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Overwhelmed, Czanna looked on as their wagon stopped briefly before joining the main body of the Pikuni procession. Though she had wished to remain as unnoticed as possible, it was not possible to do so—not when her wagon claimed her to be what she was: a white woman.

What would her reception be?

It was an accomplishment to be accepted by Stands Strong's family, who would be somewhat inclined to like her. It was another to realize how alien she felt from the rest of these people.

Still, did she have a choice?

Sooner or later she was going to have come to know these Pikuni people. Perhaps her new family might shelter her in the beginning, but it was for her to make her place beside Stands Strong. And she, who had never washed a dish in her life nor ever placed a stitch into a piece of cloth, was now an Indian man's wife.

What would they think of her? Would they laugh at her? Spurn her?

Czanna set her shoulders back and raised her head as she made a determination: whatever was to come, she would learn it well and she would become good at whatever was required of her…very good, indeed.

Looking forward, she gasped. Why, what was this?

Happy laughter filled the air as she gained sight of the Pikuni's procession moving on toward Fort Benton. My goodness, how many of these people were there?

So long were the lines of the people's movement, Czanna could not see the beginnings of it, nor its ending. Indeed, it looked to be many kilometers long.

And, she and her family were going to join them?

Unfortunately for her, there wasn't another covered wagon in sight. Would she be looked upon as an oddity?

Gradually, their wagon came to a stop outside of one of the moving lines of people who were directly in front of them. And, almost immediately upon stopping, several children came running toward them, surrounding them. The children, though not openly rude, were yet staring at her and at the wagon as though they had never before seen a pioneer's wagon. Only the girls came to surround Czanna, while the boys crowded around Howling Wolf, who was sitting up front on the wagon's seat.

Excited young voices from the head of the wagon were speaking in Blackfeet, their unfamiliar words floating back to Czanna where she stood at the wagon's rear. Unfortunately, the children's foreign-sounding voices had the effect of causing her to feel further alien from them.

Her natural reaction was not to shrink back from them, but rather to lift her head. Soon the young man, Howling Wolf, jumped down from his seat up front and strode to the back. Speaking kindly to the children, whatever it was he said to them had the effect of sending them scattering across the prairie and back to their families.

Turning to Czanna, the young man grinned before saying in English, "They have never seen a covered wagon before and are excited to touch it and find out more about it. I have asked them to return to their mothers."

"Yes," Czanna answered. "Thank you. You speak English?"

"My mother is white, and so, yes, I speak her language, as well as Blackfeet."

When the young man started to turn away, Czanna asked, "Excuse me, but have you seen my husband?"

"We spoke to one another earlier this morning," the young man answered. "But, fear not. He is performing scouting duty. He has tasked me to drive you alongside the procession of our people and to bring you to his almost-mother as soon as we make camp."

"Oh, yes, yes, of course," said Czanna.

He nodded, then turned away to pace back to the head of the wagon. Dimly, she heard the squeak from the front seat as he climbed up into it.

It was with some relief when she espied her almost-mother hurrying back toward them. And, as soon as she paced to within hearing distance, she called out, "I have come back, as you can see. Our people probably make a fearsome sight to you, but I have come here to you now since we have reunited with the main Pikuni line. I hope you will allow me to join you."

Czanna smiled. "I welcome it very much, and I thank you."

Slightly out of breath, her almost-mother smiled, then said, "Perhaps we might finish our talk before the evening fires are lit within our lodges. All my almost-sisters have agreed upon the plan to put up a lodge for you and my almost-son before we attend to our own."

"You have agreed to do this? You will?"

"Indeed, we will. It is only right. You are newly married and should have a lodge of your own; nor should you be required to sleep within the tepee of my almost-son's family…my own lodge. And so, you see, there is a happy night yet to come."

A tremendous feeling of relief flooded through Czanna, for this was very welcome news. She had worried, knowing his almost-mother's lodge also housed several young children.

In response, Czanna heaved in a deep breath before saying, "You are all most kind."

"Thank you. We also decided we must erect a lodge for your father's servant and his daughter. Your young brother will stay in my lodge, if this is agreeable to you."

