Ethan returned his attention to Nahimana.
“Because he told me I had to answer before seeing you.”
For the first time, the faintest suggestion of amusement touched her face.
“And you said yes.”
“Yes.”
“Without seeing me.”
“Yes.”
“What did you think was beneath the blanket?”
Someone behind them laughed.
Ethan wanted to disappear into the desert.
Nahimana waited.
He decided honesty could not make the situation much worse.
“A scar.”
One eyebrow lifted.
“Only one?”
Ethan heard the warriors laugh again.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Possibly more.”
“What else?”
“Maybe some illness.”
Her eyes sharpened with amusement now.
“Anything worse?”
“A difficult personality.”
The camp became silent.
Ethan immediately regretted it.
Then Nahimana smiled.
A real smile.
Small.
Unexpected.
It changed her entire face.
“You may still be correct.”
The camp erupted.
Even Chaska looked annoyed by how many men laughed.
Ethan exhaled.
Nahimana turned toward the warriors.
She said something in Apache.
Whatever she said stopped the laughter.
Immediately.
Ethan noticed that.
Not because she shouted.
She did not.
She spoke with the calm certainty of someone who expected to be heard.
The men listened.
That was when Ethan’s first assumption began to fracture.
He had imagined a woman rejected by everybody around her.
Nahimana did not carry herself like somebody whom anyone had rejected.
She carried herself like someone accustomed to saying no.
Ethan looked at Chaska.
The chief saw the question.
He sighed.
“You should come inside.”
Nahimana folded the blanket over one arm.
“No.”
Chaska turned.
She continued in English.
“If he is going to marry me, tell him here.”
The chief’s face hardened.
“Nahimana.”
“Tell him.”
The camp quieted again.
Ethan had the distinct feeling that whatever happened next had happened before in different forms.
Father.
Daughter.
Disagreement.
Only now he stood in the center of it.
Chaska looked toward Ethan.
“What I told you was true.”
Nahimana gave a short laugh.
“You chose the words carefully.”
Chaska ignored her.
“No warrior here has agreed to marry my daughter.”
Ethan waited.
The chief continued.
“Because none remains willing to ask.”
Ethan stared.
Nahimana crossed her arms.
Chaska’s expression became tired.
“She refused them.”
Silence.
Ethan looked at Nahimana.
She did not deny it.
Chaska continued.
“Every one.”
A young warrior near the horses muttered something.
Nahimana replied in Apache without even turning.
The warrior looked away.
Ethan said slowly, “So they didn’t refuse her.”
“No.”
“Your daughter refused them.”
“Yes.”
“All of them.”
“Yes.”
Ethan looked at Nahimana again.
She said, “Are you disappointed?”
“I’m confused.”
“Better.”
Chaska rubbed his forehead.
“There have been good men.”
Nahimana’s jaw tightened.
“There have been men you liked.”
“Some were respected.”
“Respect from other men does not make them good husbands.”
Chaska looked at Ethan as if asking silently whether he now understood his problem.
Ethan did not.
Not entirely.
But he was beginning.