Read Bound by Honor Bound by Love for Free Online Page B

Onawa. “Are you happy?”
    “ Yes. Citlali is a good
husband.”
    “ I’m glad.” He glanced at
Gary who led a stallion into the stall by the entrance. “Both of my
daughters have married well.”
    “ Gary is a good son-in-law
for you,” Onawa replied.Woape stood up to take Penelope over to
Gary who took their daughter in his arms before giving Woape a
kiss. As they softly talked to one another, Onawa realized she was
no longer envious of their love.
    Her father patted her hand and smiled.
“And Citlali is a good son-in-law. I have been blessed.” He looked
back at Erin and then Julia before he spoke in English. “I cannot
tell who is Tate or Dakota.”
    Onawa chuckled. “Only Julia, Erin and
Chogan can.”
    “ This is Dakota,” Julia
told him. “Erin holds Tate.” When his gaze returned to Erin, Julia
shot an amused glance in Onawa’s direction before adding, “Erin
wants to learn about…about…sacred bundles. You will tell
her?”
    Onawa’s eyebrows rose in interest. She
wasn’t sure if Julia’s aunt really requested such knowledge, but
she knew why Julia said it. Onawa’s father had been looking in
Erin’s direction a lot lately but hadn’t said more than a few words
to her, and if she judged right, Erin was interested in him, too.
Deciding to play along with Julia’s scheme, Onawa nodded. “You know
more about sacred bundles than us. You would be the right one to
tell her about them.” And that much was true. Plus, Erin did ask
Woape about them the other day, so it seemed like a good
idea.
    “ Well, if she asked…” her
father said.
    “ She did,” Onawa assured
him.
    He cleared his throat and stood up.
Onawa hid her smile as he approached Erin who blushed as he sat
next to her and asked if she would like to learn about sacred
bundles. She nodded her agreement, so he began telling her about
them.
    Leaning toward her, Julia whispered in
Mandan, “It is good. Erin needs a man.”
    “ My father needs a woman,
too. It’s good for him.” Onawa glanced at the two and thought it
was fitting the two should be together. “They are good
together.”
    Julia smiled. “Yes.”
    Onawa watched as Erin laughed at
something her father said and shot Julia an amused look. She had a
funny feeling that there would be another wedding soon, and she
couldn’t think of a better wife for her father than
Erin.
     
    ***
     
    Citlali sighed and opened his eyes.
Once again, he sat in front of the fire. He hadn’t eaten anything
for six days now. Tomorrow, he’d go home. Home to his lodge where
Onawa would be waiting for him. Her smile would ease his
loneliness. Her touch would warm him. And then, when they were in
bed…
    He gritted his teeth. He couldn’t
afford to lose control like he did last time. It’d be too easy to
lose control again, especially after being gone for a week. Fasting
always left him feeling vulnerable, which was why he didn’t like
it. But it was also a good way to seek favor from the
gods.
    This was not going to be one of those
times. His thoughts kept going to Onawa. Whether he was awake or
asleep, she occupied his mind. He thought being out in the
wilderness would ease the desire to be with her, but it had the
opposite effect. He only wanted her more.
    He stood up and wrapped the buffalo
robe tighter around his body. Maybe a walk would help pass the
time. As it was, it was early afternoon. He had the rest of the day
and night to spend without her. Come first light, he’d go
home.
    The snow crunched under his feet as he
made the same trek he took every day to help time go faster. On
this particular day, he made it around a group of trees when he saw
a sleigh in the distance. His first thought was that it was Onawa,
that she missed him so much she had to come see him. His heart
leapt at the thought, but then, he quickly dismissed it. She didn’t
have a sleigh.
    Curious, he headed for it. He pulled
his robe tighter around himself since he was walking directly into
the bitter wind. As