“How do I make you feel?” he asked interested.
“Warm,” Hannah said, staring at him. He looked even more dashing tonight. “I should hate you. For taking me. But I don’t. Why don’t I?” she wondered aloud in her drunken state.
“You must rest your head,” Bear Claw said.
“No, I don’t want to sleep. I want to run. Ride a horse. Jump!” she said, as she attempted to scramble out of the teepee.
He pulled her back, holding her to himself. She stared up at him with beautiful eyes. He froze as her fingers caressed his lips. They went lower, caressing his chest. She was causing him to be hard as a rock. There was desire in her eyes, but not in this state when she was not in control of her senses. She would loathe him if she woke and he took her.
Her hands were around his neck as he lowered her to the fur. She refused to let him go and he had to carefully pull away from her hold. There would be no more wine for her, he decided. As much as he liked seeing her free without inhibition, he preferred her being her normal self.
He dropped his weapons then lay on the fur, away from her, just like most nights. He closed his eyes to sleep, opening them when he felt Hannah by his side.
“I like sleeping next to you,” she drawled, her fingers running through his hair. “And your hair. I like it. I want to wash it someday.”
He smiled. He liked her sincerity. Despite the front she put up by day, she felt something for him, no matter how little it was. He pulled her to him, and she rested her head on his chest. He felt whole. This was where she belonged, and he would fight to keep her here.
*
Hannah groaned as her eyes opened. It felt like a hammer slammed back and forth in her head. The pain was horrible. Her eyes squinted close and despite the flaps was closed, it was too bright. She knew it was morning, but it felt like she had not slept at all. Traces of last night drifted to her. Her dancing. Her drinking and laughing with the people. There was a faint memory of her trying to kiss Bear Claw. Or was that her imagination? She groaned as she sat up. She was never drinking again.
She staggered up, feeling nausea as she steadied herself. A hand lifted over her face as she stepped into the morning. The women had began to cook, the children were being awakened, and the men were in groups mapping out the day’s activities. Her stomach lurched and she went to a corner to let it all out. There was a rub on her back and when she looked up it was a young woman her age who smiled tenderly at her.
The woman led her to a gathering of women. Her eyes widened in surprise as they called greetings to her, some patting her. Had she woken up in a strange place? A gourd of warm liquid was handed to her and she drank it. She spat it out, earning laughter from the women, one of them falling off a tree stump. The young woman who had introduced herself as Black Raven gestured at her to drink it slowly. She did, but it didn’t stop the liquid from tasting better. However, in a few minutes, she felt better.
For the rest of the morning, she sat with the women working. They involved her in their conversation even though she had no idea what they were clearly saying, although she could read meaning to some of their words. What had happened overnight to cause such a shift, she could not help but wonder. She retraced her memories, but could arrive at nothing. She shrugged, giving up. Rather, she would make the most of their warmness towards her.
Bear Claw found her. He arrived at the site and as usual, all eyes drifted to him. He always stood out. He didn’t even make an effort. Her face turned red as traces of last night flooded to her. Had she climbed on him? What else had she done to him? Or asked of him? As his grin widened, she got more embarrassed.
“How do you feel?” Bear Claw asked. Unfortunately he had risen early, and had not been there to see her wake. But the women had taken care of her, from what he saw.
“I am never going to drink again,” Hannah said.
Bear Claw spoke aloud to the women, and they all laughed. She guessed he had told them of her new resolution. Prior to last night, she had taken a sip of wine and nothing more, that had no effect on her. But this drink had been very potent.
“And you drink that everyday,” she said.
“We are used to it. We begin to drink it from the moment we stopped suckling,” Bear Claw said.
“About last night...” She glared at him as he chuckled. There was nothing funny about the situation. She was curious about what had happened. She had questions.
“Nothing happened,” Bear Claw said, becoming serious. He had never taken a maiden with force.
She was relieved. It was just a confirmation. She doubted he would force her. Would he? Even though he had kidnapped her, and had been cruel to her, she didn’t think he would force himself on her. Yet she did not trust him.
“Did I do anything?”
He smiled. “You tried to... Kiss me.”
Her eyes widened. No way! She felt awful. How could she have done that. He chuckled as she covered her face. No drinks anymore in her life, she decided. How could she have done something like that?
“I am sorry,” she apologized.
“It is said that liquor reveals your deepest wants,” Bear Claw said, watching her flush even more.
“I...” She said nothing more, looking away. She willed the ground to open up and swallow her. Of course, she didn’t want to kiss him. She had been drunk.
Someone called out to him and she was glad when he stood up. She needed a breathing space. But that was not the end.
