John I do have to say I feel for Clark. He finally finds the perfect woamn and she is already married.
Agreed. But is Clark in any condition to accept that Lois is the perfect woman?
MM Lois has one secret.
It will have an effect on her future relationship with Clark.
Virginia He's got a point there. Lois isn't acting like the wife of another man should be acting. If Clark feels like her actions are too intimate, they are too intimate. Lois should know this and either explain about her marriage to the Chief not being a real marriage, or she should stop acting in that manner. She's liable to scare him off. He doesn't want to get involved with another woman who would cheat on her husband.
She's a medicine woman in a society that is very tactile and also (by our standards) primitive. She would use touch a lot - ie in cases where modern doctors would use an x-ray.
Clark's thoughts about belonging were not meant to sound like criticism of Lois - he was grinding the same mill he's been grinding for most of his life.
You don't think the fact of her marriage is one reason why he hasn't been scared off?
QofA Has she forgotten her former culture so completely that she does not think it needs explanation, or is there some other reason that she is holding back?
Let's compare Lois's behaviour with a female nurse nursing a male patient. Initially, she doesn't divulge her marital status. Why - because it's irrelevant.
Then, her husband turns up to the wards and the patient asks about him. She says it's her husband, but doesn't go into the details, conditions, or health of her marriage. Why - because if her marriage is good, why would she gush to a male patient? And if it's bad, admitting that could be deemed to be too close to suggesting she's available.
Lois has to realise her own feelings. Then she has to try to determine what Kent is feeling - if anything. Then, she has to try to decide what is in the best interests of her patient.
She's had four days.
I like your suggestion about oil and Clark's chest!
Bob So, I guess my question is, “How am I supposed to reconcile Lois’s thoughts and actions against the backdrop of her knowledge of how Clark will interpret her married status?”
Clark doesn't have access to Lois's thoughts. They might confuse the reader (hopefully only until we get to some explanations) but they won't confuse Clark.
Her actions - she's been nursing him. She's touched various parts of his body, but nothing close to no-go zones. She's tried to reach him emotionally (because she knows he's damaged), but she's made no overtly suggestive comments.
The scene by the fire - where she puts her arm around his back in response to him telling her Lana left him - is certainly a changing point in their association (or relationship, but not in the sense of a romantic relationship.) At the end of this chapter, Lois is still stunned. I hope that a few chapters down the track, you will understand her thoughts, feelings, actions, motivations with more clarity.
“How will Kent interpret our interaction and budding relationship in light of the fact that he knows I’m married?”
Until now, she hasn't fully realised they have a
budding relationship let alone have gotten to the point where she is thinking about what Kent might be thinking.
UW She should realize she is sending mixed signals to him and this is not good when he is so fragile and lost.
Could it not be that because he's so fragile and lost, she would expect that he wouldn't be looking for or noticing or analysing any 'signals'?
Laura Thanks for the FDK even though you were tired.
Kate It seems that Clark believes, that Lois is offering her friendship and support as a medicine woman.
Agreed. Why would he believe anything else? He thinks she's married and he has made it clear he wanted to be alone.
Thanks to everyone who commented,
Corrina.
She should realize she is sending mixed signals to him and this is not good when he is so fragile and lost. 
He is being very open with her, she should reciprocate it if she wants to earn his trust. 
It seems that Clark believes, that Lois is offering her friendship and support as a medicine woman. He may try not to think about Lois' strange marriage situation, but we are curious!! 
Are we going to find out soon?? 
