"It was Mr. Falcon who told me. As you know, he is a good friend of my husband's and has become a frequent visitor to our lodge." She smiled. "I have been giving both Mr. Falcon and my husband English lessons, including reading. They both learned the spoken language easily, but the letters and written words have been a little harder; haven't they, Mr. Falcon?"
He nodded briefly.
"Thank you for thinking of me and sewing a lodge together for me and for Sharon. I can't tell you how pleasured I am to know I have my own lodge within your camp. Yes, tomorrow perhaps your husband and Mr. Falcon could help us move our trunks."
Laylah laughed.
"What have I said?" asked Amelia.
Laylah was still smiling when she explained, "Pikuni men do not help their women to move anything. It is considered an indignity to even ask them."
"Why?" asked Amelia. "As you know, they are much stronger than we women generally are."
"It is simply their custom. Were they to help us, they would be laughed at and asked if they were taking lessons on how to become women."
Amelia chuckled. "All right. But, these trunks are truly heavy."
"Do not worry about it. We have ways to transport them, and I can probably secure Eagle Heart's sisters to help us. Perhaps, Mr. Falcon, you might ask your own sisters if they would like to help, also?"
He shrugged and said only, "Perhaps."
"You will be coming back to our village with us when we leave the vicinity of the fort, won't you? It is farther north from here."
"I have been hoping you would ask me," responded Amelia. "If you will have me, I'd like to stay awhile with you."
Her sister breathed out on a deep sigh. "I am glad you feel this way, and I—"
A scratch sounded upon the tepee's entrance flap.
"Please come in."
A young boy of probably thirteen or fourteen years of age entered. Nodding, he paced toward Gray Falcon and sat down next to him.
Immediately, Laylah leaned over the fire to ladle out a cup of stew, placing the liquid within a bowl made from the horns of a buffalo. She offered the stew to the newcomer, who took it graciously.
"Kóónsska, let me introduce you to my sister, Amelia," Laylah said in Blackfeet and in the language of sign, as well. "Amelia, this is Kóónsska, whose name means 'snow,' and who often helps my husband when he is tending to the injured or the sick."
The youngster nodded by way of acknowledgement, and Amelia smiled at him in return.
After the boy had finished his brief meal, Laylah asked in Blackfeet, signing the meaning of her words, "Has my husband sent you to bring me to him?"
"Áa."
Still signing, she asked, "Does he wish me to bring any particular herbs or plants?"
"Áa." The young man said the word in Blackfeet, although he used sign language as he spoke. "Your husband asks you to bring the herbs matoa-koa-ksiandkatoya.Also, he has instructed me to ask you to find the pouch where he keeps ana-wawa-toks-timabecause the wound to our chief is deep. He will need you to bring these to him."
Laylah nodded. Then, speaking in Blackfeet as well as signing, she said, "Tell my husband I will do as he asks and will come to help him as quickly as possible. How is the chief?"
"He is in great pain."
Laylah nodded.
"I must go," signed Kóónsska. "Thank you for the soup. It was delicious."
"Áa," she signed. "Tell him I will be there soon."
"I will," signed the lad, and, rising up to his feet, he stepped to the lodge's entrance. Bending at the waist, he exited.
