AllFreeNovel
Share Us
An old Indian came out of his tepee when he heard the crowd building outside. His face was weathered from age, but Black Wolf knew he was the chief as there was much wisdom in his face. He stood tall and he faced him squarely.
"What brings a Shoshone to my camp?" The Chief asked him. "You do not belong here."
Black Wolf sized the old chief up quickly. "I have come to challenge Big Knife for the hand of Sasha the healer."
The chief stared at him for a long moment. "You know my daughter."
Black Wolf looked at him a bit taken aback. He did not know she was a chief's daughter. But that would not stop him from having her. "I have met her, yes."
"What do you offer for her hand?"
"Fifteen horses and a supply of corn and skins for your people." Black Wolf said proudly. "It will be a cold winter." He added.
"Fifteen horses?" The chief looked pleased that his daughter was so valuable. Others who stood around curiously staring, spoke among themselves at the offer.
"And who are you to offer this?" Chief Walking Bear asked.
"I am Chief Black Wolf of the Eastern Shoshone tribe. At least one of them."
"And I am Walking Bear." The old man eyed him, "You would give fifteen horses for my daughter?"
"I would, and I will fight for her hand." Black Wolf declared. "As I'm told she is promised."
"Have you met Big Knife before?"
"No, I have not."
"And yet you challenge him without seeing him?"
"I do."
The old Chief turned to his tepee and called his daughter out.
Sasha came out and saw Black Wolf, and her eyes widened. "You!"
"I've made an offer to your father for your hand in marriage." Black Wolf beamed.
"Father… " she whirled around at her father and began to plead. "You cannot do this."
The old chief looked at Black Wolf. He studied him for a few minutes before speaking. "He has offered fifteen horses for you and is willing to fight for your hand. He has the right to challenge, as he is a chief. You are daughter of a chief. He is worthy of your hand in marriage. Big Knife must accept this challenge."
"But I'm already pledged to Big Knife." She protested and shot Black Wolf a discerning glance.
"It is a fair offer, I will allow it, now be still my child."
"But father, I love Big Knife."
"You are the daughter of a chief, and this man has asked for your hand too. The only fair way to settle is to let them fight. Besides, he honors you with his offer, he is a Chief of the Shoshone."
"But father… " she cried. "Surely, you won't let him… "
"It is befitting that a chief's daughter marry well, child." The old chief frowned, then he turned to Black Wolf. "You must fight Big Knife and bring your horses, tomorrow at sunup." The old chief told him.
"Thank you, until tomorrow." He glanced at Sasha now and she frowned at him mightily.
As Black Wolf walked off, he heard her plea to not permit this. He smiled to himself, she would be a real challenge to win over.
Now he would speak with the elders of his own tribe and make things right. Tomorrow he would face Big Knife. He hadn't even seen the man and knew nothing of what it might take to win this battle. But his wounds had healed well, and he wanted this woman for a wife. Her father was right, she deserved to be a chief's wife.
