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went right on rambling
about something else.”
    All eyes turned to Gary.
    “I thought he was married,” Gary
responded.
    “No.” Woape shifted Penelope from one arm to
another. “The chief told Chogan he has to marry.” Then she returned
her gaze to Julia. “He’s due to make a choice in five days.”
    Julia’s heart leapt at the knowledge. “He’s
not married? But I thought...” She stared at Gary, unable to
determine if she should strangle his neck or thank him for getting
things wrong. It gave her a second chance. She could still be with
Chogan! “Take me to him,” she ordered Gary.
    “What? But I just got here,” he
protested.
    “You’re taking her,” Erin insisted as she
grabbed Julia’s coat and handed it to her. “We were going to head
out to the tribe so she could talk to him, but then you wrote that
he was married and ruined everything. Now it’s time for you to make
things right.”
    “But he’s fasting. That means he’ll be away
from the tribe and it’s getting dark and...” He stopped arguing and
glanced from one determined woman to another.
    Julia paused with her hands on the top button
of her coat. If need be, she would venture out there herself, but
she realized it would be easier to find Chogan if Gary guided the
way so she patiently waited for him to continue. Be nice, Julia.
You need him. She chanted this to herself so she wouldn’t force
him out the front door.
    “Alright,” Gary finally said as he opened the
front door. “Do you know anyone who has a couple of horses?”
    “I sure do.” Erin nodded and gave Julia her
hat, scarf and gloves to put on. “My brother Clarence has some.
Julia knows where he lives. Hook them up to the buggy. I won’t have
Julia exposed to the elements on nothing but a horse.”
    “Fine,” he agreed.
    Julia finished getting ready and hugged her
aunt and then Woape. “It’s so nice my brother is married to a woman
who knows what’s going on. Thank you.” She laughed and kissed Woape
on the cheek before she slipped out of the house. To Gary, she
added, “For once, I’m glad you do a lousy job of keeping your facts
straight.”
    “I really did think he was married,” Gary
replied as he followed her down the porch steps.
    “Never mind. Just take me to him.”
    He had to run to keep up with her as she led
him to their Uncle Clarence’s house.
     
     
    ~~********~~
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    Julia could hardly sit still as Gary led the
geldings to the campfire up ahead. A lone teepee stood in the
prairie, a dark contrast to the quarter moon that lit the night
sky. The snow wasn’t deep, so they made good progress, and though
Julia insisted Gary hurry, he warned that they didn’t need to
rush.
    “He’s not getting married tonight,” Gary said
when she shook his arm again.
    “I think I could run faster than this,” she
grumbled, knowing he was right but unable to stop fidgeting.
    “The snow makes things slippery.”
    She groaned. “I wish you hadn’t said Chogan
was married. I was ready to come out to see him, you know.”
    “Yes, I know. You told me the whole story ten
times already.” Though he rolled his eyes, a smile curved his lips.
Then his eyes sparkled. “Are you sure you don’t want to turn back?
I don’t think you’re excited enough about seeing him.”
    “Don’t you dare turn back!” She lightly
slapped his arm. “It’s your fault we have to be out here in the
middle of the night.” She shivered and buried her nose into the
scarf that was wrapped loosely around her neck. “Can’t you go any
faster?”
    He let out a loud sigh. “I’m sorry. Had I
known you would drag me out into the middle of nowhere, I wouldn’t
have said anything about Chogan in that letter.”
    “Let that be a lesson to you. Next time, make
sure you get your facts right.”
    “Don’t worry. I won’t forget.”
    Thank goodness Gary had been wrong! But she
still wished he could go faster. By the time she saw Chogan sitting
by the fire,