CHAPTER SEVEN

I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER OF ERIN

I know absolutely nothing about Kiowa courting rituals. The courting customs are made up by me. I do not intend to offend anyone as I am focusing on writing a romance, not historical fiction.

NOTE: This chapter is written more as a group of scenes. This is only my second fic and I am experimenting with different povs, styles of writing, etc. I thank all of you who have read, and I am still trying to learn how to format so it shows up on the website

Running Buck Cross was one with the music. The drum beat a primitive rhythm, matching his heart beat for beat. The light from the fire cast shadows across his body as he swayed with the other young men during their dance. The women were waiting their turn.

Buck knew Erin sat with the women, next to Red Bear's wives. Buck could feel her eyes on him, and he hoped she was pleased. When he saw her earlier in the deerskin shift, the breath had left his body and he felt vulnerable in the presence of such beauty. He had caught several of the young men staring at her earlier, and it made him jealous. I'd better rein that feeling in, he thought, before I cause another disaster.

A change in the beat signaled that the men's portion of the dance was over. As a group they moved to their side of the fire and waited for the women to begin. It was obvious that Erin was nervous, but soon she had learned the steps and swayed her hips perfectly. Once again, Buck observed several of the braves eyeing her greedily.


"Well, actually, she's not my wife. Not yet, anyway."

"My brother proclaims this because he is an honest man. He intends to make her his wife tonight," Red Bear interjected.

"If she will have me," Buck interjected. Many whispers and low conversations were heard across the tipi.

Red Bear shot him look and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Be careful Little Brother, unless you want the other braves to leave her courting gifts in the morning."

Buck paled at the thought of another brave trying to win Erin's heart.


Brave Eagle spoke. He had a soft voice that belied his prowess as a warrior: his voice sounded as leathered and worn as his skin.

"I have seen Running Buck's woman and if I had a woman half as beautiful as she, I would be proud to be her husband. I have also seen how she is obedient to our chief's commands and works hard with the wives of Red Bear with no complaint. If I had a woman half as obedient and hard working as she, I would be honored to be her husband."

The other braves nodded and murmured amongst themselves. Red Bear leaned over to Buck.

"Tonight you'd better take the last step and officially marry her. Make her your wife or one of these other braves may challenge you for her before you leave tomorrow."


"Buck, Red Bear called me your wife. I think you owe me an explanation as to why he would think that."

Buck sighed. He knew this question would come. Now it was time to fess up and tell Erin everything. Hopefully she wouldn't walk away from him once she realized how he had manipulated her into the engagement and marriage customs.

"In the eyes of the tribe we are. Or, at least, we are proclaiming that we will be. A brave weaves the braid into a girl's hair to show that he intends to marry her. The necklace is given to the maiden by the brave's mother as an invitation to the family. When she accepts it, she is essentially accepting the engagement. There's one other step and then they are married in the eyes of the tribe."

Erin paused for a moment. She felt elation that Buck would want to marry her in the tradition most important to him, but also betrayed that he would take her through these steps yet neglect to mention what they truly meant. Didn't he know she'd be ecstatic to participate? Hadn't she made that clear?

"Buck, why would you take me through these steps and not tell me? Did it ever occur to you that I would like to participate in the decision?"

Buck felt his heart drop. He decided to lay all of his cards on the table. Hopefully she wouldn't be too put off by the truth.

"Because I was and still am afraid that you would be scared off if you knew that I wanted to make you my wife after such a short time. But Erin, I love you and I know you're the one the spirits sent to me. I want to marry you and I'm willing to wait however long you need, just please don't end things because you don't feel as deeply as I do."

Erin was speechless.

"How long have you felt this way?"

"Since the night of the dance. No, since before then. It wasn't a conscious decision, it was just realizing something you have always known to be true. I never thought you were interested in me until the dance."

"But I've always thought you were never going to be completely accepting of me because I'm not Indian."

"What?" Buck replied, unable to see any rational thought in her statement.

"Sweetheart, I know that you would come back to the tribe in a heartbeat if you felt they would accept you and I've always felt I will never be enough because I'm just white and I think you'd rather have an Indian girl."

