Thorny Norny Saga - part 2

Catcher of the Flies
chapter 1

The beauty of the mountains amid the big skies of Montana can leave viewers awe struck, especially if they’re viewing it for the first time, but the brisk air of the coming fall season in that region is a warning, a signaling of the arrival of Winter. Beauty and the Beast characterizes the changing of the seasons in the North. For the hardy breed who live here, this is all normal, and they’re well prepared, but for those newcomers who were drawn there by the mountainous wonderland and wide open spaces, the drastic changes in the seasonal climate can be a sudden shock. For the residents who were born and raised here, it is all part of life in the Big Sky country.

The ladies of the Shoshone Bullrider Cafe in Ashby knew exactly what to expect and how to be ready for it. The girls always kept the boardwalk in front of the cafe swept clear of snow, however the streets of Ashby were dirt, and when the Winter hit they would end up with white, wet mud, making mobility difficult for those on foot. The thing is, it didn’t matter how difficult it was to get around during the Ashby Winters, when people were hungry, they wanted to eat. The food at the cafe was the best grub for 100 miles around, at least according to their customers. The girls stayed busy all day long. Two of their best customers were, of course, Pete and Roscoe, not just because their ladies worked there with Norny or April (if you just met her), but because the food was the best they ever ate.  Daniel ate there every day, so he could see the love of his life (still hardly believing she was his), but the food was irresistible. Norny grew up with a band of Shoshone and Umatilla Indians, so her diet was considerably different then that of Pete and Roscoe. Many wondered, who were Pete and Roscoe? They seem to be inseparable. When, where and how did they meet?

Well it goes back to when Pete was just nine years old, and lived alone with his mother. They didn’t have much, and a lot of what they ate they grew for themselves. They had a milk cow, a few chickens, their vegetable garden and a mare that hauled mom's buggy into town. With those things they managed to get by. Once in a while Pete would find simple work for a few coins, and that would help. In school, Pete was not the smallest child, but far from the largest, Butch Marion, the school bully. Butch was brash and bold and made light of everyone, including Pete. Butch knew he was the king of the mountain, and felt he had to keep proving it to everyone, including himself. Even though Pete was one head shorter than Butch, he stood up to him. He would rather take a beating than be made to grovel at the feet of a bully.

Pete’s mother told him all about his father who died in The War Between the States. She told him about how they met, and when they were married, and that Pete had much of the same character and personality traits as his father.

Pete had a very unique and special talent.  A skill no one else had. He had the ability to snatch a fly out of the air with his bare hands. His hands were so fast, that catching a fly passing by was no challenge. All the other kids in his class would try to mimic his skill, but no one else could come close. Most of the kids thought that was amazing, all but Butch, who, of course, would make fun of him. “Hey Peetie, let's see you catch a few flies.” “Why? Your mommy didn’t pack you a lunch?” The whole class broke into laughter.

The kids would play another game. One person puts both hands out palm facing up. Then someone else puts hands on top with palms down. The idea was that the hands on the bottom had to swing around and slap the hands on top of theirs. Of Course, Pete was the undisputed champ. Nobody's hands were faster, and when Pete would play this game with Butch, Pete would slap extra hard.

One morning as Pete is leaving for school, his mother told him “Peetie, I want you to do something for me.”  “Sure, Ma, what?”  “On your way home from school, I want you to go by old man Frawley’s place and fix his chicken coop.  The hens are scattered all over the place. Fix the coop, then gather them up and get them back in. He hasn’t been well since his wife died, and he could use some help. Don’t take any money for it, you hear me?” “OK, Ma!"

After school, Pete, being the good boy that he was, did as his mother had requested and went straight to old man Frawley’s place and made the repairs. Pete found some tools in Mr. Frawley’s barn and went to work, but when the old man found out Pete was making the repairs Mr. Frawley said “I’m sorry son, but I can’t pay you.” “That’s OK, Mr. Frawley. I don’t want any money”. “That’s very kind of you young man, but one thing I can do, if you’ll accept it, is give you my burro, Sally. She is a good little donkey, and she’s very friendly and easy to deal with.  Now she’s lonely out there in the field all alone. I used to go out and bring her a carrot or something and she loved it. But now I can’t anymore. She’ll keep the coyotes at bay, and sound the alarm when strangers approach. I just can’t take care of her anymore, and she deserves a friend and good home. So please, will you take care of Sally for me?” “Sure thing, Mr. Frawley, if Ma will let me.” Since Mr. Frawley had slowed down with age, and was now feeling poorly, he felt guilty about not being able to care for Sally. Sally liked being around people even if it’s only one person. For many months now, Sally had been feeling lonely. She would welcome anyone who would visit her and show her a little kindness and attention.

