Derailment: Day 9

Word Count: 54,012

Summary of Events:
Fox Paw decided she should explain to Matthew what had transpired with Badger Ears and found him talking with her father; he asked her to get him his Bible and then the two men got into an incredibly heated argument. Matthew was dragged out into the open, kicked and spat on by many of the men, and then thrown out of the camp — as were Adonikam and Shelomith. A few days later Fox Paw saw Matthew approaching the camp because the men had left and he had a question and answer period with the women until the men returned. Matthew contemplated the situation he'd gotten into, wanting to leave, yet not feeling it the right time to leave, and with a threat of death on his head should the men dare catch him in the camp.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Matthew often consulted the Bible on his lap as he answered the questions; Fox Paw found all of it rivetingly interesting and she wished the men would never return — or have kindness in their hearts toward him when they did — so that she could listen to him for hours.
He answered a good many questions before one of the women stood and announced that her daughter had seen the men were returning. Everyone rose and returned to their homes quickly.
Matthew took to his feet and walked off as fast as Adonikam could toddle along beside him. Fox Paw was tempted to rush after him and ask him to tell her more, but she couldn't, she needed to finish her gift for Badger Ears, it was almost done.
Fox Paw watched as Matthew disappeared around the corner of his wagon contraption and still stared at the whole camp yet after that. His horses were grazing away at the grass all around, switching their tails when flies bothered them.
A firm hand settled around the back of Fox Paw's neck and caused her to straighten with nervousness. She could feel a wave of anger behind her and she hoped that she wasn't going to be choked.
"I see you are staring at the white man's camp again," Badger Ears said, his voice like a winter wind. "What of your pledge of faithfulness to me?"
"It is my curiosity only," Fox Paw replied, shifting uncomfortably.
"Curiosity in regard to what?" Badger Ears asked. "What it would be like to be the wife of a white man?"
Fox Paw startled and turned to look at Badger Ears with appall. "Why should I wonder such things? I am to be your wife! I am only curious as to what all those things are, and how they work, as a young child is curious about the world as they grow!"
"I should hope so," Badger Ears said, his face cold and hard. "I wouldn't want you to crave a white man's affection, for it would bring you nothing but mourning. White men are men of violence agains all those who are not of their colour."
Fox Paw shuddered under Badger Ears' gaze; his eyes looked like they were black as midnight, not a star to light it; his whole face was of stone. She remembered distinctly Badger Ears' repeated strikes with his foot against Matthew's side, and how he'd spat on Matthew. His hatred for Matthew seemed stronger yet than the hatred even of her father.
Without another word Badger Ears turned and walked off, straight, noble, and no less upset than he'd been when he'd been facing her. Fox Paw sighed and went back to her mother's home.
Sitting down by the fire, Fox Paw took up her work. In another day it would be done and surely then Badger Ears would be pleased and would not look on her so coldly and harshly — if only she could keep from pausing in her work outdoors to look on Matthew's wagon contraption and his camp."