Taboo Love in the West Part 1: A Heart Off-Limits (Wild West Adventures in Love Book 3) by Ella Camsen Page A

White Man and especially this woman makes your judgement suspect. You aren’t the only option for chief, and not even the best one, but nobody else will stand a chance unless the oyate can see past the image of perfection that you represent to them,” he said bitterly.
    “Matoskah, I have no desire to be chief. I never have, so what the people see in me is not relevant. They will have to see past their visions. I am not perfect – I am not even close to it. I am a man just like any other, and I have weaknesses and strengths. I have frailties and I make mistakes. I am happy in the role I have now. I too think there are better men than I to take the role that Chief Iron Nation will soon leave vacant – but I am not your competition. I never have been. You didn’t need to involve her to find that out; you should have just asked me. I am not the reason you will not be made our leader when Iron Nation stands down, and looking at him today I don’t think it will be long before that sad day comes. You are. You are your own worst enemy, my old friend.” The other man looked confused. Amitola felt for the man. He was so clever in some ways, and in the olden days, when superior hunting skills and the ability to lead a war band were the key skills required for leadership, he would have made an incredible chief. Things had changed though, and the skills of diplomacy and compromise were now much more important.
    “I am the best hunter, the best warrior, so why am I not the best man to be chief?”
    “Because this is a different time. You are not going to get anywhere if your focus is fighting. We have already lost so much, but if we put someone like you in charge we would lose everything. The reservations would be rapidly shrunk until there is not enough land for us to live on, and we would be starved out of existence. Don’t you get it? There are more of them, and they have superior fire power to us. We simply cannot win. You barge in without taking into consideration all the consequences, like doing this. You wanted to punish me, to make sure I would be no threat, but you forgot that they will want their revenge for an attack like this – whether they catch those responsible or not, the town will want someone to pay. They will simply round up anyone and hang them on the gallows before everyone to prove that they are still safe, that they are still in control. Your actions have endangered every Sioux who sets foot in Oacoma,” he said, angry at Matoskah’s short-sightedness.
    Amitola felt terrible to have to be the one to inflict such a blow. The strong man in front of him simply crumpled at the words of truth he had spoken, but they needed to be said, and better they come from him here in the privacy of this wooded glade than in front of the Council of Elders with the oyate watching. He had always been fond of the White Bear, and had learnt many of his skills with knife and bow from him. He hated being the one to bring him so low. But his love for him meant he had to give him the truth – much better it come from him with compassion and respect. “I am going to take Eliza home to her father. I will see you when you come back down. There is a council meeting this Friday – I think it will mark the end of Iron Nation’s leadership. I know you won’t want to miss being there to vote in his successor. I won’t tell anyone it was you that took Eliza. Her father does not seek revenge, but I don’t know whether his voice will be heard among those that will. However, if I need to I will blame it on a band of hotheads from mako sica. Nobody will want to head into the badlands for fear of the bandits, so hopefully our people will be safe from their retribution. But I warn you now, don’t let anyone put your name forward Matoskah. I promise you I won’t be allowing anyone to put mine in either .”
    Eliza was surprised to see Amitola approaching the cave with her captor, especially as they looked so amicable, but though she