Page 71 of Red Hawk's Woman

“Aa, I did. However, when I suggested it, I had hoped to have more married life than one night.”

“Yes, well…”

“If this is truly your desire, and you wish to put the marriage behind you, it is your right to do so. Unless you are with child, then you will remain married to me. Also, if this were to happen, we would seek out a black robe, so you would be satisfied in your own mind how truly married we are. Otherwise…if you wish it, then I am willing to agree that we did not make a marriage this night, even though I think doing so is a mistake.”

Why did he have to make her feel as though her actions were so…cheap? “Perhaps we could reach a compromise.”

“A compromise?”

“Yes, a compromise means that⁠—”

“I know what it means.”

She drew a deep breath. “There is one other possibility. In my society, two people who are deeply in love, yet are not ready to marry, become engaged.”

“Engaged? This word I do not know.”

“To be engaged means that when two people wish to marry, they announce their intention to do so and make it known to their family and friends, telling the world at large how they expect to marry soon, it being assumed they will remain faithful to one another until such a time as they are ready to take their vows.”

“How long do these engagements last?”

“Sometimes many years. Often several months.”

“And do these two people make love to one another during this time?”

“It has been known to happen.” She smiled.

“And have these engagements ever been known to fall apart?”

“Upon occasion.”

Red Hawk shook his head. “The white man is truly cunning.”

“Cunning?”

“Only a white man could think up a way to have a woman, without the responsibility of having that woman and caring for her.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“An engagement is irresponsible. Saa, in my mind, because of what we have done this night, we are married, nothing less. I have taken what you offered in the heat of passion. It is not an action I took lightly, to have it, and then to discard you so easily, by as simple a method as a change of heart. Saa, for what you have given me, I will give you back my loyalty and my heart. It will not change.”

She was silent. Truly, what could a woman say? Were these not the very words every feminine heart longed to hear?

“Red Hawk,” she said at last, placing her hand on his. “Think for a moment, in what society would we live? Yours? Your people are entrapped in a mist. I don’t think I could go there. Mine? There is prejudice in mine. Living in my society could be hard for you. In either of our cultures, one or the other would be required to give up something.”

“It is true that you cannot come with me into the mist. But I cannot go back there, either,” he argued. “Whether I break the curse or not, I am here, in this time and in this place, until I die. Besides, is this not the way of all marriage? By the act of marrying, hasn’t one already decided to give up what has gone on before?”

She paused and turned her head away from him. “It might be said that old prejudices tear at me, or maybe I am frightened by the unknown. Whether it is right or wrong, I only know this: I must complete the project. I cannot allow myself to be distracted…by anything. After this dig is done, we could conceivably evaluate this again, if you wish to wait.”

He nodded, then shrugged. “Perhaps I will. Maybe.”

“Then you agree we are not yet husband and wife?”

“I agree you have the right to say no, and you have done so. I also agree that if I ever wish to have you acknowledge me as your husband, I have much work to do.” He smiled at her.

She grinned back.

“Know, however, in my mind, you are my wife. Although I understand our cultures are different, I do not believe we could not overcome the prejudices of our separate traditions. Yet, regardless of what I think, unless you wish it, I understand that there is no marriage, except in the depths of this heart.” He pointed to his chest. “And so it is done. You are free.”