So Pete took Sally with a rope around her neck, and walked her back home. “Mom, I told Mr Frawley that I couldn’t accept money, but he asked me if I would give Sally a good home.” “He doesn’t sound like he is going to be around very long!” “Well you're gonna have to be responsible for her, can you do that?” “I will, Ma! She’s not very big and very friendly. You’ll see, you’ll like her.” So every morning when Pete would head off to school, Sally would want to tag along. Wherever Pete went, Sally wanted to go with him. She was so thrilled to have a friend she would kick up her heels and bray with excitement over Pete. She would follow him everywhere. She found a friend and she wasn’t about to lose him. “No, Sally, go home!” But that didn’t usually work, so he would take her back and tether her to the hitching rail alongside the house, making sure she had plenty of food and water, of course. That became the routine for Pete on most school days.

One day in the middle of a math lesson, Miss Kellar asked “Does anyone know to whom the donkey belongs?”  At that point the whole class burst out into laughter as Sally stood at the window looking in. Smeone blurted out “Hey, Butch, your mom’s here!” Butch yelled “WHO SAID THAT?” Pete stood up and said, “She’s mine, Miss Kellar. I’ll tie her up outside till class is over. “OK, Pete, you go ahead.” After school Pete couldn’t be mad at Sally. She followed him because she loved him and wanted to be with him. She would rub her head into Pete's chest and make some sort of moaning sound. Pete would rub her head and neck in return. “You're a good girl, Sally, and I love you too. But you can’t follow me everywhere.” And with that little talk, Pete went inside and brought her an apple, which she really loved.

The school that Pete attended had about 48 or 49 students. Of couse they weren’t all the same age or the same grade level. Today was a special day, because there was a new student. “Class, we have a new pupil. His name is Roscoe Poe. Let’s all say hello to Roscoe.” Together the class said “HELLO, ROSCOE.” Roscoe was a bit on the stocky side. He had larger than average arms and was fairly tall.  His father was the new town blacksmith, since Tom Turner died. Roscoe helped his father forging iron and steel, so Roscoe was fairly strong, though he seemed average. Like every group, there is always someone who is considered most attractive and some considered least eye-pleasing. The most beautiful girl in the class was Caroline Simmie, and all the boys admired her. On the other hand the homeliest girl was Ida Berns, she wasn’t ugly, just rather plain. That didn’t stop Butch from making jokes about her. That was a problem for Pete. He didn’t like to hear Ida belittled by Butch (who was no prize himself). One day Pete was joking around with the guys, and he heard Butch refer to Ida as the boobie prize. “Ya know, Butch, anybody ever tell you, you gotta face like the south end of a north bound mule?” “Oh yeah!” And that was it, Butch and Pete were into it. Roscoe, being new in class, stayed out of it. He knew that the big guy, Butch, would probably win, but that little guy is a real scrapper. Pete knows he’ll probably lose, yet he fights anyway. Butch intended to show Roscoe who’s in charge there, and that was Butch's big mistake. Roscoe put Butch flat on his back with one punch. Butch knew his reign of terror was over as long as Roscoe was around.

In February, at the arrival of Valentine's Day, the custom was for everyone in the class to create a card to pass on to someone else in the classroom, expressing some words of kindness. Of course Caroline was the prettiest girl in the class, so most of the guys had eyes for her. Though Caroline didn’t lean towards any particular boy, she also had to create a Valentine card for someone. Pete longed for Caroline just like all the other boys in class. The thing is Pete was smart as well as having a kind and thoughtful heart. He had heard how the other boys talked about Ida like she was some sort of pest and the last straw of the beauty contest for some unfortunate boy. Pete had come to the defense of Ida, the homeliest girl in the class, many times. Butch and some of the other guys would make snide remarks about her behind her back, but Pete would tell Butch to knock it off. He'd say “She never did anything to you!” He just didn’t think it was right since she can’t help who she is. Pete knew that no one would send her a card, and just how terrible she might feel as the only one without a Valentine's Day card.  It would be sadly embarrassing for her, and Pete couldn’t bear to see her humiliated. So Pete knew that if his card went to Caroline, it would just be buried in with all the other cards from her admiring boys. So he decided that his card would be anonymous, and addressed it to Ida. Even though it wasn’t real sentiment, it could give her some joy at the thought. What he didn’t count on was that Ida would be so elated, that she would begin comparing handwriting to find out who the suitor might be.

