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" óki napí, " returned First Rider, looking up at this man he had known since childhood.

Indicating a seat on the ground next to him, First Rider said in the Blackfoot tongue, "Come, sit with me.

I am glad to see you. I had heard you were on the war path, seeking revenge for the murder of your brother.

It is good to see you have returned from the war path.

I have also learned about your pony herd; it is now much greater in numbers, and I am happy to learn of your success. "

" áa, soka'pii ," agreed Heavy Storm. "And, I am grateful to be back once again with the people."

"It is good." First Rider nodded. "Good, indeed. As I understand it, you led a war party against the Nez Perce. It must have been successful, since all who went with you have also returned. Were you able to enact your revenge against they who killed your brother?"

"This I did," affirmed Heavy Storm. "We who went on the war party are also now richer in many horses. And, my brother's spirit is satisfied to have been revenged."

" Soka'pii.Iiksoka'pii. "

Heavy Storm paused a moment, then asked, "I hear you are recently married?"

"It is so."

"And, you are happy?"

"Indeed, I am very happy."

"Perhaps, then, I should not tell you what I discovered when we were in the camp of the Flathead, with whom we wintered."

Frowning, First Rider turned his head to stare at Heavy Storm, then said, "Say what you mean."

Heavy Storm paused, but at last said, "It is, perhaps, bad news I bear to you. And yet, I fear I should tell you what I discovered in the Flathead village."

"Bad? How bad is this news?" asked First Rider.

"At first," said Heavy Storm, "I had thought it might be a good discovery I made. But, upon returning to our people, I now believe what I have to tell you is not very good after all."

First Rider didn't respond. Instead, he gazed out upon the prairie where the women were working, all three of them happily chattering back and forth. Premonition took hold of him and First Rider knew this "news" would be life-changing, and not necessarily for the better.

Clearing his throat, Heavy Storm said, "Prepare yourself to hear what I have discovered."

First Rider nodded but didn't speak.

"As you might remember," began Heavy Storm, "the Nez Perce are an over-the-moutain tribe, and because the paths up and over the Backbone-of-the-world Mountains are treacherous even during the best of conditions, to bring war into these west-side camps is rare.

But, I was called to do it…for my brother.

It was our misfortune that we did not escape the deep snows on the far side of the mountain, and we were lucky to find our way to the Flathead camp, where we were warmly welcomed. And so, we wintered in their camp."

"It is good."

Heavy Storm hesitated, and First Rider noted his friend's gaze lingered on the women who were still sitting upon the prairie, working together to sew a lodge covering. At last, Heavy Storm said, "I saw your sits-beside-him woman there in the Flathead camp."

First Rider's stomach dropped. But, he said not a word, at least not right away. Perhaps Heavy Storm was mistaken. At last, First Rider asked, "Did you say you saw my sits-beside-him woman? In the Flathead camp?"

"I did."

"Are you certain it was she, Tsistsaki?"

"I vow this to you: she is there, alive and well. She even recognized me and spoke my name, calling to me. It was definitely she."

Silence followed Heavy Storm's words. And, it was at some length before First Rider could find his tongue. But, at last he asked, "Have you told Tsistsaki's father this?"

"I have not done so because I was unable to rescue her.

Although I spoke to her and arranged to steal her away and bring her back to our people, when I went to the place where we were to meet, she did not appear there.

Oddly, though I asked about her and described her to the Flathead people, no one seemed to know her. It was as though she had disappeared."

"Could it be the ghost of Tsistsaki?" asked First Rider.

"She was no ghost. I saw her. I spoke with her."

First Rider nodded, and the undivided attention he had been giving to Otahki rebounded, like a whip, upon himself.

A heavy silence ensued between the two men until, at last, First Rider said, "It was in the moon of heavy snows, when I met an Assiniboine scout who told me Tsistsaki had died, there in his camp.

Her Assiniboine husband followed her in death.

Long did I grieve for her. Sad though I was, I came, at last, to find the one who is now my woman, and since she has come into my life, I have known happiness as I never knew it before. "

Heavy Storm nodded. "Perhaps the one who died in the Assiniboine camp was the other Pikuni woman, Runs Ahead Woman. Do you not remember she also was taken in the same raid, and she was not found?"

"I do remember this," said First Rider, frowning.

The quickness of his mind had always been a strength First Rider rarely considered important. But now, considering the future ahead, he knew he had to ask Heavy Storm for a simple indulgence.

"My friend," he began. "I must beg a favor from you, and it is this: will you allow me to tell Tsistsaki's father of your discovery?"

Heavy Storm paused for a moment, but at length said, "I will. It is, after all, a family matter."

First Rider nodded. " Soka'pii. Iiksoka'pii. Come inside my lodge where we will smoke together. And, in my pony herd is a young gray mare, a gentle animal. I give you this mare in appreciation of the knowledge you have shared with me."

" áa, we will smoke," said Heavy Storm. "But, I have no need of your young gray mare. The war trail has given me many additions to my pony herd. Keep your gray mare. And, may the Creator guide your tongue when you speak of this to the woman who has brought happiness back into your life."

First Rider nodded and looked away. A deep silence ensued between the two men.

At last, Heavy Storm asked, "Although the whites have strange ways and take no more than one wife, perhaps she will agree to be your second wife?"

First Rider smiled, but it was a sad, inward smile. All he said was, "Perhaps."

