CAPTIVE

CHAPTER FOUR

After the third day of receiving the cold shoulder from Red Horse I had, had enough, if he was ashamed of me, of what had happened to me then I wanted him to say it. If he didn't want me anymore...didn't want to marry me, then he would tell me. After all, he was supposed to be a man wasn't he? I snorted loudly causing the two women who stood beside me in the smoke house to turn and stare. I ripped the remaining meat down, smiled, voiced pleasantries to them then quickly left. A young man, I must remember, a very young man. God, how could my fate rest on someone so young? Most of the time I didn't even think about his age, he was rather mature for a twenty-one year old but now...was he pouting or just not man enough to face me after the Chief's council?

I threw together a lunch for him, set my spine and left the house towards the paddocks. Well, today would be the day. Today he would tell me or I would beat it out of him.

He was on a chestnut as I approached, guiding it around the paddock at a trot. I hadn't really seen him ride and slowed my pace to take him in. I had to admit he sat a horse well, tall, straight, his heels, hips and shoulders aligned. He had a soft hand on the rein and I could see his mouth moving as he spoke to the horse. God I loved a man who could ride. What was I saying? I rolled my eyes to myself and did my best to make my face blank as I caught his eye.

He dismounted as I approached, handed the horse to one of the ever present boys and strode confidently to the fence. He tried to take the basket from me through the railing, I had thought he might and stepped back out of his reach. His eyebrow shot up in surprise but he jumped the fence without protest and came to stand in front of me.

I took a deep breath then grabbed him by the elbow and began propelling us towards the forest. He didn't resist but as I turned round to face him again I could see the look of surprise across his face. I drew myself up as tall as possible then spoke in broken Seneca and English, "What have I done? Why are you mad at me? Is it because of what happened with Dog Tooth? Or because the Chief told you, you had to marry me? I mean if you don't want me then be a Goddamn man and kick me out, you claimed me after all, but don't slink around ignoring me like I'm some disease you are afraid to catch!" I hadn't taken my eyes from his during my tirade and suddenly noticed how the sun danced and played off the gold flecks that were embedded there. I could feel my body involuntarily relax at the sight then forced my chin up higher hoping he didn't see my momentary lapse in rigidity.

He said nothing but I took half a step back as he reached out for the basket and removed it from my arm. He sat it on the ground beside him then stepped so close to me that I could feel the cloth shirt he wore pressed against my breasts. I stared at his collarbones, my breath shallow and quick as he bent down, pressed his cheek against my head and breathed in deeply. In the next breath I was on the ground, his warm lips pressed to mine, his hand pulled at the hem of my dress then at the belt of his breeches.

My hips rose as the dress slid up and my thighs opened wide to him. I bit down on his lip as he thrust hard the first time. He recoiled slightly then smiled and pulled away, propping himself on his elbows he lay motionless on top of me. He looked at me for a long time then the fingers of his right hand were at the leather straps that closed the collar of my dress. He spread the cloth away from itself, brought my breasts into the chilly November air and smiled down at me once more before speaking very slowly, "I want you more than air. I need you more than food. I am nothing without you. I don't know what I have done to be given such a gift as your marriage." He started moving slowly, my arms traced the lines of the tattoos on his chest but my eyes never left his, then he spoke in English, "Yes. Yes. I want you. I want you. God help me I want you." I laughed at his parroting of my own words as I called to him in pleasure then felt his lips wrap around mine and the conversation was over.