I was notified this morning by Carina Press that Audible.com will be releasing Consent to Love as an audio book soon after its release in April. I’m excited! This will be my first audio book. I can’t wait to listen to someone else tell my story. Most of all, I want to hear Howahkan speak Lakota. Wanna see?
Here’s a small excerpt…
Time seemed to slow, but eventually the rope loosened in her hands. Afraid of speaking in case it caused the horse to change his mind, she held perfectly still, watching the stubborn standoff between man and horse.
“Nitawa caje, Natagugu.” Kane moved toward the horse, slipped off the rope and laid his forehead upon the slope of the horse’s nose.
Ana’s arms fell to her sides and she stared in astonishment. All day the wild horse had struggled and fought the rope. Suddenly, the big animal stood with his head bowed as if he’d become an obedient lap dog in a split second.
She studied the way man and animal merged into one scene. The same tension, the same give, the same raw power. Her fingers itched to sweep the brush over the canvas, melting them into one. Blue. She’d mask the darkness in blue to show the hope and contentment sure to come.
The spirit in which Kane trained the horses amazed her. A mix between gentleness, control and understanding. At times, she wondered if his understanding of the wild beasts came from his soul. To her, Kane was a free soul who should have no ties. A loner in his own world, yet somehow, someway, he included her in his life.
Kane lifted his hands out to his sides. The horse’s eyes followed his movements. Ana forgot about the heat, her tired, achy muscles and the tank top plastered against her back. Witnessing the next step always amazed her, and she didn’t want to miss a second.
In a duel of power and surrender, Kane lowered himself to his knees and bowed his head. His lips moved, but the words he spoke escaped her hearing. As if sensing the meaning behind the act, the animal shifted forward and nosed Kane’s hair. Ana’s vision blurred.
In a show of acceptance, Kane stood up, flung his arms out to the sides and gave the horse back his freedom. “Heeyaw!”
With a regal toss of his head, the horse turned and galloped away to seek his own space. Ana wiped her hands over her cheeks. The reservation had no fences. The animals could come and go as they pleased, but from this day forward, the horse would always approach when Kane sought him out.
Kane built up the horses’ trust and confidence. Nothing about Kane’s process broke the wild spirit of the animal.
She joined Kane and watched the horse gallop off over Lakota land, enjoying the ability to run of its own free will. She knew exactly what was going through the horse’s mind. Kane gave her the same feeling. He’d given her everything, and she was a better person for having him in her life.
“You do beautiful work.” She smiled at Kane. “What did those words mean? Neat awa…something.”
“Nitawa caje, Natagugu.” Kane grinned. “I told him his name was curly head.”
