"Oh?"
"Here, lie...under...me. I...show you."
Again, she laughed. "You need to move, then. You are too heavy for me to get you into position over me."
"I...? Heavy?"
She smiled. "Oh, please..."
But, in this he was compliant, and within a short time he maneuvered her neatly under him while he came up onto his forearms over her, his lips teasing first one and then the other of her breasts. "Promise...when...have first...child...share you its...milk with me."
She chuckled. "But, I will need the milk for our baby."
"Ha'ayaa!" His look at her seemed suddenly sad. "None...for...me?"
"Oh, all right. You can have a little. Perhaps when we make love."
He sighed."Soka'pii.Then I...not starve."
"My husband, you are such a good hunter, I do not think we would starve."
"Flatter...me...you do," he said, as he came up onto his knees between her legs, positioning each of her legs over his shoulders. He whispered in Blackfeet, "Without your love, I would starve. I may never tire of making love to you...many times...every day."
"Oh," she murmured, smiling up at him. "How glad I am to be learning your language, for I understood what you said. And, I wish you to know that I, too, want this. Do you promise?"
"Try...I will. You...learning Blackfeet...fast."
"But, not as quickly as you have learned English. My husband, I, too, have been paying attention to your language when we use sign. But, like you, I do not speak it well enough yet. Now, come here, and let us make beautiful love together."
He did not hesitate to give her what she desired and soon became one with the sweetness of her, uniting their bodies, and, as she met his movements in the age-old dance of love, she looked up into his deep, black eyes and felt as though she were becoming more and more a part of him. Yes, she was still who she was, but...she was now him, too.
It was a strange concept and an odd feeling, yet it was pleasing. And, as they met on love's high plateau together, she knew that forever this man would be in her heart. Always...
****
EAGLE HEART AWOKE WITHa start. He was sweating profusely and, sitting up, realized his sleeping robes were wet. His arm was still around the beautiful woman curled up beside him, and he experienced again the happiness that had become so much a part of his life since he had married this exquisite, yet spiritual woman.
Nevertheless , though he was happy beyond what he had ever imagined possible, he had dreamed of his brother this night. It was not a "medicine" dream, foretelling the future. Nor was it a bad dream. Perhaps it was simply a dream to remind him about his original purpose in leaving his home to make the long journey to Fort Union.
And, it seemed he did need reminding, for his attention was where, perhaps, it should be for a newly married man. But, he must not lose his way; he had traveled far across the prairie and mountains—and even hostile country—so he might find his brother and bring him home.
True, he'd had little to help him along the path of discovery, for the mostly silent and distant communication between him and his brother—which had at first flourished—had stopped almost entirely. Indeed, he had no clues as to what had happened to cause this. Worse, he had no means to determine where his brother was at present.
Of one fact, however, he was certain: his brother was still alive. But, where was he? And, why was his brother not responding to Eagle Heart's attempts to communicate in the age-old manner of the ancient scouts and medicine men?
Leaning down toward his wife, who was securely nestled within his arms, he kissed her gently on the forehead and began the slow process of disentangling their limbs. He needed a moment to think, and this required him to be alone.
He wouldn't go far away, for a man must always guard his wife against any possible danger. But, he could sit outside their little abode and let the familiar sounds and sights of nature calm him enough to perhaps reach out toward his brother again.
Rising up to his feet, he grabbed hold of his breechcloth and leggings and tied them on. Next, he drew on his shirt before stepping into his moccasins. Quickly, he reached out to grab his quiver full of arrows and his bow, which were always positioned within easy reach. He placed them over his shoulder, then bent to position his sleeping robe next to his wife; perhaps she could snuggle against it. This done, he grabbed another of his buffalo robes and threw it around his shoulders. Bending at the waist, he crawled out of their shelter and stepped into the night.
He stretched before sitting down in front of his lodge, keeping his senses alert to any possible danger to him or to his wife. But, he saw no outright danger; plus, his perception of his environment did not show any enemy in the vicinity.
"I am glad to see you are happy, my son." The voice was speaking in the Blackfoot tongue, was high-pitched, soft and was one he recognized. It was Auk-a'pii, the little woman whom his father had loved...still loved.
"My heart is happy to see you have come visiting, Auntie. My wife is still asleep, but won't you sit with me? Might I offer you a fine piece of meat to eat, or perhaps some water to drink?"
"Thank you, but my supper was filled with good meat from your hunt, and I am no longer hungry nor thirsty. But, I would be honored to sit with you." She came to his side and sat next to him. As she looked up at him, she asked, "How is your father?"
