"Oh. Well, I had better get busy, then, and straighten up our lodge so it is presentable to your friends."
"Our lodge is perfect as it is," said Red Fox, slanting her a charming grin. "You needn't go to any trouble."
"Oh, but I will. This is exciting."
"Áa, it is, indeed, exciting."
****
Since all the people believed she and Red Fox were married, it had seemed ridiculous to Briella that, while in camp, she and Red Fox should continue to stay with her sister, Czanna,especially when Red Fox possessed a lodge of his own. And so, almost from the start, Poka'aki had moved her own and Red Fox's possessions into his lodge, aware this would confirm in the minds of the people that she and Red Fox had become a man and his woman, or as her mother and father would say it, a married couple.
But, oh, how she worried; how would this end when she returned home? How would these people view her if it were learned she had married Maximillian after so obviously becoming Red Fox's woman?
And so, although she was happy to be back in the Pikuni encampment, a dark shadow hung over her and all her actions. At least the work leading up to the summer celebration was pleasant and took her attention off of her own troubles, even though she knew the relief was temporary.
The women's labor involved a great deal of sewing and cooking, and under normal circumstances the amount of work involved might have been overwhelming because of the sheer number of people who would be attending the celebration this year. But, instead, the time spent with the other women was pleasant and the chores were not arduous.
Indeed, Briella was almost continually surrounded by other young women who were engaged in the same or similar projects as she, and always laughter was in abundance as they worked.
She had missed these people…her people. At present, a feeling of warmth spread through her body as she picked up a bit of sinew, threading the strand into the holes she had made in a white buckskin dress she was creating for herself in honor of the celebration.
In Blackfeet, Sweetgrass Woman asked, "Have you seen your husband rehearsing for the enactment that is soon to take place?"
"Rehearsing?" asked Briella. "For an enactment? He has said nothing to me about this. Do you know what coup he has done that needs rehearsing?"
"No one knows," replied Sweetgrass Woman. "But, since the Lakota have arrived in our camp, your husband and the Hunkpapa people have been rehearsing what happened to them when he was in their country. But, no one knows what coup this is."
"Truly?"
"Áa, it is so. They practice in secret. They have even set guards around the place where they prepare."
Confused, Briella sat still for a moment. In truth, she was more than aware that Pikuni men enacted their various coups during these summer celebrations. These staged enactments were always a favorite with the people, although at times she found them difficult to watch.
But, why hadn't Red Fox said a word about this to her? And, how was she so unaware of it that she was taken by surprise? This was especially so because the Lakota medicine man, Yellow Sun, his wife and their two children were staying in her own and Red Fox's lodge.
But, not one of them had said a word to her about the enactment nor the coup, not even the children.
Realizing this had to be the reason Red Fox had invited the Hunkpapa Lakota to come to the Pikuni camp in friendship, she wondered what common bond Red Fox shared with these Lakota people, and in particular, with the Lakota medicine man, Yellow Sun.
Well, the enactments were scheduled to be seen on the morrow. At least soon she would know the reason for the secrecy.
Sewing the last of the beadwork onto her dress, she stood up to shake out the white buckskin and listened delightfully as the glass beads in the fringe hit together and tinkled.
"It is a beautiful dress," commented Sweetgrass Woman. "You will look very lovely at the ceremony, and I think the people will admire your dress. Perhaps your beauty will inspire many Pikuni songs."
Briella smiled. "You are too kind, and I thank you. But, I believe your dress will outshine anything I have done. Every strand of fringe on your dress is beaded in colors of blue, red and pink. Indeed, it is you who will turn the heads of the people with your beauty, as well as your handiwork."
Sweetgrass Woman giggled, and with a hand covering her mouth, she turned away. Obviously, Briella had embarrassed her sister-in-law, even though her words had been true. Sweetgrass Woman was the beauty of the tribe, and Briella's brother George had been a lucky man on the day when he had asked for her hand in marriage.
Briella smiled as she recalled how it had happened, remembering again the shock of seeing Sweetgrass Woman's mother arrive at the Fehér homestead in company with her husband, Weasel Plume. The woman had sought out George and, without ceremony of any kind, had said to him:
"White man, hunter and scout, I wish my daughter to be happy, and I do not want to see her mourning because her man has deserted her as many other white men have done to our women when they return to the white man's world. Therefore, my man and I will give her to you only if you will swear you will be kind to her. And, you must also swear you will never desert her if she is ever faithful to you."
"I gladly swear this to you," George had said.
George's soon-to-be -mother-in-law had then came in very close to him, and, looking up at him, had commanded, "Raise up your hand so Sun, the Creator, may see it, and vow to Him these words I say to you:"
Obediently, George had raised his hand.
