Already the drums were beginning to pound out the strong, honoring beats which began the love song, and soon would come the time when the men would join their voices to the rhythm of the drum:
Ihtsisaoo opott aakí itssy.Come closer, sweet maiden.
Ihtsisaoo ipsstsí sttotsi aanáttsíí. Come into the light.
Ihpiyi aistniisto kiístónnoonkiip sonai'sskip. Dance up to me so we can kiss.
Ihtsisaoo opott aakí itssy.Come closer, sweet maiden.
Ihtsisaoo opott.Come close.
He didn't yet see her. Would she attend the dance?
He took a step away from the line of dancers and was just turning around when, in his peripheral vision, he beheld his sister and A'sitápi making room for themselves within the line of females.
Soka'pii,good.He grinned. His plan for the night looked to be working as he had hoped it would, and he watched as the women gathered together in line and danced slowly forward toward the men.
So great was Gray Falcon's desire for A'sitápi, he couldn't control the speed of his heartbeat. It was throbbing faster than the drum and was pounding so rapidly, one might have thought he had only recently participated in a race.
He watched her as, with her eyes cast downward, she looked to be simply another beautiful, yet shy, maiden. He knew differently, however. She was not so very shy when the matter concerned himself or her sister. And, though he sometimes protest her uninhibited nature, he was beginning to admit he liked it.
She was the only one in line wearing the white man's clothing. He knew she was working on creating a Pikuni woman's dress for herself, but it was his understanding it was still in the making.
Some might object to her being here, since there were many in the camp who distrusted all whites. But, he didn't care.
This was his woman. Brazen, she might be. Outspoken and opinionated, she was. And, perhaps she might try to command him in the years to come. And, truly, though his lodge might come to be always in an uproar, he had finally admitted he didn't care. Indeed, her observations, spoken aloud without frills or fear, usually amused him.
Five winters ago when he'd first come to know her, he hadn't recognized the utter happiness he'd felt when in her company, nor the laughter in his heart because of her habit of observing the evident and mentioning it to him. In truth, though she was white—and should be foreign to him—she was yet familiar.
They had been friends for all these winters, and he had always liked her, but he could see now he had been blind to the real love within his heart. He was no longer blind.
A few days ago, she had called herself a loose woman because of her heartfelt request that he make love to her. But, he knew differently and had said so to her. He was well aware that if she hadn't loved him well, she would never have asked for this affair with him.
Áa,she loved him; she'd told him so often enough. And, he had been blind to his heartfelt love for her in return. It wasn't until she had thrown herself at him several days ago that he'd realized how greatly he was tied to her.
And, tonight, he was proud of her. She was all dressed up in a blue dress he'd often seen her wear. It hugged her curves the way the white-man's clothing tended to do, yet everything else about her screamed Pikuni: her hair was braided, white shell earrings hung from her ears, a tiny beaded necklace fell down from around her neck and her feet were encased in Pikuni-styled moccasins.
And, she was his. She didn't know it yet, but now that he understood what was at stake, he would ensure she would not go back to the village of St. Louis. He wouldn't force her to marry him. No, it was a better plan to simply tease her often enough and long enough so she would come to him willingly, with the word "yes" on her lips.
This, however, didn't mean he would not pray to the Creator about her parents' plight. He would think about it, and he would give it as much consideration as possible. He would also consult with Eagle Heart since this situation faced both of their women, and, if they did not act, it could produce as much of a bad effect upon Eagle Heart's wife as it did on A'sitápi.
There was also the possibility that, knowing what had happened to A'sitápi's father, a way might be shown to him which could open a path to healing him of the trauma he had experienced, if the man wished to be healed. And, this was important, for without the man's cooperation, no healing would ever occur.
Gray Falcon's gaze caught A'sitápi's before she lowered her eyes again, and all else fled from his mind except her beauty. And, then she looked up at him and smiled.
In response, his heartbeat quickened even more, as though he were in a race for a treasure. And, he found himself not only anticipating her kiss, but also welcoming his physical response to her—the one he was coming to expect because of his love for this woman. He grinned back at her.
****
At last Amelia stood in front of Gray Falcon and, glancing to the side, saw Sweet Woman reach up to place a kiss on her sweetheart's cheek. But, Amelia's courage abruptly deserted her as she gazed upon Gray Falcon.
She felt suddenly consumed by a wave of modesty, and it was partly due to him because he looked so handsome. He wasn't wearing a shirt tonight, and it was the first time she had ever beheld him bare-chested.
Of course, she'd seen him without his shirt on numerous occasions before, but this had always been from afar. Never had she been treated to so great a sight of his raw masculine beauty. Until now, he had always worn his white elk-skin shirt whenever he was near her.
The way he looked tonight—so bare, so strong, so masculine—it overwhelmed her, and she felt quite feminine in response. White shell earrings fell from his ears, and a white shell necklace hung in loops down his chest. His breechcloth sat low upon his hips, causing the deep V-shape of his figure to be more pronounced. He was tall, strong, all male, and she was more than aware that she had always thought him to be the handsomest man in all the world.
But, to kiss him in front of perhaps fifty or more strangers, who were gathered here to witness this favored sport, felt a little overwhelming to her. This was especially so because, considering most of these people were likely curious about her relationship with Gray Falcon, their eyes could be trained upon her.
