Free Proud Wolf's Woman by Karen Kay Page A

wonder if she sees that here is a unique opportunity for her—to have again an older sister; someone to share the work, someone to help with chores, with the children. Besides, there would be no competition between Voesee and the white woman unless her husband were to solicit the white woman as second wife and then—”
    “It is that possibility that would torment me!” Voesee looked away, toward Aamehee, then back to Neeheeowee. At length, she addressed her son once again, who sat at Neeheeowee’s side. “Would you explain to my northern brother-in-law,” she said, “that my husband may yet take another wife, but I would not want it to be someone who is so…so…”
    “Pretty?”
    It was her son who spoke, and Voesee smiled, at last agreeing, “Yes, pretty.”
    Neeheeowee didn’t respond. Instead, glancing up and speaking as though to the air, he said, “It is too bad. I was hoping that either my brother-in-law, Mahoohe, or his sister, Voesee, would take the white captive into their home. Tell them, little nephew.” Neeheeoee leaned forward, away from his backrest to try to gather the attention of the young boy. “Tell your elders here for me,” Neeheeowee said, “that I am bound to purchase this slave, no matter the consequences of that purchase.”
    The small child of no more than ten years of age opened his mouth to speak, but instead of uttering a word, he gaped at his uncle. In truth, the whole atmosphere inside the tepee echoed the same response. Silence ensued.
    At length, Mahoohe said into the quiet, “Tell us about this, my brother. Tell us about how a man who is too involved with revenge to even look at another woman, is now bound to purchase a pretty, white slave.”
    Neeheeowee said nothing, merely raising his shoulders, and Mahoohe continued, saying, “Come, come now. I am sure I am not alone in wondering, my brother-in-law, how a white slave could mean so much to you. All my life I have known you, and for these past seven winters I have beheld you as the man who married my younger sister; a man who even now would avenge my sister’s death; a man without emotion, intent only upon revenge. And I cannot understand how a white slave girl could cause the sentiment I witness in you at this moment. For there is emotion in you today; emotion that I have not seen in you for… My brother, I see that this girl is pretty, but…”
    “I know her.”
    It was a simple statement, yet it conveyed everything Neeheeowee wished to say on the matter; it also had Mahoohe straining up in silence for several moments, listening for more explanation while he gazed over to his brother-in-law, though, at length, Mahoohe merely asked, “You know her?”
    “Haahe, yes.” Neeheeowee nodded. “I met her some years ago when I accompanied one of my Lakota brothers on a mission of revenge which carried us into the soldier town the white men call Fort Leavenworth. She is the friend of my Lakota brother’s wife, who is also a white woman. It was there that I came to know the woman they call Julia. It was there that I came to call her friend.”
    Voesee gasped. “You call a woman who is not a part of your kindred friend?”
    Neeheeowee nodded.
    “The white world allows this?”
    Again, Neeheeowee nodded, saying, “Haahe, yes, it is so. They have many strange customs. But do you see now that I am duty-bound to purchase this white slave? I have pledged friendship to her, meaning that I must protect her. I cannot allow her to suffer the consequences of captivity. And I must see that she is safely settled, for I could not allow her to travel with me. It would put her honor at stake, plus it would distract me from my purpose. Would you not…?”
    “Naaaa!” Voesee came up onto her knees as she looked directly at Neeheeowee. “My brother-in-law, I have come to admire the white woman, but please, as I said before, it would be too hard for her to become sister. She would be feisty and she might attract the attention of my