“What?” Gary asked in an indignant tone. “My nose isn’t awkward. It’s unique.”
“It’s crooked.”
“It’s perfect,” Woape said, hanging up her robe before she took her child back into her arms. “I see Gary in her when I see her nose.”
“Well, despite nature’s blunder, she’s adorable.” Julia brushed Penelope’s soft cheek.
Her aunt approached them. “I see you’re still giving Gary a hard time.”
“It’s what I do best,” Julia teased.
Erin hugged Gary before she smiled at Penelope. “Oh my, how she’s grown!”
“Yes,” Woape replied sadly. “My baby is no longer a baby. She’s getting to be a big girl.” She looked over at Julia. “Are you to marry a white man?”
Julia blinked, thinking the question was an odd one. “No.”
“Then you are... What’s the word when you consider marriage?”
“Courting?” Gary guessed.
Erin looked as confused as Julia felt. “What are you getting at, Woape?”
“Chogan said you had a white man here when he came,” Woape replied. “He said you and the white man were together.”
“Oh that.” Julia sighed and shrugged. “That was Ernest. He wanted to court me, but I told him no.”
“Then why haven’t you been out to see Chogan?”
“Why would I go see him? He’s married.”
Woape’s frown deepened. “No, he’s not.”
“But Gary said he was!” Julia nearly shouted, her stomach tensing into knots.
“He did,” Erin spoke up. “It was in his last letter. It was one sentence, and then he went right on rambling about something else.”
All eyes turned to Gary.
“I thought he was married,” Gary responded.
“No.” Woape shifted Penelope from one arm to another. “The chief told Chogan he has to marry.” Then she returned her gaze to Julia. “He’s due to make a choice in five days.”
Julia’s heart leapt at the knowledge. “He’s not married? But I thought...” She stared at Gary, unable to determine if she should strangle his neck or thank him for getting things wrong. It gave her a second chance. She could still be with Chogan! “Take me to him,” she ordered Gary.
“What? But I just got here,” he protested.
“You’re taking her,” Erin insisted as she grabbed Julia’s coat and handed it to her. “We were going to head out to the tribe so she could talk to him, but then you wrote that he was married and ruined everything. Now it’s time for you to make things right.”
“But he’s fasting. That means he’ll be away from the tribe and it’s getting dark and...” He stopped arguing and glanced from one determined woman to another.
Julia paused with her hands on the top button of her coat. If need be, she would venture out there herself, but she realized it would be easier to find Chogan if Gary guided the way so she patiently waited for him to continue. Be nice, Julia. You need him. She chanted this to herself so she wouldn’t force him out the front door.
“Alright,” Gary finally said as he opened the front door. “Do you know anyone who has a couple of horses?”
“I sure do.” Erin nodded and gave Julia her hat, scarf and gloves to put on. “My brother Clarence has some. Julia knows where he lives. Hook them up to the buggy. I won’t have Julia exposed to the elements on nothing but a horse.”
“Fine,” he agreed.
Julia finished getting ready and hugged her aunt and then Woape. “It’s so nice my brother is married to a woman who knows what’s going on. Thank you.” She laughed and kissed Woape on the cheek before she slipped out of the house. To Gary, she added, “For once, I’m glad you do a lousy job of keeping your facts straight.”
“I really did think he was married,” Gary replied as he followed her down the porch steps.
“Never mind. Just take me to him.”
He had to run to keep up with her as she led him to their Uncle Clarence’s house.
~~********~~
Chapter 7
Julia could hardly sit still as Gary led the geldings to the campfire up ahead. A lone teepee stood in the prairie, a dark contrast to the quarter moon that lit the night sky. The snow wasn’t deep, so they made good progress, and though Julia insisted Gary hurry, he warned that they didn’t need to rush.
“He’s not getting married tonight,” Gary said when she shook his arm again.
“I think I could run faster than this,” she grumbled, knowing he was right but unable to stop fidgeting.
“The snow makes things slippery.”
She groaned. “I wish you hadn’t said Chogan was married. I was ready to come out to see him, you know.”
“Yes, I know. You told me the whole story ten times already.” Though he rolled his eyes, a smile curved his lips. Then his eyes sparkled. “Are you sure you don’t want to turn back? I don’t think you’re excited enough about seeing him.”
“Don’t you dare turn back!” She lightly slapped his arm. “It’s your fault we have to be out here in the middle of the night.” She shivered and buried her nose into the scarf that was wrapped loosely around her neck. “Can’t you go any faster?”
He let out a loud sigh. “I’m sorry. Had I known you would drag me out into the middle of nowhere, I wouldn’t have said anything about Chogan in that letter.”
“Let that be a lesson to you. Next time, make sure you get your facts right.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t forget.”
Thank goodness Gary had been wrong! But she still wished he could go faster. By the time she saw Chogan sitting by the fire, he had noticed them. He stood and wrapped the robe tighter about himself.
“Who is there?” he called out.
“It’s me and Julia,” Gary shouted.
