In sign, he said, "Let me be plain-speaking about this, and please excuse me for doing so. If you marry this man, I cannot also be married to you."
"But, we are already married."
"So we are," he signed. "But, if I am to continue on the path I have chosen to help my people, I would be forced to leave you to your path, and I to mine."
"Forced to—"
A complete and full understanding of what she was facing came upon her suddenly, and Briella ceased thinking. After all she had been through to return here to him, and now having toface the one fear she had known might yet happen—and having to confront it after having spent such a beautiful night with this man… It was too much.
She looked on at herself as though she were a bystander as her hopes for a future life with this man burst into flames. Sobs racked her body as tears fell down to her breast.
She couldn't talk; she couldn't even use her hands in sign. Instead, she came up onto her knees and scrambled toward the small entrance to their shelter, crawled through it, and coming up onto her feet, she ran through the pines, out onto the open prairie and straight into George.
"Sister, what is it?" George asked, looking up and behind her toward the pines. "I see Red Fox has followed you. What has happened to you? To him? He looks as if the world has caved in on him. And you… Why are you crying? I would have thought you would be extraordinarily happy. The two of you are now married."
Between tears and sobs, Briella managed to say, "He and I"—she hiccupped—"we can never be married, George. Never! Please, please, take me home."
"I will, of course," George responded. "But, I think first you must get yourself more fully dressed. And, I believe I should have a word with Red Fox. He looks as if he is… Are those tears in his eyes, too?"
"Brother, do not talk to him. Just…just let him be. It is I who has caused him pain. It is I who must now reap the consequences for what I have done, because of…because of… I can't…I can't…bear it!"
"Sister, Sister, compose yourself. Come, I will go with you into the grove of pines, and there I will wait for you to dress yourself. Then, we will go to my lodge. It is still early, and I have seen no one else about at the homestead yet, since they allsought their beds in the wee hours of the morning. So, you can come with me without other eyes seeing you."
She nodded. Indeed, it was all she could do.
