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"'Tis a welcome sight thou be, me own daughter!" cried Liliann's father, Henrik, a few days later. "Me own self has brought to thee some others who be anxious to see thee again."

"Others?" Liliann asked. But, no sooner had she formed the question than Briella, Czanna's young sister, burst into the tepee, springing over the flap at the bottom of the entrance.

Liliann laughed; it was, perhaps, the most joyous sound to be heard upon her lips in these past few days. Having been Briella's nanny and tutor for a good many years, she and the girl were a closely knit pair. And, Liliann felt Briella's joy as though it were her own.

"'Tis a welcome sight thou are, Miss Briella," said Liliann, and she meant it. "Glad I am that thou have come here today, especially since First Rider and I are still in camp."

"Oh?" asked Henrik. "There bein' no way to get a message to thee, me own self be glad thou are still in camp, too."

"Aye," agreed Liliann.

Then, over the threshold tramped the rest of Czanna's family, those who, only a few years ago, had made up one of Hungary's aristocratic families.

József Fehér and his wife, Mária, were, of course, the head of the family.

They smiled their greetings at Liliann, while their arms were so full of gifts, they almost stumbled over the raised bottom flap of the entrance.

The two heads of the family were then followed by Czanna's older brother, Frederic, as well as her younger brother, George.

Czanna and Stands Strong, along with their four-year-old daughter, were last to enter.

"Oh my!" said Liliann. "I am greatly surprised, but honored.

Welcome! Welcome! Please, be seated." She indicated where they should all sit with her right arm as she said, "Men sit over there"—she pointed—"and women, please seat yourselves over here with me.

Or, sit wherever ye would like." She smiled.

"Why, Miss Briella, thou hast grown since last I saw thee. "

"I am almost eight years old now," said Briella, smiling. "And, George, along with his best friend, Red Fox, are now my teachers, taking your place, although Red Fox only teaches me about riding and shooting. But, how I miss you, Miss Liliann."

"And, I be missing thee, too," replied Liliann. "I'm not certain if all of you have yet met my husband, First Rider, and I am sorry he be not here right now."

"Out hunting, is he?" asked George.

"Indeed, he is," answered Liliann. Liliann had barely spoken the words when First Rider thrust open the entryway and, stooping over, stepped into the lodge.

Taking his seat at the place directly across from the entrance, he said, "When I…came back to camp, heard my name. Saw many people come to lodge. Decide hunting can wait till sun's next path over the blue."

Gesturing toward her husband, Liliann said, "This be my husband, First Rider."

"But, we need no introductions to your husband," said Mária. "After all, we too, spent much time in this camp before rooms were prepared for us at Fort Benton. How excited we all are to learn of your marriage to each other, and we come bearing gifts."

Scooting around the circle, Liliann accepted the gifts, and, with a few steps toward the back of the tepee, she set them down. "I am hopin' ye do not mind if we open the gifts later. First, though, let me be offerin' you some food, knowin' ye have all come a long way."

The words were barely spoken when her mother-in-law, Little Dove, as well as her almost-mother, Morning Sun Woman, and three of the family's older daughters, stepped into the lodge, bringing with them the delicacy of boiled meat, fat buffalo ribs and soup.

And, while the women prepared the ribs, Liliann and Czanna served the boiled meat and soup to each of the guests in turn.

"Mmmm," "This is good!" "I have missed the boiled meat and buffalo ribs!" came the many compliments from the Féher family. Indeed, the food must have been delicious, since barely a word was spoken while it was consumed.

However, in between taking bites of the tasty buffalo ribs, Henrik managed to say, "Me own son-in-law, I have brought thee a present of fifteen horses, including a fast buffalo runner.

This me own self has done, this in appreciation for what thou did for meself and the daughter of me.

I gave them to one of your cousins, askin' him to be addin' them to thy herd.

Later, we can ride out to where your ponies graze, and I will be showin' them to thee. "

First Rider nodded. "I would be honored to do this," he said.

But, outside of this brief conversation, no one spoke. The food was too delightful.

At last, however, the food was consumed, and the women quickly took care of the clean-up. Indeed, both of Liliann's mothers-in-law and their girls gathered up the dishes and departed.

