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“Mother, it’s time,” she said, reaching a hand out for her. “I soon will become a bride! Please be happy for me! Please share my wondrous feelings!”
Grace reached for a lacy, embroidered handkerchief inside her dress pocket. She dabbed her nose and her eyes with it, then nodded. “I am happy for you,” she murmured. “And never doubt how beautiful you are.”
Hannah broke away from Strong Wolf and hugged her mother. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Oh, Mother, I will miss you so when you return to Saint Louis.”
“Your father and I must leave immediately after the ceremony,” Grace said. “The riverboat from Saint Louis should be arriving within the hour. We are going to travel downriver for a while before returning home. Your father and I need a vacation.”
“That’s wonderful,” Hannah said. “You do need time to yourselves.”
Hannah stepped away from her mother, then went to Strong Wolf. She took his hand and smiled up at him.
They stepped aside as her mother left the cabin first, then they followed her outside.
Everyone stood with eyes wide and in awe of Hannah as she made her way toward the central, outdoor fire, where a platform had been erected beside it for her and Strong Wolf. Flowers were scattered everywhere along the ground, sending off sweet and spicy aromas.
Earlier, several warriors had killed several ducks and had planted sharp-pointed sticks in the ground around the leaping flames of the huge outdoor fire. On each stake they had fastened a duck to roast. They had buried several under the ashes to bake.
Other meat hung from spits over the fire, dripping their tantalizing juices into the flames. The smell of corn, squash, beans, and many more vegetables wafted through the air from the large pots positioned in the coals around the edge of the fire. Coffee boiled in a huge pot. Tea had been prepared, as well as honey water.
While Hannah had been walking toward the platform, she had not been able to see Chuck at the organ through the crowd, or her mother and father, who were now standing close to the platform, waiting for them.
Hannah was surprised when she saw a minister standing there holding a Bible, a wide smile on his thick-jowled face. She looked questioningly at her parents, who smiled and nodded back at her, then to Strong Wolf, seeking answers.
“Your father asked that you not only be wed in the Potawatomis tradition, but also the white man’s,” Strong Wolf said, smiling down at her. “I agreed. They sent for a minister. Today there will be two ceremonies.”
Hannah smiled up at him. She felt doubly blessed by her God today, and Strong Wolf’s Great Spirit.
Everything became quiet as Strong Wolf and Hannah stepped up to the preacher. Out of the corner of her eyes, Hannah saw Clara leading Chuck from the organ. The ceremony didn’t start until they were standing there with everyone.
Then the preacher began reading scriptures from the Bible. Hannah felt all warm and wonderful inside as she listened. She could hardly believe that, at long last, everything was fitting into place so wonderfully.
However, when she glanced up at Strong Wolf, she noticed that same troubled look she had seen before in his eyes. She wondered what bothered him? What had he not told her about himself?
Would he ever open himself completely to her? She would relax only when she understood the self-doubt he burdened himself with.
Not wanting to allow this to spoil her special day, Hannah wrenched her eyes away from Strong Wolf and listened to the preacher. Her hand reached over to hold Strong Wolf’s. She glanced up at him again quickly when she felt his hand trembling. Again she saw that haunted look in his eyes.
Suddenly nervous herself and now not so sure about what she was doing, Hannah looked away.
Strong Wolf half listened to the word of the white preacher. This was his wedding day, and he still had not confided in his woman his darkest secrets, which haunted him every day of his life.
He knew he should have told her before their vows of marriage, and that he would have to tell her eventually.
But he had not been able to find the courage.
He doubted now that he ever would.
He could not tell her something that might make her turn away from him with a loathing!
If he lost her, he would lose his reason for living.
When the preacher stopped and nodded at Strong Wolf, he left his fear behind and went on with the ceremony.
He turned to face Hannah and gently took her hands. “My woman, here I am in your presence. Make it so forever that only I may occupy your heart.”
Tears filled Hannah’s eyes as she gazed into his. “My husband, here I am in your presence. Make it so forever that only I may occupy your heart, for mine is yours, forever and a day.”
She brushed her fears aside as he then married her in his Potawatomis fashion.
