“I know we haven’t made each other any promises, but…”
“But what?”
Her heart gave a hard knock at what she was about to say. “I love you, Chaska. I don’t want to go away and wind up losing you.”
She looked up to see him smiling. “What?”
“How about I tell you why I know that won’t happen.”
“Okay.”
“That day when we found you out there, Win and I were out taking Shota for a run. She was bugging me to ask out Nicole, telling me it was time for me to meet a woman. I told her didn’t want to go out with Nicole. Win said something like, ‘Don’t you want to be with a woman?’ I told her I did, but that I would wait till the right one came along. Then I said, ‘Creator can feel free to put her in my path anytime.’ It was at that moment that Shota took off running. When we found him, we found you.”
Naomi sat up, gaped at him. “You didn’t tell me this before.”
“I wasn’t sure how you’d react if I’d said, ‘Hey, Naomi, I was led to you by Creator, so we’re meant to be together.’”
Okay, she could see his point there. “That does sound a little crazy.”
Chaska nodded. “Win didn’t offer you a place to stay only because you needed one. She felt in her heart that I had been led to you. I was happy to have you stay with us, but I didn’t buy the whole idea that the Creator had anything to do with it. It’s been a long time since I believed. But even before you and I made love for the first time, I decided Win was right. Iwasled to you.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
He sat up, brought his face close to hers. “I don’t want you to be afraid. If you and I are meant to be together, nothing can pull us apart. Creator led me to you and saved your life, and I believe we’ll be together again one day. But you need to go now and meet your family and find out what it means to be Lakota, to have roots. That’s something you’ve never had before. I’ll be right here when you’re ready to come home.”
Home.
“Is this my home?”
“It is if you want it to be.” He tucked a finger beneath her chin, raised her gaze to meet his. “I love you, Naomi. That’s not going to change. When you leave tomorrow, leave with your head high, knowing that nothing can keep the two of us apart.”
Chapter 24
Chaska and Naomismudged together the next morning, holding hands, smoke swirling between them as Chaska prayed. “Watch over Naomi,Tunkasila, and guide her on this new path. Help her to find her way as a Lakota, and help her to know that I love her. Bring us together again in a good way.Mitakuye Oyasin.”
Tears rolled down Naomi’s cheeks. “Mitakuye Oyasin.”
Ignoring the lead weight in his chest, Chaska worked together with Winona to get a good breakfast on the table. The four of them made pleasant conversation, as if no one’s heart was breaking.
Snap out of it,kola. You wanted this for her. You helped make this happen.
Yes, he had, and he was happy for her. He was a little less happy for himself.
After breakfast, he stood to clear the dishes away.
Naomi caught his arm. “Please, Chaska, sit. I have something for you and Win.”
He took his seat once more, waiting while Doug stood and went to get something from the guest room. He returned and handed two small packages to Naomi.
“This is for you, Win.”
“For me? Exciting!” Winona opened it—and held a hand over her mouth, tears filling her eyes. She gaped at Naomi. “Are you sure?”
Chaska watched as Win took the bracelet with the raven flying in front of the setting sun out of the box and put it on her wrist. She had loved that bracelet when she’d seen it on Naomi’s website, and Naomi had remembered.
Naomi reached over, adjusted the band to make it fit Winona’s slender wrist. “There. It’s perfect for you.”
“It’s more beautiful in real life than it was online. Thank you, Naomi.” Win came around the table and gave her a hug.