Meanwhile, the men had taken to discussing the weather, the changing habits of the buffalo and how the coming of the gold-seekers had changed—perhaps forever—the tribe's hunting grounds.

"Your house? It built? You live there…now?" asked First Rider of József Fehér.

"I fear not," answered the elder Fehér.

First Rider nodded. "It to be finished soon?"

"It's because of all those grubstakers!" cried Briella.

"Sh-h-h," scolded Mária Fehér. "Let the men speak uninterrupted."

"There are problems because of the many gold-seekers, or grubstakers as they are often called," said József Fehér.

"I fear Fort Benton has become wild with moral depravity, and in answer to the tribes' demands, another fort is being built between the Marias and the Teton Rivers, close to the land granted to us by your people.

It is not so much that I fear where they have decided to build the fort.

Indeed not. But, the building of it has taken the labor away from me and my boys, and I fear it has been left to only myself, Henrik, Red Fox and my two boys to finish the project. "

First Rider nodded. At length, he said, "It better…gold not found. Gold-seekers not good. More coming?"

"I fear it is so," answered József. "As it is, I am forced to hire men from amongst those grubstakers to protect the house.

But, who can I hire to guard us from those degenerate men I am forced to hire?

If we could, my boys and I would guard, defend and build our home, but a man needs to sleep now and again. "

"None are safe," added George. "As it is, both Red Fox and I are required to watch over my younger sister rather than to hunt or help build the house."

"I don't need you to watch me!" Briella objected.

George didn't reply, giving his sister a look, it being meant to quiet her. But, Briella was not to be silenced so easily, and she said, "After all, I am wiser than some women and I would not put myself into a position to be gossiped about being adulterous, and—"

"Briella!" Both George and Czanna spoke at the same time.

"But, I'm only saying what—"

"Hush up, Briella! Now!" Mária Féher settled the matter with a look, causing Briella's pout to turn to tears.

But, the sudden silence in the tepee was oppressive, and Liliann knew at once who was the person being referred to as "pretending to be married."

Liliann tried to speak words of comfort to Briella who was now openly crying. In truth, Liliann tried to force words out of her mouth to say the most comforting of phrases to ease over the situation. But, it was impossible.

Luckily, First Rider spoke up and said, "Kind of woman you speak of…not in family. Never will…be…in our family."

"Certainly not!" exclaimed Czanna. "There is no one like those women at the fort here in this camp. And, I am glad."

Although Liliann appreciated First Rider's and Czanna's words, given different circumstances Liliann would have fled and recovered from the unwelcome character slight in her own way. But, it simply wasn't possible. This was, after all, her lodge.

And so, Liliann quickly decided to take the tiger by the tail, and she murmured, "Is Ernest still living at the fort, then?"

Only silence answered her question.

At length, however, her father spoke up and said, "He be still at the fort a-waitin' the next steamboat, no mistake. And, he be not in jail, as should be God's own justice. See, the sheriff be as wicked as Stuart, and may the devil bless them both."

"Oh," was all Liliann could utter.

It was Mária Féher who eased over her youngest daughter's faux pau, and she said, "I am sorry, Liliann.

No one here wishes to spread gossip and particularly this nasty piece of trash, which we all know to be a blatant lie.

The problem is that there are other children at the fort who tell tales.

It is another reason why we are most anxious to finish the building of our new home and move into it.

I am so very sorry. You are like family to us.

You always have been, and always will be. "

"I thank thee, Mistress Féher. But, I would not be havin' thee feelin' guilty over somethin' that is the fault of Ernest tellin' lies about me.

In truth, I am glad to know what is bein' said about me.

And, as I am healed now from me own physical injuries, I can get over this as easily as I healed from the other, no mistake. "

"You are most kind and generous, Liliann. And, I hope you will forgive us all."

Liliann nodded, then said, "Of course. But, there be nothin' to forgive. Briella is like me own sister, and I love her."

And so, the evening carried on, the topics of discussion a little more lighthearted, until, at last, First Rider picked up the pipe—that had been passed around earlier—and emptied the ashes onto the ground, the traditional manner in which the man of the house called an end to the evening.