Appleoosa didn’t have a proper church. There had simply never been the need for one, and the small town hall sufficed for most of their needs. It also functioned as their courtroom when they needed one.
But today, it was a place of celebration, as Braeburn and Strongheart finally said their respective ‘I dos’. Chief Thunderhooves had even managed to make it inside, and such was the mood of the day that Sheriff Silverstar wasn’t even going to comment on the hole the buffalo chief had left in the wall, as he thought he could see a tear of pride leaking from the cheif’s eye.
The next morning, Braeburn was woken up by a booming bellow from outside, and Strongheart bounding over the top of him.
“Father!” she cried.
“Strongheart! It is time,” boomed the buffalo chieftain.
“Whassat?” mumbled Braeburn, leaning out of the window.
“When you asked to marry my daughter, you promised to honour our traditions, and I would honour yours. It is our tradition, set down and followed by my father, and his father before him, and his father before him, and...”
“I think he gets it, father!” called Strongheart, cutting off Cheif Thunderhooves before he could get going.
“Ahem. Yes,” coughed Thunderhooves, “anyway, it is our tradition that the newly married go on a run, to visit all of your new relatives. And I do mean all of them, Strongheart,” Thunderhooves added, just when Strongheart looked like she was about to object.
Strongheart sighed, and turned to Braeburn.
“Well, I guess we’re going for a run with the rest of the family, then,” she said.
Braeburn shrugged, “Ain’t no sweat off my back. Said I’d honour your tribes’ customs, and us Apples always keep our promises. How long is this run gonna take us, anyways?”
“Oh, nothing huge. About a month.”
Braeburn’s jaw dropped, and Strongheart shrugged.
“We have a lot of family.”
Braeburn sighed, and smiled at his wife.
“Well, guess I’d best get used to the taste of dust in my mouth.”
******
A month later, Braeburn was carried back into town on Strongheart’s back.
“You stupid, loveable Apple,” she muttered, “told you that you were going to pass out.”