She caught the words orphan train and adoption, but with the people whispering about her, it was hard to make out much more. After a few minutes, she gave up and focused on her husband who inserted comments from time to time as the white couple spoke with the chief. At one point, Citlali glanced up and saw Onawa. Blushing, she smiled at him. His lips turned up slightly before the chief spoke to him. He directed his attention back to the chief, and the momentary connection between them was broken. But she didn’t mind. He was back, and they’d be together soon enough.
The chief turned to face the crowd. “Where is Woape?”
Onawa’s eyebrows furrowed. Why would he want to talk to Woape?
“She is not here,” Citlali told him.
The chief gave a slight nod before his gaze fell to Onawa. “Woape is your sister. Bring her here.”
Onawa indicated that she would and hurried out of the lodge, clutching the robe tighter around her to brace for the burst of wind that swirled around her. When she made it to Woape’s lodge, Gary was telling everyone that a white couple, along with Etu and Yepa, were in the chief’s lodge.
“When did they come here?” Woape asked as she stood up from the rug she’d been on with her daughters.
“Just now,” Gary replied.
As Onawa stepped forward, everyone in the lodge turned their attention to her, so she said, “Woape, the chief wishes for you to go to his lodge.”
“I was about to go,” Woape told her and hurried to retrieve her buffalo robe.
“I’ll go, too,” Gary added and helped her get their daughters ready to leave the lodge.
“You’ve seen the white couple?” Onawa’s father asked her as he set down his pipe.
“Yes. They’re with Citlali,” she replied.
Gary glanced her way. “Citlali came here with them?”
“Yes. It’s why I went to the chief’s lodge.” Onawa waited until they were ready and then left with them. With a good look at Woape, she said, “You’re excited.”
Woape grinned and shifted her daughter Phoebe to her other arm. Beside her, Gary carried Penelope. She looked away from him and focused on Onawa. “I think the couple are the two people who helped me when I was running from Hothlepoya. I think they might be Penelope and Cole.”
“The Penelope you named your first daughter after?”
“Yes. She became my friend. I hope it’s her. I’d like to see her again.”
Surprised that this could be the same woman who took care of Woape before she returned to the tribe with her child, Onawa hurried her steps. When they reached the chief’s lodge, she led them through the crowd which parted for them. Her gaze fell on Citlali, and she offered him a shy smile as she approached him. Even with the swirl of activity in the lodge, she couldn’t help but be acutely aware of his strong, masculine presence.
When they reached the chief, she stepped aside so she was out of the way. Citlali glanced over at her and seemed to be ready to motion for her to join him, but the chief spoke, directing his attention away from her. She didn’t dare approach the chief unless she had his permission, and since he invited Woape and Gary to approach him, she understood she needed to stay with the crowd and watch what happened.
The white woman’s smile widened when she saw Woape, and the two women hugged. Onawa’s heart warmed at the reunion. Gary shook the man’s hand and introduced himself. Around her, the people grew quiet so they could hear everything the people in the center of the lodge would say.
“Penelope explained how she adopted Etu and Yepa from an orphan train,” the chief told Woape.
Woape nodded at the children who clung to Penelope’s skirt. “Yes, I remember them, and I’m sorry it was my foolish action that caused their parents’ deaths,” she said in a voice so low Onawa barely heard her.
“There will not be more sorrow,” the chief replied. “This is a day of rejoicing. We learned that Etu and Yepa survived.”
“You adopted them?” Woape asked Penelope.
“Yes.” Penelope rubbed their shoulders in a comforting manner. “They didn’t have anyone to care for them and I spoke their language so it was meant to be.”
“There are no coincidences,” the chief agreed. “You finding Citlali and him bringing you here while he was seeking a vision is significant. We must not miss the meaning behind it.”
Onawa frowned, his meaning not clear to her, but she sensed this wasn’t something the white couple had anticipated. Her gaze went to them, and Penelope glanced at Cole who shrugged.
“Penelope and Cole have been good to them,” Woape told the chief. “They are healthy and happy.”
“The boy has questions and some nightmares,” Penelope commented. “We thought by coming here, he might find answers and peace.”
“A very good reason to be here,” the chief replied. “You were right to bring them. They must learn the ways of their people. A good way to start is for you to stay with the children in the lodge belonging to their aunts. They will want to see their lost ones.” His gaze turned to Etu and Yepa. “Your aunts can tell you about your mother and father.”
“We have room in our lodge,” Woape argued. “Etu and Yepa’s aunts don’t have enough room since they recently made a smaller lodge to inhabit.”
The chief scanned the crowd and saw one of their aunts. He motioned for her to come forward, and she quickly obeyed. In low tones, the chief and the aunt talked, and no matter how much Onawa strained to hear, she couldn’t make out more than a word here and there. She looked at Citlali. It was hard to determine what he was thinking. She wished she could go up to him and ask what he thought of all of this, but she’d have to wait until they were alone.
When the chief turned back to Woape, he spoke in a louder voice. “They will stay with you.”
