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She shook her head as if to rid herself of the thought. How could she have forgotten? Once an Indian gives a person his or her friendship, it is for life. She smiled, and, for a moment, she recalled the warmth of love and friendship she had experienced here with the Pikuni all those years ago.

Truly, there was no doubt in her mind; this was her home.

This was where she should have been living for the last four years.

And, she would have done so if only she had possessed the courage to behold First Rider with his new wife.

That her father had needed to relocate with the main body of the Fehér family—the aristocratic family he had served back in Hungary—had seemed to her like a stroke of luck at the time.

But, she was back with the Pikuni now, and she smiled, remembering the encampment as it had been when she had fallen in love. And, at her side, atop his own mount, sat the man she had given her heart to.

Indeed, he was now her husband, or, as the Indians called the relationship, her "man," she being his "woman." The thought caused excitement to rush through her.

First Rider spoke up for the first time since he had earlier forged a path upward to this flat topped hill, their horses climbing over the rocky terrain until they had reached the crest, and, speaking in English, he said, "This home…

it is ours. I…welcome you to our camp…and to my life.

It…my wish…you be happy with me. Love for you… It…strong."

"I…I also wish thou to be happy with me. This I tell thee truly; my love for thee runs deep."

First Rider, reining in his pony so it would come in closer to her own, leaned over the side of his mount to touch his lips gently to her own.

He said, "A warning: you…not forget my love…for you. When in camp…there always meetings…councils for us men. Our women…meet…gossip while working. Not always…much time…for just us. But, at first…our friends will give us…time alone. Not forget…you…our love."

"I be not forgettin'. Not now or in the future."

"Then, we…go…down there. My friends know…we come. They will have…put up…lodge for us. Many people…come visiting tonight, I think."

"Aye, I be rememberin' this; always there were lots of people who came a-visitin' in the evenin' when I be livin' amongst you four years ago. Ah, I be rememberin' the laughin' and regalin' of all of ye with many stories."

He looked at her, grinned, then said, "True. True. Welcome! Welcome to our camp and…to my life. Come…share…my world…with me."

"Now and always" was all she replied.

****

Of course, word had traveled more quickly than it would have done had the two of them sent a white man's letter to the tribe.

Both Stands Strong and Red Fox would have given news of their approach to the Pikuni people.

But also, because scouts were always about, ensuring the safety of the camp, she and First Rider would have been seen, and then the knowledge of their approach would have been heralded throughout the camp.

As she and First Rider began their descent down the cliff, Liliann looked forward as people from the Pikuni village appeared in the distance, and they were running, not walking, toward them.

Immediately, Liliann recognized her friend and almost-sister, Czanna, who had once, all those years ago in Hungary, been her mistress.

Behind Czanna strode her husband, Stands Strong, as well as a little girl he carried in his arms; the youngster had to be their first child.

Why, the little girl must now be almost four years old.

And, there was Sharon, who was Stands Strong's almost-mother, as well as Sharon's husband, Strikes Fast, and their several children, all running and laughing as they made a game of what looked to Liliann to be "who is the fastest."

There were many more of the people fast approaching them.

Liliann spotted her beloved almost-aunties, Laylah and her sister, Amelia, as well as all of their several children, pacing, as they were behind the crowd.

Of course, their men, Eagle Heart and Gray Falcon, followed along behind their women.

And, there in the rear, but moving fast to catch up with the others, came First Rider's parents: his birth mother, Little Dove, his almost-mother, Morning Sun Woman and his almost-father, Chief Chases-the-enemy.

Behind them—running to keep up—came all their many laughing children, some of whom were now young adults.

But, these friends were not the only ones who were hastening to greet them. Why, it was as if the entire tribe was in full march toward them. Tears of joy wet Liliann's eyes, and it wasn't long before the streaks of her tears were falling over her cheeks.

Then the people surrounded them, and several hands and arms pulled both her and First Rider off their ponies to be taken into arms for big hugs and kisses on their cheeks. After each hug and kiss, both she and First Rider were then passed along to another to do the same.

"We heard the two of you are now married! We are so happy for you both! So very happy!" exclaimed First Rider's birth mother, Little Dove. "Where have you been? We've all been waiting for you!"

Liliann saw First Rider laughing as he bent down to give his mother a big hug and a kiss. Then, speaking in Blackfeet as well as in sign so there could be no doubt Liliann could understand his words, he said, "We are only joined together recently, my mother. Why would we hurry?"

Little Dove laughed, as did many of the others. Then came the invitations. First one and then another and another and another.

"Have you had your evening meal yet?"

"Come to my lodge. I have prepared a feast for you." " Saa , they should come to my lodge first!"

"We have set up your own tepee, Almost-brother!

Come, follow me and I will take you and your woman to it!

" It was First Rider's almost-sister, White Weasel Woman, speaking.

She was the daughter of Chief Chases-the-enemy's first wife, his sits-beside-him wife, Morning Star Woman, who was First Rider's almost-mother.

Liliann and White Weasel Woman had been good friends four years ago; her friend had married at a young age and, although White Weasel Woman had at that time been the same age as Liliann, she had been with child.

How beautiful she looked now, even though there were two children clinging to her dress.

Her tanned face and her dark-brown eyes beamed with happiness, and her braids, one at each side, framed her round face, causing her to look stunningly beautiful.

There were round white shell earrings hanging from her ears, a blue-and-white-beaded choker adorned her neck and her dress looked to be made of the convenient blue trade cloth, with row after row of blue and white beadwork sewn all the way across the dress' yoke.

