To say this part of the valley was picturesque would not have done the scenery justice, because, with the snow-covered mountains sheltering the foothills, and the colorful green-and-brown-yet-flat land going on and on as though without end, it appeared as if this scene belonged to heaven, not to this earth. And, the day had only begun. Imagine the beauty of this place when under a full midday sun.
Eagle Heart motioned to her, asking her to bring her horse up level to his. When she did as instructed, he motioned outward, saying, "Be...this...No Man's Trail."
"It's stunning," she whispered. "But, you say few people ever come here?"
He nodded. "It is so."
"I wonder why. I would think this would be the perfect place to camp."
"Now...maybe," uttered Eagle Heart in English, then he switched to sign. "Too few buffalo, though elk, deer and mountain goats are numerous. Winters are hard and long. Residents can be difficult to understand for most."
"Residents? Are you talking about the animals? Antelope, deer?"
"Áa, but...more."
"More?"
"You will meet them," he signed. "They are curious to greet strangers. But, they will come to you. Do not fear them, for they have never hurt any one of us. Come, let us set up a good shelter, for I would like to pause here and rest. This is the safest corner in this part of the world, and it is here, I think, where we might come to know one another as a man and his woman.” He then said in English, “Good...place...start our...life. Maybe you...make...breechcloth...give...me...then we playCos-soó...again...you take cause you...wife."
She laughed.
He continued in sign, "After we erect a hut for ourselves and secure our ponies away from all eyes, let us eat as much of our food supplies as we like. Later today, I will hunt and scout the land here, for, although I have been here before, to be a successful hunter I will need to make a good memory of the land, for there can be changes to it, even if a man has hunted here many times in the past."
"Yes, I understand. But, while you do this, what are my duties to be in this wild life?" She asked the question with both words and gestures.
He shrugged, then signed, "Perhaps your only duty is to enjoy your time here. When we reach my people, then you might learn to skin an animal and make it ready to cook its meat. Perhaps you might discover the art of making hides for clothing. But, this last can wait until you meet the women of my village, for they keep these secrets within their societies. While we are here, I am hoping you might come to love your life with me. It is our time to be with each other without others coming between us and without the responsibilities of tribal life."
She smiled. "Well, this I can promise you," she said in English and also with signs, "I will give you all my love and for all my life."
His gaze at her was hot and passionate as he signed, "May I always do that which will cause you to love me. Come, it is time for me to set up our lodge in this beautiful valley. When done, I think we might retire to the lake where we can wash and pray."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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THE TEMPORARY SHELTERtook little time for her husband to erect. Eagle Heart called it a "wiki-up," but to Laylah it looked much the same as their other temporary shelters. This one was slightly wider and taller than the others; several poles were stuck in the ground and were made to bend inward, where they were securely tied together. Evergreen boughs became their walls and roof. And, so well did the structure fit into the environment, it might have gone unnoticed if one didn't know it was there.
Pulling the woolen blankets and the buffalo robes off the ponies, Eagle Heart paced toward their shelter and placed them on the ground within, leaving a space in the middle for a fire. Exiting their wiki-up for a few moments, he soon returned, carrying many large stones in his arms, which he set in a circle in the middle of their hut.
Again, he left their lodging, returning with pieces of dry wood; he set these down next to the stones. In one of his bags, he pulled out what looked to be dried grass, some twigs and what looked like dried punk. These he made into a circle. Reaching back into the same bag, he pulled out a piece of flint and set it down on one of the stones. Carefully, he took off the buckskin bags he usually wore around his shoulders, placing them on his blanket. Then, he looked up at her.
Meanwhile, Laylah had taken a position to the right of the entryway of the little hut and had sat down. She wasn't certain which side of their quarters was hers and which was his, but when she saw him position his blanket on the left side of the shelter, she set up her position directly across from his.
He grinned at her and, when she returned the gesture, he arose and came around to her side of the lodge, squatting down in front of her. He said in sign, "Come, there is a lake nearby where we can wash. We can also pray there. I believe we should go beforeNaató'si, Sun, the Creator, as a man and his wife and invite Him into our marriage."
"Yes," she said, smiling at him.
He offered her a hand to help her up and said in English, "When leave...take...hand and we... go to....lake together."
As it turned out, the water was within a short walk from their wiki-up. Plus, it seemed to Laylah as though "the lake" had more in common with a stream than a lake. Its color was fascinating, however, being a deep, muddy blue, which made it a good reflecting pool. Also, this body of water seemed in no hurry to go anywhere, and perhaps this was why Eagle Heart called it a lake.
The sun was high, the day was mild, and the clouds overhead—as well as the mountains on each side of the valley—were reflected in the water, causing the stream to look as if it were hiding the clouds and mountains within its depth. Narrow in width, the stream yet flowed slowly away into the distance until she could see it no more.
Listening to the lonely call of a loon and the music of the thrushes, as well as the sounds of the tree branches rubbing together as they swayed in the wind, caused Laylah to wish to sing aloud with them. But, she didn't, for soon Eagle Heart, who retained hold of her hand, lifted both their arms up toward the sky and began, himself, to sing:
"Naató'si, amo náápiáakii itstsíí nitohkiimaam (Sun, Creator, this woman is my wife).
"Oostóyi omimmo (I love her).
