The Deer Woman by Courtney Vaughn | Review
The Dear Women is a short story by Courtney Vaughn, which tells the tale of Sarah and her husband, Pastor Jacob. The couple, not yet blessed with a child, struggles to make ends meet on the wild plains of the great American Midwest. On the horizon, much needed rain is on its way, as is a mysterious carriage driven by a man fleeing something terrible.
As the storm rages outside, Jacob and Sarah tuck into a dinner of vegetable soup when a crash has them running outside. A stagecoach has tipped over in the storm, leaving the driver dead. Inside the carriage is a wrapped bundle containing an unharmed infant.
Word circulates out about the dead man and the baby, but as the days turn into months, Sarah and Jacob become more and more attached to the baby. Then one evening, a woman with flaming red hair comes to town for the baby. Sarah is heartbroken the to give up the child she thinks of as her own, but makes her way to the town doctor’s home anyway to do the right thing. Once she arrives at the doctor’s, Sarah witnesses something horrific that sends her running with the baby.
The Deer Woman
I’m a huge fan of folklore, legends, mythology and fairy tales. Having never heard of The Deer Woman, I was both excited and intrigued. Here’s the skinny.
The Deer Woman is an Ingenious American story about a begin forest spirit in the guise of a beautiful young woman or, you guessed it, a deer. While she’s predominately aligned with fertility and love, there are tales of her luring lustful young men to their deaths. Much like the how the Kiowa banish Deer Woman in Vaughn’s short story, the Ojibwa used chanting and tobacco to send Deer Woman on her way.
Deer Woman is akin to sirens in Greek mythology who lure sailors into rocky shores with their intoxication song. Much like how a succubus kills men by pulling their spirits from their bodies through intercourse as they sleep, Deer Woman lures horny men into the woods and then kills them. Somewhere here, there’s a lesson, I think.
The Deer Woman in Vaughn’s story sways more towards a succubus than a siren. Overall, the effect is creepy and a little unnerving. Vaughn ramps up the climax of the story, making the reader wait until the last second for a resolution.
Some Minor Issues
There’s a large emphasis on religion, as Jacob is a pastor. It felt preachy and unnecessary, especially since introducing the succubus is a mere flash in the pan. If Vaughn had played up the evil succubus more, it would have balanced out the praying, but we never even get a good look at Deer Woman or speak with her. I wanted more evil buildup.
Another issue is with the Kiowa people. Sarah and the town doctor trade with the Kiowa for medicines, yet our only glimpse into the tribe is through a white woman who Kiowa adopted as a child and held onto English as her second language. I would have liked more insight into the Kiowa people and their beliefs.
My last nitpick is with the Kindle blurb. Sarah, the main character, isn’t mentioned. The blurb makes the reader think they’re delving into a story about Jacob, the pastor.
OK, that it. I’ve said my peace. I enjoyed The Deer Woman and look forward to reading more by Vaughn.