Woape and Penelope smiled, and the chief dismissed them. As the crowd filtered out of the lodge to follow the newcomers, Onawa wondered if Citlali would remain with the chief. If he did, then it was his right. She would find Julia and tell her what happened since neither Julia nor Chogan were in the crowd, probably because they decided to have as little to do with the chief as possible.
The chief spoke to Citlali and looked at her. Her cheeks warmed by the attention. Citlali gave the chief a slight nod before heading in her direction. Delighted he was going to be with her, she pulled the robe tighter around her body to get ready to go back outside.
When he reached her, she walked beside him. “Did you have a vision?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t had anything to eat since I left, but the spirits didn’t come.”
She hid her disappointment. So the matter that bothered him wasn’t resolved. She wanted to ask him why he sought the vision to begin with but knew it wasn’t her place. The matter was between him and the chief. If he chose to tell her, then she’d know. Otherwise, she would keep her questions to herself.
When he didn’t volunteer any information, she ventured, “Since you’ve been fasting, then you will be happy to know it’s almost time to eat.”
“I am glad to know that.” After a long pause between them, he cleared his throat. “The week was a long one.”
“Yes, it was. I missed you.”
Before he could respond, someone called out to them. They turned and watched as his brother came up to them. “Did the spirits lead the white couple with Yepa and Etu to you?” Ukiah asked Citlali.
“I cannot say it was the spirits who were responsible for it,” he replied.
“But you can’t say they weren’t,” he countered and glanced at Onawa in excitement. “Did you see them?”
She nodded. “Woape is friends with the white woman.”
“Ah, the spirits are behind it,” Ukiah said.
“It’s too soon to know anything,” Citlali argued, and though his face remained impassive, Onawa detected a slight edge to his voice.
Ukiah’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “The chief says the spirits are behind it. Are you disagreeing with him?”
“No, I’m not disagreeing with him. I need more time before I can decide,” he clarified.
“Which sounds like you disagree with him since he already made up his mind.”
“Must you look for a fight?”
Ukiah laughed. “I’m not looking for a fight. I’m just making an observation.”
Before the two could keep going back and forth on the matter, Onawa spoke up. “It will be interesting to see what happens while Penelope and Cole are here. Who knows what will come from this?”
She noted that Citlali relaxed his clenched jaw. She wondered why she didn’t detect the subtle cues in his moods before. Whether it was the shift in the tone of his voice or a change in his facial expression, he did reveal his feelings. Perhaps up to now, she’d been too nervous around him to pick up on this.
Ukiah turned to her. “Since they are staying with Woape, I hope you will tell us what happens.”
“I will say what I’m at liberty to say,” she complied, thinking that Woape had shared some personal information with Penelope and vice versa, and even to this day, she didn’t know everything that happened to Woape during the time she was away from the tribe.
“Smart answer,” Citlali said.
“As long as we know what happens to Etu and Yepa, that’s all that matters,” Ukiah replied. “I don’t care what happens to the white couple.”
“You said enough. We will go.” Citlali put his hand on the small of her back and gently urged her to walk away from his brother.
“You shouldn’t let him bother you,” she whispered as they made their way to their lodge.
“I don’t let him bother me. I’m tired of standing out in the cold. I spent a week outside.”
She knew his brother bothered him. She also knew his brother didn’t think much of him and made it a habit of mocking him if he wasn’t around. She decided not to argue with Citlali. He’d been gone for a week, and now he was back. All she wanted to do was spend time with him.
When they entered the lodge, she slipped out of her robe and turned to him. “I’ll take your robe to our room.”
Nodding, he removed his robe and handed it to her.
Their fingers brushed as she took the robe from him, and she felt tingles of delight shoot straight to her feet. With a shy smile, she carried the robes to their room while the others in the lodge greeted him. When she returned to him, his aunts and cousins were asking about Yepa and Etu. She sat by him on the rug in front of the fire and helped his aunt collect food for him.
Once he received his bowl, she turned to helping his aunt give his young cousins their food before she gathered her own into a bowl. She listened as Citlali explained how he found Penelope and Cole riding along the prairie. While he talked, she couldn’t help but relish the opportunity to be next to him. This was where she’d always wanted to be—right by his side.
His mother and two more of his aunts came in with his brother and joined them in eating. She glanced at Ukiah who glared at Citlali. She looked at Citlali and noted that he ignored his brother’s hard stare. With a sigh, she turned her attention to her food and decided to put the matter aside.
Chapter Six
Despite the matter that weighed heavily on Citlali’s mind, he took comfort in being near Onawa. She missed him while he was gone, and though he didn’t know how to tell her he missed her, too, he figured it was just as well that his brother interrupted them when he did.
Even as his mind urged him to remember to keep his calm, his pulse raced with excitement just by being near her. All he could think of was being alone with her and having her warm his bed. The week without her next to him had been a long and empty one, and he longed to spend the entire night with her snuggled up to him.
