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"No, he would not talk of me. If many knew I worked for him, it could mean trouble. The ranch hands know me, and I get along well with them, but no one knows I work for Caleb except them and now you."
"I wouldn't tell."
"I know this too!"
"How?"
"I have watched you. You are honest with people. I have not heard you lie."
"There's nothing wrong with you working for him. It's an honest job."
He snickered. "Yes, it is, but other whites would not like me doing so. I take a job from a white man, that is what they would say and try to kill me for it. You see breeds are hated more than Indians, by the white man. I have never understood why, but it is true. Caleb knows this and protects our secret, along with his men. He knows that I am son of a chief and must provide for my people."
"Caleb is a fair man. I always liked him. Funny what you don't know about people though. He was very easy to talk to, when I got the chance to talk."
"Yes, we get along well." Lone Wolf smiled.
"What tribe are you from?"
"Arapaho."
"I'm curious, why did you offer me marriage?" she asked, watching his expression as he spoke.
He finished eating and glanced at her, all of her. The way his eyes traveled her made her blush.
"I am son of a chief, it is expected that I marry. My father wants me to wed a Cheyenne, to join our tribes in peace and harmony. It would be a good union, but I do not want to do this."
"Why not?" she asked curiously.
"It would be a good union for my people, but not for a marriage. I will provide for my people, I will protect my people, respect them, honor them even, but I will not marry for them."
Hannah stared at the serious expression on his face. "Why not?"
"It is simple. I do not love her."
"Are Indian marriages usually arranged like that?"
"Sometimes. I am of age to marry; my father seeks grandchildren. And as I said, the union would unite our tribes, but I cannot let that sway my feelings."
"Is love important to an Indian marriage?" she snickered.
"Love is important to any marriage. That is why I took you from your husband. There is no love in his or your eyes. It is a bad union. It is no union at all, because your bodies have not come together in love as one."
She looked shocked, completely, her mouth was hanging open at his statement. He knew he spoke out of turn as she blushed.
"But you…. Offered me marriage and you do not love me, either."
He nodded slowly, trying to find the right words to make her understand. "I have had a vision. You were in it. You were to be my wife." He said now looking straight into her startled eyes. "The Great Spirit deems it so."
"A vision?"
"Just as I do not wish to marry the Cheyenne woman. I would not force this marriage on you. I only offer it."
Hannah's mouth hung open in shock. "You give me a choice…?"
"Yes!" He said and picked the plates up to wash them in the nearby creek bed. He was gone only a short while, then came back to stare down at her.
She looked up at him.