"It is, indeed, agreeable. It is more than I had hoped for, believing as I did that my father's servant and his daughter would be required to sleep within the wagon. Perhaps my brother would have been required to make his bed within the wagon too, although he seems to have become quite independent of late."

Sharon smiled. "This is good. He is, after all, male and will enjoy many companions of his own age here in camp."

"Indeed, I think he will."

"Ah, at last, my almost-sister's son, Howling Wolf, is turning the wagon in a direction to join in with the rest of the people. We should reach the fort by afternoon, and there we will set up camp. Come, let us follow along behind the wagon as we did before."

"Yes," said Czanna. "I do very much wish to hear the rest of your story about my husband and the white bear, especially since you say there is more to the story. I would like to hear the rest, since there has been mention of it troubling my husband, even to this day. If this be true, will you tell me about it?"

"I will," said Sharon, dropping back out of hearing distance from the wagon. "But, first let me ask if you have knowledge of an Indian boy's adventure into manhood?"

Czanna shook her head. "I do not, I fear," she said.

"Then, please let me tell you about it…even if briefly. You see, Indian boys, after a certain age, endeavor to fast and to dream, so they might obtain an animal protector. This they require as a means of helping them to keep alive when they are confronted by an enemy. Animals have many powers. And, although they are spiritual powers, sometimes their medicine can manifest into the physical realm. Often, animals are called upon by Sun, the Creator, to help one of the people. And, sometimes a person might call for help, and the help is answered by an animal."

"I admit, this is all so very strange to me," confessed Czanna. "But, I am fascinated. I did not know animals had this kind of power. Although, if I am to be truthful, I have often talked to my horses, and they back to me. Even plants and flowers sometimes speak to me."

"Soka'pii. This is good. Perhaps what I am about to tell you will not seem too astonishing, then. But, to return to how a boy obtains his power, it goes like this: when old enough, a boy, along with his father's help, sets up a place where he will not be disturbed and where he can fast and can dream.

"We women and men bring the boy the water he needs to continue his fasting and his prayers, but this water is all he is allowed to have. He prays to the Creator, or Sun—or Old Man, as the Indians here sometimes call the Creator. He tries to sleep and to dream. After several days of fasting, the boy lies down to sleep, hoping his shadow will venture forth into the shadow land where animals and men can still converse. But, I should perhaps tell you what is meant by this kind of dream, for it was strange to me when I first heard of it."

"Yes, please," encouraged Czanna.

"Very well. Now, in this kind of dream state, the shadow of the boy—this is what you or I might call the 'soul'—ventures forth into the shadow world and asks for the help of an animal to be his spirit protector. He sometimes has many adventures in this world, which is the same world we all live in, but different. As a spirit, he can talk freely to all the animals, and they can talk back to him. Even the trees, water and plants can speak to him and he to them.

"Sometimes, even while awake, our medicine men talk to the animals, and they speak back to him. And, always a medicine man talks to a medicine plant, explaining he will not uproot all of its children, so the plant may yet live on. But, for a boy, this is not common to speak to these animals or plants aloud. And so, in his "dreams," a boy's shadow ventures forth, seeking an animal helper without fear, for the boy will not be damaged in this shadow world.

"Always the boy prays to Sun, the Creator, and begs an animal to hear him and become his protector."

When Sharon paused, Czanna asked, "And, has my husband done this?"

"He has," Sharon answered, but didn't say another word further.

After a slight pause, Czanna asked, "And…?"

"There is some trouble about it, and it concerns the white bear, I fear."

Again, Sharon said nothing further, causing Czanna to ask, "What is this trouble?"

"My almost-son has said nothing to you about it?"

"I fear he has not," answered Czanna.

Sharon sighed, but spoke nothing more…until, at last, she murmured, "He believes the white bear is his spirit protector, and yet in none of the wanderings of his shadow has he been able to contact the white bear again."

"Oh?" asked Czanna. "What does this mean?"

"To my almost-son it means that he has lost his medicine helper, the white bear. We know not what happened to the white bear fifteen years ago after our fight with the Cree. We saw her, the bear, only once after the fight was over, and we counselled together, and then never again."

