"Oh…but what of my husband? And what he expects."
"The rest of the people don't know you are spoken for by your people. Besides, you've already been taken by a white man, the proof is in your belly. And…. you said yourself, you have not been taken by your husband yet."
She sighed heavily, her brows almost meeting at her nose as she studied on his words. "You will leave me with him when you take me home, then?" She asked.
"Sure! If that's what you want, I will. He's your real husband. I mean…your Indian husband." He tried to explain.
"Who would marry us?"
"I don't know. We'll have to find someone."
"I will have two husbands, then?" She asked.
"I-I guess you would. For a spell, at least." He shrugged.
"It is the only way you would take me?"
"Yes ma'am." He nodded slowly, his eyes going over her now. "I know it might sound a bit crazy to you, but it's the only way I will…."
Something in her eyes softened. He saw it, just a flicker of a smile. And that one smile brought sunshine into his heart like he'd never known. Did she appreciate the fact that he wanted to marry her? Her expression said she did.
"Alright, I will marry you, but you cannot take me."
"But that's the whole reason to marry. My religion tells me not to take a woman unless I marry her. So, I'll marry you, and I'll have to take you, it's expected. Then I'll let you go when we get to your village…. if you want me to."
"My husband Too Tall would know of the baby by the time we get there. But you…you would take the baby and raise it as your own?" She asked with sheer shock.
"Yes ma'am, I would."
"Why?" Her question was softly asked as she stared at him and moved closer.
"Because I'd be married to you, and you'd be my family. Maybe more so than your Indian husband who has not had the pleasure."
He could almost see a pink flush to her cheeks.
She still hadn't answered him.
"Oh man, this is getting more complicated by the minute." Matt started to walk away. "Don't you understand," he turned to look over his shoulder at her. "I'm trying to save you, and the child. I like you, I like you a lot."
He was still met with silence.
He didn't hear her come out of the water, but she had. She stood in the shadows and she nodded.
"Then I will do as you say."
He couldn't stop himself from asking. "Why?"
Her smiled warmed him to his toes. "Because…I like you a lot too!"
"You do?" He asked almost breathlessly.
She nodded.
Then deciding it was up to him to put his foot down, he whirled around, and she was already on the bank and about to put her clothes on when he turned. He stared as though he'd never seen a naked woman. With good reason, he hadn't. Not like her. His entire body reacted. He couldn't stop it any more than he could stop breathing. Just gazing at her like that, made his loins tightened as she slowly stepped out of the shadows.
She was ashamed that he looked, but he had a hard time taking his eyes from her once he did.
She stood before him proudly as his eyes took her in. And he did take her in, all of her. He lost breath, his mouth went dry, not to mention other parts of his body coming alive.