0bssesed by Him

Eben pulled the frock out from his chest and stared down at the beadwork. It was fuzzier now than it had been a minute ago, and he thought that it must have gathered dust from a long day’s travel—despite his earlier dip in the creek. “A young Shoshone girl made this shirt for me. The wife of the interpreter. He was a Frenchman, too, but more asshole than anything.” He sighed and took a small swallow from the jug— just enough to wash away the thought of Sacajewea and her child as her imbecile husband paddled them away. He’d grown quite fond of the girl. “She was most unfortunate in her choices, but doubtless too young to know any better.”

“This girl was not a bitchy witch, then?” Henri said slyly.

Sacajew—Saca—no, not her. She was just a kid. Barely out of swaddling.”

“But with a husband and child?” “Even so.”

“Tell me, dear friend. Do you travel with companions?”

Eben shook his head and the room swam crazily before righting itself. He was getting a little drunk. Not dreadful drunk. Just a trifle. It felt good to let go, and relax, and the old man was a fine companion, for all that he was hovering near death’s door. “No companions. Companions are for lesser men. I’m alone, and I like it that way.”

“You have been gone a long time from home? Your wife, this witchy bitch, she must be most anxious for your return, eh?” Henri chuckled, and Eben burst out laughing.

“Witchy, bitchy wifey—that’s a good one, Henry. I thought we were through this already. I don’t have a woman, or a wife

—bitchy or witchy, or waif-like—and I don’t want one.” Eben put a finger to his lips, though it took him two tries to find them. The brandy had loosened his tongue at both ends, and he didn’t give a flying frig. Damned if he didn’t like Henry, who was a fine drinking companion, for all that the Devil had him by the elbow. “I’m a man about to build a breeding empire.

This empire is gonna be—well, empire-like. Impressive by any standards. But, it’ll take some doing. A lot of concentrated effort. I can’t afford to be distracted for even a minute.

Therefore, women, witchy, bitchy, or even angelic—should there be such a thing on the face of this Earth—are not a good idea.”

“Ah, but you can’t build this empire until you reach your destination, is that not true?”

“No. I suppose not.”

“And such an empire will require funding, will it not?” “It will, if I am to do it right and properly, within a

reasonable amount of time.”

“And—since you can’t begin this concentrated effort until you reach your home, and you will need money to accomplish your goals, then it would surely not hurt to add to the funds you have set aside, by say—doing a small favor for an old man who is not long for this world?”

“Ah, ha!” Eben said. “Henry, you sneaky old bastard, I knew you were after something! Plying me with brandy!”

“You are far too smart for me, my fine friend,” Henri admitted. “I do have a proposal to lay before you, that if you but agree, will aid you in achieving your dreams of empire- building.”

“Go on,” Eben said, stroking his chin, and thinking he needed a shave. “I am listening.”

“You have seen my predicament. I have little time left to me, and when I am gone, my Raven will be left all alone. She has no family, except for me, and no one to care for her. This

world is cruel, my friend. I do not wish to leave my child to the mercy of the wolves. She will need a protector—but only for a short time. Someone to look after her and keep her safe until she can be settled in the East.”

Eben tipped back his tawny head and howled his mirth at the ceiling. When he’d finished laughing, he wiped the tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand. “Not only are you dying, Henry—you are also quite insane. I am no one’s nursemaid.”

“No one expects you to be. My Raven is quite self- sufficient. A good hand with making medicines, potions, and elixirs. She can catch a fish with her bare hands, and she is fast as lightning on her feet.”

“I’m sorry for your predicament, Henry, but no must mean no. I’m a man on a mission. I need to travel fast. Besides that, there are at least a hundred reasons why this is a bad idea, beginning with the fact that she is female, and females are trouble.”

“She needs someone strong and courageous. Someone formidable to protect and guide her. Come now, my dear old friend, what is it? A few days? A week? Surely, you can pretend she is just an effeminate boy for so short a period of time?”