When Pete left school for home that day, he noticed Sally about fifty yards away heading towards him.  It was pure joy for Sally seeing Pete. She started bucking and jumping and HEE-HAWing all at once. Sally waited anxiously all day for her Pete to come home.  Pete locked his arms around Sally’s neck “Hello, you silly girl! Did you miss Pete?” Of course it was obvious she did. Although Pete could have climbed on Sally’s back, and she would have gladly carried him home, Pete didn’t want her to be burdened with his weight. You never saw a more joyous animal than Sally was for  Pete. When Sally was with Mr. Frawley, he didn’t have time or energy to give Sally, so she was in the back field, sad and alone. Then Pete came along! And now, finally, a friend, a reason to live and be happy. You could sure tell Pete was the love of her life.

It was Monday at lunch time, and a  group of the boys were talking amongst themselves. Pete decided to amble over and see what’s up. Roscoe soon followed. Jacob said to them “You two wanna head over to Devil's Rock with us on Saturday? We‘re gonna bring our guns and do some target shootin'.”  Pete was quick to reply “All I got is my dad's Army Colt. It’s kinda heavy!” “That’s OK, you guys can share one of ours.” Jacob told them. “My dad is gonna be gone for a few days, so I’m takin' his new Winchester.” Dale announced. “OK, we may come by.” Roscoe said. About then Mrs. Kellar was ringing the bell for everyone to return to their seats inside. Back in class, Pete noticed that Ida was looking over at him every once in a while. “Could she know I sent her the card?” Butch blurts out “Looks like someone got eyes for Peetie boy” Pete walks over to Butch's desk, then grabs a fly out of the air, puts his hand in Butches face and as he opens it he says “Here, this one is just for you. Don’t choke on it!”  Pete felt he did the right thing sending the card to Ida, but what he didn’t expect was for Ida to compare handwriting and find out who sent her the card. “What if she asks me, what should I tell her?” He thought to himself. “Oh crap! I’m gonna be in a predicament.”  On the way home, Pete and Roscoe try and figure out a solution. Soon Roscoe pops up with “I think I’d tell her I have a girlfriend, and it wouldn’t be right, just because you admire someone here.” “Hey, that’s not bad Roscoe!” Then Roscoe asks “You want I should write you some kind of rhyme thing or somethin' and say it’s from your girl?” “Oh heck No, you better not. It might come out makin' me look weird.” Pete didn’t want to make Ida his girlfriend, but he didn’t want to see her hurt either. When Pete got home from school that day, Mom called him over. “What’s up, Ma?” “I wanted to tell you that old man Frawley died today.” “Oh gee, . . . that’s too bad! I’m glad we got Sally before he passed away.!"

While Pete and Roscoe were learning their lessons in a classroom, about 700 miles away a young girl destined to be the object of their attention and their best friend, was learning another kind of lesson. Living with her tribal family, the Indians didn’t see her as a woman of marriage and child bearing. but rather a capable individual able to insert herself into the hard world of unpredictability. To the women who raised her she was the pretty “Smiling Eyes”, but to the children and some of the men she was just “Norny” (without identity).

That day marked a major change in the  direction of Norny’s life. She would go out with the young would-be warriors, about the same age, and begin the training  to defend herself. The experience was not the same for everyone. Their method of teaching would seem odd if not cruel to those who didn’t understand, and to make matters worse, Norny was the only female.

They would play a game, something like our present day tackle football, using animal hides tied into a sort of ball shape except it wouldn’t bounce. They called it a Naru. They would pass it around and try to tackle whomever possessed it. Those who got the Naru would more than likely get pummeled. This would gradually toughen them up for inevitable hand-to-hand combat. Eventually she would walk out to the meadow with the young would-be warriors, under the guidance and supervision of “Strayhorse”.  For the first two weeks they played toss and tackle the Naru. Now it was time to learn how to confront your opponent. For the next few days Strayhorse would show them maneuvers to catch their opponents off guard, and take advantage of them. After that, the young fighters would pair up and go into hand-to-hand combat.

