“I think he’s here for your father.” Star seemed to understand what was going on. A bright smile on her face, she drew Naomi aside. “Doug!”
Doug stepped out from behind the barbecue grill, walked over to Chaska, a look of confusion on his face. “What are you—”
“It’s a bride price,” Star whisper-shouted in Lakota.
Doug nodded, met Chaska’s gaze. “You want to marry my daughter?”
“I bring twenty-two horses for her.” Chaska stepped away from the yard tractor, giving Doug a chance to examine it.
It was a 22-horsepower machine that would make mowing Doug’s big yard much faster and easier.
“Are they good horses?” Doug kicked a tire.
People laughed.
“They get a five-star review on the hardware store’s website.”
Doug nodded, fighting laughter now. “This is a good bride price.”
“Aho!”
Laughter.
Naomi stood behind her father now, a hand over her mouth in excitement.
Doug turned to Naomi and spoke in Lakota using both of their Lakota names. “She Catches the Light, this warrior, Gray Owl, wishes to take you as his wife. Is this agreeable to you?”
He’d obviously gotten into the spirit of this.
“Yes!” Naomi answered in English, running to Chaska, throwing her arms around him, and kissing him. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Applause. Whoops. Drums. Or was that his heart?
“Then I accept your bride price.” Doug walked over to the yard tractor, sat in the seat, and chuckled. “Twenty-two horsepower. It says right here. I guess that means it’s time to get ready for a wedding.”
Cheers.
But Chaska wasn’t paying attention to Doug or anyone else, the woman in his arms now his entire world.
She looked up at him, her eyes bright. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“Are you kidding? You’re worth at least five yard tractors.”
She laughed, the sweet sound putting a hitch in his chest. Then her expression grew serious. “The luckiest day of my life was the day you found me.”
“I was led to you, Naomi.” No one would ever be able to tell him otherwise. “I love you with everything I am, and I always will.”
He leaned down, kissed her.
“You look good in my old powwow pants.” Old Man’s voice brought their kiss to an end. “It’s a special day. Let’s see some fancy dancing.”
The air around them filled with whoops and cheers.
Epilogue
Two monthslater
Naomi unlocked the front door, opening her boutique to the public for the first time. It was a cold November Saturday with a sky that threatened snow. “Do you think anyone will come?”