Page 45

The chief indicated a seat to the Black Robe—one to his left beside him as well as directly across from First Rider and herself.

And, with both sign and the Flathead language, he said, "The woman you see here with this Pikuni medicine man has a question she would like to ask you.

They have come here a great distance, and it is my hope you will allow her to ask her question here in my lodge.

Because she is white, she might become embarrassed if she is made to feel different.

Thus, it is my hope she might feel comfortable enough to speak to you here within the comfort of my lodge. "

"Of course," said the Black Robe to the chief.

Then, looking directly at Liliann, he said in English, "My child, I am happy to answer any questions you might have if you are comfortable doing so now.

As the chief has said, you might become the object of many curious stares were we to leave here and go to my lodge.

I am here. I am called Father d'Gallo. Speak, and I will listen and try to help you if I can. "

Although not a single one of these men or women looked at her directly, she felt their curiosity.

But, because First Rider had arranged this for her, she took a deep breath, and speaking in English, she said, "Father d'Gallo, I come to thee with a question I am hoping thou might be able to answer for me. "

All was so quiet within the lodge, it was as though even the wind and sun above them were listening.

Still, taking courage, as First Rider had often told her, she detailed the entire sordid problem, from her marriage to Ernest, to his promises made to her, as well as his intense drinking.

It was with reluctance when she detailed the night of her beating and her escape, then First Rider coming to her at her father's request to take the stick from her eye and to minister to the knife wound on her arm.

When she paused, the Father said, "My child, I am glad you have come to me. May I ask what it is that troubles you now?"

Again, summoning her courage, she told of her love for First Rider and her father's quoting of the Scripture about how a woman can leave a husband because of physical abuse, dissolving their marriage.

But, this wasn't all; she told him about how she and First Rider had found that they loved one another, and in the tradition of the Pikuni, they had become one in marriage.

"But," she continued, "me former husband, Ernest, be sayin' now I am a loose woman and still married to him. Be this true?"

Father d'Gallo paused and was silent for so long, Liliann began to believe he might not answer at all.

However, at some length, the Father asked her, "May I ask who married you, my child?"

"Why the factor at Fort Benton," she replied. "There be no one else to marry us."

Father d'Gallo nodded for a moment, then said, "My child, I fear to tell you this, but the factor of the fort is not a man of God. We are not at sea, nor is the factor given the title of captain of a ship. My child, you were never married to the man."

Liliann gasped. "Never married?"

"I fear not," he replied. "Also, my child, your father is correct. But, you see, this man was never married to you and, in fact, has committed a heinous crime against you. He should be made to confess his sin at once."

Looking askance at First Rider, she saw he was smiling at her.

"But, my child," said the Father, "since you are Christian, you must be married under the sight of God to this man you have taken as a husband under the custom of the Indians. If you agree, I will, myself, perform the ceremony. Do you and your husband agree?"

" áa ," said First Rider.

"Oh yes," agreed Liliann, and then, as she felt her worries fall away from her, she couldn't help herself: she cried.

Smiling at them both, the good Father added, "I think we should do the deed this very day."

"Oh yes," whispered Liliann. "Oh yes. Please!"

"I will let the village know there is to be a marriage today. It will be a great celebration, I think, and I believe everyone will come." And then, speaking in the Flathead language, Father d'Gallo related the news that she was to be married to this Pikuni man this very day.

Bringing up his hand to cover his mouth, which was the custom when a man was surprised, the chief called again to his wife to find the village crier and let him spread the happy news. All must prepare for a marriage of this white woman to the Pikuni medicine man.

The chief's head wife clapped her hand over her mouth as her husband, the chief, had, and then she began singing. And, as she stepped out from the lodge, she could be heard throughout the village, calling one and all to prepare for a marriage.

Chief Black Bull turned to look at First Rider, then said in a broken form of Blackfeet, "I am happy you have come to us today. It will be a joyous day, one we will remember for many years to come."

The chief picked up his pipe and was about to spill the ashes to the ground, when once again the tepee flap was raised and a woman entered.

