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 theKáínaa 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 theKáínaa 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."
