CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Liliann could barely speak. As it was, she didn't make a move to leave his arms. Frozen into place, she yet whispered, "She be alive? But, I was thinkin' she be dead."
"I thought this…too."
A deep painful silence followed First Rider's confession. At last, Liliann found the wherewithal within herself to ask, "What happened, then, that thou be thinkin' she be still alive?"
"Heavy Storm, a friend…came here today. He said…Tsistsaki in Flathead camp."
"I did see thou talkin' to him now. Be he certain 'twas she?"
"Áa, he…certain."
"But, could it not be a woman that be lookin' like Tsistsaki, and not Tsistsaki, in truth?"
"To her…he spoke," mumbled First Rider. "She answered…in Blackfeet. He told her…he take her back to Pikuni camp. She agreed. Make time and place. She not come. When he asked people in Flathead camp about her, no one knew her."
"How odd," murmured Liliann. "No one there be knowin' her? Odd. People sometimes look alike. It's rare, but…"
"He certain it…her."
Liliann was speechless. Tsistsaki alive? What did this mean? Would First Rider feel it was his duty to steal her back from the Flathead and reunite her with her own people?
Of course he would.
And, if he were to find her and bring her back, what would happen to theirmarriage? He, knowing she, herself, could never be a second wife.
Am I to become a nineteen-year-old woman who has married two men—one after the other—and within only a few months?
If she had still been in Hungary, her actions would have been considered shameful and, indeed, scandalous. For a moment, she felt the full impact of what it might feel like to be utterly disgraced.
But, another, more-encouraging thought took hold within her mind: would First Rider wish to go to all the trouble of rescuing his first wife?
Sadly, it was an easy question for her to answer without even having to voice the inquiry. This man had already spent four years of his life in search of his first wife. A few extra months consumed in finding her and bringing her home would be as nothing to him.
But, on the other hand, Liliann knew this man also loved her; knew she, herself, could never be a second wife.
Could she suggest the idea to him of 'letting sleeping dogs lie'? After all, in four years' time, there hadn't been a single word about Tsistsaki until First Rider had learned of her death only a few months ago. Also, if he were to "rescue" Tsistsaki and bring her back to the Pikuni camp, many problems would be created because of it, the biggest dilemma being their own marriage. Sometimes, she thought, especially when an action would bring on other and more serious problems, it was best to simply let it lie.
Taking a deep breath for courage, she asked, "Does thou think thou could let sleeping dogs lie?"
"Sleeping dogs?" he asked.
"It be an old sayin'. What I am askin' is if thou could let it be? If Tsistsaki did not come to the place where she could be rescued, does thou not see she might be wishin' to stay where she is? If she be lookin' well and there be no trouble, why not just let it stay as it is?"
Inhaling deeply, First Rider didn't answer at first. But, at length, he said, "Because I cannot. What if she is slave and unable to come? Man who owns her might be bad man with bad medicine…people afraid to talk."
Liliann frowned. Then, leaving his arms, she came to sit down upon the couch First Rider's birth mother had made for her, its comfort, for the moment, going unnoticed. First Rider followed her down, sitting cross-legged beside her. Reaching out, he took her hand in his.
He murmured, "Made promise to Tsistsaki's father. Said I not stop looking for her until…find her…bring her back. If she alive…must go…bring her back to people."
"Thou must?"
"Word of honor is…sacred trust. I will…talk to Tsistsaki's father…explain problem…your God not allow you…be second wife, ask him if he able…'let it be'. If he agrees, then I…let lie the sleepy dog. If he not set me free"—he shrugged—"I gave word."
Liliann barely knew what to say, what to think.
"Does this mean, now, that if thou rescues her and brings her back to camp, thou will make her thy first wife again?"
