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Prologue

Northwest Indian Country

Territory of the Blackfeet

The Month When Geese Come (May) 1857

Cherokee Proverb

"A woman's highest calling is to lead a man to his soul to unite him with source.

"A Man's highest calling is to protect the woman so she is free to walk the earth unharmed."

In rhythm to the drums beating in the Pikuni camp, came Tsistsaakii, Bird Woman, daughter of Chief Flying Hawk. In her hands, she carried a bowl of what must have been broiled buffalo meat, and she looked neither right nor left, though she passed by many of the people who must have been speaking teasing words to her, because, as Liliann Varga looked on, she saw the people laugh or giggle as Bird Woman passed by them. However, the pretty girl said not a word back to them, nor did she even share a grin with them.

Liliann knew Bird Woman was performing the strict law of the Blackfeet wedding ceremony; she had come into this knowledge because her almost-sister—as the Blackfeet called her former mistress, Czanna—had informed her of this. First Rider, a young man Liliann knew as the man who had saved her father's life, was the about-to-take-a-woman man, or the groom.

For three days Liliann had looked on as Bird Woman had performed this same ritual both morning and evening. Today was the fourth day, and it was on this day when First Rider, who had gone out hunting with his friend, Stands Strong, would return to his lodge, where Bird Woman would be awaiting him.

She would cry out, "My man!" to which First Rider would reply, "My Woman!" Thus, they would begin their life together.

Tears flowed down Liliann's cheeks as she watched Bird Woman's procession toward the large lodge which had been erected by Bird Woman's powerful family. At last, looking away, Liliann wiped the tears from her cheeks, and, standing up, bent over to throw open the flap of her almost-sister's lodge, stepping inside. Her almost-sister, Czanna, greeted her with a worried look, and asked, "Has Tsistsaakii reached First Rider's lodge yet?"

"Yes," answered Liliann. "They are now man and wife."

Barely looking around the lodge of Czanna and Stands Strong, where she, her brother and her father were residing, a tear found its way down Liliann's face. Luckily for her, no one except Czanna was, at present, within the lodge.

Not bothering to wipe the tear away, Liliann took her place to the left of the tepee flap and sat down, bringing her legs, Indian fashion, together and to her right. Looking up, she caught Czanna's eye, then hurriedly looked away.

"They were promised to marry each other before we ever came to know First Rider," said Czanna, the empathy in her voice, calm and soothing, yet had the opposite effect to what Czanna had perhaps intended. In reaction, another tear fell down over Liliann's countenance.

Liliann nodded, though she didn't look at her almost-sister, glancing down instead. At last, however, she replied to her friend in a shaky voice, "This be known to me."

Czanna seemed to pause before she spoke, but after a moment, she said, "Tsistsaakii is a good woman, having been brought up under the strict Blackfeet laws for women. She will make him a good wife."

"This be known to me, too. She is also very beautiful."

"áa," said Liliann's almost-sister, the word meaning "yes" in the Blackfeet language.

Silence ensued between the two friends, until at last Czaana uttered, "Beautiful she is, indeed. I am sorry. If it makes any difference to you, my dearest friend, I believe he does not know how much you admire him."

Liliann nodded.

"Come sit before me, Liliann, where I shall endeavor to brush and re-braid your hair."

Liliann nodded, and arising, she trod around the fire to sit down in front of her friend. As Czanna undid the clasps holding Liliann's braids in place and set to pulling a brush through Liliann's long, pale-blond hair, Liliann inhaled on a deep sigh. At last, she said, "He be too old for me, right enough, he being eight years beyond me own age."

"It's not so much older than you. And, I know he cares for you. Indeed, I think you hold a special place in his heart, since he tells the story of how you added your spirit to his song last year when he was in the act of saving your father's life. Often, as we sit around the fire, he tells the tale of how you sang the strange words of the Bigfoot song with him, as though you, too, knew it. I know he admires you; after all, he gave you the bullet he had pulled from your father's chest. I have learned from Stands Strong that this is a rare honor he bestowed upon you. But, you are only a girl of fifteen now, having recently had a birthday, and he is a man full-grown."

Liliann nodded, looking down.

"Please, my friend," continued Czanna as she whispered her next words, saying, "there will be many other men who will come to admire and love you. Your beauty, alone, will attract many hearts of eligible young men, both Indian and white, I am sure. And, when they come to know and experience your sweet nature, you will be able to pick your forever love from amongst them."

Liliann didn't respond except to nod, and, as she looked away, another tear raced down her cheek. She murmured, "Aye, I be sure ye are right about this, Mistress—"

"Almost-sister, please. I am no longer your mistress."

"I be a knowin' this, almost-sister. 'Tis only that I was bein' so certain there be somethin' special a-tween us…somethin' worth holdin' onto."

"And, so there is. Even my husband noticed there was an uncommon bond between you and First Rider. Once forged, it will never go away, though you will go on to find another who will love and adore you. But, always, the attachment between you and First Rider will remain. Mark my words, almost-sister: always, the two of you will share the moment when you both came to realize how special you are to one another. It will not die, though you both might be destined to live apart."

Liliann nodded. Indeed, it was all she could do. Even now, tears fell down her over cheeks and onto her breast as her lips quivered.

But, her almost-sister was right. She would go on to live her own life, though it would needs be apart from First Rider.

At least, through the years ahead of her, she would keep within her the knowledge that once, she and First Rider had touched each others' hearts. It would have to be enough.

Her voice soft and barely audible, she whispered, "Though this be a sad day for me, it be a glad time for First Rider and for Bird Woman. So, I be now makin' a wish for them both, that life be always good to them, and I hope them to be always happy. I would not be havin' it any other way. I be wishin' also that I might be forever a special friend for First Rider and his wife." Then sighing, she looked up at the tepee's entrance, and asked aloud, "Almost sister, may I be helpin' ye with supper?"

"Of course," answered Czanna. "I cannot think of anything more pleasant at this moment than to have your help."

Liliann nodded and, turning around to gaze at her friend, bestowed Czanna with the biggest and best smile she was able to give, though she feared her lips still quivered. Mechanically picking up the fat ribs to be roasted over the fire, she steadied her hands as she placed them over the coals.

Soon, I shall be leavin' the Pikuni village with my father to go and live with my almost-sister's parents at Fort Benton. And, once there, I shall be tryin' to forget that I once hoped to be First Rider's bride, right enough. Instead, I shall be wishin' to be his friend now and forever.