Still, though feeling uncharacteristically shy, she had to kiss him. It was part of the dance. Indeed, most of the girls had already bestowed their favor upon their sweethearts and had left the dancing area, leaving only her and a few others still standing in line. Luckily, Sweet Woman hadn't yet taken her leave.
Sweet Woman glanced at her and signed, her motions abbreviated and for Amelia alone, "The people will think you have no courage if you don't at least kiss him on the cheek."
"But, he doesn't look approachable," Amelia returned in sign.
"It is because he is not allowed to encourage you."
"Oh," said Amelia.
Glancing up at Gray Falcon, she smiled while gathering together her nerve. He had crossed his arms over his chest as he awaited her to take action. And, he looked unapproachable.
Well, she had to do it. Quickly, she stepped toward him, stood on her tiptoes and, coming in closely to him, placed a gentle kiss upon his cheek.
She was amazed when his reaction to her kiss was a hearty laugh as he uncrossed his arms. Glancing down at her, he said in English, "Oh, come now, you can do better than that."
Stepping in toward her, he swept her into his arms, bent his head toward her and kissed her firmly and soundly on the lips. But, the kiss was not a simple peck. It was a kiss of passion, of desire and of sexual intent—and it was given to her by this man whom she had loved for so long. And, closing her eyes, she reached up to place her arms around his neck and return the embrace.
His kiss caused immediate havoc within her. Her stomach turned upside down several times before seeming to fall to her feet, and her insides felt suddenly weak, as though someone had swung her round and round. Funny, because, contrarily, her heart beat so fast, she felt as though she had only now danced a rather fast jig. She let her body fall into his.
In reaction, his hand came down past her waist to pull her in close to him, while at the same time his tongue swept over her lips, then into her mouth, as though with a kiss alone he would make love to her, exactly as she had asked him to do several days ago.
She felt as though she were floating and came to understand he had lifted her off the ground. She swayed and placed all her weight against him.
But, suddenly an image of her mother and father dressed in rags and hungry on the streets of St. Louis invaded her thoughts, and she groaned.No, not now. Go away picture; I don't want the kiss to end.
But, she had to end it. Otherwise, she was in danger of letting this man make love to her.
With a high-pitched sigh, she ended the kiss and came back to the present and scooted down along his almost-nude body until her feet were once more upon the ground. Then she looked around her. So consuming had been his kiss, she'd forgotten where she was, and, at present, perhaps fifty or more pairs of eyes were looking with amusement upon her and Gray Falcon.
"No," she said, backing away from him. "We shouldn't have done this. You planned this, didn't you?"
His grin at her was so charming, she almost wanted to run back into his arms. But, then he winked at her and said, "Perhaps we should marry, after all. I think most people here tonight would agree with me."
"Oh!"
Spinning around, she didn't dare look at anyone. Instead, she raced away from the crowd assembled here, fleeing into the night and not stopping until she had plopped herself down inside her tepee. But, there was no peace to be found here in her home.
She needed advice. She needed her sister.
Yes, it was time to have a serious talk with her sister about…everything. Taking hold of the blanket Gray Falcon had given her, she rolled it up until it resembled a pillow in size and shape. Then, as though it were a shield, she held it against her stomach.
Only then did she reluctantly step away from her lodge, and, approaching her sister's tepee, she scratched on the entrance flap.
"Ipii,enter," came the response from inside.
And, Amelia took in a deep breath for luck as she bent down to cross the threshold into her sister's lodge.
