"But, are you certain you must go there immediately? Do you not hear the medicine drums echoing from your father's lodge?" asked Czanna. "Medicine man, First Rider, and his wife, Liliann, are there now attending to your father."
"I do hear the fast beat of the medicine drum," replied Red Fox. "But, I must go there regardless. As soon as I have spoken to my father, I will come to your lodge."
Sweetgrass Woman stepped up behind her brother and, placing her hand on his shoulder, said, "I must go to my father's lodge, also. A scout arrived early today and asked us to come at once. He told us our father is asking for us."
"Yes, of course. I understand you must go there with all speed," Czanna replied. "Briella? George?"
George responded, saying, "I have not been asked to come to his lodge, and so I will be happy to accept your invitation, Sister."
"As I will, also," murmured Briella, "since I, too, have not been invited into Weasel Plume's lodge. Oh, how happy I am to see you again, Czanna. We have not had a chance to talk since I have arrived home from the East. And, it has already been several weeks since I returned."
"I, too, am very happy to see you, Briella. And, I am glad to know you and Red Fox have mar—"
George cut her off. "We must speak of this in your home, Sister."
"By all means," replied Czanna. She smiled at George, then she said, "Indeed, we will feast. I will roast some ribs, boil some coffee and bring out some berries for us to eat while we all sit around a cheery fire and acquaint each other of all the news we have to share."
Taking hold of their horses' reins, Czanna gestured to a boy who had been standing to the side of them during all this time, and, giving the boy the reins of their ponies, she said, "Come, Briella and George…this way."
****
"The Creator must have been with us all the while we were traveling, because even though we had to journey at a gallop and within the daylight hours, we encountered no war parties or any other problem. It was quite a dangerous undertaking we attempted," said Briella. "As you know, any movement upon the plains in daylight hours and also during the season of war parties, is usually considered foolish. It goes without saying that only a full camp with warriors leading the way in front, in back of and flanking both sides of the procession is safe at this time of year, even within our own country. But, because both Red Fox's and George's horses are fast buffalo ponies, we all dared to chance it, even though we knew the danger."
"I might add," said Briella, continuing, "that no one spoke a word all along the way here."
"How wise you all are," replied Czanna, "since it is true that noise of any kind might call the attention of an enemy, be they Indian or be they the American cavalry."
"Yes," replied Briella. "Indeed, my man, who led us, kept to the flat bottom grounds of the coulees whenever possible, and rushed over the prairie when no cover was available."
An uncomfortable sort of silence followed Briella's statement. George, however, intervened and said, "Briella means my brother-in-law, of course."
Briella gulped. Why did she seem inclined to always put a wrong foot forward? Hadn't Red Fox warned her to say nothing of their elopement while in the Pikuni camp?
She attempted a weak smile.
"Of course she means Red Fox. All of the people are glad, Briella, about the two of you. You need not hide your marriage here. Indeed, most believe it is about time the two of you became man and wife. All have noticed the love-filled glances the two of you have shared over the years—that is, they have seen it when you both have believed no one is looking."
"But, my sister…Czanna…we cannot tell anyone we have wed," Briella said in a whisper. "There are complications I cannot speak to you about now, because the entire matter is too complex to allow me to say more than a mere few words concerning it. Please know this, however, when we might at last declare ourselves to the world, you will be one of the first to know."
"I see," said Czanna. "George, will you wait here for my husband while Briella and I take a walk to the women's section of the lake? There she can wash away the dirt and grime from the journey, and perhaps we might have a private conversation."
Czanna cast Briella a questioning look, and Briella, seeing it, nodded. "I would like to do this," she said. "I would like it very much."
"Go ahead, you two. I will await your husband, Stands Strong, as you have suggested, Sister."
****
"Oh," was all Czanna said after hearing the particulars of Briella's marriage, as well as the problem with their father and their elder brother, Frederic. "This explains why you left our country in such a hurry and why you did not return from the East more quickly. I have wondered."
The two women were standing barefoot in the shallow water of the lake's shoreline, having redressed after their bath. Leaving their moccasins on the rocky beach, they had waded out into the cool water, where they now stood.
"I did not wish to go," said Briella. "Our father and Frederic meant well, I suppose. Our father insisted I was to have the opportunity to marry well, and I think he truly believed he was gifting me the pleasure of meeting people of a similar status as those of our acquaintances back in Hungary. All this came about, however, after Red Fox had brought many ponies to our father to ask to marry me, which as you know, is the Pikuni way. Neither of us knew our father and Frederic had been planning to take me out of Indian Territory."
Czanna frowned. "Perhaps, then, it was the thought of you marrying an Indian that spurred our father on to do as he did?"
"I believe this is so," answered Briella.
Czanna inhaled deeply before saying, "I do believe our father has had a difficult time settling down in this country, especially after having to leave all he knew in the Old World behind him. I'm afraid, however, that Frederic acted in an indecent manner toward you, Briella. But then, when all the trouble started back in Hungary all those years ago, it was Frederic who stepped up to fight the battle to free our father and mother, who at that time had been imprisoned for their beliefs and for speaking out about them. Indeed, they were soon to diebecause of their beliefs. All this he did for our family. Perhaps he, too, thought he was doing the best for you."