At first Norny thought this might be fun, but when it got rolling, it wasn’t fun at all, it was terrifying her. It didn’t take long before Norny got hurt again.  But they don’t stop because someone gets hurt, that’s what it was all about. No, they keep playing and hitting her hard. After a while Norny couldn’t take it anymore and started crying. That stopped the training. Then the young ones started taunting her and pointing at the cry-baby in their words. But who wouldn’t cry, especially a young girl who didn’t expect a life of bruises and pain. Norny wasn’t accustomed to being brutalized. “Why can’t I go play with the other girls” she thought to herself? “Why do I have to play with these mean boys?” But little did she know that this was just the beginning of something much worse in store for her. It’s not to say that Norny didn’t ever play with the other young maidens, she had her share of fun with them as well. But her schooling was battling the boys.

The whole strategy of Norny’s training was long thought out, and it was going to get rougher every time. By the second day of scramble (in their words) one of the others came up behind Norny, and kicked her legs out from under her. Her back slammed to the ground taking the wind out of her. She lay there for a few seconds, and couldn’t draw a breath. Her mouth moved but no air was coming in, then finally she got a gulp. She let out a scream before breaking down into tears and bawling like a baby, as they called it. The boys all laughed and pointed, making fun of her again. “She is a little girl, why does she compete with the young warriors? She belongs back in camp with the other children.” One young warrior pup called out. Most of the other boys felt the same way, they couldn’t understand why she was there.

Back at the camp, the women who raised Smiling eyes as they called her, were appalled at the rough treatment they were giving her. “She is a young girl, not a warrior!” They exclaimed “Yes, now she is a young girl, but when we finish she will be a warrior worthy of the title. Every day they saw Smiling eyes come back into camp brutalized and beaten to a pulp with blood and bruises to show for her efforts. And most of the time crying from the pain and ridicule. The women in the camp would dress her wounds and console her. “I’m sorry little one, but the wise old owl has spoken, and this is your destiny.” “But why? What have I done that they want to hurt me?” You have done nothing, little one. You are chosen, because you are special. They see something in you above that of a maiden! We are destine to be overrun by the White Man. You will go free, there will be none of us left, but you, my sweet Smiling Eyes. You alone will represent the best of us, what’s left of us, and make our spirits proud.  It will not be easy for you, but we know you will make it in time. This is why they prepare you!”

At night Strayhorse would be scolded by his woman “Why must you keep hurting her like that, it’s not right!” He would reply “Because she has to want to make it stop. And one day she will, I promise you. I knew she would cry as I expected, but before long, she will get angry and fight back. She will one day be a fearsome adversary.” These lessons went on every day for years. The lessons later would include Bareback riding, hunting Buffalo and even riding the Buffalo. When it came time to kill a buffalo. The warrior would ride up alongside a charging animal and put an arrow through it’s heart. That was the one thing Norny refused to do, kill the buffalo. She would chase it, and even jump on it’s back and ride it and respect it, but could never kill it.

Meanwhile, down in Greer, Wyoming, one afternoon, some of the boys, including Pete and Roscoe, went over to Jimmy Knotts ranch to look at the new baby Brahma bull. It wasn’t just born, it was about six months old. They were all standing around admiring the new Brama.  “Damn, those things are ugly! I've seen 'em ride these bulls at the rodeo. Those things can be mean!” Trever said “What do ya mean ugly, it’s a Brama, what do you expect, an antelope?” “When I grow up, I’m gonna ride bulls just like the rodeo cowboys do!” Pete told them. “Yeah, sure you will! Bet you won’t climb on that baby Brama right now!" dared Sowboy (nicknamed that because he wants to be a cowboy but he raises hogs, making him the sowboy cowboy). “Yeah, yeah" everybody shouted. “Go on, are you a chicken? yeah chicken” they all said. That is except Roscoe.

Pete is a little nervous. Pete looks back at them and says  “Actually chickens are pretty brave, you ever seen them go after a snake? And if you get them mad, they’ll come after you.”  “Come on you're just stalling. Let’s see you big rodeo man!” So Pete carefully walks out towards the bull.  Roscoe said “You don’t have to do it. These cowards sure wouldn’t! They just want to see what would happen if you did!” But Pete just kept moving slowly towards the baby bull. Getting there was the easy part, getting on its back would be the trick. The bull stood about 4 ft. to the shoulder, which was just a few inches short of Pete’s height. As Pete approached he saw out of the corner of his eye a hay bail. He drug it over alongside the bull. The bull seemed to be oblivious to what was happening. Slowly Pete climbed on the back of the bull. Then the bull became aware of the rider, and let out a loud groan of disapproval as he began running and bucking at the same time, still bellowing his anger. All the onlookers started yelling “eeehhaa ride'm cowboy” and laughing. Pete had nothing to hold onto except the large hump on the Brahma’s back, so after about 4 seconds he was thrown to the ground. Pete got up, dusted himself off, and trotted back over to the group. “OK, now let’s see one of you loudmouths go try it.

