He had surely seen the hurt that it had brought to her heart, and understood. He, too, had recently lost loved ones.
She hurried to his bag and opened it. After searching through it, she found what she guessed must be the pemmican he had spoken about.
It was wrapped in a thin strip of buckskin.
She took it back to him.
He unwrapped the buckskin and tore the meat into two equal pieces, giving Nicole one. She chose to sit beside him, rather than across the fire from him.
They ate in silence for a moment, then Eagle Wolf began talking again about his wife.
“My wife Precious Stone and I were not married for long,” he said sadly. “It was a marriage of convenience only. I wanted children, for children are the future of our people. My clan has been depleted by wars with our enemy, the Ute, and with the United States government. Finally, I led my people to safety, to a place where no white men dare go. There my people will prosper again.”
“You said that you led your people to safety,” Nicole murmured, trying to sort through this information he had suddenly revealed to her. She was surprised that he would be so open with her, especially about a wife he had not really loved.
“I am chief of the Owl Clan of Navaho,” Eagle Wolf proudly stated. He noticed that her eyes widened in wonder.
“I did not know,” Nicole said softly. She didn’t tell him that she had guessed he might be a leader of his people.
A chief! She was in the presence of a powerful Navaho chief.
Yes, she was impressed.
“When my father died at the hands of the white man’s cavalry, I was named chief after him. After the battle was ended and our people were victorious over the white-eyed soldiers, I took them to safety on this mountain and here we shall remain,” Eagle Wolf said thickly.
Nicole knew, from his description of the battle, how he had fought and won, that he must have killed many white men. But she couldn’t fault him for that. Eagle Wolf’s father had most likely died right before his eyes, shot by a soldier who saw Indians as nothing but savages.
No, she did not blame him for fighting for his people’s survival.
She had always thought it wrong that the white man had taken everything from the Indians. She knew the government was still trying to make certain all Indians were rounded up and placed on reservations.
It was disgraceful, and she was ashamed to say she was part of a nation that had wronged the Indians so badly.
“Tell me about yourself,” Eagle Wolf said. “But only what you are comfortable telling.”
“I love children,” Nicole said, then found her cheeks burning suddenly with a blush when she remembered that he had just spoken about children being the future of his people. She hoped he wouldn’t think she had said that to impress him. She had only meant to tell him about wanting to be a teacher.
“I went to school and received my teaching credentials,” Nicole blurted out. “It was my deep desire to teach children, for I do love them so much.”
At her words, a new thought came to Eagle Wolf, but he decided not to voice it aloud. If Nicole loved teaching ch
ildren so much, could she not teach Navaho children what she had learned to teach white?
His people’s children could learn the ways of white people so that they could avoid their tricks.
But the presence of one white person in his stronghold could lead to others discovering it. No matter how he was attracted to this woman, he could not chance taking her to his home.
Nicole suddenly realized just how weary she was from the long day she had just gone through. “I am so tired,” she said softly. “I must retire for the night. Will you be all right while I sleep?”
She glanced hesitantly at his weapons. Was she being foolish to trust that he would not kill her as she slept?
Eagle Wolf noticed Nicole looking at his weapons.
Although he thought she did not see him as her enemy, he understood her hesitance.
“Do not be afraid to sleep,” Eagle Wolf reassured her as he reached out and gently took one of her hands in his. “White woman, I understand why you might still be afraid to trust me, for it is rare that white people trust men with red skin. I assure you that you are safe while you are with me. When I look at you, I do not see the color of your skin, but the kindness of your heart.”
He gently squeezed her hand. He saw that his words caused a flush to rise to Nicole’s cheeks. She now looked trustingly into his eyes.