[9]

Black Shawl and Kicking Bird looked up when Stands walked into the lodge. She was out of breath and practically glowing, with a big smile on her face, that she immediately tried to hide when she saw them. She joined them around the fire in the center of the lodge.

"I didn't think that you would make it back in time to eat." Black Shawl scolded.

"I'm sorry." She said, waiting as Black Shawl filled her dish. "I lost track of time."

"How was your day?" Kicking Bird asked. "Did you finish your blanket?"

"Oh yes, I finished it yesterday." She took the plate of food from Black Shawl and sat down. She watched the children as they played beside her.

"It was a beautiful blanket." Black Shawl admitted.

"And did you find someone to give it to?" He asked.

"Yes." She smiled to herself.

"Good." Kicking Bird seemed pleased with himself. He was even more pleased the next day when he stepped outside his lodge to find Thunder Horse leaving his offer for Stands' hand. The men did not speak, but they did make eye contact. Kicking Bird walked away towards Stone Calf's lodge, waiting until he was out of sight before cracking a smile. Of course he would accept Thunder Horse's offer, but it wouldn't hurt to let him sweat it out for a little while.

[10]

Thunder Horse tied three of his best ponies outside Kicking Bird's lodge. He would offer his prized pinto if this offer was not acceptable, but he hated to part with it. He also left a pipe, a knife, and a quiver of arrows. As he was depositing the last of it, Stands appeared. He thought she was beautiful, even though she had not slept a wink all night.

"Are you going for water?" He asked her nervously.

"We have plenty," she replied, "Do you need some?"

"No." He admitted. She nodded in understanding.

"We do need wood though." She said suddenly.

"I'll go with you then, I thought I saw a mountain lion in the woods earlier." He lied. Stands smiled knowingly. I'll just get the sling then. She stepped back inside and came right back out. Together they walked down the path towards the woods. Once they were out of sight, they began their courtship dance. As they walked side by side, Thunder Horse pretended to walk too close, causing his shoulder to brush hers. He apologized, and then she pretended to stumble, forcing him to catch her. Every few steps their bodies touched as if they were drawn to each other magnetically. Once they reached the edge of the forest, they danced around the tall pines. Thunder Horse tried to dodge the trees to stay by her side, while Stands playfully tried to keep the trees between them. The job of gathering wood was forgotten, replaced by this slow motion chase that was made more intense by the morning mist off the river that seeped into the tree line. Stands walked around a tree, and suddenly Thunder Horse circled around the other side to cut her off. She doubled back around and it began again. He could have caught her at any time, but he knew this dance. He listened as her breathing grew more and more labored, not from exhaustion, but from arousal. The fog closed in and several times he lost sight of her only to see her again. She darted around the next tree to the left and he went around to the right, catching her around the waist and pulling her down to the carpet of pine needles that blanked the forest floor. They kissed feverously, clinging to each other. He felt her heart beating like the heart of a frightened rabbit. He tugged at the cord that held her dress in place, and pulled down the neck to reveal her breast.

"You make it so hard to be good." He gasped before taking her nipple into his mouth. She groaned loudly and arched her back. Excitement and fear coursed through her body. She had only been kissed for the first time yesterday, but she had often listened to the sounds of Kicking Bird and Black Shawl in the throws of passion. She had never even imagined it would be like this. Every sensation was new to her and she had no idea the extent of it. How far was too far? As his teeth sunk into her flesh, she felt both pleasure and pain, and the melding of two completely opposite sensations disoriented her. She didn't care about anything anymore, she just didn't want this to ever end. She became aware of an aching in her loins, followed by frustration as he stopped cold. She was still beneath him, waiting for him to do or say something. He only groaned, and reluctantly covered her breast with her dress, and retied the cord. Finally he spoke.

"I could take you. Right here. Right now." He said with confidence. "Already you have surrendered it. I want you. I want you so much…but your way is better. Soon you will be my wife and I will not stop."

"Please!" She begged him.

"Hush my beautiful flower," He whispered against her cheek as he traced her lips with his thumb. "I promise that you won't have to wait much longer."

"I love you." She sighed. He smiled. They lay there together on their bed of pine needles until Stands, still tired from a sleepless night, finally drifted off to sleep. He watched her for several moments in wonder at her beauty, and then he untangled himself from her. Not caring that it was considered women's work, he went about gathering two bundles of fire wood, never taking his eyes off her for very long. When that was done, he returned to her side just as a gentle rain began to fall. He knelt beside her and for a moment allowed the palm of his hand to rest on her flat stomach. He imagined his children growing inside her and his heart swelled. He looked up to the sky and gave thanks to the great spirit for sending him this woman.

"Stands With A Fist, you must wake now." He gently roused her. She sat up and he lovingly plucked the pine needles from her hair and brushed off her dress.

"Come on sleepy head. It is beginning to rain."

"I have to get…" She stopped talking when she noticed the two bundles that he picked up and tossed over his shoulder as easily as if they were bags of feathers.
"I'm sorry." She said. He smiled

"You take care of me, and I'll take care of you." Stands rose to her feet and followed him out of the woods. When they reached Kicking Bird's lodge, the rain was coming down harder, but they could see that Kicking Bird had accepted Thunder Horse's offer. They looked at each other and smiled. He kissed her gently on her forehead and then passed her one of the bundles of wood.

"Soon." He promised, "Now get inside before this wood gets too damp and you drown." She stepped inside, but watched from the door as he took off running toward his own lodge. The rain began to pour. She thought it fitting that just as he disappeared from view, a loud clap of thunder made the ground rumble.

"Come inside and close the door." She heard Kicking Bird call from inside. Like an obedient daughter, she did as she was told.