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Lucy didn't say a word. But she knew that Peggy had made her choice. She only hoped Gloria would accept it graciously.
"Peggy?" Gloria called to her, the disappointment in her voice said everything. "Won't you come home with Mommy?"
Peggy held the Indian woman and shook her head. She mumbled an Indian word.
Gloria's mouth fell open as she glanced at Lucy. "What did she say?"
"Mother, in Sioux."
"Oh, dear God!"
Lucy took Gloria's hand. "We must go now."
Gloria's head came up and she stared into Lucy's eyes. "I can't. I must take her home, Lucy!"
"She has chosen."
"I can't leave her here." She looked at Lucy with pleading eyes.
Gloria went over to Peggy and tried to pick her up in her arms, but Peggy wouldn’t turn loose of the woman.
"She doesn't know any better, that's all. They can't honestly deny me just because of this… "
Lucy again tried to pull her by the hand, but Gloria refused to budge.
"She's been here over a month, she's learned to love them. She's only three, at that age, they must be loved every day. Red Feather has given her love to her, and Peggy kn
ows it, accepts it."
"How could she?" The betrayal she felt was laced with her words. "How could she betray me like this?"
"It isn't betrayal. It is more survival than anything, that and love. You see, a child does not understand being taken. She only understands love. Red Feather has given the love of her own child, to your child. It is a common practice among our peoples. When love is given freely, it is usually returned." Lucy told her.
"But she's mine!"
"No one save marriage belongs to another" Lucy insisted. "But I'm afraid she isn't any longer yours."
"If you were in her place, would you choose them?"
Lucy hung her head, and a tear escaped, "I was never in this place. I didn't have the choice. But… I must tell you, when I heard it would be Peggy's choice, I was afraid this might happen. You see, now I remember, after a while, you don't want to go home. Because you have found love again. A love you suddenly realize you won't lose. And that becomes more important than the one you may have already lost."
"I can't leave her here," Gloria cried real tears now.
"We must go. Gloria, she has made her choice."
"I don't accept this."
"Please, do not cause trouble. It could mean your life. It could mean all our lives."
Tears fell down Gloria's face. "I love you Peggy, remember that. Please darling, remember that. Mommy loves you." Now she pulled Gloria out of the teepee.
Peggy didn't cry for her or come toward her. Gloria was stunned, when she walked outside once more, and Peggy didn't even holler for her or come after her.
She glanced back at the teepee.
Frank looked at her, and came toward her, "Gloria?"
"She— she didn't want me!" Gloria repeated the words to herself then stared into her husband's eyes. "It was like, she no longer knew me."
