with me on mine tonight, and everynight.  Yours we will use for family or any guest that enter the village and may want to spend the night," he told her.

"I will not argue with you husband.  I just melt when you give me that puppy dog look."

"That stays just between us honey.  I don't want anyone else to know about that."

"They can see it at times when something makes you unhappy, or you feel bad about something."

"I will not show it when I am with the others of the tribe from now .  It is time that we went to sleep."

Toni laid down first and then Gary laid down besides her pulling the blanket over to the both of them.

The next morning, Toni was fixing their breakfast as Rose was sent to the pond to get some water.

"Do not go too far Rose.  I do not want to go hunting for you in the woods," Gary told his daughter.

"Yes father.  I know the way, and will be back with the water for mother," Rose replied.

"Good.  Now my son, I will show you how to properly shoot a bow and arrow at a target."

Toni came out of their teepe just then.  "He is too young to be shown that my husband.  Jeff, go help your sister with the water.  Make sure that she does not get lost on the way back," she said.

"Yes mother," Jeff said, and went down the path that Rose had taken a few minutes ago.

Gary turned to his wife, a little angry that she wouldn't let him teach Jeff how to shoot a bow and arrow.

"Wife, he has to learn sometime.  He will be a warrior one day, and will need to use the weapon to hunt for food, and to defend himself.  Why do you not want him to learn it now?"

"Because, I do not want him to accidently shoot it at someone here.  If you must teach him, take him out in the woods, and draw a target on a tree for him to shoot at.  "

"I will do that, but he will be taught how to shoot it."

Man Who Has Seen Many Moons came towards them from his own teepe.

"Daughter, your husband is right.  Many of my grandson's age are already learning how to shoot the weapon.  Keeping him from doing it is denying him the chance to show how much he has learned," he said.

"Yes father.  I will return to the cooking pot before the meal gets cold."

Toni went back inside the teepe just as Rose and Jeff returned from the stream with the water.

"Hello grandfather.  We have got water for the dishes and other things," Rose said.

"I see granddaughter.  You truly are growing in beauty everyday.  Rose is a good name for you."

"Take the water inside to your mother my daughter.  I will speak to your brother alone," Gary said.

Rose took the bucket inside and Gary turned to his son.

"This afternoon, you and I will go into to the woods, find a tree, and I will draw a target on it for you to practice shooting your bow and arrow at. The time has come for you to learn," he told Jeff.

"Yes father.  I will learn whatever you have to teach me," Jeff replied.

"Good.  You are a good son."
 

Chapter 5

That afternoon, Gary took his son out to the woods, found a perfect tree for the target, and drew a target on it with a piece of chalk.    "This is your target my son.  You will shoot your arrows in the center.  I will show you where to stand to aim your weapon," he told Jeff, and they walked a ways from the tree.

Finding just the right spot, Gary handed Jeff the bow that he had made for him and a set of arrows.

"Knot your arrow and take careful aim at your target.  Then, let your arrow fly."

"Alright father," Jeff said, and carefully put his arrow on his bow from the pack besides him.

Sighting the target with his eyes, Jeff aimed, and released his arrow.  It hit the center perfectly.

"Good shot Jeff!  Do two more just like it."

Jeff nodded, aimed and fired two more arrows towards the target.  They hit their mark.

"I did it father!  Three times I hit the target dead on center!"

Gary smiled.  "Yes my son.  I am proud of you.  Now, you know how to shoot a bow and arrow.  It will come in handy when you go hunting the first time as a young warrior.  Now, go and remove your arrows from the tree."

Jeff walked over and carefully took out his arrows from the tree.  "Forgive me my friend tree.  I did not mean to hurt you with my arrows.  I was just learning how to shoot my weapon."

He turned and went back to his father with his arrows in his hands.

"We go back to the village now and tell your mother how you did," Gary said.

Back in the village, Lois Hobson was teaching her granddaughter how to mend a tear in a skirt.

"You are doing a good job with the needle granddaughter.  Someday, when you are married, you will have to make your family's clothes, and this skill I teach you will come in handy," she told Rose.

"I will make a good bride for some warrior one day," Rose said smiling.

"That you will, but you need not worry about it now.  I see your brother and your father are returning from the woods.  From the smiles on their faces, I can tell that the target pratice went well."

Toni came out of the teepe when she heard her husbands name metioned.

"Greetings husband.  How did the target pratice go with our son?," she asked smiling at Gary.

"He did good wife.  Three times , he hit the target dead center with his arrows," Gary replied.

"That is good.  He can use that skill later when he gets old enough to go hunting.  Right now, he can go play with his friends like he should."

Jeff went to where his friends were playing and joined them.

"I see that  my daughter is doing well with her sewing lesson mother,"  Gary said looking at his mother.

Lois nodded.  "Yes my son.  She is a good learner."

"That is good to hear.  My children will learn much from us that they will need in their later years."

"You are correct my husband.  It will be a part of them for the rest of their lifes."

Email the author: lori@maplecity.com
 

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