Chapter 14- History Lessons and Archery
John Shaw felt like a boy at Christmas. Joe and Polly had gone home shortly after Alexandra and Amanda had found the will and he was enjoying himself immensely with the two girls in his life now. It made his life before the girls had come seem flat and empty. He was finding out new things about his girls every day. Amanda was a combination of Jim and Elizabeth.
When his niece got upset her dark eyes took on a stubborn look like Jim, but when she smiled she looked like Elizabeth. Alexandra was in some ways like him; quiet and reserved, but when she got wrapped up in something important he could see flashes of Laura's personality in her smile and the way her dark brown eyes shone.
Alexandra's love of books wasn't all new since her mother had been addicted to the written word. The fact that she had trouble remembering historical dates was unusual. John had spent an afternoon quizzing both girls at history. Amanda had done well, but Alexandra knew people in history, just not the date.
John had finally given up and sat next to Alexandra, wrapping his arms around her and holding her to his chest.
"I'm sorry I didn't do so well," Alexandra said, a look of shame and embarrassment on her young face as she looked up at him.
John squeezed her hand gently. "It's all right. I never was that great with dates either. Jason was the one who actually helped with history. I hired him to tutor Jim and I sat in on the lessons. I understood it better if someone explained it," John said.
"I never had a problem with history," Amanda said, playing with her white cat, Snowball. John hadn't noticed the cat until he had checked on Alexandra one night and the cat was lying across her feet.
"You get that from your father. Alexandra is like me though. It takes a couple of times to explain, but she'll get it," John said with a smile.
"So you aren't angry?" Alexandra asked timidly.
"Of course not. I could never be angry with you or Amanda. Why do you think I spoiled you so much when you were a baby?" John teased, pulling Alexandra's reddish braids.
"Because of Mother dying?" Alexandra ventured a guess.
"Probably. I wanted to make it where you never lacked anything," John said, feeling tears in his eyes at the mention of Laura.
"Well, I need to catch up on a few things," Amanda said, trying to change the subject and walk away.
"Like what?" John asked.
"Archery, for one. I haven't been keeping up with the lessons Daddy taught me," Amanda said with a smile.
"Archery. You mean shooting with a bow and arrow," Alexandra asked skeptically.
"Yep. Do you know how to shoot with a bow and arrow?" Amanda asked.
"No. White people are not about to teach another how to use a bow and arrow like the Indians. Especially if the white man raising you absolutely hates Indians and thinks they are lower than animals," Alexandra said in a small voice.
"He actually said that?" Amanda asked.
"Yep. Mr. Rocklin's father was a soldier on the Cherokee Trail of Tears and he passed on his hatred. I got thrashed because I was nice to a little Indian girl who came begging for food. I think I got spanked ten times with his belt because of that and that was a year ago when I was ten," Alexandra said with a sad smile.
John felt his anger rise that someone would strike his baby girl. John took a deep breath to control his temper. "Alexandra, would you like to learn how to use a bow and arrow? I haven't used a bow in a long time, but I could teach you how to use it," John said, touching her face gently.
"I do know how to shoot a gun. My adopted brother taught me when I was seven. I guess I could learn to use a bow and arrow. How hard could it be?" Alexandra asked, not sounding very convincing.
"You have no idea. I'll go tell Samuel to help me set up an archery field," Amanda said, leaving the parlor.
"And we'll get the bow and arrows," John said, pulling Alexandra with him.
"Please tell me it's not difficult," Alexandra whispered to him as he opened a compartment and pulled out the bow and sling of arrows he and Jim had practiced on as boys. He handed the sling of arrows to her.
"It's not difficult once you learn. I was going to teach you when you were five or six. Let me see your hands," John ordered. Alexandra held out her hands to him.
John took her rough, callused hands in his and examined them carefully. "I think you could do it. Your hands are strong, but the only way we will know that is if we go outside and see," John said as he grabbed his hat and they went outside.
Mandie and Samuel were setting up an archery target when Alex and her father stepped outside and into the field. Mandie stopped as soon as she saw them. John rolled up his sleeves and removed his hat as Mandie ran to them.
After squeezing Alex's hand Mandie grabbed the bow out of John's hand. Alex and John watched as she set up the arrow and let it go. They all nearly laughed as it nearly hit Samuel.
"Samuel, I'd get out of the way if I were you," Alex yelled over at him as he looked at Mandie.
