Free Brave Beginnings by Ruth Ann Nordin

she wanted to know what Gary said, she
opted to let the matter go.
    “I make decision,” Chogan told her. “I spend
much time in thought. I want to be with you.”
    “I know that,” she softly replied, not
wishing for her brother to hear everything they were saying. “We
will get married.”
    “Yes. I go with you. I live with you.”
    His meaning dawned on her, and she
straightened so she could look into his eyes. “Chogan, are you
sure? What about your tribe?”
    “Tribe go on without me. I not belong there
anymore. I belong to you.”
    She cupped his face in her hands and kissed
him. “I belong with you too.”
    “I came out here for this?” Gary
muttered.
    She glanced his way and saw him grimace. “You
have no idea what I had to endure while I watched you and Woape
when you were first married. It serves you right to have to gag
around me as well.”
    “That was different.”
    “Was it?”
    “Sure. Woape’s better looking than
Chogan.”
    “That’s a matter of opinion.”
    Gary shrugged and rubbed his hands. “I’m
finally getting some feeling in my fingers. I wish you two had
decided to find each other when it was warmer out.” Then he smiled.
“It’s nice to see you happy, and it’s about time you got
married.”
    She smiled in return before she turned back
to Chogan. “Do you understand everything we say?”
    “Some. You talk fast,” Chogan replied. “But I
learn. I get my things and we go Bismarck.”
    “Tonight?” she asked.
    Gary spoke to Chogan, once again using the
Mandan dialect, and this was starting to annoy her. She wanted to
know what they were saying.
    Gary paused for a moment to tell her, “It’s
easier and quicker for me to ask him what he wants to do if I can
speak in his language.”
    Since the atmosphere was amiable between
them, she allowed them to continue talking. After a minute, the two
men seemed content. She waited but they remained silent, so she
finally asked, “Are you going to explain what’s going on?”
    Gary shrugged. “I’ll take Chogan’s horse to
the tribe and retrieve his things. Things are not like you’re used
to. The women own the lodge. Men just own their horse, hunting
tools, clothes and any sacred bundles they’ve purchased or
inherited.”
    “A sacred bundle?”
    “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have one. The
one that belonged to his first wife went back to her family when
she died.”
    “Oh.”
    “I’ll collect the hunting tools and bring
them out with his horse. He doesn’t feel like going back to the
tribe. Apparently, some people there are giving him some grief, and
he’d rather not see them.”
    “Grief?” She looked at Chogan. “What is
wrong?”
    Chogan ran his hand up and down her back.
“Some want me to marry. I not want women they choose.”
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and
sighed. “I’m glad you didn’t marry someone else.” She gave him
another kiss, not caring if Gary was watching or not. He’d have to
deal with it, just like she had to deal with him and Woape.
    They didn’t remain by the fire for much
longer. Once they were sufficiently warmed up, Chogan and Gary took
down the teepee. By the time they were done, it was well into the
night, but Julia was too excited about the turn of events to worry
about how late it was. She spent her time watching Chogan and
thinking of their future. If there had been any doubts about not
being with Ernest, this put all of those to rest.
    When they were done, Gary went over to her
and said, “I will return the teepee to his lodge and let you ride
back to Bismarck with him. Then you two can start your lives
together.”
    “Thank you, Gary.” She hugged her
brother.
    “It’s the least I can do for causing so much
confusion.”
    She laughed. “I’ll tell Woape and Aunt Erin
you’ll be coming soon.”
    Gary nodded before he attached the travois to
the horse and helped Chogan set the disassembled teepee onto it. As
he secured it, Chogan threw snow onto the fire.