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Now she looked at Chase and tears were in her eyes. "I made love with him without benefit of marriage. I sinned. He sinned. I am ashamed. He has not said he loves me, nor wishes to marry me and now I am at a loss for what I should do…"
Burning Tree shook his head and frowned, "I, Burning Tree together with the Great Spirit created the magic for your love to bring you here. But it was his love that saw you through trials and problems. Is that not enough?"
"No…I mean….I need to…hear the words…" Katherine cried. "He should marry me, but only because he loves me…Not because of your magic."
Her bold words brought both the men to their feet and Chase came forward. His frown creased his forehead as he looked at Burning Tree. "Very well, I will offer ten horses, and twenty hides for her hand in marriage."
"It is accepted my son," the Shaman said with authority. "The marriage will be in three days. There is much preparation for such a feast. You will not talk to her, or walk with her for three days. It is agreed." Burning Tree smiled at Chase.
Chase stomped out of the wigwam and headed for his mother's home.
He was angry and hurt and his pride wounded, but deep down in his heart, he was more than happy that in three days, she would be his.
What manner of woman was she that she demanded they marry the moment she set foot in camp?
"So…I have seen her, my son, she is beautiful as the setting sun. Are you not happy with her?" his mother asked with a knowing smile.
"Happy? We have been through hell and back and she has barely spoken to me since we started for this camp. I should leave and never come back…"
"You are very angry. What is wrong, my son…?" his mother pouted playfully.
"Part of it is Burning Tree himself. He sent magic that…well…that brought us together."
His mother nodded. "Yes of course he did, and he had to keep you safe."
"No mother…I took her in my dreams, twice, and I want to take her again…now. And just now, she practically rejected me in front of him. Then she says I must tell her I love her, like a white woman would say."
"She is white; at least she has been for some time. She can't change over night. She can't learn our ways in a few days. She is confused and needs a woman to talk to," his mother explained.
"She doesn't know I love her…" he wailed. "How can she not know it, when I made such…" he stopped and looked at his mother.
His mother blushed. "You made love to her…twice…"
"Yes, but I know it was through Burning Tree's magic that we did so. So does she. So now she thinks I don't love her….She thinks it was all just magic."
"Then tell her you do…" his mother smiled. "White women need the words, my son. Do you know how patient I had to be with your father before he could loosen his pride long enough to tell me how he felt? It was long after you were born before he did. Like you, she wars with the white side and the Indian side. If she willingly made love, she had to have felt something for you too. Now she is afraid. You brought her here, and she doesn't know what to do. She's alone. You must tell her my son that you love her and ask her to marry, like the white men do."
"I'm to marry her in three days, according to Burning Tree, and I can't speak with her or walk with her for three days."
"It is our custom, yes." His mother laughed.
"But three days. I won't be able to contain myself, already we have been on the trail that long and I have only held her once, only kissed her once. I cannot stand being away from her for three whole days. Burning Tree is torturing me…."
His mother smiled. "Ah…yes, he is, but think what a wonderful moment when you carry your bride into your new home."
"If I live that long…" Chase looked at his mother and smirked. "I'm so glad I have you here with me…"
"And I you, my son. Now do not fret. You must make a respectable home for her…"
Chase nodded and agreed. "Yes, you are right, and that's just what I need to tire me out for three days. Yes, I will build her a fine home and she will learn of her powers and help the sick here and all will be well."
His mother smiled again and then turned to her cooking. "Supper will be ready soon, my son, then we can sit and plan. And I must go and meet her tomorrow."
When he calmed down his mother asked him of his time to find her and he told her all the things that happened.
"She has been through much. No wonder. But she still came. Will the bluecoats come here looking for you?" she asked as she stirred the rabbit stew.
"No…the Captain will probably turn them in another direction. Someday I must go and thank him for all his help. And wish that I could I would find Lee and help him." He sat on the floor and waited for his supper. "Will father join us tonight?"
