It was late in the evening when Bear Claw returned. He was covered in mud and had to clean himself. The boy was saved, and he would never play in a ditch again after the terrible experience. As he headed out, in search of Hannah, he ran into Anika.
“Why is the woman still here?” Anika asked.
“My decisions do not matter to you,” he said. He was tired of her questioning his intention for the woman. This was not the first time she would ask, and neither would it be the last he suspected.
Her body pressed to him, the globes of her breasts swelling. He was a man, but he had no reaction to her.
“What does she have that I don’t have? What does she give you that I cannot give you?” Anika asked, hurt in her eyes.
“This is not about you Anika. I desire her, and not you,” Bear Claw said.
Anger flashed in her eyes as she pulled away from him. “You play with fire chief. She’s not one of us, and will never be one of us. You desecrate our ancestors and the lives of our dead brothers and sisters by laying with the white devil.”
He glared at her. “What I do is none of your interest. I am chief and I decide who I lay with.” He would have been sterner with her, but a part of him still saw her as a little sister. But if she kept on pushing, he would make her realize that he had no feelings towards her.
Her words however haunted him as he went to sit by the fire. She was right. His ancestors would roll in their graves if he laid with a white devil. They hated them for coming into their lands to steal and destroy. It was all they had done since they arrived on their lands. His ancestors had fought to keep them away, and here he was with one as an intended bride.
His shoulders slumped. Why him? Why couldn’t they point at one of the women for him to build a home with? He had never heard of any of the men, most of all a chief marrying one of the white devils. They were only used for a night of fun, to see if being with a white devil was different. And this was rare, with how seldom they came across a female white devil. The other reason was for exchanges when these women were kidnapped. But to marry one, and to raise children? Oh! He closed his eyes. He knew that there was a lot in store for him. The future seemed bleak.
He looked up at a shadow. It was her. She offered him a bowl full of food. He took it and reached for her before she could leave. He nodded beside him, and she sat next to him. He ate the porridge, tasting the spicy flavor.
“I have to eat,” Hannah said, getting up. She had seen him over from the pot wearing a solemn look, and had felt like reaching out to him to comfort him. Now, she wanted to get away.
“Eat with me,” Bear Claw said. He scooped a mouthful and offered it to her.
Her mouth opened and the morsel slipped in. Their gaze held as she ate it softly, the juice flowing down her mouth. His thumb caressed her lips, removing the juice, his eyes not leaving her. She was hot, but there was no fire. Her body was sensitive in a way she did not really understand. She wanted to flee, but his gaze held her down, as he fed her, morsel by morsel, while eating in between.
“Done,” Bear Claw grinned.
Her gaze lowered to the bowl which was now empty and glistened. “You didn’t eat anything,” she complained.
He patted his stomach. He was more than satisfied. Especially with the sight of her eating from his hand. “I am very satisfied,” he said.
A flush spread over her face and she looked away. He had noticed that the littlest of compliments, or touches made her blush. Was she really untouched he wondered? The thought of him being her first made his nose flared. He wanted her even more than before.
His attention was stolen as a song went up amongst his people. He took her hand, amidst her
refusal and led her to the fire where his people gathered already dancing.
“No! I can’t dance!” Hannah said. However, every night when she watched them, she could not help but nod to the tempo of the music, and wished she could dance like them someday.
“It is easy,” Bear Claw said, pulling her to him. She giggled as he twirled her around. She gasped as she stared into the face of another man. He twirled her around, and her laughter filled the night as she went into the arms of another man. Now, she understood how the dance went. Just like the waltz. On and on she kept twirling, until she was back in the arms of the chief. She giggled at him in excitement. It had been fun.
They danced into the night, and Hannah let herself go. She tasted from the gourd and spat it out. The others laughed around her as Bear Claw clapped her back as she coughed.
“That was…” It had tasted harsh.
“Drink. Slowly,” Bear Claw said, guiding the guard back to her mouth.
It wasn’t as bad as the first time, but she still didn’t like the drink. However, it warmed her, and made her feel free. Her hands lifted as she joined in the group of dancers. She laughed. She twirled around. She was happy.
She stumbled back to the teepee with the help of Bear Claw who was concerned that she had drank too much. He had tried to pull her away from the gourd but she had been adamant.
“You are good looking,” Hannah said as she ran her fingers through his hair.
He chuckled.
“I like the way you make me feel,” she said.
