This bride at the beginning of the chapter will probably be Thorfinn's historical wife. Strong, adventurous, and has been in a few marriages before she married Thorfinn. She was actually the one who pushed for them to go to North America, Thorfinn was just along for the ride; their children would be the first Europeans born on American soil.
Almost as if hinting this, the talk of Thorfinn getting married came right after her appearance.