Nobody would except Roscoe. “I’ll give it a go”! So Roscoe got a running start and leapt onto its back. The reaction was immediate bellowing and bucking. The baby Brahma was clearly scared. Roscoe went for 3 seconds. Little did anyone know that this was the beginning of a long and lustrous rodeo career for each of them, not to mention a binding and everlasting brotherhood between the two men. For the most part Pete’s daily routine was almost the same day in and day out. Except once in a while something exciting might happen.

Greer’s  town sheriff was a farmer who wore overalls without shoes. His badge hung on the strap of his overalls. Sometimes he carried a handgun, but he wasn’t particularly good with it. He just hoped he didn’t have to use it. His shotgun sufficed. Otto was as strong as an ox and almost as big. He could lift the rear end of a freight wagon  by himself. The thing was he had been a farmer most of his life. Some of the men in town said he had a punch that could knock a mule unconscious. Not that he did that, he respected animals, and understood the need of them. The people in this little town liked Otto, and knew him to be a fair and honest man, a pragmatic thinker and hard worker.

Things were changing in the nation at that time. It was just after The War Between the States, and many soldiers who made it home in one piece found it hard to make a living.

In those times, after the war, there were many unemployed men, even though they traveled looking for honest work or just a meal, it was difficult to find. But all men weren’t good, and some of them resorted to crime to get by. It was prevalent all over the country. There were always men coming round willing to work for food or a place to sleep. Then there was a group of leftover soldiers that  were known as Quantrill’s Raiders. At one time there were over 50 men. Wearing the uniforms of the side they fought for. They would terrorize small towns, killing many people, mostly men, having their way with the women, and just taking what they wanted. They pillaged and raped and plundered committing all kinds of atrocities. When the law finally sent the military after them, the raiders disbanded. Some went south to Mexico, others headed for parts unknown. Many of them were caught and hung or shot on the spot. However, some got away completely and were never caught.

But one night in June, it was about 8 or 9 in the evening, just past Pete’s bed time. Sally started bellowing about something. Dorthy (Pete’s mom) thought Sally saw a coyote until she heard something outside. They didn’t have any close neighbors or many visitors, especially at night. She heard not a knock, but more of a pounding. She opened the door and saw two men standing there. She didn’t realize she had confronted a couple of desperate characters who weren’t so friendly. When asked what they wanted, they pushed their way in as they demanded “We need food, what-a ya got?”. “I’ll see if I can fix you something? We don’t have any money!” Dorthy said. But the two men  started rummaging through everything and breaking the more fragile items.

“Who else is here”? they demanded. “Just my 9-year-old son, he's asleep in bed”. “No man around”? “My husband was killed in the war”. “Please take what you want and go, but leave my boy alone.” “Oh we will!" The man replied with an evil grin on his face. Pete’s mom would be considered an attractive woman. At about 28, she was still  capable of winning the favor of a man if she so desired. She was no fool, and could see that they had sinister plans for her, once they were sure they were safe.  One of them was holding onto the door handle to Pete’s room, when Dorthy said “Please don’t go in there!”. But the man swung it open. “Please leave him be, he doesn’t need to know your here”. But that didn’t stop them.  They could see the boy sitting up in bed with the covers over him. One man started to chuckle, and he looked over at his partner “You gotta see this!” Pete sat upright under the covers. His heart pounded in his chest. After hearing the angry loud voices, he was definitely afraid. Sally was right outside Pete’s window, sounding her alarm. Then both men went into the room. “Oh, where can he be, I don’t see him anywhere”! Playing a little game he says with laughter. “I guess he’s not here. Oh where could he have gone?” acting like the boy is playing ostrich burying it’s head in the sand. If I can’t see them, they can’t see me.

