CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
It was much later in the evening when they all gathered together within Czanna and Stands Strong's lodge. A fire blazed happily and lit up the tepee as though the lodge were a lantern. And, although there were no formal seating arrangements this night, it mattered not. Each married couple sat happily next to one another while Pretty Ribbon Woman, as well as Liliann, Czanna and her mother, served the hot, roasted buffalo ribs to the men, which was the custom.
When it was at last done and the women had also enjoyed their part of the meal, Czanna took her place beside Stands Strong, then began her story, and she said, "I had received a letter from Sebestyn, your manservant, Frederic. He wrote to me to tell me about you as well as our mother and father being hanged. He begged me in his letter to come back to Hungary, but I could not do it, as you know, since you were quite strict about making me pledge to never return to Hungary."
Said Frederic, "It was Sebestyn who betrayed our family to the authorities. It does not surprise me that he would try to persuade you to come back to Hungary. You see, the three of us had escaped with some help of other freedom fighters, and we were in hiding. In truth, if he could have convinced you to return there, he could have held you ransom, which of course would have forced us out of hiding, and had it happened, we would all have been imprisoned. Do you still have the letter?"
"I do," answered Czanna as she came to her feet and trod toward the back of the lodge, the place where she kept her possessions. Digging into a parfleche bag, she pulled out the letter and gave it to Frederic. "Oh, how happy I am that you had the foresight to make me vow to never return to Hungary."
"I, too, Czanna. I, too."
"By the way, where is Béla?" It was Stands Strong's mother-in-law who asked the question.
"We now call her Briella," said Czanna. "We decided—all of us—to change our names so they would sound more American. We now call Béla, Briella, and György we call George. But, our younger sister, Briella, is not here at present. She is in the care of five of our almost-aunties."
"Almost-aunties?" asked Czanna's mother. "What is an almost-auntie?"
"They are aunts, but they are not bound to us by blood. We did not wish to bring Briella with us into the mountains in search of Cousin Alfred. And, since she would be quite happy to stay with her aunties, we left her with them for her own safety."
"I am glad you did not take her on such a long journey," replied her mother. "And, where are the aunties now?"
"They are gone into the Sun Dance camp. You see, the Pikuni people move around their land, going from one place to another. They are not far away, and we hope to join them soon. I think we should all go to their encampment as soon as possible. What say you?"
It was agreed by them all to join the Pikuni as soon as they were all packed and ready to set out upon the trail. And so, it was settled: they would leave to go to the Sun Dance encampment within the next few days.
But, at last, the night wore on, and soon Frederic as well as Czanna's mother and father left them to go to their own quarters within the fort. Meanwhile, Mr. Henrik and Liliann bid them a good night as well and returned to their lodge, while First Riderand George set up their own tepee, as did Czanna's cousin, Alfred, and his woman, Pretty Ribbon Woman.
At last, Czanna was alone with Stands Strong, who had been curiously quiet during the entire proceeding.
Turning toward him, she said, "My husband, I fear I have not included you in much of my conversation. I fear I have not been very attentive to you this evening. And, now I worry I might have displeased you."
"Displeased me? Why should you have worried over me? Being reunited with your family after you had thought them forever lost to you was at first shocking for you, I admit, but I could see the happiness bursting within you all through this evening. I would have not detracted from it by bringing attention onto myself. After all, your happiness is my own, too."
"Oh, my husband, you are so very kind. I love you very much."
"And I, you."
"I admit my life might change a little since my parents and Frederic are now here. But, one aspect of my life will not change, and this is my love for you and our path together through this life. I do not wish to go back to the way I was before I met you. I have changed my mind about being an Indian man's wife. I am your woman, now and always. Besides, we have many obligations to fulfill now that we have been taught how to use the bear medicine. I wish to be a part of this very much."
"Áa, we have much to do, because one of our duties will be to perform the bear ritual before our people. Only then will our bear medicine enrich our people's lives. Together we will do this. Always together."
"Áa," Czanna said. "Together always.
And, then they kissed, it being their seal to a pledge they freely gifted to one another.
Indeed, it would come to pass. Although their road through life might have its pleasures and its bumps, it mattered little; always they would meet each new experience together.
And, so it came to be.
