"Then why didn't you marry him then?"
"We were going to in the fall. There was much to do with moving here."
"When one puts off the time to marry, there is doubt building."
"No, there just wasn't time."
"Tell me something, did you really love him or just like him a lot?" Black Wolf asked.
"I loved him. I mean, I love him still."
"He fought well, he's a big man. A good warrior too, I suppose."
"Yes, very good." She added.
"Did you and he… " He cleared his throat.
She blushed profusely, "Of course we didn't!"
"Would he take only one wife, or many?" He asked her.
Again she blushed. "Well, I'm not sure… "
Black Wolf's expression changed. "I see, well, I am sure."
"Oh?"
"I would not take another wife." He informed her gently.
"Does he believe in the Creator?"
"He does not like the white man's bible. He only went to mission school a short while. While I went a long time."
She twisted her head to stare into his eyes. "Why would you not take another wife?" she asked as though she thought it a good idea.
"One
woman is enough to handle. Besides, if the love is good between two people, there is no need of another wife."
"But I don't love you!" she raised her voice.
He pulled her out of earshot. "Lower your voice. What we say between us is not for others to hear. And you might as well know now, as far as everyone here is concerned, you do love me. The fact that you do not, I understand, and I will never force you to. But do not go around gossiping that you don't. I am chief and I deserve your respect if nothing else. I gave your father many gifts for you. I challenged Big Knife for your hand in marriage and won. After all that, I deserve your respect if nothing else, do I not."
She nodded, "You are right about that." She hung her head. "I agree, you do deserve my respect. And I should admit it was a more than fair gift to my father."
"Good. One other question." He stopped and pulled her to lean against a tree, as she studied his face. "Have you been with a man before? Any man?"
She opened her mouth to object to that question, but he put his fingers on her lips. She looked away from him, "No!" came her low whisper.
"I thought not. Now, let's go meet some of the people."
He took her hand and walked her to a group of elders.
"This is Sasha, the healer from the Arapaho tribe. She is the one I will marry soon."
The elders looked her over and nodded. They were silent for a long while then one asked.
"Will she be our Shaman?'