Page 70 of Red Hawk's Woman

Lifting up slightly, he shifted his weight, though he kept a leg and an arm strategically placed over her. Bending at his elbow, he rested his head against his hand and raised sleepy eyes to meet hers.

Somewhat guiltily, she recalled that this man had obtained little sleep these past few days. Still, she needed answers. “What do you mean by calling me your wife?”

“Did we not just commit the act of marriage? You did consent, did you not?”

“Consent?”

“Do you recall that I said we would marry?”

It was true. He had. She said, “But I didn’t respond in the positive.”

“Ho! Did you not? We committed the act of marriage. Does this not speak for itself?”

She frowned. “No, it does not. We have taken no vows, made no pledges.”

“Is the act of love not a pledge?”

Her frown deepened. “Red Hawk, tell me, do men and women of your tribe marry by means of a wedding ceremony?”

“Of course,” he responded, “a ceremony of the heart.”

“No, I mean are your people married by a ceremony run by someone else…a holy man, like a black robe?”

“Ho! I think I understand what concerns you. Do not worry. Although there are sometimes ceremonies to marry a couple, know that in my country, after what has happened between us, a man and a woman are married. For if the man does not marry her, the woman is ruined. I do not wish to ruin you. I would marry you.”

“Thank you for your consideration, but it is not my understanding that the act of love makes us married. Where I come from, a couple are only united in marriage if they take vows to be faithful to each other, and if those vows are said in front of someone like a black robe or a holy man. It is an act made sacred because they pledge themselves to one another in the presence of God.”

“I have heard of your God. The black robe spoke of Him often. But do you think that your God was with us this night?”

“Of course I believe that He was.”

“Then you must realize that He knows of our love and our fidelity.”

“I suppose you’re right. But you miss the point I’m trying to make. In my society, even if a person makes love to another, this does not make them married. Only oaths of fidelity said in front of a holy man make a union that will be recognized by others.”

He looked somewhat taken aback. “Do you mean to tell me that you made love with me tonight, without the intention of marrying me?”

“Ah…” Had she? Dear Lord, seen from his viewpoint, it might appear as though she had. “In truth, I would admit to some confusion about this. When you said that we would marry, I didn’t realize you spoke of the act of love as being a deciding factor. I thought I would have more time in which to consider the suggestion.”

He nodded. “Aa. Ikksisitsi’tsi, I understand. But what of your reputation? The others will know that you have been with me. What will they think, if they discover we are not married?”

“They would be more shocked to learn we are married.”

“They will not think bad things of you?”

“Yes, they might think bad of me…either way. Not that I care what other people think.”

But was that really true? Though she might not be the best of friends with any of her colleagues, was she really careless enough to ignore their opinions? And what about her family? Certainly she did care what her mother and father might have to say.

Still, were she and Red Hawk the only two people in the world, no artifacts to worry about, no project to finish, no one back East expecting her reports, she wouldn’t hesitate to accept his proposal, and to heck with any critics.

But she was no longer a child of eight, weaving fantasies around a man from a completely different culture. She was a responsible adult, and out of that accountability came the knowledge that being in love wasn’t enough. Regardless of the prejudices of others, she, and he too, could not live in a world devoid of other human beings.

Sooner or later, one or the other of their societies would see that they paid the price for their passion.

But Red Hawk was continuing to talk to her, interrupting her thoughts. “I think I understand. You wanted a moment of passion with me, and then you wished to walk away with little consequence.”

“Perhaps. But in reality, in the moment about which you speak, I was not thinking at all, much less considering walking away. Besides, when you proposed to me originally, didn’t you suggest this very thing? To marry, and if it didn’t work out, to be free to walk away?”