A wide belt was beaded in diamond shapes of blue, red and orange, and these were set against a background of white beads.

The blue cloth hung all the way down to just above her moccasins and was sewn on the bottom with three wide rows of white, orange and red ribbon; even her moccasins were beaded in the same colors and patterns.

White Weasel Woman stepped forward and gave Liliann a hug, then signed, "Come, I will show you and my almost-brother where we have set up your lodge. I hope you will both be happy with your new home. Your lodge sits next to mine."

Before Liliann could respond, one of First Rider's younger male cousins strode up to him and asked for the reins of both his and her horses.

In response, First Rider smiled at the boy, handing over both ponies' buckskin reins.

Liliann knew the lad would care for the horses, since this was, in general, a young boy's responsibility in the camp; the boy would also add the newcomers to First Rider's herd.

Glancing away from the youngster, she looked at First Rider's almost-sister and signed, "I know we will both be very happy with the lodge, and I am thrilled to know it is situated next to thine. We have so much to talk about."

Shyly, White Weasel Woman smiled, and before turning away, she signed, "Follow me. I am certain if I lead you away and to your lodge, your husband is sure to follow."

Liliann grinned along with White Weasel Woman and did as she was bid, her friend leading the way back to camp; First Rider and his many relatives, as predicted, followed along behind.

"Little Dove and I, as well as my mother, sewed your new lodge together, but it will be up to my almost-brother—your man—to decide how it should be painted, should he wish to do so.

We raised up your lodge only this morning after we finished sewing it together.

It is our fondest wish that you and my almost-brother will be happy in your new lodge, and we hope it may serve you to raise many children yet to come. "

Beaming a joyful grin at White Weasel Woman, Liliann decided happiness could definitely be catching here, because she couldn't recall a time she had laughed so much nor an occasion when she had felt so thoroughly loved.

And, as the warmth of the early morning sun, now risen in the eastern sky, shared its heat down onto the top of her head, Liliann glanced up at First Rider, who was keeping pace beside her as he spoke and laughed with his two friends Stands Strong and Red Fox.

It was clear to Liliann that family bonds were deep and true.

With the children giggling and running ahead of them, she and First Rider were, at last, escorted to their new home, a large tepee. And, it was, indeed, very beautiful.

The buffalo hide had been tanned until it was white, although the top opening of the lodge, known as its "ears," was more tannish than white.

Perhaps a welcoming fire had already been lit inside the lodge and this was the cause of the discoloration.

Liliann heard her almost-mother-in-law, Morning Sun Woman, say to First Rider in the Blackfoot tongue, while she signed her words so Liliann could understand, "We will help your woman to unpack your things and settle in.

Perhaps your woman might like a bath, áa ?

If so, I will bring water here for her. You, of course, must go to the chiefs and tell them what you have discovered while you were away.

I have been sent here to take you there. "

First Rider nodded and replied in sign, "I am certain my woman would like a bath, since we have been on the trail through the night. áa, I will go to the chiefs now."

" Soka'pii.Soka'pii. "

The crowd of people who had accompanied Liliann and First Rider to their new home gradually dispersed amidst many phrases she recognized, such as, " Wa'tsimaa," " Kitsiksíksimatsimmo" and " á'tsimáát, " which were greetings or invitations to come to their lodges.

With a touch of his hand to hers, First Rider said, "Must…go to chiefs. Return soon."

Liliann nodded and watched the handsome figure of her husband as he trod away from her. She sighed, physically pinching herself to ensure this was all real and not simply a dream. She was back with the Pikuni Blackfeet, the only place she could remember where she felt she had truly belonged.

Little Dove, First Rider's Crow birth mother, approached her soon after First Rider had left, and signed, "Welcome to our family, Daughter-in-law!

We are all happy to see again my son's little shadow, and we are glad to know his shadow finally caught up to him and brought him home.

You and he belong together. I have thought so for many winters. "

Liliann shared a smile with her mother-in-law, then signed, "I thank thee for the compliment, and I would like thee to know that I, too, am very happy to be back home."

Little Dove smiled at her, then asked with sign, "Have you seen inside your new lodge?"

Liliann shook her head, signing, "I have not."

"It is good, then, that I should be the first to welcome you into your new home!"

And, no sooner had Little Dove signed the words than she threw back the tepee flap and Liliann stepped inside. Liliann gasped.

Why, the lodge was completely furnished with all the trappings of a Blackfoot home.

A richly decorated white-blue-and-red-hide tepee lining, coming up to about five feet from the floor, extended around the inside of the lodge.

Symbols of circles and triangular shapes had been painted onto the white lining, the circles in blue and the triangles in red.

A ring of large stones had been placed in the center of the lodge for the family fire, complete with flint and steel for starting the blaze, and a branch of a tree that had been cut and shaped like tongs was set there beside the fire,.

Two couches of softly tanned hide with the fur side up had been set upon the floor for both herself and First Rider.

There were items, too, most dear to a woman's heart which sat around the fire: pots of steel, bowls made from buffalo horns, knives, sticks for roasting meat and a large steel trader's pot for cooking boiled meat.

"Oh my!" sighed Liliann. She continued in the language of gestures, saying and signing, "Thou hast done all this for us! 'Tis beautiful, and no lie. Simply beautiful. I thank thee with all me own heart."

Little Dove smiled, then signed, "I will get you some water for your bath. I fear you might have a long night of visiting."

"I would be honored," signed Liliann. "Honored, indeed."