“I won’t let go of you either,” Running Wolf whispered.
Once he had cleaned up the baby, he cleaned the shack carefully, so as not to risk waking the woman up. She was exhausted and of course he could not blame her. The past weeks had been long and hard, and he could not say anything about her life before here. Things must have been very difficult for her before she came here. She deserved a break greatly.
Running Wolf stood by the fire, cradling the baby till she fell asleep. He silent a yawn, unable to take his eyes off the little one. Finally, sleep took over and he found a little corner that was comfortable for him and the baby and they settled down to salvage what was left of the night.
Running Wolf jolted awake and saw the shadow over him. He blinked into focus and saw the pale face. She crouched beside him, her eyes on the baby in his hands. It was as if she was oblivious to his presence as she stroked the baby’s hair and cooed at her. Running Wolf cleared his throat, calling her attention. She turned to him and her face reddened,
“Thanks for your help last night. Without you, I would have probably been lost. And thank you for keeping her with you throughout the night. You really didn’t have to.”
Her voice made Running Wolf tilt his head as he watched her. It was soft and musical. He found himself wishing it had not been hidden for so long. It was beautiful, just like her. He shook his head, trying to drive away the thought.
“You do talk,” he blurted out. “After almost a month of you being quiet, I wasn’t sure if I imagined what you said when you first woke up.”
She nodded slowly, “I apologize. I couldn’t find my voice, and I didn’t have the strength to search for it.”
Running Wolf looked at her thoughtfully. He found himself getting lost in her eyes again. He averted his gaze and said, “You have a healthy baby.”
“All thanks to your help. I know you weren’t supposed to help me. Won’t you get into trouble?” her face contorted in worry.
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” Running Wolf said with a shrug. The corner of her lips tilted in a small smile, and it pleased his heart.
“Really, thank you for everything. For the shelter, thefood, the wood. I’ve wanted to show my gratitude for so long. I know you need to keep your distance, so I’m totally grateful that you still chose to help me.” She smiled at him and all he could do was nod. She stretched her hand out, “I should probably take her now. I bet you have a load of things that you need to do today. Do not let us keep you any longer.”
“Huh? Right, right.” Running Wolf handed the baby to her and she kissed her cheek. He pointed at the boundary, “I... I should go now.”
“Thanks, Running Wolf.”
He froze in his tracks. His heart was pounding in his chest. Why did she have to say it like that?
“That is your name, right? Running Wolf?” she quirked a brow.
“Yes, yes, that is it,” he nodded. He started to back away. “I’ll… see you.... later?”
“Bye, Running Wolf!” she called after him.
Running Wolf quickened his footsteps and it was only when he was a good distance away that he halted. He leaned against a tree trunk, holding his fist against his chest. He was Running Wolf, the head warrior of the Northern Choctaw tribe. Never had he felt flustered. Never in his life. Not even when he was in the smallest box or faced with the biggest problem. And now, just by the sound of his name from her, he was flustered. He shook his head. There had to be something wrong with him. It was the only explanation. Why else would he get so lost in her eyes and her smile?
Running Wolf looked up just then and he saw Chito in the distance, heading to his tepee. He looked at his bloodstained clothes. No way could his friend see him like that. He made a dash for his tepee. He was comfortably in a new breechcloth when Chito arrived.
“Why do you look like you have been running?”
Running Wolf ignored his friend and sat on a tree trunk in front of his tepee.
“How is the pale face?” Chito asked after a moment of silence.
Running Wolf shrugged, “Why the question?”
“Because you are closer to her?”
“Now that is just ridiculous. You talk like we are best friends or something like that,” Running Wolf was quick to say.
Chito opened his mouth to speak but he seemed to think better of it because he shook his head and stared into the distance. “When are you leaving for your vision quest?”
“Oh, I’ll leave soon. That’s not an issue,” Running Wolf replied mechanically.
Chito eyed his friend, “Soon. I have been hearing that word for weeks now. Why do you keep delaying the vision quest, Running Wolf? Is it because of the pale face?”
“That’s ridiculous. Why would I delay it because of her?”