When that time finally came, he worked hard to restrain himself from throwing caution to the wind and tearing her clothes off so he could have his way with her. He joined her in their room and removed his clothes, once again keeping his eyes on her as she removed hers. This time, he wouldn’t lose control and tell her his feelings. He was fortunate she didn’t think less of him for telling her in the first place. He didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
This time after they were both naked, he waited for her to slip into bed before he joined her. Her flesh was warm and soft next to him. He pulled her into his embrace, his body already throbbing with desire to enjoy her. He kissed her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck in silent encouragement for him to continue. He deepened the kiss and traced her body with his hands. His tongue brushed her lips, seeking permission to taste her more intimately. She opened her mouth for him so he eagerly interlaced his tongue with hers.
He moved back slightly so he could cup one of her breasts in his hands. His thumb traced the nipple which hardened for him. She let out a soft moan, notifying him that she found his ministrations pleasurable, something that motivated him to continue.
She brought one of her legs around his waist, an action which allowed his arousal to settle between her legs. Her flesh beckoned to him, and he shifted so that he was more intimately pressed against her. Her hands felt like heaven as they ran up and down his back. Her eagerness for him made his heart leap, and he wanted to profess his thankfulness that he married her instead of Woape. But he held back the sentiment and focused on stroking her tongue with his.
His hand left her breast and traveled down her side and over her hip. He found the moist folds of her sensitive flesh. Her mouth left his and she moaned, wiggling so that he had better access to her entrance. While she kissed his neck, he slid a finger into her body and groaned at the silken wet folds that welcomed him further into her. He slid another finger inside her, relishing the knowledge that soon enough this part of her body would be clenching around his erection. He sighed in pleasure at the reminder of how wonderful it felt to be inside her.
“Onawa,” he whispered, stroking her core in time with the gentle rocking of her hips. “Oh, Onawa.”
She was accepting him willingly and completely, and the connection he’d felt with her strengthened. The long week from her melted into oblivion. At this moment, it was just the two of them. No one else existed. No one else mattered.
Her lips went up to his earlobe, and he shuddered when she traced it with her tongue. “I need you,” he rasped, and realizing he’d spoken just like last time, he brought his mouth to her shoulder and focused on kissing her so he wouldn’t reveal his tumultuous emotions anymore.
“Yes,” she murmured, her hips rocking faster, her flesh squeezing his fingers.
He grew harder, something he didn’t think possible, but her unbridled excitement was quickly becoming his undoing. He loved this side of her. Loved knowing he could bring her mounting pleasure to the point where she climaxed and cried out his name as her body tightened around his fingers.
When her body relaxed, he removed his fingers and swiftly entered her, giving out a low moan of appreciation as she welcomed him fully into her. He rolled on top of her and thrust deeply into her, his week away from her not allowing him to be as patient as he wanted to be. But she didn’t seem to mind his urgency. In fact, she grasped his bottom and worked with him as he moved in and out of her.
He kissed her on the mouth, allowing his tongue to brush hers for a moment before he broke the contact. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her she completed him, but he gritted his teeth and focused instead on getting to the peak of their physical union. When he got there, he cried out her name, aware that he wanted to say more but managed to restrain himself before he looked foolish.
His body relaxed and he fell into her arms, the words of love still wanting to be spoken. Had it not been for her kisses on his ear distracting him, he most assuredly would have said them. When he had the strength, he rolled off of her and gathered her into his arms. She snuggled against him, her body wonderfully warm. This was what he wanted more than anything else all the time he’d been alone in that teepee. And now that he had it, he felt complete. Well, almost complete. He could
n’t explain it, but something seemed to be missing. What that something was, he didn’t know, but he assured himself that in time, he’d figure out what it was and make it right.
***
After breakfast, Onawa asked Citlali if he wanted to take a walk with her. Since he had to go and discuss important matters with the chief instead, she decided to see how Penelope, Cole and their children were doing. On her way to Woape’s lodge, Citlali’s brother called out to her.
She halted her steps and pulled the robe tighter around her body to brace against the bitter chill. “What is it, Ukiah?”
He pulled a dead turkey on his travois. “I got him all by myself.”
Noting the pride in his voice, she smiled. “It’s a large one.”
“Yes. I don’t think Citlali’s caught one this big yet.”
“I don’t think he hunts much, does he?”
He stopped when he reached her and shrugged. “He doesn’t like hunting. He does it when he can’t barter for meat.”
Considering Citlali knew as much about their history and ceremonies as the chief, it made sense he could sell his knowledge on such topics in exchange for food. “We all have our strengths.”
“While that’s true, it’s better for the lodge if we can rely on ourselves to bring food instead of worrying about bartering for it. When a man hunts, he can go out and hunt again, but if he shares something he knows, then he only gets one animal. Sometimes the animal Citlali gets isn’t enough to provide for the whole lodge.”
Sensing his comments stemmed from his rivalry with Citlali, she shifted uncomfortably as she tried to think of an appropriate response that wouldn’t cause further division between them. “Both of you provide good things for the lodge now that you’re learning how to hunt.”
He shrugged. “If you say so.” Glancing around, he asked, “Where is my brother?”
Bound by Honor Bound by Love Page 5
