Blue eyes opened, and the tall Indian grinned. My heart has never felt so glad, she thought, as she awoke in the same position she'd last remembered - Alicia wrapped safely in her arms, resting her head on her chest.
Verdant eyes soon fluttered open, and the blonde smiled, paying no mind to the slight pain in caused in her split lip. "Morning," she said, looking up at the woman she loved. "For a minute there, I thought it had all been some kind of dream."
"Then I must still be dreaming," said Robyn, kissing the blonde's forehead. Upon trying to sit up, however, she quickly discovered she was indeed awake, as pain spread through the marks in her back. Alicia watched the pain cross the bronzed face, and was quick to gently help the woman into a sitting position.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
Robyn nodded. "Yes," she replied, trying to convince the small blonde that she didn't need to worry, and knowing it was a futile effort, "just a little sore. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," replied the rancher, kissing the Indian's lips, softly. "Sit here; I'll put more salve on your back, okay?" At the woman's nod, the blonde hurriedly retrieved the ointment, and helped Blue Fire to remove her shirt. Concentrating solely on the task at hand, Alicia bid the woman to replace her clothing as soon as she was finished.
"It is better now," the tall Indian said, smiling. "Thank you. Alicia… are your people all right that you and me are together?" the woman asked, tentatively.
The blonde sighed. "Some," she said. "A few don't mind, but most people, at least around here, don't like the idea of two women or two men being together. Like the sheriff," she added.
"He will not arrest you?" exclaimed the Indian, worried, and Alicia smiled, taking the large hands into her own.
"No," she assured her, "he can't; not just for that. It's just that some people think a woman shouldn't be with another woman, and a man shouldn't be with another man."
"Why?" asked Blue Fire. "Deserve to love and feel love, too," she pointed out.
"That's the way I feel," agreed Alicia, "but there are others who say it's a sin to be with someone of the same sex. It's even mentioned in the Bible." Seeing the slight look of confusion on Robyn's face, she continued, "A book with the word of our God."
"Why would He restrict love?"
Alicia shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted. "Listen, Robyn, I don't have a lot of these answers, when it comes to things like this. Things are the way they are, and that's all there is to it. All it means to us, is we won't be able to show affection in public," she explained.
The Indian frowned. "I do not understand, but I will do as you say is right," she sighed. "I may make you breakfast?" The blonde nodded, happily, and helped the tall woman to her feet, and into the kitchen, where she prepared an absolutely ambrosial meal.
They were just finishing, when Wolf growled at the door. Alicia got to her feet. "You stay there," she told Blue Fire, "I'll get it so you don't have to walk."
A few moments later, a shaky voice drifted back into the kitchen. "Uh… Robyn, I think it's for you," said Alicia, and Blue Fire was by the door in an instant when she heard the fear in her beloved's voice. What she saw caused her to step out in front of Alicia, and reach behind her to take her hand, reassuringly.
Riding up on horses, and some on foot, was about a half-dozen Indians. Blue Fire's mother was among them, walking along side the mounted Indians, and looked pleased. Nonetheless, the tall woman did not step away from her protective vantage point next to Alicia.
"Blue Fire," called the Chief, who was on horseback, "come. We must talk."
Robyn paused. "Stay here," she told Alicia, quietly, walking over to where the Indians had stopped, a few yards from the house. "What is it that we must so urgently discuss?" she asked, sharply.
The Chief sighed. "Small Fox has told us the truth, and how everything really happened," he admitted. "You were wrongly accused and punished, on both counts. For this mistake, we welcome you back into the tribe once more. You may return home to the camp with your mother, Dotth'izh ko'," he smiled.
Blue Fire was quiet, thinking. "May Alicia stay with me?" she asked, at last, squinting as the morning sun hit her eyes when she looked up at the man.
Ndoitcho snorted, thinking the tall woman was surely joking. "She is white," he laughed, but noticed Robyn was serious.
"Then I will not return," she stated. "I love Alicia with all that I am, and will stay with her, even if it means being away from my tribe."
"The girl may visit," offered Proud Lion, through gritted teeth. Feather in the Wind had begged him to do anything he could to get her to return, and he was trying, but, Great Spirit, Dotth'izh ko' was stubborn!
"No. She will stay there with me, or I will stay here with her," the tall Indian woman explained, leaving no room for compromise. "Nothing else is good enough."
"I will not have a white woman in my tribe!" shouted the man, angrily.
"Then you will not have me." Turning away, she felt a hand on her arm, and looked into the eyes of her mother. "I am sorry, Mother, but it is you who said we must never give up our soul mate. I love Alicia with all my heart, and I will not leave her," she said, gently.
"I know, little one," Feather in the Wind smiled. "I only wanted to give you my blessing for a long and happy life. We will see each other when we can, and until that time, I know you are safe with your Alicia. She will take care of you, Dotth'izh ko', as you will her."
Blue Fire nodded, and gave her mother a long hug, before walking back over to the blonde, who still stood in the doorway. Slipping her arm around the smaller woman, Robyn watched the men exchange glances, before Feather in the Wind took the reins of one horse, and led them away.
"What was that all about?" asked Alicia, lightly.
"Small Fox told them the truth, and they have let me back into the tribe," Blue Fire explained. "Proud Lion says I am welcome to return with them."
"That's great," exclaimed Alicia, happy for the woman.
The Indian shook her head. "No," she said, "it is not. They would not let you stay with me if I go, so I will not leave."
"Oh, but, Blue Fire," protested Alicia, kindly, "it's your tribe. Those are your people, and that's your home."
Here, Blue Fire smiled. "You are wrong, my love," she said, kissing the fair forehead. "My home is here, with you. Only with you." It has always been with you, my soul mate. I thank you, Great Spirit, for granting me the greatest gift you can give - love.