The men laughed, as one swiftly pulled the blanket off Pete. They stopped laughing when they saw Pete pointing his dad's service revolver straight at them. “NOW WAIT!” the man shouted he puts his hand out, as if to stop the bullet.  They could not say or do anything more, Pete shot them both. It didn’t kill them, but they were injured enough that the fight went out of them, before Sheriff Otto arrived to arrest them. Several crimes were attributed to the two, and it was determined that they were stragglers from Quantrill’s Raiders, and they were hanged a week later.

This event marked a turning point in Pete’s life. He had never even handled a gun before that night, let alone shot someone. Pete knew what it was like to have the power of life or death over another human. Mom never looked at her little Peetie as her baby boy again. She sat down on the bed next to her son and said “I am so proud of you, your father would be proud of you. From this day on, you're not my little Peetie anymore, you're the man of the house. And from now on, I will treat you as one”!

Back at school, word had spread fast about what had happened. “Wow, what was it like…..were you scared?” “Hell yes!” he replied.  One kid asked.  “How come you didn’t jump out your bedroom window and run”? “Because his mom was there by herself stupid!“ Roscoe exclaimed. Of course boastful Butch would have handled it differently. “Why I would have knocked out the one guy then I . . . .” “Oh shut your fat pie hole you blowhard.! You’d've run like a sniveling coward!” Roscoe shouted at him. Butch shut up after that.  He wasn’t going to tangle with Roscoe again

Every day after school, when 3:30 came around and the kids were let out of class, Sally would be walking towards them to meet Pete. She had her own built-in clock, and knew exactly when school let out. Pete and Roscoe would usually walk together until the road split. But just about then Sally would see Pete, and start jumping and making all sorts of happy noises for Pete. “Look at that crazy donkey!” Roscoe would say. “I know she can’t wait to see me!” Sally was Jubilant at the sight of him. And Pete grew much fonder of Sally as the days went by. She was a good little burro.  

When Saturday came around, Roscoe came out to Pete’s house. “What do ya think? You wanna go see what these sharp shooters are up to?” Roscoe asks “Might as well, not much else going on.” He replied. As the boys left, Sally began walking with them. “No, Sally! You can’t come this time. You have to stay here!” “Hang on, Roscoe, I’d better tie her up, or she’ll follow.” “You need to stay, Sally, I’ll be back soon ok!” Pete said as he tied her to the rail fence.

So the two boys headed off to the sound of gunshots in the distance. It was about a mile to Devil's Rock, and you could hear some of the larger caliber guns for miles. As the boys approached, they could hear the ricochet of the bullets off the rocks. One or two zingers fly past the boys. When they saw them, Roscoe yelled out “What the hell is the matter with you guys, you never shoot towards the rocks. The ricochet can hurt or even kill someone.” Then Pete jumps in “Who’s shooting the cannon?” “Trever has his dad’s 44/40 Henry.” “Stop shooting towards the rocks with that thing. The ricochet goes back a half a mile.” Roscoe told them. “You guys need to shoot in that direction there!” Pointing to the open field. “There’s nothing in that direction for 5 miles.” He comments “These guys are idiots!” Pete says to Roscoe “Let’s take off before someone gets hurt.” “I’m with ya.”

Pete and his buddy headed back down the road they came in on. It curved around a tree-lined area, so they couldn’t see around the bend until they got there. As they rounded the bend, they saw something that stopped them in their tracks. Sally had somehow gotten loose and followed them. There she lay in the road. One of the ricochets had hit her straight in the head and killed her instantly. The boys were dumbstruck, they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. “Aw Sally! I told you to stay home girl. Why couldn’t you listen?” Pete dropped to his knees, and started running his hand down Sally’s neck. Then he said “Gee Roscoe, I told Mr. Frawley I would take care of her. Looks like I failed him and Sally both! She was the sweetest little burro! And she really loved me. That’s why she followed us!” This is the first time Roscoe saw Pete actually cry tears. Roscoe could see his grieving, and put a comforting hand on Pete’s shoulder.

A few years later, Norny was still in training, only now she was becoming an adversary. She would no longer take the insults, or be made fun of. But now she not only got bloody, she dished it out  as good as they could. Now they were working with horses bareback, and Norny was in her element. But a new problem was beginning to grow.  And that was Norny’s womanhood was starting to show through. Several of the young warriors were now seeing her for the first time. Though she never smiled on the training field, when she was back in camp with friends, a smile happens occasionally. And when it did, the young men who had their eyes on her, would feel their hearts pounding in their chest. Now they were beginning to see Norny in a new light. Strayhorse saw that the young male warriors didn’t want to inflict pain or harm her any longer, and realized this would be close to the end of his effectiveness. The tribe now prized Norny, and in doing so rewarded her for all she had been through and allowed her to pick the horse of her choice. There was no doubt in her mind which horse to choose, it would be her Pretty Big Boy Poco! That horse became her joy. He was the reason she got up each morning.