****

Evening had, at last, come to the prairie, though there was little darkness in the sky above. In truth, during the season of Home Days, the full blackness of night would not come upon the land for a while yet; sometimes the night delayed appearing until the break of a new day.

Although a fine scent of smoke and finely roasted buffalo ribs encompassed the entire lodge he shared with Otahki, its sweet aroma did not comfort him this night.

Looking forward at the gaily painted tepee liner that encircled the entire lodge, he did not see any joy in the liner's art this evening.

Instead, his entire being was awash with a sense of loss.

She will leave me. She cannot and will not ever be a second wife.

First Rider was seated next to Otahki, there on her side of the lodge, though he lingered slightly behind her.

Because they were anticipating his almost-sister and her husband visiting them tonight, Otahki was busy cooking the evening meal, and she was, at present, sitting next to the large stones surrounding the fire.

He listened to Otahki's happy conversation while she worked, and all the while the feeling of impending gloom hung heavily upon him.

Of course, he smiled at her in all the right places when he was expected to do so.

But, his mind was turned in upon itself, and the only thoughts in his head were centered upon how he might tell Otahki about his first wife still being alive; that is, how to tell her without losing her.

Turning toward him, Otahki changed positions so she might pass the roasted buffalo ribs to him on a white man's plate—a plate he had recently obtained for her from the white man's post. As she did so, she touched his hand gently and smiled before she said, "I be lookin' forward to spendin' the evening with your almost-sister and her man. Does thou know she be with babe?"

First Rider nodded, his gaze centered downward because there was a tear in his eye, and he didn't wish her to see it.

Luckily, there came a scratch upon the entrance flap, and Otahki looked away from him for an instant as she called out, " Ipii, come in!"

Happily, and with a good amount of teasing about Otahki and him spending each evening alone, First Rider found he could laugh along with them. But, from his tongue came no playful rejoinder.

Although the food was good and the conversation light and jovial, the evening passed in a blur for him.

He could barely listen to the conversation from his almost-brother-in-law, and he responded to none of it.

All he could think about, all of his attention was centered upon his woman and his almost-sister as they laughed together, speaking of the future and of the many lodges and parfleche bags they would make.

Was there going to be a future for Otahki's friendship with his almost-sister? Unless he could somehow keep Otahki with him, their friendship would fade over time.

At last, his almost-brother-in-law gave up on him as a conversational partner and joined in the merry talk of the women, even though there was much to be discussed between them as men, including the weather, hunting and the many problems within the camp.

Perhaps he should have tried harder to keep up his end of the chatter.

Unfortunately for First Rider, not taking part in the conversation allowed him to look too deeply within himself, and he could barely think of what lay in the future for him and Otahki. He couldn't bear it.

I will lose her.

With a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach, he knew how bleak his future would be without her.

How was he to speak to her, knowing that if he were to be truthful with her and tell her about the very real possibility of his first wife being still alive, Otahki would have no choice but to leave him?

If I tell her, I will lose her.

She could not be a second wife. Her God forbade it. He knew it. She knew it. And, she would, of course, follow the teachings of her faith. Nor would he try to steer her away from her beliefs, knowing that if he were to do so, he might break her.

In vain, he tried to return his attention to the banter of the others so he could respond intelligently if pressed to speak. But, it was impossible to do so, so lost was he within his own thoughts.

Could he keep this knowledge about his first wife to himself? He could, of course, do so.

But, Otahki was a part of him; she would know from his introversion something was wrong. Oh, she would not be aware of the specifics, of course. But, she would sense the pain within his heart, and she would ask him about it. And, he would have to answer her with the truth.

But, in his heart, he wished he did not have to tell her.

Then, from out of nowhere, Otahki elbowed him in the ribs. When he looked up at her, she smiled and said in English, "Thou be very quiet tonight."

His answer to her was an attempt at a smile.

Then, as he had known she would, she gave him a long look and asked, "Are thou feelin' ill?"

"I…am well." Again, he smiled.

But, she frowned. "There be somethin' wrong, right enough. But, we can speak of it later?"

Again, he nodded and grinned at her as best as he was able.

At last, the evening wore on and their guests, becoming tired, departed. However, his almost-sister had no more than stepped over the lodge's entrance flap when Otahki turned to him and again smiled at him.

It was too much. The pain in his heart was too overwhelming. And so, he rose up and took a step away from her, his intention being to pace toward the other side of the lodge.

But then, she, too, came up to her feet and touched his arm. As she did so, a feeling much like a lightning strike swept through him. He stopped. He didn't turn around. He couldn't. In truth, there were tears in his eyes, and he feared his lips were shaking, also.

She asked, "Now, me own husband, what be upsettin' thee? And, don't thou be a-tellin' me 'tis nothin'."

His back was to her, and he knew if he turned around, she would see, she would somehow know the truth. Oh, she wouldn't be aware of the specifics of his trouble, of course, he would then have to tell her. But, how to tell her without causing her…and him pain?

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he at last spun around to face her. However, he hadn't counted on her reaction to him. As soon as he faced her, she threw herself into his arms, obliging him to place his arms around her waist and pull her in toward him.

Having her stand so closely to him was a moment of bliss, true. Yet, it was painful too, knowing he would have to let her go when she learned the truth.

Perhaps it was the knowledge that he might not have the chance to hold her in the future which was his undoing. Bending his head to her shoulder, he cried for a moment before he murmured, "She is alive."

"She is alive?" Otahki repeated. "Who is she?"

"Tsistsaki. She is alive."