The chief gestured to her to take a place around the fire to his left. And, when she did so, he spoke, saying, "As you can see, we have—"

The woman suddenly screamed, and, weeping, she brought up her blanket to pull over her head. She said not a word, but her cries could not be contained and could be heard within and without the lodge.

Chaos ensued as the woman's husband suddenly rushed into the tepee. All who were within the lodge seemed to be talking at once, and the chief was having no success in keeping his guests quiet.

Into this confusion, First Rider spoke up firmly, and in Blackfeet he said, "Woman of my youth, Tsistsaki, I would like you to meet my wife, Otahki. I believe you know her."

From beneath the blanket and in between cries, this woman, Tsistsaki, asked, "The girl who was your shadow? She is your wife?"

"She is, and as you might know, her God does not allow her to marry a man who is also married to another. I have come all this way to ask you a favor."

"A favor?" she asked, peeking out from under her blanket.

" Aa , a favor. I ask you to please throw me away."

Tsistsaki peeked out from under her blanket a little farther. She asked, "Throw you away? You are not here to make me go back?"

"I am not. I wish you to be happy with this man and with the family you love."

The blanket came down, and, looking toward First Rider, she said, "My man here, he is so good to me. It is why I have not returned. I did hear from others how you searched for me. But, I was afraid to come back there, afraid I would lose…" Her voice broke. "It was wrong of me, but…"

"It was not wrong," said First Rider into the silence within the lodge.

"Know that my woman and I are happy. But, your parents have grieved over the loss of their daughter…

you. I think, perhaps, you might ask your husband and your family, and anyone else who would like to come to visit the Pikuni, if they might like to come to our camp and visit?

Your parents, I think, would like to see their grandchild. "

Tsistsaki replied, saying, "I will ask my man about leaving here to visit.

How I would like to see my parents and other family members once more.

" Then Tsistsaki, looking at Liliann, said, "I am glad you have married this man.

There were some within our camp who thought he should have taken you as his wife.

But, you were too young then. I am glad you are now his woman. "

Overwhelmed by what was happening, and realizing her fears were now put to rest, Liliann was in tears, and she said in the best Blackfeet she could muster, "I am glad, too.

Happy, I am, to see you have a beautiful child with this man who is good to you.

Please, do come to visit. What a joyful time it will be when your parents see you again, beautiful and so happy. "

"Yes," signed Tsistsaki, and looking at her husband, she told him what had been said; he, upon learning the truth, agreed readily.

He then signed, "Yes, we must come to visit."

"But, first," First Rider spoke up, "there is the matter of throwing me away.

I have made this stick for this purpose, and I am giving you back the ring you once made for me"—from one of his pouches he extracted both the stick he had decorated with feathers, and the ring of beads.

He then passed these to Chief Black Bull—"so you might throw me away. Will you do it now?"

Tsistsaki smiled, and she said, "I would be happy to do so."

Chief Black Bull held out the stick and ring to Tsistsaki, and then, in front of the entire crowd gathered within and without the chief's lodge, Tsistsaki seized hold of both objects, and, sliding the ring down onto the stick and securing it, she looked at both the ring and the decorated stick, and said, "They are beautiful. "

And, then she threw both objects, stick, ring and all, directly at Liliann.

Despite the wetness in her eyes, Liliann caught the stick and ring easily.

Said Tsistsaki, "As I throw away this man, I give this stick to you, Otahki, so you will know this man is yours. May the Creator shine upon you both, always."

And, with both of these women weeping openly, the council was closed.

****

It must have been the entire village of the Flathead people who came this day to witness the marriage. There were thousands of people gathered here. And, as his beautiful Otahki stood by his side, First Rider could not recall ever feeling so happy.

But, Father d'Gallo was speaking, and he said in both the English and the Flathead tongues, "And now, under the sight of God in His heaven, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Bringing his arms around his woman—truly his woman—he kissed her with great passion. And, when the kiss between them continued on and on with no let-up in sight, the good Father smiled, then waved to those gathered here to begin their celebration.

And, so it began.