Read Online The Bride Price: An African Romance (Chitundu Chronicles) by Suzanne Popp - Free Book Online Page A

were respectful of our wishes and of Violet.  He knows others will have more to offer in the way of money or position, but he offers us a future of providing for us and his family, as they arrive.  He wants children, and most of all, he wants his wife to be a partner with him as he builds his business.”
    Bishop looked at the pictures that Joseph had left.  He liked that the man traveled and saw the beauty in what was around him, not just the money to be made. It was very thoughtful to have taken pictures at Myrna’s wedding. Bishop also liked the idea of planning ahead with the house and living close by. He wasn’t ruling this young man out.
    Beatrice and Violet prepared dinner and no more was said of Joseph as they listened to news about the father’s day, and how he had worked out a settlement for the townspeople whose problem he had been called upon to mediate. It was a domestic problem. One of the relatives was accused of taking the house away from the widowed sister. After some discussion, it was decided that she could live in the storage hut of another brother, as she had only one child, and the older brother was within his rights to take the property when his sibling passed.  No signature of the wife was on the title, and she had no means of paying rent. She had lived in the house for ten years, but her husband was killed in an accident, and no provisions had been made for the event of his death.
    “This sounds like a hard case. Did you have difficulty deciding what should be done?”
    “The woman was not prepared to leave her house. She thought she owned it with her husband because they had worked together to pay for it. But she was not on the title and the brothers were very sharp. They had lawyers and were even willing to make it difficult on her reputation if she decided to go to court. She was lucky to have one of the brothers give her space to live. He could take her as his wife, but I don’t think he wanted her. She is not so young.”
    “It is always the money that decides these issues.  It is good you were there to sort it out. Am I on the title of our house?”
    “No. We have no paperwork as we built the house on tribal land given to us by the chief. If we wanted, we should have someone write down what to have happen if I die. I don’t think my brothers would make you leave, but you are right to think on these things before it happens.”  No more was said about ownership of houses, or people passing.
    After his wife had gone to lie down and rest, Violet sat alone with her father on the verandah in the dark. “Father, I have made it clear to Joseph that he must stay close to you both if he is to consider me for his wife. He said his own father was very important to him, and he misses him every day. He was killed working as a U.N. Peacekeeper in Zaire. Joseph wants to earn your respect.”
    “He seems like a thoughtful young man. I will give it my consideration. Your mother was very impressed by his presentation of his prospects.”
    “Joseph really liked her as well. He was so pleased she let him hold the baby.”
    “Was he?  I was always a little afraid of them when they were that small. I don’t think I really carried any of you until you were about a year old. You all seemed too fragile. Well, as I said, I will think on his proposal and he is welcome to come and visit again when I am home. There is no rush.”   Bishop listened to his daughter and thought what a loving girl she was. It was natural she would want a man who knew how to express himself and give her the words of love that meant so much in a marriage.  He would hear Joseph say them to her, and know that she would be cared for and valued.
    Uncle Dodge stopped by that evening and saw his niece and his brother-in-law sitting on the porch.  He joined them, and Violet left immediately.  Dodge began his litany of what Violet needed, and that he was the only one that could insure the family would not once again slip into