She bit her lip. She didn't really wish to speak to him about this—at least not right now. She felt...odd, as though she were spinning. And, at the moment she wasn't certain she could piece together an entire sentence.
Truly, what she really needed him to do was leave and allow her to dress and perhaps grant her a moment to think. But, it didn't appear as if he were in a mood to go anywhere. And, she felt alone as she attempted to sort through the jumble of her thoughts:
My husband could take another wife. If he did, I would have to leave him. But, I love him. How could I leave him?
Suddenly, she couldn't tolerate the conflicts spinning around in her mind, and, clutching her robe closely around her, she jumped up, ran to the lodge's entrance, bent over quickly and stepped through the wiki-up flap. At present, she required time alone, and, as quickly as possible, she fled toward the lake.
Once at its shore, she threw off her robe, ran furiously into the water and quickly submerged herself into its cold depths. It was not merely cold, it was freezing this morning, and she shivered. Yet, she didn't care. Perhaps the frigid temperature might allow her more clarity of thought. At least, she hoped it would.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
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WHAT WAS WRONG?
Why had his wife suddenly become incapable of speech? And, what had he said to cause her to cry?
Wife? Wives? This had been one of their topics of conversation.
It didn't make sense. Why would this ancient and common custom—one meant only to unburden and comfort one's first wife—cause her to cry? He went backward in time within his mind, recalling his words: he had told her casually of the tremendous workload placed upon the women of his tribe. At the same time he had informed her of his lack of wealth in horses.
His wife was not stupid. Had she pieced together the realization that he, as a medicine man, would not be able to present a girl's father with enough horses to obtain a second wife?
Did she fear this might cause her to become overburdened? That, by marrying him, she had lost the life of leisure she'd known at the fort? It could be this last, since he had observed her existence there had been one of ease.
Was this his woman's worry? And, if this were what was wrong, could he relieve her mind?
As he followed her out of the wiki-up and paced toward the lake, he began to recite inwardly what he might say to her. He set his destination toward a stubby willow tree—one that sat close to the lake, yet was out of her view. And, as he sat down beneath it, he thought of the best way to approach this matter with her.
"I am glad to see you are awake and moving about early this morning,Ohkó, though I understand what sometimes keeps you in your lodge until late in the morning." These gentle words were followed by high-pitched, yet soft, laughter.
Eagle Heart grinned down at the tiny woman who was standing beside him. "And, I am happy to see you, also, Auntie."
Auk-a'pii sat down at his side, and, as soon as she did so, she almost became lost in the luxurious grasses and flowers that grew beneath the short willow tree. Looking up at him, she asked, "Was the rest of your night restful and free of dreams?"
"It was. And, I thank you for our conversation."
"You are welcome. I am glad to know you slept well after our talk."
He nodded.
"I have come to tell you what the elders have decided, for I was able to speak with them this morning. They have reached a decision, and we have all agreed we should help you. Many of us tried to reach out to your brother, but there was only one amongst us who was able to see into the far-off places of this land. He now believes he has located your brother and those who are with him."
Although Eagle Heart rejoiced inwardly, he did no more than simply nod outwardly.
"You have been right in believing he is still alive," continued Auk-a'pii. "A Crow woman and her baby are with him, as well as a Big Person. The Big People are the reason he is gone, of course."
Of course?Eagle Heart, however, did not speak these words aloud. Patiently, he waited.
"Your brother and the Crow woman are in the Apsáalooke, Beartooth Mountains, not far from here. If you leave to go there, please remember this is Crow country, and we advise you to use great caution once you set foot out of this valley. This same particular elder who located your brother has also observed your brother and the Crow woman are moving camp often, but he believes they have stopped at Lone Elk Lake, and he feels they may be there for several days. Another of our elders believes your brother is using the Lone Elk Lake area to hunt, for he became aware of their food supply, and it is low. As you know, the region abounds in bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Why the Crow woman and her baby are with your brother or what they might mean to him, we do not know. But, another of our elders thinks the trouble began with a Big Person and the Crow woman's baby. He believes, also, that your brother has saved the Crow woman's life, as well as her baby's life, twice. There may be others of an unknown origin involved in the trouble. But, we do not know more than this. Again, we believe your brother is camped within the Lone Elk Lake region."
"Iniiyi'taki,I am grateful to you and your elders. You have discovered much more than I would have been able to do, if left on my own. I will always remember your kindness toward me and my brother. Will you relate my gratitude to your people and tell them I will leave you most of our food stores, as well as all of my tobacco? We will take with us only what we might need for the journey into the Beartooth Mountains."
"You are generous and kind. But, you might need all of your food on your journey."
"I can see what you are thinking, but we have plenty. I will take no more than what we will require. The rest will be yours. I only wish I could give you and your people more."
"It is enough. We are very happy to help you,Ohkó. And now, having delivered our knowledge to you, please excuse me. I must leave to go home. Because I still have young children in my home, I fear without me there to watch over them, they are bound to have found some sort of mischief to pursue."
