"The last, in both." He smiled.
"But you don't know me that well. How would you know about my heart?"
"I have seen into your heart, Hannah Caldwell, at the store. When your husband hit you, how it hurt and how your spirit remained the same, but silent. I saw how you were kind to Walks Far, because she had no teeth, and you gave her peppermints to suck on. How you gave credit to people who had little to pay with and hid it from your husband. It takes a beautiful heart to do such things and to know that you might be accosted because of it."
"I was caught every time."
"And beaten?"
"Yes."
His words mesmerized her. "I am sorry Hannah; no woman should be beaten."
"What kind of duties will I have as your slave?" She asked, changing the direction of his thoughts.
"I hadn't given it much thought. I suppose you can fetch water from the lake, you can cook the meals, help others in the tribe. Learn to do beadwork, make blankets and such. Anything you can teach them will benefit our tribe, and you will be much respected for it."
"Will they accept me, or mock me and hurt me?"
"They will not hurt you, as I will not let them." He told her very directly. "They might mock you at first, but once you have proven your bravery to them, they will stop, and they will admire you."
"How do you know?"
"I am son of Gray Eye, the chief. They will honor my words.
"You’re the chief's son?" she gasped.
"I am."
"I see. I had no idea. I mean I have only seen you come into the store to purchase supplies." She informed him.
"I work for a man named Caleb Knowles, do you know him?" He glanced at her.
"Why yes," her surprise written on her face. "He's one of our best customers."
"I break his wild horses for him. That's how I get money for our supplies."
"Our?"
"My people. It is for them that I buy the supplies. It is my job to help provide for my people. I must always provide for them, as we are no longer at war and the buffalo have died off. Now I must find ways to make things better for them. I have been educated enough to know ways to do things, ways to survive."
"Oh, oh yes, I see." She nodded. "You must be very good with horses. Caleb only hires the best."
"I am." He smiled and handed here a tin plate with bacon and a tin cup with coffee. "You sound as though you know him well."
"He used to come in the store a lot and tell funny stories. He made me laugh…" she stopped knowing how silly that sounded.
"Yes, he can tell many tales." Lone Wolf smiled at her.
"He made me laugh. Sometimes, I think he wanted me to laugh."
"Women are more beautiful when they laugh."
"You are very confident, aren't you?" she smirked.
"I have to be, I'm the son of a chief."
"I've never heard him mention you… " she added.