“You go too slow,” she muttered to Gary. “Stop and I’ll get out.”
“But we’re almost there,” Gary protested.
“Gary!” She gave him her best ‘do it now’ look, silently willing him to comply.
With a shrug, he obeyed.
She got out of the buggy and ran toward Chogan. The distance wasn’t far between them, but it seemed to take her forever to reach him. When she stood in front of him, his eyes were wide and his face pale.
“Are you a vision?” he hesitantly asked as he touched her shoulder.
She laughed. “No. I’m real.” Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Chogan, I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you. I wanted to explain, but then Gary wrote that you were married and I thought it was too late.”
“You do not want white man?”
“No. I never did.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Then you are real? You are here?”
She nodded. “Yes, I’m really here. I’m not a vision.”
A smile widened across his face before he leaned forward and kissed her. “Julia, you marry me?”
“Yes. Oh Chogan, yes!” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“You are cold.” He gently took her by the arm and led her to the campfire. He glanced over her head and called out, “You come to fire or stay there and freeze?”
Surprised, she turned her attention to Gary who waited in the buggy, not far from them but careful not to be caught staring at them. “It might do him good to stay there for awhile,” she said. “He told me you were married. It’s why I didn’t come to see you sooner.”
Chogan chuckled. “You have much fire in you. I miss it.”
“Missed. Past tense. I’m here now and won’t ever leave you again.”
“I learn to speak like you,” he promised as he sat down and opened his arms to her.
Her face flushed at the thought of being so close to him while they were yet unmarried, but she reasoned he was only going to hold her so she sat on his lap. He brought his arms around her and the buffalo robe sheltered them both. She snuggled against him, noting the softness in his clothing. But it was his solid presence t
hat she most enjoyed. He was strong and built for hunting. Even as her heart raced from their close proximity, she didn’t want to forfeit the pleasure in the moment. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she rested her head on his shoulder and didn’t bother looking up as Gary approached.
“I marry sister. It is good I hold her,” Chogan told him.
Julia laughed, finding it amusing that he felt the need to explain the situation to her brother.
Gary gave a reply in the Mandan tongue, and this was followed by Chogan using the same language to make what sounded like a retort if she guessed the tone of his voice correctly.
She frowned and glanced from one to the other. “It’s rude to say something about me unless I can understand it.”
Gary sat across from them and took off his gloves so he could warm his hands by the fire. “You don’t need to know everything that goes on around you,” he told her.
“If it’s about me, I do,” she replied.
Chogan gave her a slight squeeze. “He tell me to wait until we marry to do more. He said he has gun.”
“You lay a hand on him, and I’ll shoot you with an arrow,” she teased. “You know I can do it too.”
“She quick learner,” Chogan added, pride in his voice.
As if to mock her, Gary spoke to Chogan in the Mandan language and laughed.
Chogan grinned and whispered in her ear, “He tell me I be careful when I sleep.”
“Gary!” Despite herself, she couldn’t pretend to be angry.
Gary muttered something under his breath.
She looked at Chogan to see if he’d translate it for her.
“You do good not to know,” Chogan said. “We speak English, Gary. It not fair to her.”
Gary made a show of rolling his eyes but agreed.
Though she wanted to know what Gary said, she opted to let the matter go.
“I make decision,” Chogan told her. “I spend much time in thought. I want to be with you.”
“I know that,” she softly replied, not wishing for her brother to hear everything they were saying. “We will get married.”
“Yes. I go with you. I live with you.”
His meaning dawned on her, and she straightened so she could look into his eyes. “Chogan, are you sure? What about your tribe?”
“Tribe go on without me. I not belong there anymore. I belong to you.”
She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. “I belong with you too.”
“I came out here for this?” Gary muttered.
She glanced his way and saw him grimace. “You have no idea what I had to endure while I watched you and Woape when you were first married. It serves you right to have to gag around me as well.”
“That was different.”
“Was it?”
“Sure. Woape’s better looking than Chogan.”
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
Gary shrugged and rubbed his hands. “I’m finally getting some feeling in my fingers. I wish you two had decided to find each other when it was warmer out.” Then he smiled. “It’s nice to see you happy, and it’s about time you got married.”
She smiled in return before she turned back to Chogan. “Do you understand everything we say?”
“Some. You talk fast,” Chogan replied. “But I learn. I get my things and we go Bismarck.”
“Tonight?” she asked.
Gary spoke to Chogan, once again using the Mandan dialect, and this was starting to annoy her. She wanted to know what they were saying.
Gary paused for a moment to tell her, “It’s easier and quicker for me to ask him what he wants to do if I can speak in his language.”
Since the atmosphere was amiable between them, she allowed them to continue talking. After a minute, the two men seemed content. She waited but they remained silent, so she finally asked, “Are you going to explain what’s going on?”
Gary shrugged. “I’ll take Chogan’s horse to the tribe and retrieve his things. Things are not like you’re used to. The women own the lodge. Men just own their horse, hunting tools, clothes and any sacred bundles they’ve purchased or inherited.”
