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It was the same dream, the same sunset, the same danger and the same prairie as in her other dreams, yet here within her mind was a different version of the nightmare.

The horse and rider became suddenly a buffalo, became an enemy warrior, became First Rider, then it turned into a spinning whirlwind.

A whirlwind? This had never before been a part of her dream. In her past dreams, the villain had been Ernest or another enemy warrior.

The spinning dust-filled gust, small at first, grew in size until it became so large, it touched the ground and the sky together. She cried out, "Husband, go back!" But, over the sound of the spinning wind, he didn't hear.

Then, from above came the deafening roar of the thunder and the sizzle of lightning, the sound it makes before it strikes the ground.

More thunder followed. One lightning strike after another plummeted to the ground, illuminating the torn-up prairie and shaking it so greatly, even the cliff where she stood trembled.

Then, the worst happened. The lightning became a part of the whirling wind, spinning so fast the thunder could not be distinguished from the sound of the wind or the crackling of the lightning, which itself came out of the wind so fast it seemed supernatural.

The whirlwind struck the ground again and again; it struck a person, and then, as though its mission had been accomplished, the spinning wind rose up into the sky, and, with the lightning grumbling within the clouds, it moved off.

At last, it was over. The wind, the thunder, the lightning disappeared, leaving behind, there on the ground, its handiwork: a man lay there without movement or any sign of life.

Then came recognition. It was he; her darling, beloved husband. He was gone.

"No!" Liliann awoke to her own screams.

Strong arms immediately encircled her and turned her over until she lay beside and facing her husband. She was crying, and First Rider held her head against his shoulder, saying nothing, but holding her firmly while one of his hands came up to stroke her backside, up and down.

She couldn't speak; her voice wouldn't allow any sound except her sobs. Always it was the same dream; sometimes it came with a few different details, but it always ended in the same way: she helpless and he lying there on the prairie with no sign of life.

Then suddenly she found her voice, and she cried, "Please, I beg you, do not go! Please, listen to me and do not go!"

First Rider did not reply at first. But, then in a whisper, he said, "As soon as Tsistsaki's father…awakens, I go see him. I promise this to you. I go see him. We talk. I perhaps plead with him…let dogs lie."

Liliann nodded and then cried again, glorying in the feel of First Rider's lips as he kissed away each and every one of her tears.

****

Liliann watched her husband closely as he stepped over the entrance flap of their lodge. Then, striding into the lodge, he came to sit down beside her.

She asked, "Did Tsistsaki's father agree to let sleeping dogs lie now?"

When First Rider didn't answer right away, and, when his eyes would not meet hers, Liliann knew the truth, and she didn't need First Rider's softly spoken " Saa " to confirm her fear.

Her voice was jerky when she asked, "When do we leave? And, what do I need to prepare for our journey?"

"You…not come. Alone…I go."

"I will be goin' with thee. Do not think for an instant I will be stayin' behind, and that be God's own truth."

First Rider didn't answer. Instead, he rose up, and, stepping to the entrance, he left posthaste.

When First Rider still hadn't returned to their lodge though the sun was cradled in the western horizon, Liliann at last ceased her crying. Drying her eyes, she left her lodge to trudge toward the home of Czanna and Stands Strong. Tears were in her eyes as she approached Czanna's lodge.

Scratching on the flap over the entryway, Czanna bade the caller to come in, and, pulling back the flap and stepping over it, Liliann came face-to-face with First Rider.

"My woman, you…find me," said First Rider.

Liliann gazed down and bit her lip, choking back her tears.

"Come, sit with us." It was Czanna who issued the invitation.

"We were discussing the journey your husband is to soon take.

My man wishes to share this journey with yours.

But, I am so close to giving birth to our second child, my husband fears to leave camp.

We have suggested the idea of Red Fox going with him, but Red Fox is away from camp, having joined a war party against the Assiniboine.

But, please come in and take your place next to your man while I finish preparing our evening meal. "

"I thank thee for your suggestion, and I should like to be helpin' thee with the evenin' meal, right enough," voiced Liliann as she paced around the circle toward her friend, not sparing a look at First Rider.

"And, I would, indeed, enjoy your help," said Czanna.

Soon, the two women were engaged in the evening meal's preparation.

No words were spoken during this time, nor were any words necessary.

And, it took no genius for Liliann to realize they all four were well aware of the problem.

But, the silence couldn't last, and, as soon as their supper was over and she and Czanna had cleaned up, Stands Strong was the first to speak.

He asked, "Do you journey to the Two Medicine soon? "

First Rider answered with a simple head bob.

"Are you going by the southern trail over the mountains? The same trail which the mountain tribes take to come to our beautiful prairie and steal our ponies?"

" áa, " answered First Rider.

"The trail should be easy to find during this season," said Stands Strong. "There is only one place where the trail is treacherous, and I know you know it."

" áa, áa ."

"The rest, since you go alone, would be best done at night."

" áa.Soka'pii."

Said Stands Strong, "I will do as you ask and will hunt for your woman and watch over her while you are away. I am certain your almost-father and almost-brothers will do this, also."

"It's true," said Czanna to Liliann, "that our families will watch over you, my dearest friend, but I will also be here for you should you need anything."

"Again, I thank thee, Almost-sister and Almost-brother," replied Liliann. "But, I'll not be needin' thy help since I will not be in camp, either."

"Not in camp?" Czanna asked. "How is this so? Do you intend staying, then, with your father?"

"Indeed not," answered Liliann, and her voice was barely over a whisper when she added, "I'll be goin' with me own husband."

And, to the startled silence within her friend's lodge, Liliann arose and, without another word, trod to the entrance, stepped over the lower flap and paced out into the grayish haze of night.