It was strange to Hannah how easily she coped with each new thing. With Lone Wolf beside her, she felt she could handle anything. He gave her confidence. Her life seemed to be changing quickly now. Did all white women change when they lived with the Indians, she wondered?
When the day would come for her to leave, she wasn't sure she could. She had come to rely on his every word. He seemed so wise, so strong, and so good. And how would she ever sleep without him?
But as Deer Runner kissed his wife goodbye, Lone Wolf grabbed Hannah, pulled her close and kissed her too.
Again, her lips had a mind of their own and wandered over his. It was such a pleasant feeling, she couldn't resist if she wanted to. When he pulled away, he shot her a sexy smile. "Be back soon."
She nodded once more, unable to voice her feelings at the moment. But the look from his eyes, heated her.
Black Feather came up to her. "So, it is about time you two got together."
"Can we talk for a few minutes."
"Sure," Black Feather smiled. They walked off away from the others and got water from the creek. Hannah knew the task and had no problem working right alongside Black Feather now. She hadn't realized until now though how much she was blending into their culture. It would be easy to assume too much, she had to remember she was a slave not his woman.
"It's Lone Wolf. You see, I've never been kissed like that. I mean, I never realized it could be so… good." Her eyes held questions and wonder.
Black Feather chuckled.
"You don't understand, my white husband never kissed me like that." She explained. "I could not still my lips from Lone Wolf. It was as if they had a mind of their own. Now I'm ashamed. I'm afraid I assume too much."
"Did you like it?"
"Oh yes!" she rushed to say. "But I am ashamed of my feelings too. I act like Luki."
Black Feather chuckled again, delighting in her admission. "Then he must be doing something right."
"Is it good with your husband?"
"Yes, it is very good." Black Feather smiled "You question yourself because your white husband did not kiss you with love. Lone Wolf is not the kind to kiss women unless he feels something."
"I don't want to assume too much."
"You are starting to have feelings for Lone Wolf."
"Am I shameful for kissing him? Will he think me ugly now? Will he think I'm like Luki?"
"No, it's the beginning."
"Beginning. Of what?" Hannah asked puzzled by her response.
"Of love, of course. Your heart would not allow you to kiss your mean husband. But Lone Wolf is gentle, and you have grown to like him. Have you not?"
"Y-yes. Yes, I do. He's done a lot for me. He gives me confidence I've never had. He praises me when I do good. That's why I don't want to do badly. I'm afraid I will do something to upset him. But I feel it's wrong to care for him, too. I'm white, I have no right, and he should find an Indian woman for his wife."
"It is good. After all, he had a vision, and you were his woman. As it should be."
"B-but he's never said he loved me."
"Did your white husband say it?"
"No, of course not. But I'm married, Black Feather."
"Are you? You don't return your husband's kisses, nor his love making. Is that love? You are not married to your white husband. It is true. Let your heart decide who is your real husband… "
Hannah tried to reason that out in her head. "But the law…?"
"The law of the white man may no longer govern your life, Hannah. You live with us now. You have been accepted because of Lone Wolf and his vision of what is to be. Your skin is white, but your heart is Indian now. Do you not know this?"