Norny’s training went on for 7 or 8 years. She not only learned to fight and defend, but there wasn’t a man there she couldn’t put down, and they all knew it! The band all knew that Norny would be leaving them one day, but now many of the young men didn’t want that to happen. She was the object of their desire. “She should stay!” One says “Yes, she is a good warrior, and is one of us now!” “No, it can’t be so!” the wise man says. So it was a sad event the day they set her free. No one could have guessed how things would have turned out for her. But fate charts its coarse, and that’s the way it is. There was a sadness in their village for weeks to come.    

The diner was pretty routine except occasionally a man who has over imbibed would amber over from the saloon, sit himself down and demand service, usually loudly and forcefully. This one afternoon, a man who was obviously beyond drunk wandered in,  seated himself and yelled for a waitress. Liz responded to his table “What can I get for you, sir?”  Slurring his words, he replied “What have you got, Sweet Pants?” Then reached around and grabbed a handful of her backside. Liz knocked his hand away and told him “If you don’t behave yourself, we’ll have to throw you out of here.” The man looked around and laughed  “Oh yeah? Who’s gonna do it, you?” “No sir! Her!” pointing  to Norny, the gentle-looking woman in the kitchen. “What, is this a joke?” He asked as he grabbed another handful. “NORNY! Would you come here please?” Liz requested. “What’s the problem, Liz?” “No problem!” the drunk replied as he reached around and grabbed Norny’s butt. In one swift move Norny grabbed his arm, and, as she spun around, drug the drunk out of his seat, across the table and onto the floor face down. She put one foot on his back, and with his left arm up behind him she twisted it until he yelled out in pain. “If you can’t behave yourself, you won’t eat here!” The drunk groaned. “One more inch and it breaks!” she said. “Please, I get it, I get it,!" Then Norny drug the man across  the floor and out the door, off the boardwalk and into the dirt. The drunk rolled over and stared at Norny as if silently wondering "who the hell are you?" “Don’t come back here until you know how to behave!” she told him!

As Norny returned to the kitchen she heard “Norny, that was incredible. I wished I could do that!” The girls all applauded her. Liz asks Norny, “Do you think you could learn me to do that?” “Trust me Liz, no woman should ever have to go though what I had to in order to defend herself. You wouldn’t believe how long I suffered before I could be the one to cause the suffering.” “I can’t imagine.” Liz replied.The lunch crowd was heavy at the cafe again today, many riders came in and hitched the horses to the rail out front.  

Norny had spent all morning cooking in the hot kitchen, and the aroma of good food permeated the air. Now Norny and Liz are out front with the lunch crowd serving the customers who couldn’t wait to devour their incredible culinary creations. The girls had to really move to keep up with the customers. It was going like clockwork when all at once Norny came to a dead stop. Her eyes gazed through the front window. Liz noticed Norny's’s looking at the horses tied out front. Norny stood, there holding the serving platter with plates to be delivered, but she seemed frozen in time, not moving a muscle. It happened that Pete and Roscoe were among the lunch crowd then. Every table was full, and there were customers waiting outside for a table. Norny didn’t even flinch. She just stared at something outside window. Liz walked over and took the platter away from her. “Are you ok, Hon? Is something wrong?” Now everyone noticed, and turned toward the window to see what had her attention, but they don’t see anything unordinary. “April, April, Norny, are you ok?” Liz asks her again.  But she doesn’t return an answer, she still looked outside.

