THE GRAVE 5

as they walked along shug asked the girl " does that happen much?" " almost every night. when i get off work ive tried different routs home but they always find me. i guess besides drinking ime their favorite entertainment." she was almost to cry, but held her head up and walked with a strong step. " are you really a apache?" she asked. " my mother was, ime not a tribal member tho. i dont belong nowhere i guess. with dad gone and my mother gone ime on my own."shug said as they strolled along.whe they reached the girls little one room house she turnned to him" would you care to come in and share a meal with me? your company would be much appreciated." " i dont even know your name maam, and it wouldnt look good for you entertaining a indian. but tell you what, ill sit right out here and eat and keep a eye out . will that be acceptable?"shug explained. shug carried no fire arm and his dress and appearance was that of a apache. he did have his skinning knife but his buckskins were greasy and he wore the apache foot wear of calf high mocasons. his hair was jet black as was his eyes. " your not afraid of me?" he asked the young girl. " my name is carrie fox worth. i dont belong any where either. your father is the only man who didnt mistreat me, now you. sit right here, ill bring your supper when its ready." carrie stepped in to her little cabin. shug backed up to the cabin wall and leaned back onto it then slid down to a sitting position.soon he could smell meat cooking. he looked around and saw a couple of tree trunks with a ax embedded in one. he didnt see any stove wood laying about. he stood and walked to the ax. pulling it from the log he went to work cutting up fire wood for the cook stove. it didnt take long for him to realize the ax was dull. he was makeing a hard time of cutting the wood up. he looked over at the house and carrie was standing at the door watching him. "do you have a file?" shug called to her. carrie turned and went in the house then returned with a coarse file. " i never could put a edge on that thing."she said as she handed shug the file. " supper will be ready in a few minutes."she turned and went back to the house.when shug had a arm load of stove ready he gathered it up and went to the house. inside carrie was standing at a old time volcanic wood stove. the room was smoky. he laid the wood in a box next to the stove. he went back out the door. he started to the wood pile but carrie called him back and brought him a plate full of food. he sat down on the ground and began to eat. carrie carryed a chair out side and sat down watching him. when he looked up he realised she wasnt eating. he stopped and looked at her" where s yours?" he asked. " ime not hungry." she answered. "like hell, you work all day in that shop hand sewing dresses . your hungry," shug got up and went in the house and picked up a plate. looking around he saw there wasnt much for supplys to cook with. he scraped half of his onto the new plate. then takeing a fork went back out side to the girl and handed the plate to her. he told him self tomorrow he would change all this.