“A sacred bundle?”
“It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have one. The one that belonged to his first wife went back to her family when she died.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll collect the hunting tools and bring them out with his horse. He doesn’t feel like going back to the tribe. Apparently, some people there are giving him some grief, and he’d rather not see them.”
“Grief?” She looked at Chogan. “What is wrong?”
Chogan ran his hand up and down her back. “Some want me to marry. I not want women they choose.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed. “I’m glad you didn’t marry someone else.” She gave him another kiss, not caring if Gary was watching or not. He’d have to deal with it, just like she had to deal with him and Woape.
They didn’t remain by the fire for much longer. Once they were sufficiently warmed up, Chogan and Gary took down the teepee. By the time they were done, it was well into the night, but Julia was too excited about the turn of events to worry about how late it was. She spent her time watching Chogan and thinking of their future. If there had been any doubts about not being with Ernest, this put all of those to rest.
When they were done, Gary went over to her and said, “I will return the teepee to his lodge and let you ride back to Bismarck with him. Then you two can start your lives together.”
“Thank you, Gary.” She hugged her brother.
“It’s the least I can do for causing so much confusion.”
She laughed. “I’ll tell Woape and Aunt Erin you’ll be coming soon.”
Gary nodded before he attached the travois to the horse and helped Chogan set the disassembled teepee onto it. As he secured it, Chogan threw snow onto the fire. Once it was out, Chogan went over to her, and they went to the buggy.
“I marry you now,” he said.
“In the morning,” she replied. “We can’t wake the preacher in the middle of the night.”
“When sun rises?”
“Yes.”
He smiled. “Good.” Taking her hand, he led her to the buggy.
***
By the time Julia and Chogan arrived at her aunt’s, dawn was on the horizon.
“We marry now.” Chogan pointed to the sky.
“Soon. It’s still early. People are asleep.”
“People sleep too long.”
She chuckled. “We can get warm and eat first. Then we’ll get married.”
He sighed but complied and entered her house.
Though she knew she should be tired, she didn’t want to sleep. Part of her was afraid this had all been a dream, and if she woke up, she’d find herself alone. So much had happened and every bit of it had been wonderful.
She took off her coat and hat and hung the items in the closet. “I’ll take that.” She motioned to his robe.
He shrugged the robe off and handed it to her.
“This feels nice,” she whispered, not wishing to wake the others in the house.
“You feel better,” he teased.
While she hung the robe up, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. She shivered in delight. “Chogan,” she softly protested despite her giggles. “You must wait.”
“I wait in buggy.”
His breath tickled her ear, and she giggled harder. Then he turned her around and gave her a lingering kiss that sent a tingle straight down to her toes. He pulled her against him and kissed her again, but this one seemed more passionate and less playful.
Breathless, she reluctantly pushed him away and laughed. “We have to stop.”
“Not want stop.”
She shook her head. “You didn’t kiss me once in all the time we hunted for rabbits.”
“We not get married then. We marry now. People awake.”
She groaned. “You’re terrible.” Even
as she said it, she pulled him closer and rested her head against his chest.
He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “It good with you. I glad you come.”
“I’m glad you aren’t married yet.”
The sound of footsteps coming down the steps and a familiar yawn alerted Julia that her aunt was awake.
“Come.” Julia took Chogan’s hand and led him to the parlor. When her aunt entered the room, she unnecessarily said, “Look who it is.” As excited as she was, she struggled to keep her voice low so that they wouldn’t wake Woape or Penelope.
A big grin crossed her aunt’s face as she hugged Chogan. “It’s true then? You haven’t married yet?
“No. Julia and I marry today. Now?” Chogan glanced at Julia.
“After breakfast,” Julia promised, noting his disappointment. “It won’t be long.”
Her aunt glanced at her in amusement. “He’s waited a long time for you, Julia. It’s about time you came around.”
“I know.” Julia didn’t mind the teasing. She turned to Chogan. “Please sit and warm yourself by the fire.” She motioned to the fireplace. “We’ll get you something to eat and then go to the preacher.”
“We’ll make something quick,” her aunt assured him.
As he nodded and sat down, Julia led her aunt to the kitchen. “He can stay here, right?”
“You will not be going with him to his tribe?”
“He said he wants to live in Bismarck. Isn’t that wonderful of him? I thought I was going to leave so I could be with him, but he said he wants to be here. I can’t think of any men who’d give up everything to be with their wives, can you?”
“Sure, I can. Gary.”
“Oh, right. There is him. But he’s always been odd.” Julia touched her aunt’s arm. “So, can he stay here with us?”
Her aunt laughed. “Where else would he stay? Now, let’s get breakfast started. He’s eager to get married to you, so get those hash browns fried up on the skillet and I’ll see to the bacon and biscuits.”
She obeyed and retrieved the skillet from the hook on the wall. Placing it on the stove, she grabbed a few potatoes and started slicing into the first one. “I feel like I’m dreaming. It’s too good to be true, isn’t it?”
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