"Yes Ma'am, Miss Alex. I think I will," Samuel said, scuttling off to the side to avoid any more arrows.
"Allow me," John said grabbing the bow from Mandie and shooting an arrow. John was only a little bit rusty.
"So, that's how you do it?" Alex asked as John handed the bow to her.
"More or less. Now put your hand here and you pull the arrow and the bow string with your other hand," John said, holding on to both of her hands. Alex licked her lips and followed her father's instructions.
The arrow flew straight into the bag target. "Alex, you did it!" Mandie squealed.
"How did I do that?" Alex asked, looking up at her father with a confused look on her face.
"You learn quick. Now do you want to try by yourself?" John asked.
"I guess," Alex said, grabbing an arrow out of the sling and shooting it again. The arrow was only an inch or two from the first.
"Very good. I guess I don't have to teach you too much about boss and arrows. And you thought I'd be mad because of history," John said, hugging her tightly.
"I didn't think I'd learn this quick," Alex said, handing the bow to John.
"Daddy used to say that if you can drive the arrow into the deer's heart on the target, you're ready to hunt," Mandie commented as John took another shot.
"I doubt it. The sight of blood makes me feel sick," Alex said as Mandie shot an arrow.
"You get that from your mother. I remember the first and only time I ever took her on a hunt. She nearly passed out when I came into the lodge with a rabbit and a deer on my shoulders," John said as Mandie handed the bow to Alex.
"Why am I not surprised? I just find books more enjoyable than hunting," Alex said as she took her shot.
"That is what your mother would have said. Well, it's getting late. Let's get inside. Samuel, would you take these?" John asked, holding out the bow and empty sling of arrows to the artist.
"Yes Sir. And, Miss Alex, if it means anything you are a good shot," Samuel said, taking the equipment.
"Thanks, Samuel," Alex said as they walked towards the house.
"I wonder if Uncle John can take a joke." Mandie whispered in Alex's ear as they walked behind him.
"Somehow I doubt it. He's been pretty lenient with the two of us. I don't think he'd take or like a prank," Alex said.
"I'll push him and you take his hat. Then we'll both run," Mandie said with a giggle.
"Okay, but if he kills us don't say I didn't say anything," Alex said as Mandie ran up to John and pushed him hard. Alex followed and grabbed her father's hat off his head and ran like a mad dog was chasing her.
"Come here!" John growled threateningly as he chased after them.
Alex looked behind her. Her father was a matter of 15 or 20 steps behind them. "Alex, watch out!" Mandie shouted. Alex looked front and stopped as a tree was in her path. Dropping, she rolled down the slope, fall leaves and grass meshing with her reddish-brown hair.
"Are you all right?" Her father asked his eyes full of anxious concern as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"I think so. I'd better take a bath when I get back to the house, though," Alex said, breathing hard as she gripped John's arm and he helped her to her feet.
"You'll have to pick these out first," Mandie pointed out, indicating the leaves in Alex's hair.
"No kidding," Alex said as she returned her father's hat and brushed leaves out of her hair.
"You see what happens when you tease your old father?" John asked in a teasing voice.
"Very funny. Like you never teased Grandfather and Grandmother," Alex retorted as they walked back to the house.
"I learned early never to tease your grandfather. He wasn't as easygoing when it came to teasing. But, then again I wasn't as well-behaved as you and Mandie. Me and Jim were both wild at 11 and 12. My mother was different. She was sick a good deal of the time after I was born. She just never seemed to recover from one illness or another and Jim's birth was too much for her frail body to take. She died shortly after he was born," John said as they walked to the house.
Jason stood there, his arms folded over his chest. "What happened to you, Miss Alex? You look as if you got into a leaf fight," Jason commented as he took a look at Alex.
"Pretty much, Mr. Jason. Now I had better go take a bath. I smell like every tree on the property," Alex said, walking to the front door.
"I'll send Liza to wash your hair," Jason said.
"No. I think I want to wash my own hair. I've been washing my own hair since I was four. I am not ready, or in the mood, for Liza to boast that no one washes hair like Liza Louise," Alex said as she walked up the steps. She heard Mandie snort.
"She said the same thing to you too?" Mandie asked.
"Uh-huh, but I'm gonna beat her to it," Alex said, running up to her rooma nd grabbed her robe, towels, and a clean nightdress.