Running her hand over the solid, frozen ground beneath her, she scattered a few of the hides, as well as their sleeping robes, over the frozen grass and dirt, bringing even more warmth into the lodge. She sighed. The lodge was amazingly comfortable, warm and cheery despite the fury of the wind, sleet and snow outside.
She heard the entrance flap being pulled aside and straightened her dress a little, smiling in anticipation of Strikes Fast. She was not disappointed.
Bent over, he crawled through the entrance and came down to his knees, divesting himself of his outer robe. Then, looking up, he grinned at her as he signed, "Today there was little game except for the grouse. Yet, these birds are good to eat, and I have brought two of them."
She grinned back at him. "These prairie grouse remind me of chickens, and I love the meat of chickens. But, two of them? How will we ever eat all the meat?"
He shrugged, and, bent over, he stepped toward her. "What we do not eat, we will roast slowly over the fire and dry." He came to sit beside her and took her hand in his, bringing her fingers up to his lips, where he kissed each one of them. Then, turning her hand over, he kissed her palm.
And, while her body responded to him with a shiver of passion, he went on to sign, "We may have several more days of this blizzard, and I think, in addition to doing all we can to make a baby, I would like to learn your language, if you would teach it to me. My friends Gray Falcon and Eagle Heart speak to their women in your tongue, and I often see them laughing and making jokes. But, since I have not learned the English, I do not have the privilege of hearing what is so humorous. And, I, too, would like to be able to speak to you in the same language. What is your opinion of this? Will you teach it to me?"
"Of course, I will. I would love to do it," she signed as she came up onto her knees and reached up to bring his face down to hers. Slowly, lovingly, she kissed his lips. "I love you much, my husband."
He grinned. "I think," he signed, "I like having you in my arms more than satisfying my hunger. What say you? Can the grouse wait until we say 'hello' to one another as a husband and wife should?"
She laughed. "I think so. Do you have something in mind?"
"Éeh, I do," he signed with one hand, while with his other, he lay her back until she was positioned beneath him. "Shall I show you what I have in mind?"
She giggled a little. "Yes, please," she signed.
And, slowly, step by step, he revealed to her in a most wonderful way exactly what he wished to do.
