Free Brave Beginnings by Ruth Ann Nordin Page A

Once it was out,
Chogan went over to her, and they went to the buggy.
    “I marry you now,” he said.
    “In the morning,” she replied. “We can’t wake
the preacher in the middle of the night.”
    “When sun rises?”
    “Yes.”
    He smiled. “Good.” Taking her hand, he led
her to the buggy.
     
    ***
     
    By the time Julia and Chogan arrived at her
aunt’s, dawn was on the horizon.
    “We marry now.” Chogan pointed to the
sky.
    “Soon. It’s still early. People are
asleep.”
    “People sleep too long.”
    She chuckled. “We can get warm and eat first.
Then we’ll get married.”
    He sighed but complied and entered her
house.
    Though she knew she should be tired, she
didn’t want to sleep. Part of her was afraid this had all been a
dream, and if she woke up, she’d find herself alone. So much had
happened and every bit of it had been wonderful.
    She took off her coat and hat and hung the
items in the closet. “I’ll take that.” She motioned to his
robe.
    He shrugged the robe off and handed it to
her.
    “This feels nice,” she whispered, not wishing
to wake the others in the house.
    “You feel better,” he teased.
    While she hung the robe up, he wrapped his
arms around her waist and kissed her neck. She shivered in delight.
“Chogan,” she softly protested despite her giggles. “You must
wait.”
    “I wait in buggy.”
    His breath tickled her ear, and she giggled
harder. Then he turned her around and gave her a lingering kiss
that sent a tingle straight down to her toes. He pulled her against
him and kissed her again, but this one seemed more passionate and
less playful.
    Breathless, she reluctantly pushed him away
and laughed. “We have to stop.”
    “Not want stop.”
    She shook her head. “You didn’t kiss me once
in all the time we hunted for rabbits.”
    “We not get married then. We marry now.
People awake.”
    She groaned. “You’re terrible.” Even as she
said it, she pulled him closer and rested her head against his
chest.
    He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top
of her head. “It good with you. I glad you come.”
    “I’m glad you aren’t married yet.”
    The sound of footsteps coming down the steps
and a familiar yawn alerted Julia that her aunt was awake.
    “Come.” Julia took Chogan’s hand and led him
to the parlor. When her aunt entered the room, she unnecessarily
said, “Look who it is.” As excited as she was, she struggled to
keep her voice low so that they wouldn’t wake Woape or
Penelope.
    A big grin crossed her aunt’s face as she
hugged Chogan. “It’s true then? You haven’t married yet?
    “No. Julia and I marry today. Now?” Chogan
glanced at Julia.
    “After breakfast,” Julia promised, noting his
disappointment. “It won’t be long.”
    Her aunt glanced at her in amusement. “He’s
waited a long time for you, Julia. It’s about time you came
around.”
    “I know.” Julia didn’t mind the teasing. She
turned to Chogan. “Please sit and warm yourself by the fire.” She
motioned to the fireplace. “We’ll get you something to eat and then
go to the preacher.”
    “We’ll make something quick,” her aunt
assured him.
    As he nodded and sat down, Julia led her aunt
to the kitchen. “He can stay here, right?”
    “You will not be going with him to his
tribe?”
    “He said he wants to live in Bismarck. Isn’t
that wonderful of him? I thought I was going to leave so I could be
with him, but he said he wants to be here. I can’t think of any men
who’d give up everything to be with their wives, can you?”
    “Sure, I can. Gary.”
    “Oh, right. There is him. But he’s always
been odd.” Julia touched her aunt’s arm. “So, can he stay here with
us?”
    Her aunt laughed. “Where else would he stay?
Now, let’s get breakfast started. He’s eager to get married to you,
so get those hash browns fried up on the skillet and I’ll see to
the bacon and biscuits.”
    She obeyed and retrieved the skillet from the
hook on the wall.