Dawn's Fire, book 2 of the Dawn Fire trilogy

Chapter 12; Two Hearts Meet

Chapter 12

Two Hearts Meet

    Anita smiled up at Swift Arrow and reached for his empty wooden bowl. He handed it to her willingly. “Hohou, Be´bi´icithe Cee´ese´einoo´.” Anita’s smile widened but as before Swift Arrow placed a light hand on her arm, causing her to stop. She remained seated where she was, holding onto their bowls, and turned her attention back to the man who was now her husband. “Heh´iiniseen,” he said softly and inclined his head to the side while a bashful smile curved his lips upward.

   “He say take walk with him.” Laughing Bear translated before Anita could tear her eyes away from the ruggedly handsome man in front of her. 

   But at the explanation of what her husband had said to her Anita suddenly balked. She hardly knew this man and didn’t know if she trusted him enough to go walking alone with him. She knew that she was now his wife but she didn’t feel ready for all that a man would expect of his spouse. She looked away, unsure. “W-wait a few minutes, please. I will come back.” Hastily she stood and practically ran over to Julianna.

   Julianna saw her friend approaching, and by her pallor she knew that something was once more deeply troubling the young woman. She removed the dirty bowls from Anita’s nearly limp hands and then took hold of both of her trembling hand, pulling slightly on them until she took the hint and sat down beside her. “H-he has asked me to go for a walk alone with him in-in the forest. I-I don’t know if I should. Julianna, what if he tries something. I don’t think I am ready for…”

   “Calm down, Anita. I don’t think you need to fear about that.” Julianna looked away for a moment to try to find a discreet way of explaining what Laughing Bear had so plainly stated. She cleared her throat, made sure no one was near enough to overhear and tried her best. “Laughing Bear told me something that Swift Arrow had said to him concerning… that. Swift Arrow told him that he would not bring you any more shame by…being with you…a-as man and wife while we are still outside in the open. He said that he would wait until he brought you home. So I think you don’t have to worry about that right now.”

   Anita took a deep settling breath and closed her eyes, letting her anxiety wash away. She then looked over at Swift Arrow who was following their actions with keen interest. Even from their distance Anita could plainly see his apprehension.

   “Don’t you want to go take a walk with him? You are lucky to have the opportunity to go away from all of us for a while.” Julianna sighed deeply, partly in play but also in sincerity, “I am afraid that I will never have the opportunity to go off by myself ever again. I guess I just better get used to it.” She sent a look of surrender to her good friend and was rewarded with a weak giggle.

   “Well, now that I know what I know, it isn’t so frightening any longer. Yes I will go with him. Oh, but all the dishes that need washing!”  

   “Don’t you worry about that. I will ask Jens or Laughing Bear to help me. You go now.”

   “Thank you so much, Julianna!” Anita gave her a big bear hug which Julianna returned willingly.

   Julianna mock sighed again, “Guess we better start using our new names, shouldn’t we?”

   “Well, I can manage Dawn Fire fine, but not the Indian version of it yet.” 

   “Let’s see, Dawn Fire is Nooh´ooke´ Sitee, and Golden Lily is Be´bi´icithe Ceeéssss something or other.” Dawn Fire shook her head in defeat.

   “That is much more than I can do. You really have a gift for languages, Ju… ah Dawn Fire.” They both shared a little giggle. 

   “Oh, you will get the hang of it too.”