He asked, “Why did you refuse them?”
Nahimana studied him.
“Why should I tell you?”
“Because I apparently agreed to marry you.”
“Apparently?”
He almost smiled.
“Definitely.”
“Then you agreed without knowing.”
“Yes.”
“That sounds like your mistake.”
Ethan laughed before he could stop himself.
Nahimana’s eyes changed again.
Not warmer.
Curious.
Chaska said, “My daughter believes marriage should be chosen.”
Nahimana corrected him.
“I believe my husband should believe that too.”
Ethan considered the words.
“That seems reasonable.”
Chaska stared at him.
Ethan shrugged.
“What?”
The chief sighed.
Nahimana’s mouth almost curved again.
Then Ethan noticed the little girl he had rescued standing near two older women.
She looked better.
Much better.
Clean face.
Wet hair.
Color returning to her cheeks.
When she saw Ethan looking, she smiled.
Nahimana noticed.
Her entire expression softened.
There.
That was the first glimpse Ethan had of something beneath the sharpness.
She crossed the ground toward the girl.
The child ran to her.
Nahimana crouched and pulled her close.
They spoke rapidly in Apache.
The little girl pointed toward Ethan.
Then demonstrated something with both arms, apparently reenacting the dust storm.
Nahimana listened.
The girl touched her own forehead, then mimed drinking.
Ethan understood.
She was describing him.
Nahimana looked across at Ethan.
This time the evaluation in her eyes felt different.
Less suspicious.
More precise.
The child continued talking.
Nahimana asked a question.
The girl answered.
Then Nahimana stood.
She approached Ethan alone.
“My niece says you gave her nearly all your water.”
“I had enough.”
“She says that is not true.”
Ethan glanced toward the child.
“She talks too much.”
Nahimana’s lips twitched.
“She says you wrapped your coat around her during the storm.”
“Anybody would.”
“No.”
Ethan looked at her.
Nahimana’s expression had become serious.
“No,” she repeated. “Anybody would not.”
He had no answer.
She stepped slightly closer.
“You did not know who she was.”
“No.”
“You did not know my father.”
“No.”
“You did not know there would be a reward.”
“I didn’t expect one.”
“And yet when my father offered me, you accepted.”
Ethan winced.
“When you say it like that, it sounds terrible.”
“It is terrible.”
He looked at Chaska.
The chief was deliberately pretending not to listen.
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Did you agree?”
Nahimana stared.
“To marry me.”
Her silence lasted long enough to answer.
“No.”
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
“What?”
“I agreed to meet the man who brought my niece home.”
“That is not what your father told me.”
“No.”
Ethan looked toward Chaska again.
The chief still did not turn.
“He said—”
“I know what he said.”
“Then what exactly happens now?”
Nahimana folded her hands in front of her.
“That depends on whether you are foolish.”
“I traveled through Apache territory alone during September.”
“Yes.”
“So perhaps we already know.”
That smile again.
Brief.
Dangerous.
Then she said, “You agreed to marry without seeing me. I agreed to speak with you because my niece said you were kind when no one was watching.”