Then Norny started toward the front door while still staring at whatever it was. They all watched her as she slowly approached a particular horse. She held its face, and rested her face alongside his while she stroked the side of it. Then she ran her hands down along the neck, as her eyes slowly began to tear up. Norny was oblivious to anything else. “Hey! What’s she doin' with my horse Ranger?” a man says as he stands up out of his seat. “Stay in your seat, just leave her be. She won’t hurt your horse!” Roscoe told him. Now She had her arms around his neck and her face buried in it. Liz walked over to Pete and Roscoe’s table. “What’s she doing guys?” “That horse looks identical to her deceased horse Poco!” Pete told her. “Oh! She must of loved it?” “Poco was her first horse, and she was devoted to that animal. They traveled for miles together, they rodeo’d together, they were literally inseparable.” “Oh, I see. He must've died.” Liz says “She had to shoot him!” “OH MY GOD! That poor girl! No wonder she’s acting like that!” Norny kept stroking the horse's neck and rubbing her face into it, while she softly cries. Meanwhile the man who owns Ranger finishes his meal, and starts to get up. “Hold on a second mister. Don’t go out there yet. Liz, bring Mr. horse owner there desert and put it on my tab.” “What tab?” “The one we’re starting now!” “Alright!” So the man sits back down and waits for his pie. Pete and Roscoe just bought her more time to be alone with her thoughts of Poco. They weren’t going to let that man interfere with Norny’s moment of remembrance of her dear departed Poco. They were going to keep him there until Norny walks away on her own. Pete looks at Roscoe and says “This makes me think about Sally. Losing Sally was painful, I can’t imagine what Norny went through.” So Rosa came out of the kitchen to give Liz a hand in Norny’s absence. After a few more minutes, Norny takes Poco’s hair she braided from his mane, and puts it to her lips, then she returns heading straight to the back to remove all traces of sorrow on her face before returning to her duties. Roscoe walks by the horse owner, pauses and pats him on the shoulder to say “Thanks mister. She needed that!” then Roscoe walks on.

There was little doubt, Norny was happy she found Daniel, thanks to her good friends Pete and Roscoe. And when Norny was happy, she would smile, and the magic in her face would glow for all to see. Thankfully their life together went very smoothly. Fortunately, Daniel had been married before and learned that marriage had to be more give then take by both sides in order for it to work. And Daniel was more than willing to give to Norny. They respected each other's space, and controlled their differences for the sake of mutual harmony. But one major difference was that Daniel slept in a comfortable bed, big enough for two. However Norny still refused to sleep in a bed. After all, she spent her whole life living in a tipi and sleeping on the ground. Or in stables or horse stalls. Daniel had learned that, when he found her and helped her recover from her injury. He knew it may be a challenge to get her to sleep in his bed. So Daniel’s plan was to ease her into it. He brought in a bale of hay, and made a bed on the floor next to his. He hoped that when she wanted to feel her man’s warm body next to hers, she would climb into his bed. However, it worked out just the opposite. Daniel spent most of his nights on the floor, in the hay cuddling Norny. He couldn’t resist putting his arms around his beautiful bundle of love. If he had to, Daniel would sleep on a bed of hot lava just to be alongside Norny. In fact, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. He would change the course of a raging river with his bare hands if he had to. In all facets of their existence, life was now good for Norny and Daniel.

The next morning the girls are all in the kitchen preparing today’s menu, when suddenly Norny says, “I’ve gotta sit down for a minute!” She looked pale and faint like she might pass out. The ladies gathered around her concerned sense Norny was never known to be sick before. As Norny sits there holding her stomach while looking at the floor, unexpectedly she vomits. “OH,….. I’m sorry girls,…. I’ll clean it up.” She says.  When she looks up she notices the other girls were smiling at each other. “Why would you take pleasure in my illness?” Norny asks  “Hon, you're pregnant!” Liz says “I’m what? “You're pregnant!” “Means your gonna have a baby, sweetie.” Rosa says “You and Daniel are gonna be a mama and papa. Your own family!” she told her. Norny’s mind slips into momentary confusion. “Me, a mother? I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do as a mother. I’ve never had a mother!” “Don’t worry Hon, when the time comes, you’ll know!” “Besides, Daniel was a father, he’s no stranger to raising a family.” Which then brought to mind the terrible hardship he went through in the past.

When she got home, Norny broke the news to Daniel.  “Daniel, I got sick today at the cafe, and the girls tell me it’s because I am with child.” “WHAT! Oh my God! . . . Thats wonderful Norny! You know what this means . . . we’re gonna be a family! This is the best news you could’ve given me. “I love you, my beautiful white squaw woman!” He tells her as he grabs her at the waist, and lifts her over his head to stare into her perfect silver blue eyes, and right then she showered her magical smile down upon his face, bringing Daniel a moment of total elation. From that moment on, everything they did was to prepare for what was to come. Daniel was excited at the prospect, while Norny didn’t know what to expect, or how much their lives would change.