Brave Beginnings (7 page)

~~********~~

Chogan saw Sarita coming in his direction
before she realized he had rounded the corner of his lodge. Forcing
back the wave of revulsion that coursed through him, he spun around
and nearly ran into Woape who was helping her daughter walk through
the snow. The girl fell and landed on her behind, giggling as she
picked up a lopsided white ball.

Woape laughed and picked her up. “Forgive me,
Chogan. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No. You didn’t startle me.” He glanced over
his shoulder and saw that Sarita had spotted him. As much as it
pained him to ask for help, he shot Woape a pleading look. “Stay
until she leaves?”

“Why don’t you go back to Bismarck and talk
to Julia?” Woape quietly asked. “Her aunt wrote that she misses
you.”

“And what would that do? I saw her with
another man. She is happy with him.”

“That does not sound like how things are when
Gary read the letter to me.”

They grew silent when Sarita reached them.
Chogan wrapped the buffalo robe tighter around himself.

“Did you hear the chief’s announcement?”
Sarita asked, and though she directed the question to both Chogan
and Woape, she kept her eyes on Chogan.

Of course he did. Who hadn’t? He sent out all
the clan leaders to visit each lodge. “It will be good to learn the
origins of our people.”

Sarita let out a high pitch laugh that
momentarily made him wince. “Yes, my grandfather said he never
thought he’d see the day when the stories would be out in the open.
He remembers paying for the Lone Man accounts when he was
twenty-four.”

“Times are changing,” Woape replied. “If we
don’t pass on the oral traditions of our people, then we’ll lose
them.”

Chogan studied Woape’s daughter. The girl had
a white father, but she was obviously happy. His gaze drifted to
Woape’s glowing face. She was happy as well, and though Gary didn’t
speak his personal feelings, Chogan had caught Gary kissing and
hugging Woape when they didn’t know someone was nearby. Chogan
couldn’t blame Woape for running off to avoid marrying Citlali. If
Chogan was her, he would have done the same.

Then he glanced at Sarita who was fiddling
with the braid dangling over her shoulder. Granted, Sarita wasn’t
as annoying as Citlali, but he could not envision a future with
her; nor could he envision a future with any of the other women in
his tribe or the neighboring ones. But the time for decision was
fast approaching. The chief and Citlali made it clear he had to
make his choice in one week.

The happiness Woape and Gary had wasn’t
something all married couples experienced. Some stayed together
simply out of convenience. Others left and sought another spouse.
It was as simple as the man leaving his wife’s family lodge. Of
course, that meant he had to also leave the children with her.
Perhaps not all men cared to be a father, but Chogan’s plans
incorporated teaching his sons to hunt. He didn’t want to give that
up so another man could come in and do that for him. Maybe some
customs of their people were not the best way to do things. Woape
hadn’t thought so, and looking at her, anyone could tell she made
the right choice.

Chogan reluctantly turned his attention back
to Sarita who stared at him as if she expected him to do or say
something, and he wasn’t sure how to proceed.

“Will you be going to the ceremonial lodge
tonight to listen to the legend of the Lone Man?” Sarita asked with
an expectant look.

There seemed to be only one thing to do in a
situation like this, and even though it made him a coward, he opted
for it. He needed more than to get away from Sarita, the other
available women, and Citlali who refused to leave him alone. He
needed to think. He needed quiet. He needed to be alone so he could
sort through the implications of what he considered doing.

He considered returning to Bismarck to ask
Julia how serious she was about the white man. The man was
obviously interested in her. He couldn’t recall Julia’s expression
when the white man came. All Chogan remembered was the way the
white man staked his claim. From there, it was a blur as he fought
for control over his emotions.

If Woape was right, if he misunderstood
Julia’s feelings, then he needed to see her, but he knew she would
not come with him to his tribe. After the headache some people had
given him about getting married, he wasn’t excited about bringing
Julia here. He had the nagging suspicion that if he did, Sarita and
some others would give her a difficult time. No. If he wanted to be
with Julia, he’d have to live in her world with the prejudices he
was undoubtedly going to come across.

“Chogan?” Sarita asked again. “Will you be
going to the ceremonial lodge?”

“No,” he finally replied, pretending not to
notice the disappointed expression on her face. “I will go on a
fast. Maybe the spirits will tell me who to marry.”

He didn’t expect to seek guidance from
anything, but he said it to appease her and anyone she chose to
tell. That should stop Citlali from following him around. By the
contented look on her face, he knew it was the right thing to say.
For the moment, he had peace.

Sarita smiled, seeming to be pleased. “I am
going to return to my lodge to help prepare the evening meal. I
love to cook.”

As she said good-bye and left, he closed his
eyes, grateful that was over.

Woape waited until Sarita was out of hearing
range before she spoke. “Gary and I will go see his family
tomorrow. Is there anything you want me to tell Julia?”

He hesitated, unsure of how to best proceed
with the question he most wanted to know. “Let me know if she plans
to marry the white man.”

She nodded. “Gary and I will stay there for
three days and then return. That is well before your week is
up.”

“I’ll be done fasting when you return.”

When she walked away, he decided to get his
things ready for his fast. It would give him time to be alone to
think because if Julia had no plans to marry the white man, then
Chogan had to make the commitment to leave his tribe, and that
wasn’t an easy thing to do.

***

Julia finished making the bed so her brother
and Woape would be comfortable during their visit. Then she turned
to make sure the blanket was neatly laid out in the crib her aunt
had borrowed from Clarence and Annabel who always thought they’d
have more children but never did, so they kept Millicent’s old
things in the attic. Julia was sure that when Millicent married,
she’d have children and the things would be used once again. For
the time being though, it would suit her brother and his
family.

When the guest room was done, Julia went to
the parlor and looked out the window. More snow had fallen the
night before, but the roads were still in good condition. She’d
guess that it hadn’t been more than two inches that had fallen in
the past week. The sun was setting early behind a group of clouds
that suggested there might be a chance of more snow, but for the
moment, things were calm. Even the wind that usually swept through
the town had taken a reprieve.

Her aunt entered the parlor and set a tray of
coffee and cookies down. “Any sign of them yet?”

“No. Not yet.” Julia turned when she heard
her aunt chuckling. “What is it?”

“I never thought I’d see the day when you
were looking forward to seeing Woape come to the house.”

Julia smiled. “It does seem like a
contradiction, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, but a good one.”

Julia had to agree. She returned her gaze to
the window and nearly jumped when she saw the three familiar
figures coming down the sidewalk. “They’re here!”

Without waiting for her aunt to reply, she
rushed to the front door and opened it, ignoring the biting chill
in the air. She waited until Gary looked at her before she waved.
He nudged Woape who was carrying the sleeping child wrapped snuggly
in a blanket. Her brother carried their belongings in a bag that
was flung over his shoulder.

“I better put another piece of wood in the
fireplace,” her aunt called out.

Getting the message, Julia scooted into the
entryway and closed the door almost all the way. She waited until
their three guests stepped onto the porch before she opened it all
the way.

“Did you have a good trip?” Julia asked
quietly so she wouldn’t wake her niece.

“It was fine,” Gary said. He put their things
down so he could hug Julia. “How are you?”

“Alright. You must be cold. The parlor is
nice and warm.” Julia shut the door and offered to take Penelope so
Woape could hang up her robe. “You keep the fur on the inside?”

“It is warmer when the fur is against the
skin,” Woape replied.

That made sense. Julia grinned at the child.
“My poor niece has been cursed with my brother’s awkward nose.”

“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.

~~********~~

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?”