Page 24 of The Last Warrior

“No. He was not.”

“Then he is a fool.”

“Yes, I think you are correct, but it does not change my circumstances.”

“If we marry⁠—”

“I thought we were marrying.”

“Hear me on this. If we marry, our way will not be easy. At least not here. Have you thought to seek a white man to marry you instead of me?”

Suzette paused. “If you do not wish to do this, Mr. Lion, you are entitled to tell me this fact directly. Do not spare me, for I will not crumble.”

“You misunderstand. I do not say I will not or do not wish to marry you. You are new to this country, and therefore you may not realize there is much prejudice between my people and the white man.”

“Is there? May I disagree? Only today I saw a man here at this show, and with him an Indian wife and an Indian family.”

“Hau, and this is permitted him because he is a white man,” said Black Lion.

“And the opposite is not true? I, being a white woman, cannot take an Indian man as husband?”

“Hau, you can. But the way will be hard for you. You should know this.”

She nodded. “Thank you for your concern. And now you may happily consider me to be properly apprised of this information.”

He sighed. Though the night was filled with other sounds, the tone of his frustration was loud enough she could hear it. “As I understand it, you seek a way in which to save your reputation and the reputation of your child. Yet I would be careless if I did not tell you that by marrying me, your reputation would hardly be saved. The whites will forgive you the child, for your child, being white, will of course look completely white. But by marrying me, you may not save your reputation.”

She paused. “Did you think I would not be aware of the fact?”

Silence fell between them. It was several moments later when he said, “If it is only a man you need as husband for your child, I should tell you I know a man who is white who is a good man. I think he would be easily convinced to marry you.”

“You have told him of me?”

“I have not. Nor would I do so. This would be left to you to do.”

She frowned at his shadow. “You are telling me the truth about this? You have not said anything to the man?”

“Hau. I gave you my word I would hold your secret close to my heart. I would go to my death with your confidence if need be.”

“Good.”

Another silence ensued between them, broken only by a gunshot in the far distance. The drumming had, for the moment, ceased.

He said, “Do you still wish to do this?”

She breathed in deeply, letting it out again uneasily. “I do.”

She watched his shadow as he nodded, although he asked, “Is there a reason?”

“Of course there is a reason,” she remarked, but she said not another word about it.

After a moment, he uttered, “Though I know it is impolite to ask, I would know your reason.”

She paused while she considered the request. “Very well. I suppose you have the right to know. But I warn you that you will not like what I have to say.”

“I feared as much, yet I would still know what it is which drives you to do this.”

She hesitated. “And if I tell you, you will not change your mind about our marrying?”