Buck was shocked speechless. "What?"

"I said I think you want an Indian gi-"

"I heard what you said." Buck couldn't help but interrupt. "Erin, where did you get such an idea? I don't want anyone else, I want you. And you are perfect just the way you are. I wouldn't change a thing.

Erin felt tears spring to her eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, really. And I don't want to return to this world anymore. I need you to understand: I want to be with you, no matter where we are. You are my home now."

Tears were spilling over Erin's cheeks. Buck moved closer, cupped her face, and wiped them away with his hands.

"Where you go, I follow," he whispered to her.

Erin took a deep breath. If Buck could be brave then she could be too.

"Buck, I have loved you from the first moment I saw you and I have been praying that I would be enough for you. I have been hoping you would ask to marry me for about four weeks now."

It was Buck's turn to be shocked. Was she serious? This entire time she has loved me as much as I have loved her?

Buck's hands still cupped Erin's face. He leaned forward and kissed her. They kissed and kissed and kissed until both of them dissolved into joyous laughter.

"I love you." Buck smiled as he spoke.

"And I love you," Erin replied, and equally sunny smile on her face as well. "Tell me, what to we need to do to become wed in the Kiowa world?"

"Erin Kelly, are you asking me to marry you?" Buck teased.

"Yes!" Erin replied, laughing.

"In that case, I accept. Let's get married as soon as we get home."

Erin fell silent. "Buck, why don't we complete things here first? Bright Moon told me we are as good as married here. Is there anything else we need to do? I want to marry you in the Kiowa tradition, if you will have me."

Once again, Buck felt tears of joy spring to his eyes. This woman truly did accept him as he was, both Indian and white. "There is one more step," he whispered.

Erin waited a few seconds. "And it is…" she began.

Buck took a deep breath and spoke in a rush. "Wehavetomakelove," he said, his words running together.

"We what?"

Buck took a deep breath.

"We have to make love."

Erin kneeled by the fire and motioned for Buck to join her. He kneeled in front of her.

Without a word of warning, she pulled the shift over her head, leaving her completely naked to Buck's gaze.

Buck felt his eyes widen. He reached for her, pulling her into his arms.

"I love you," he whispered.


The next morning, Erin stepped outside only to crash headfirst into Buck's back. She caught herself before she tripped, and Buck whirled around to catch her.

"Are you alright," he asked as he helped her regain her footing.

"Yes," Erin replied. "What's going on? What are you looking at?" she asked, peering over his shoulder.

There on the ground was a group of what appeared to be gifts. A plentiful number were placed on the ground next to each other. There were numerous necklaces in wooden bowls. A white buffalo robe hung near the tipi flap. There was another deer hide dress, but with a matching robe, both beautifully trimmed with turquoise beads. One bowl held several pairs of earrings. Erin felt her heart melt with affection.

"Are these wedding gifts? Everyone is so thoughtful," she enthused, reaching down to pick up a necklace.

Buck spoke under his breath. "Erin, don't touch them. They're not wedding gifts."

Erin froze before she could grasp the necklace. She looked up at Buck and saw that he gazed at the gifts with equal parts horror and anger.

"What are they?"

"They're courting gifts. News travels fast in the village. They must have talked last night about how we were not married. Men are supposed to respect another man's courting braid and necklace but it's not taboo to still try to pursue the maiden before she officially weds."

"Oooohhh," Erin breathed. "What happens if I touch one?" she asked, straightening up. It was then that she noticed many members of the tribe were looking at them with curious looks on their faces. Several of the men looked hopeful.

"If you pick one up it and accept it, it means that you accept the brave who gave it. It means you are willing to be officially courted by him."

"Well," Erin said. "I certainly did not expect this."

Buck smiled but looked unsure.

"So many pretty things!" Erin said. "I can't choose!"

Buck looked crestfallen.

"Good thing I'm already married," she said, leaning in for a kiss from her husband. AS they kissed, Buck twined his hands through her hair and smiled in relief.

"Let's go home."