Czanna frowned, but then a thought occurred to her, and she asked, "But, even if the white bear were no longer alive, couldn't my husband find a different animal protector?"

"We, too, thought this way. But, it has not come to be. There is a little more to it also, which I should relate to you, if you would like to hear it."

"I do. Please do tell me all of it."

"Well, as you know, my almost-son is natively Lakota. What we did not have knowledge of for a long while was about his lineage."

"His lineage? Pray, what do you mean?"

"It is simply this: he comes from a long line of Lakota medicine men. But, when his father was killed on that day, fifteen years ago, my almost-son was certain this inheritance, passed down from father to son, was killed, also."

Czanna frowned. "But, wait," she uttered. "Did you not tell me your husband is a medicine man?"

"Yes, it is true. But, they are not related by blood, and sometimes the inheritance passes down from the bloodline alone. In truth," continued Sharon, "I do not fully understand it, and so I have been of little help to my almost-son. All I can tell you is this: in his own mind, Stands Strong has lost the power, and he has lost it twice, once by the killing of his father and once because of the desertion of the white bear, his spirit protector. He does not believe he will ever regain what was once his."

Czanna thought she understood the problem, strange though it seemed to her. However, its oddity brought a question to mind, and she asked, "But, he is still so young. Surely, he could gain it back, can he not?"

"Young, he is. But, when a man believes he cannot master the pain within his soul, he cannot then, in his own mind, do it."

Ah, so this was it; at last she understood. However, Czanna barely knew how to respond to this revelation or what to say. Yes, it was all so foreign sounding to her, and yet this she knew: her dearly beloved, kind and handsome husband was, so he thought, without hope of attaining what should have been his by inheritance. And, coming from a lineage of medicine men, it would naturally follow for him to aspire to the position of medicine man, as well.

At last, Czanna said, "Thank you for telling me about this, Almost-mother. I wish I knew how to help him. But, I do not."

"Nor do I," replied Sharon. "I have tried to change his mind for many years, but it has been in vain, I fear. In truth, I think he now believes all aspects of what should have been his, by rights, is now in his past. As he might say, it is as it is. And, he appears to be happy enough to have the reputation of being the best scout within all our camps.

"Yet, some of his many cousins have their feet upon the medicine path. And, there are many times when I have espied a wistful look within my almost-son's eyes when one of his kin is called upon to heal another. I have sometimes sensed it was his witnessing the fight that killed his mother and his father that is at the root of this.

"Perhaps he felt inadequate because he could not prevent their deaths, even though he was a lad of only seven winters. But, then when he became lost in the Bears Paw Mountains during a blizzard, he found his medicine animal—the white bear—only to be deserted by it…or at least it seems to him as if the bear has deserted him."

Czanna stared out into the vast stretch of prairie extending out before her. Softly, she said, "Yes, I can see the problem, and although I would like to help him with this, I, who have no knowledge of the Indian myths or religious beliefs, would be of little assistance to him, if any at all. Though, of course, I would like to be. Thank you for telling me this and also for taking your time to help me transition into your tribe. I will not forget your kindness."

"And I, yours."

"My kindness?" asked Czanna. "It is your kindness I find special. I have done nothing."

"This is not true. You, with your God-given beauty and your kind ways, have captured the heart of my almost-son. I have truly never witnessed him to be so happy nor so carefree. This is because of your influence. Yours, you see, is a rare heart. I recognized it from the start. Yes, yours is a very rare heart, indeed."

****

Wafting in the warm breeze was the distinctive aroma of perhaps thousands of lodge fires, as well as the delicious fragrance of buffalo ribs roasting over what must have been hundreds of fires. Additionally, the beat of many drums—perhaps hundreds of them—could have been heard miles away. But, it was the sound of both masculine and feminine singing that welcomed Czanna and the others in the Pikuni procession into the encampment of the Blackfoot Confederation.

It was late afternoon when their procession proceeded into the Indian camp surrounding Fort Benton. Looking forward, Czanna espied hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lodges spread out in every direction. So many of them there were, she thought she would be hard-pressed to count them all.

