Savage Beloved

Two Eagles felt as though he could begin truly living the rest of his life. And how happy he would be now that he had found the woman he was destined to love.

Chapter Twenty-four

Nay, answer not, I dare not hear,

The words would come too late,

Yet I would spare thee all remorse,

So comfortable my fate.

—Adelaide Anne Procter

While Two Eagles and Candy were gone, the women of the village had decided it was time for the village’s annual corn roast. They had waited to actually begin cooking until Two Eagles returned, so he could give his permission for the roast.

Although it was soon after Short Robe’s death and burial, Two Eagles knew that his uncle would want him and his people to go on with the business of living.

The day after their visit to the other Wichita village, the annual corn roast would begin.

Candy was already awake this morning but leisurely lying at Two Eagles’s side. He was still asleep. Suddenly she heard a woman shouting outside.

Two Eagles was quickly awake. “Who is that?” Candy asked, rising and quickly dressing, as did Two Eagles. “What is she saying?”

“Come outside with me,” Two Eagles said, reaching a hand out for her. “This is the beginning of a very good and satisfying day for my people.”

They went to the entrance flap and Two Eagles held it aside just as the woman called out again. This was a yearly ritual before the corn harvest could begin,

“The corn is ripe! The corn is ripe!” Bright Sunshine shouted again as she ran toward Two Eagles’s lodge, carrying an ear of corn.

When she reached Two Eagles, Bright Sunshine held the ear out to him. The people of the village had come from their teepees to watch.

“The stalks are heavy laden with ears, and near the bottom are many suckers,” Bright Sunshine announced, knowing that was what must be said to prove their crop was good this year. “Is it not a good day for roasting?”

Candy saw the woman stand there, anxiously watching, as Two Eagles examined the ear of corn. Then he nodded, smiled, and handed it back to Bright Sunshine.

“Ho, it is a good crop,” Two Eagles said. “And today is a good day for roasting.”

Candy saw the anxiousness leave the woman’s eyes and the broad smile she gave her chief.

She watched as Bright Sunshine was joined by many other women. Then they all went into the garden together. They carried on their backs bags made of scraped hide into which they would toss the ears of corn as they gathered them.

“Should I join the women?” Candy asked as she and Two Eagles went back inside his tepee.

“No, no one expects you to,” Two Eagles said, drawing her into his embrace and hugging her. “They will be back with the corn before you could even get there to help them. This is a day they all look forward to. They will pick the amount of corn they need quickly so that the roast can soon begin.”

“How are you feeling today?” Candy asked, searching his eyes. “The last two days have been quite trying for you.”

“I have learned how to endure hurts,” he said thickly. “After losing my mother and father not so long ago, I learned what strength it took to accept such things. Losing my uncle was hard, yet I will endure it.”

He framed her face between his hands. “I have you to help me through my hurts, trials, and tribulations,” he said. “Together we can get through anything.”

“Yes, together,” Candy murmured, her breath stolen away when he pulled her hard against him and kissed her so passionately, she felt she might swoon.

Then he lifted her into his arms and took her back to their bed and laid her down on it.

She watched him remove his clothes, then giggled when he knelt beside her and removed hers.

“I feel shameful,” she murmured. “The other women are working, yet I—”