Instead she said sadly, "Is she the reason you would not do what I wanted the night you left Victor? Were you married to her even then?"
He had to force the words out. "No, but I did love her even then. And she— That blue-eyed boy you've seen in our wickiup—he is our son. He was born after my father took me to Victoire."
She shook her head, the blond braids swinging. "You were honest with me. You didn't tell me about Redbird, but you didn't make a fool of me, as another man might have. A man like your uncle. But how does your wife feel about me?"
What did she mean, A man like your uncle? Had Raoul approached her? He put that question aside while he framed an answer to her question.
"Redbird agrees to this wedding. She, too, wants to help you. If you are part of our family you will be protected. She wants that."
She stared at him. "But I'm a Christian! I can't go through a pagan wedding ceremony to be your second wife. How could I do that to my father, a minister?"
He tried to sound reassuring. "We will all know, you and I and Redbird, that it is not a real marriage. I've no doubt your Christian God will see and understand. And your father, if he sees you, surely he wants you to live."
No, Philip Hale, as I remember him, might well expect her to die for her faith. He might well want his daughter to join him in the other world. But never mind.
He went on quickly, "Of course, you will not have to—know me, as your Bible says. In the sight of the tribe you will be my wife, that is all. In our wickiup your virtue will be respected."
She laughed ruefully, but tears were running down her cheeks. "Oh, Auguste, remember how I begged you to marry me? I even prayed for it, would you have imagined that? And now my prayer has been answered. Only it didn't turn out exactly the way I hoped, did it?"