Graceful tepees painted in different colors of red, blue, white, yellow, orange and tan caused the entire plain to appear as though a rainbow had descended to earth. In truth, on all sides of Fort Benton—save its southern edge where the Missouri River flowed—the plains were alit with color from every tepee, and these lodges were stretched out as far as the eye could see.

All at once, the procession's movement stopped at this, the western side of the fort. Then began a different kind of activity, where the women quickly unpacked their horses and began setting up their family's lodges. Meanwhile the younger girls were unpacking and bringing their possessions into the tepees.

Looking back toward the southwest, Czanna could see their encampment would stretch all the way up to the steep and rocky shoreline of the Missouri River, as well as butting up to the hills, buttes and plateaus rising up quite impressively in the west. What was astonishing to Czanna was how many thousands of these lodges were already here encamped. This sight, she thought, of the rainbow-like image of the Indian campsite would forever be engrained upon her memory.

Also, farther out from the lodges, both north and east, were herds of what must have been thousands upon thousands of ponies. And, what seemed incredible to her was how the herd seemed distinctly divided into little groups of ponies, from perhaps a few hundred to maybe thousands.

Indeed, their familial procession, which had seemed so large only a short while ago, looked small now in comparison to the sight of the entire encampment. How many people did the Blackfeet boast?

As though her almost-mother were attuned to her thoughts, she came to stand beside Czanna and said, "There are three different bands of the Blackfeet camped here. There are the Pikuni, divided up into the southern and northern Pikuni; the Blackfoot proper, or Siksiká; and the Blood Tribe, or the Káínaa. Some of the tribes have been encamped here for several weeks already, awaiting the return of the steamship, which they anticipate will be carrying many items of trade goods. This year, we will make our campsite on the western side of the fort, as you can see. Long before we set out upon the journey to come to the fort, the chiefs of the tribes had counselled together and had established the sites for each of the bands of Blackfeet. These locations change often. The western side of the fort, where we will be this year, is my favorite."

"I can understand why you would say this. What a beautiful stretch of prairie this is. Might I ask if you know if our wagon will remain out here where we camp, along with the rest of the lodges?" asked Czanna. "Or do you think we might be required to bring it into the inner sanction of the fort? And, if I should bring it into the fort, should I do so now?"

"I wish I knew how to answer your questions, but I really do not know," said Sharon. "These matters are determined by the chiefs, and because we have only arrived here, I am uncertain where your wagon should be parked. Perhaps my husband, Strikes Fast, or Stands Strong will know what has been decided. We shall ask them the first chance we get.

"Meanwhile," continued her almost-mother, "would you like to see how we women erect a tepee? Several within our tribe have offered to let you and Stands Strong use one of their own lodges because some families have many…for their married children, you see, or perhaps for visitors. And so, we will not be required to make one now, although I am certain you will wish to have one of your own once you are settled. I am happy so many of the people offered you the loan of a tepee. In this way, you shall have more of a proper honeymoon."

"Yes, and I thank you and the others. And, in answer to your question, I would very much like to be involved in setting up the lodge, although I fear I may be of little help. But, I will try. What say you, Liliann? Would you like to help in the setting up of our lodge, as well as your own? Because, if I understand this correctly, you and your father are to have your own lodge while we are here encamped."

"Yes, Mistress," said Liliann, who had been standing silently beside her. "I would like to join in with thee. Very much. And, are we to really have our own lodging?"

"Yes," answered both Sharon and Czanna, and almost at the same time.

"'Tis most wonderful, is it not, Mistress? There we were with no one all those weeks ago, and fearful we were, too. And, now we have so much. I thank thee."

"It is the least we can do," said Czanna's almost-mother. "After all, you and your father are now to be part of our family, too. It has been so decided."

"Part of your family?"

"Because my almost-son addresses you as his wife's almost-sister, then so it is. Welcome."

Czanna looked on as Liliann burst into tears. As she stood there, with Briella carried upon her hip, at last she said, though her voice caught on each word, "I thank thee. I thank thee very much."

Sharon and Czanna smiled.