CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TEN
As Red Fox awakened, he saw the delicate pink rays of early morning beaming in through the cracks of the shelter.
Realizing they had slept here within this wood the night through, he was at first enchanted with the morning and the loveliness of her, until another reality took hold within his mind and he was at once confronted with their predicament.
How was he to bring about her agreement to his plan for their happiness? How was she to do it when she was committed to marry this New York coward, yet also live the life she wished to live here, with him, Red Fox, in his country?
And yet, he must do it for her happiness and for his own.
With her father and her elder brother harboring so much antagonism against the concept of him having her as his wife, there was little else for him to do but to steal her away from her family, Pikuni style. It would solve much.
The weakling who had followed her here would then have to return to the East where he belonged. And, her family—and his—would hopefully and eventually accept their decision.
Still, it was with regret that he realized there was no other path for them if there were to be as little trouble as possible.
However, if she were to still insist upon marrying this other man, despite what had happened here this night, great unhappiness would ensue—for him, for her and in time, for both their families.
There was nothing for it. He would have to put his plan into action now instead of waiting the required time to let their families settle into the fact and the knowledge of their love.
They had to run away, of course, and find shelter in another camp to establish their home: the Gros Ventre, for instance, or perhaps, if the Gros Ventre would not take them in, he knew he would always be welcome within the camp of the Hunkpapa Lakota, though it meant they would have to leave their Pikuni homeland.
Red Fox only wished he had stolen Poka'aki away when she had first suggested doing so two winters ago.
But, he had not then wanted to cause a rift in their families.
Besides, he had felt confident he could discover another gift he could give her father, one her father would not be able to refuse.
Niitá'p, he had not then anticipated her father and her elder brother would be so bold as to steal her away in the early hours of the morning.
Still, he was well aware of the glitch in his plan: his new wife seemed intent on putting her own decision into action. What if she would not agree to come with him? What was he to do then?
He did not know.
As they lay naked within one another's arms, he recalled again how he had at first contemplated going north to his relatives in the Káínaa band of their tribe, where they could reside as a man and his woman.
But, no. It was not good a plan. His relatives, or another in the Káínaa band would, within little time, disclose to his own father where they were, and from there word might carry to her family, perhaps via his sister or a trader who lived within the Pikuni camp.
And, then there would be trouble—much trouble.
Saa, they would seek out the Gros Ventre first. Allies of the Pikuni, he felt confident the Gros Ventre would welcome them into their camp.
There they might reside in peace, at least for a little while…
years perhaps. Those years, however, might give him more time in which to envision a better solution.
But, of one fact he was certain: they could not return to the Fehér homestead this day.
Holding her within his arms, the sweet, intoxicating scent of her reached out to him. And, rising up into a position over her, he kissed her cheeks, her eyes, her adorable little nose and, at last, her lips.
"My woman, awaken," he whispered. "We cannot stay here too long."
She moaned, then opened her lips to kiss him more seductively, and he was, at first, so caught up in the beauty of her, he was contemplating staying here the day through.
But, no. It couldn't be. They were too close to the Fehér homestead, and there were non-Indians who were good scouts there, and her father could enlist those men to discover them.
Rising up only a mere inch above her lips, he murmured, "We must leave here, and I believe we must do so in haste. This day we will leave here to go to the Gros Ventre camp."
"The Gros Ventre camp?"
"Aa, the encampment of the Gros Ventre."
"Why? Why must we go there today? I thought we would be returning to my father's homestead."
"There is danger for you there."
"Danger for me?"
"áa."
"I do not understand," she responded. "I live there. There will be no reason for me not to go there."
"Think you not?" he questioned. "All will know what we have done here this night.
And, all will know how we have married in the Pikuni tradition.
When young people marry without their parents' approval, it is usually needed for them to leave both of their parents' camps until the bad feelings have gone away… at least a little.
"There is also the man who believes he is to make you his woman; we must not forget to consider him.
It is likely he will be angry. What would he do to you if you were there for him to get his hands on you?
You well know the Pikuni penalty for what you have done if he already believes you are his, even without his white man's wedding.
And, he might take you without your consent. "
"But, I do not believe he will be angry. Why would he care what I do when he has a mistress?"
"Because it matters to a man, even if he has twenty wives."
"Are you saying you would care if I have to marry him? That you would not want me then?"
He sighed. "I have already told you I understand why you did what you what you had to do.
You had to discover a way to return here, and I admire your cleverness in forming this plan.
But, since we are now married, no, I would not like you to take on another husband.
And so, I think we should make our home away from your people and mine. "
"Away from your people, too?"
"áa."
"Why would we need to be away from your people? Why could we not live in your camp?"
"Because," said Red Fox, "word of where we are will reach your father and your older brother, and then there would be trouble.
And so, we must leave here as quickly as we can and go, and I think we should journey at once to the Gros Ventre camp.
We can both ride my horse. Now, come, we must dress quickly and leave here. "
She sighed. "I would rather stay here for a while longer, please."
"I, too. But, we cannot."
"Why not? Just a little longer?"
"Again, we are close to your father's homestead. And, I think because your father does not know where you are, he will hire non-Indian scouts to find you, and in doing so, they will discover us. And, if they do, it will not go well for us, I think."
"But, my husband, I am not properly dressed to go anywhere. I cannot wear my pink evening gown in the woods or even on the prairie. Even I know that because it is a color rarely seen on the prairie, it would draw all eyes."
"This is true," he said, frowning. "I know. You may wear my shirt. It comes to my knees and so will cover you adequately, I believe."
"But, my husband," she persisted. "I wish to appear pretty in your eyes, and I fear your shirt will hide my figure from you."
He laughed. He couldn't help himself. "My woman, I know well what the shirt would hide. There is no need of you presenting your best appearance to me."
"Oh, you. You don't understand how important it is to a woman to appear pretty under all circumstances.
And, I don't believe you when you say you don't care about my appearance.
I think all men care how their woman looks.
" She sat for a moment in thought. "I suppose I could merely wear my chemise and petticoats. "
"Beneath my shirt," he added. "But, come now, it matters not to me what you wear, whether you put on your pink dress or your underthings beneath my shirt. You will always be beautiful to me. But, we argue over a matter of little importance, I think."
"Red Fox, is there another reason why we must not live within your own band? Is there, by any chance, antagonism from your own people against me?"
He didn't answer. How could he? He did not wish to bring her pain.
"Is there?" she asked again.
At some length, he answered, "The massacre at the Marias is still felt keenly within the hearts of many of my people, and there are some who hate all white people now."
"Your mother and father, perhaps?"
Again, he remained silent.
"Red Fox? Are we to have to live elsewhere because your father and mother disapprove of me now because I am white?"
He fell back upon their bed of blankets and soft pine boughs, his arm over his forehead. But, he didn't answer her, at least not at once.
However, she deserved an answer. Still, how was he to tell her the truth without causing her upset? Didn't she claim to be as Pikuni as any other person in the tribe?
At last, he reached out to her, bringing his arm around her as he scooted her in close to him. Only then did he feel he could say to her what must be said.
And so he began, "My father's sister and all her children were killed at the Marias incident. Perhaps, knowing this, you might understand why my father might be against our marriage."
"His sister? And all her children? Oh no. I'm so sorry. Oh Red Fox, I did not know. How could I have not known?"
"Because I did not wish to tell you, and, at the time, I asked both your brother and my sister to refrain from mentioning it to you. Do you understand now why we must live elsewhere?"