"Were you beaten often?"
"Yes, almost every day. I had bruises all the time. What did they do to you when you tried to kill the man back there at the store.?" Matt asked.
"They beat me."
"Bad?"
"Yes…"
"What with?"
"A whip."
"I'm sorry!"
"You did not beat me."
"Why were you at the store and not
home with your husband?" He asked.
She seemed to think about the question before answering. "Many months ago," Her eyes seemed to reflect on the past. "I was getting supplies for the winter at the store. I was sent with a travois because I speak better English than the others. There were many people there. But I was taken prisoner by one of the owners. I cooked for him, cleaned for him…and…"
Matt nodded and then realized, she was about to say something else.
"You been married long?"
"No, I had just married and had not been with my husband yet."
"Good grief. That's sad." Jake eyed her.
She shrugged. "My husband married me because our parents died, and he was to provide for me." She explained and looked away. "He is not in love with me."
"Sounds like what the Mormons do. Are you in love with him?"
"Mormons?"
"From Utah, yeah, when a parent or husband dies, the kin marry her and take care of her."
"Yes, it is like that."
"Did you love him?"
"I was grateful to be a part of his family, yes." She nodded. "He was a great warrior, and very handsome. But…he loves my sister. I cannot love him but respect him and honor him."
"Your sister?"
"Yes, his second wife." She smiled.
"What about his first wife?"
"Naomi is his white slave and first wife. She is very pretty, and it amuses him to have her, but he is in love with my sister and that won't change. I was to bear him children and he would be satisfied."
"White slave?" Matt stood up, his anger festering.
"Yes, he is a dog soldier and he captured her from a raid."
"Good gosh amighty, how many women does he need?" Matt looked agitated.