Snow Bird glanced around and nodded toward Matt.
The young man approached Matt. "So, you and that squaw together."
Matt eyed the man as he stood some taller and menacing. "She's my wife."
"Wife? You married her?"
"Yep."
The young man walked off, but he still eyed her closely all that afternoon. Snow Bird paid him no mind, but she looked across the room to find Matt a time or two.
Ferg came up to Matt, "See what I mean."
"Yeah, I guess you are right, Ferg. It's the only way."
"Perk up son, you might like it." Ferg grinned and walked off.
Frustration crawled all over Matt. How could he take another man's wife and like it? And after one man took her, what would she think of another taking her?
They all ate, and the young man kept looking at Snow Bird and then him. Matt knew Ferg was right now and tonight would be the night. He couldn't put it off. If he didn't claim her, that one young man might try.
But how was he going to tell her?
Matt knew about sex. He'd seen his married sister and her husband have at it. In his home, it was a small cabin, and all the kids slept on the floor, only the married ones were allowed a bed, but there was no privacy and all the kids were witness to it. He didn't approve of them doing it in front of all the family, but they were married. And his father told him it was a natural thing and that kids had to learn of it sooner or later. No use hiding something that was part of life. Matt wondered at that. His father was a preacher, and yet he approved merely because they were married? It seemed indecent to him.
He knew what to do, but he'd never done it before. It was a major step for him. Marrying her was a major step. All to keep her safe. Did she understand that? It wasn't love that drove him, it was her safety. And yet, he realized at the creek bank he was very attracted to her. He'd never had such a physical reaction to a woman before, but then he'd never really seen a woman fully naked.
But as night fell, he hung around Ferg a little longer and talked.
"Go on son, get it done." Ferg encouraged.
Matt nodded.
This time when he crawled under the blanket, he came closer to her. "We have to do it tonight…" he murmured for her ears alone. "That young one was eyeing you all night. I figure if I don't, he might try something. I don't want you hurt. And I promise to be gentle with you."
"You have married me, and I will give myself to you, freely now." She said with conviction. A slow burning smile lit her lips and made him heat up just looking at her.
She nodded, but her eyes were wide, not with fear, just anticipation. It looked to him like she had made up her mind that this had to be done too. Perhaps she realized that the young man who eyed her all day had the same thing on his mind. Matt was glad he didn't have to talk her into it. He suddenly realized if it had been a white girl, she might have thrown a fit or something. But Snow Bird accepted it. Indians understood survival, and that was to his advantage tonight.
He leaned over her and slowly put his lips to hers. But shock riveted through him when her arms went around his neck and she pulled him fully against her. Her hands splayed into his hair. Her musky, intoxicating smell invited him. Her heart seemed to thud hard against his, like a race horse fully engaged, or was that his. He couldn't be sure.
His head came up and he looked into her eyes, that smoldered from his kiss now.
She reached to run fingers through his hair. He had longer hair than some and she enjoyed touching it.
"You have hair like an Indian, long, straight and very clean." She smiled as her hand reached to touch it again.
Their eyes locked on each other through the darkness as their breathing relaxed and a boneless feeling took over. She quivered beneath him, not in fear, but more anticipation.
"I won't hurt you, I promise." He whispered in her ear.
"I know that…" she murmured.
"How can you?" He asked.
"My heart has looked at you. You are not a hard or cruel man…"
The warmth of her soft young body welcomed him. He could feel her surrendering to the moment, body and soul. At that moment, he knew their coming together would be a uniting of souls. And something clicked in his head, she was his, or soon would be. The thought made him stronger, bolder, and more eager to take her and make her his.