CHAPTER SIXTEEN
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."
