She sat up straight now, "We should be getting back now, don't you think?"
The way he looked at her made her heart pound and sent little butterflies to her belly. Why did she have this reaction to him? It both puzzled and scared her.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked.
"No, maybe I should be, but I'm not."
"I like you Sasha, and maybe in time you can learn to like me a little."
"Maybe." She whispered. "but I have learned that making a hasty judgement is not wise."
"Then," he took her hand and pulled her. "Take your time and get to know me."
That evening he kissed her again, and she responded once more. Strangely, she knew he would kiss her, but she didn't know she would like each kiss a bit more. It was a strange rapture that wrapped around her heart and made it sound like a drum.
What disturbed her was that every time he took her lips, she swooned and melted into his arms, as though that is where she belonged. She didn't understand that. For surely, she belonged with her own people.
Chapter Seven
The next day, she met his family. His parents greeted her with open arms, as though they'd known her all their lives. They were obviously in their fifties as b
oth had some graying hair. His father seemed to be crippled, as he walked with a gait and was always reaching for his back and his mother was a spry lady with a good attitude. His sisters and brother eyed her with much speculation though.
His father was Crow Foot, his mother, Little Hands. She quickly learned that they had been married thirty-five years.
"You did not tell us how beautiful she was." His mother said.
"I thought I'd let you decide that." Black Wolf told her.
Of his sisters she liked Sweet Bear best as she was unwed and talked a lot. Washita was married and had a baby. Although she seemed a good mother, she wasn't too pleased that her brother was marrying someone from out of the tribe and said so.
"I am old enough to choose for myself, Washita. Do you not think so?"
"Then why an Arapaho? You have warred with her people many times."
"Yes, but the time of war is over, and she is not a warrior." Black Wolf explained. "Perhaps in time it will help unite our peoples and make us stronger. But Sasha is a healer and will be invaluable to our people."
Cochita stared at her for a long time, "She is very pretty!"
It was obvious Cochita did not care for her either but would not argue with her brother.
But his young brother, Blue Moon studied her for a long time too. "She is a healer?"
"Yes, and she will perform, the Shaman duties with the tribe." Black Wolf told him.
"I say you made a good choice brother. Welcome to our family." He grinned and stuck out a hand. Sasha took it and shook. She liked Blue Moon, he smiled a lot and he seemed easy to get along with.
They ate with them and she got to know his parents a little. His mother was very friendly, but his father did not speak much.
When Black Wolf walked off with his father, the women sat together around the fire and talked.
"I have not seen my son smile so much in a long time." His mother told her. "He must think much of you as he challenged a man he'd never even seen."
"I suppose so. Big Knife is taller than he. But I must admit he was surprised by the challenge. And he lost it, which is rare for him."
"You were to marry this man?"
"Yes. I did not expect Black Wolf to challenge him after only meeting me once, on the battlefield."