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"I could never love a man like him." Sasha insisted.
"Do you know him so well?" Naomie questioned.
Sasha loved Naomie, but it was a fact that Naomie had an eye for Big Knife too. Sasha never dreamed that fate would lend Naomie a hand to find favor with her. Big Knife did not profess his love like Sasha had hoped for, but it was presumed. She was not as sure of Big Knife as she wished to be, but he had asked for her hand, perhaps because she was the chief's daughter. But this Black Wolf wouldn't have known this at the time he told her he would challenge Big Knife. Her curiosity of the man made her doubt things she never doubted before.
"No, I don't know him at all." Sasha hung her head.
"Perhaps he's not as bad as you think, he honors you with such a prize as fifteen horses. He is also very handsome. The entire tribe is amazed at his boldness."
"He's arrogant, that's all. He thinks much of himself." Sasha insisted.
"He is a chief, I am told, he must think well of himself." Naomie argued, "for what chief does not."
Sasha glanced at her friend. Since when did Naomie become so intelligent. Had she somehow misjudged her friend?
Sasha turned on her friend then faced her, "Will you marry Big Knife if this man wins my hand in marriage?"
Naomie hung her head, "That would be up to my father, I suppose. But if you marry this man, then, yes, I would accept, if he asked me."
"He favors you almost as much as he does me," Sasha insisted. "I'm sure of it."
"It is useless to speak of such things. We have to see who will win the challenge." Naomie said lowly, casting her eyes to the ground.
"I know you love Big Knife too," Sasha took her by the shoulders. "I cannot deny that he looks upon you as much as he does me. Maybe even more. You are quite a beautiful woman. Every man in our tribe wants you."
"Are you jealous because he looks at me?" Naomie asked staring directly at her now.
"No, of course not. I mean, I think every man in the tribe that is not married looks at you, Naomie, you are beautiful beyond compare. You are like all women should be."
Naomie touched her hand and smiled. "Thank you. I do love him Sasha. I cannot hide my feelings, I have tried not to look upon him like that, for your sake, but my heart is with him, but it is impossible. Perhaps he would take us both in marriage. Would that bother you?"
Sasha heard her words and was startled by them. She shot her a quick glance. "I would not like that." Sasha fussed.
Naomie stared at the ground again. "You could not share him?" She muttered.
"I would not like that. For I believe like the white man's bible says, one man and one woman. Could you?"
She could not believe Naomie would suggest it. It had been done many times in her tribe, but old ways were dying out and Sasha could not believe Naomie would consider such a thing.
Naomie faltered a moment, "If it meant the only way to be his wife, then yes. I would. We would have separate homes, and that is good."
"It is not right, Naomie to take more than one wife." Sasha raised her head proudly. "We are not like some that take many wives. The old ways are dying, Naomie. One wife should be enough, if she can produce children."
"If it was the only way to have him, would you?"
Sasha moved away and stared outside, "I don't know. I really don't know. Has he suggested it?"
Naomie bowed her head shyly now. "He mentioned it once. He does look upon me. I cannot deny that. And if you marry him, what will you do, if he continues to look at me? If he proposed to me, I would marry him, yes. I am sorry."
Sasha's cheeks flushed. Never had Naomie spoken so frankly of her love for Big Knife. Shocked by this news, Sasha stared at her friend now. For the first time, Sasha realized that what Naomie suggested might happen. Sasha was a healer, and the daughter of the chief. Any man that married her would improve his stature in the tribe. Big Knife knew this. But the fact that Big Knife had suggested this to Naomie worried Sasha. She did not believe in multiple marriages. "I don't know. I hadn't considered it." Sasha felt her heart fall. How could he look upon Naomie her best friend like that? And if he wanted her too, would she agree to another wife? Would it even be up to her?
"Well I would share him with you, if he asked, that is how much I love him." Naomie declared. "It all may be settled for us today."
Sasha stared at her friend. It was easy to see that Naomie hoped the stranger would win. "Yes, I guess you are right."
Chapter Three
