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Clay was a bit surprised that Willa had told her.
"Maybe I'm not supposed to know, but you can't keep such a happy occasion a secret Clay. At least not from your friends."
Clay chuckled, "You're absolutely right."
Willa kissed Elan as Charlie was holding him. "You look very pretty, girl. I wouldn't suspect a breed looking like that."
Willa smiled and the women drove off in Cora's buggy.
"I probably shouldn't have told you about the wedding, but I couldn't contain my happiness." Willa admitted with a blush.
Cora patted her on the knee, "Don't you fret about it, if you hadn't been happy then I'd be concerned."
Willa relaxed, "If feels funny not having Elan with me."
"He'll be fine, I could tell how taken Charlie was with him."
"Oh yes, they are together a lot." Willa told her.
"He'll make a fine grandpa."
"How long have you known the two of them?"
"Forever it seems. I knew Charlie's wife before she died. Beth was such a sweet lady, I hated to see her go, she was a good friend too. He took it hard and Clay had a time keeping Charlie from depression. I lost my Sam about three years later and I was just as miserable. But Charlie came to visit me a lot back then and I recovered too. I guess losing a husband or wife is about the hardest thing there is unless it's your child."
"I suppose."
"Oh, you sound like you don't agree."
"It's not that, but I did not mourn my Indian husband."
"How come?" Cora glanced at her as she watched the horses.
"I did not love him; it was an arranged marriage and he was a bitter man. He hated all whites, including my father. My father had to kill him as he wanted Elan to stay with him. But he could not care for him, and Elan was still very small. I did not want Elan growing up to hate like he did." She explained. "Do you think me cruel?"
Cora thought about it a minute. "Many white women out here came not knowing their husbands, as mail-order brides. They'd never even met their husbands to be. I'm sure most of them had a hard time adjusting. Must have been hard living with a man with so much hate."
"An Indian woman does not always have a choice, who she marries. Some are widowed and the brother will marry her, whether she wants that marriage or not. Sometimes a warrior will offer horses and great prizes for the woman he desires, whether she desires it or not. I was a breed and didn't fit in with the tribe as well. I had not fallen in love before and Chatta was very hard to get along with. Because I was a breed, he hated my white side. But oddly, he did love his son. And had I not produced a child quickly from our marriage he would have disowned me for it. Because of my son, he treated me decently while I lived with him, but when my father came to get me, Chatta tried to kill him, and my father had to kill him."
"Sounds like a mighty rough way to live."
"It was. In some ways the white man usually has a better way of marrying."
"Most anyway. I'm glad you fell in love with Clay. He's a good man."
"Yes, he is!" she smiled. "Do you think we will have a problem today in town?"
"No, we're going to Farmersville. Although they know me and not you, you do not look like a breed i
n that outfit. Your skin is as white as mine. And no one need know about it either. You're just a woman buying a couple of dresses."
"I cannot thank you enough for thinking of this. As I do not want to cause anyone trouble."
"Well this trip won't be a problem, but you will have problems once everyone in Rush Creek find out about you and Clay."
"I know." Willa said softly. "Tell me, did Laura love Clay?"
"Laura, that girl. She loves herself more than anyone. But yes, she thought she did. Although, I can't imagine why. She argued with him all the time, and he would get angry. It's just that she thinks every man should love her, and most do, from a distance. What I hope is that in time she might get to know you and end some of the hate she has in her heart for the Indians."
