like.”
Sees Far laughed again. “We don’t
live in cities.” His laughter faded, and sorrow darkened his eyes. “We used
to follow the buffalo, but the buffalo die. I do not think my grandson will
hunt the buffalo. I do not know what will become of my people.”
Maggie thought a moment. “My
people also starved in the land where my great-grandfather was born. They came
across the Atlantic Ocean in ships to this country. Many have prospered here.”
“And your father? Has he prospered
here?”
Maggie shook her head. “My father
is dead.”
“I am sorry.” Sees Far touched her
hand.
Maggie inclined her head. “Thank
you. But I have prospered. I have friends and useful work to do. All because
my great-grandfather had the courage to accept what was and seek his fortune
elsewhere.”
“It will be hard for my people to
find a new way to prosper. No matter where we go, the whites drive us away
again after a few winters.”
“I am sorry.” Maggie followed Sees
Far into his camp. He led her to a group of women, who laughed to see a white
woman dressed like a man.
One of the women did not laugh.
She looked at Maggie appraisingly, the way Sam looked at the greenhorns when
they signed the charter. She was taller than the rest of the women, and she walked
toward Maggie with the same grace and dignity as the fine ladies Maggie had
seen in Manhattan.
She smiled at Maggie. “I am Sees
Far’s wife. I am called Woman Who Dreams. Sometimes, I dream the future.”
Sees Far spoke to her in a language
Maggie did not understand.
Woman Who Dreams laughed. “He says
that Flynn is so embarrassed that he had to send his woman to do his job that
he made her dress like a man.”
Maggie frowned. “I dress this way
because I like it. And I am not Flynn’s woman.”
Woman Who Dreams tilted her head to
one side. “But perhaps you would like to be?”
Maggie’s face reddened.
Woman Who Dreams smiled at her and
touched her arm. “It is nothing to be ashamed of, to want a man.” She looked
at her husband fondly. “I wanted him for a long time before he realized that
he wanted me, too.” She turned back to Maggie. “It was worth the wait.”
“Have you dreamed of her?” Sees
Far regarded his wife seriously.
Woman Who Dreams shook her head. “But
I have a feeling about her. I think she will be a good friend to our people.”
She turned to Maggie. “Come.” Woman Who Dreams led Maggie into one of the
tents. She handed Maggie a bowl of water. “Wash.”
Maggie hesitated. “Where did the
water come from?”
Woman Who Dreams frowned. “Why do
you ask?”
“We’ve lost a lot of people to
cholera last year. There is a contaminated creek that runs through a small
farm, not far from here. The stream runs into the Blue River.”
Woman Who Dreams nodded. “We never
drink from that stream. They were dirty people who poured their night soil
into the water. This water is safe. It came from the sacred waterfall.”
Maggie nodded. She took off her
gloves and washed her hands. She followed Woman Who Dreams back outside. She
led the way to a campfire. Women brought food and drink. In its own way,
supper was as formal as a dinner party. Woman Who Dreams bowed her head and
spoke a few words in a language Maggie didn’t understand. Then, she raised her
head. “I am giving thanks for the food.”
Maggie blinked. “You believe in
God?”
Woman Who Dreams hesitated. “Not
the Christian God. Many things are sacred to us: the wind that blows the
prairie grass, water that gives us life, the fire that warms us, the earth that
sustains us."
The women served her in silence and
with courtesy. The food tasted strange, but it was delicious.
Woman Who Dreams touched Maggie’s
shoulder gently. “You will stay with us tonight and return to Bear In A Man's
Body tomorrow.”
Maggie grinned. “Is that what
Sees Far laughed again. “We don’t
live in cities.” His laughter faded, and sorrow darkened his eyes. “We used
to follow the buffalo, but the buffalo die. I do not think my grandson will
hunt the buffalo. I do not know what will become of my people.”
Maggie thought a moment. “My
people also starved in the land where my great-grandfather was born. They came
across the Atlantic Ocean in ships to this country. Many have prospered here.”
“And your father? Has he prospered
here?”
Maggie shook her head. “My father
is dead.”
“I am sorry.” Sees Far touched her
hand.
Maggie inclined her head. “Thank
you. But I have prospered. I have friends and useful work to do. All because
my great-grandfather had the courage to accept what was and seek his fortune
elsewhere.”
“It will be hard for my people to
find a new way to prosper. No matter where we go, the whites drive us away
again after a few winters.”
“I am sorry.” Maggie followed Sees
Far into his camp. He led her to a group of women, who laughed to see a white
woman dressed like a man.
One of the women did not laugh.
She looked at Maggie appraisingly, the way Sam looked at the greenhorns when
they signed the charter. She was taller than the rest of the women, and she walked
toward Maggie with the same grace and dignity as the fine ladies Maggie had
seen in Manhattan.
She smiled at Maggie. “I am Sees
Far’s wife. I am called Woman Who Dreams. Sometimes, I dream the future.”
Sees Far spoke to her in a language
Maggie did not understand.
Woman Who Dreams laughed. “He says
that Flynn is so embarrassed that he had to send his woman to do his job that
he made her dress like a man.”
Maggie frowned. “I dress this way
because I like it. And I am not Flynn’s woman.”
Woman Who Dreams tilted her head to
one side. “But perhaps you would like to be?”
Maggie’s face reddened.
Woman Who Dreams smiled at her and
touched her arm. “It is nothing to be ashamed of, to want a man.” She looked
at her husband fondly. “I wanted him for a long time before he realized that
he wanted me, too.” She turned back to Maggie. “It was worth the wait.”
“Have you dreamed of her?” Sees
Far regarded his wife seriously.
Woman Who Dreams shook her head. “But
I have a feeling about her. I think she will be a good friend to our people.”
She turned to Maggie. “Come.” Woman Who Dreams led Maggie into one of the
tents. She handed Maggie a bowl of water. “Wash.”
Maggie hesitated. “Where did the
water come from?”
Woman Who Dreams frowned. “Why do
you ask?”
“We’ve lost a lot of people to
cholera last year. There is a contaminated creek that runs through a small
farm, not far from here. The stream runs into the Blue River.”
Woman Who Dreams nodded. “We never
drink from that stream. They were dirty people who poured their night soil
into the water. This water is safe. It came from the sacred waterfall.”
Maggie nodded. She took off her
gloves and washed her hands. She followed Woman Who Dreams back outside. She
led the way to a campfire. Women brought food and drink. In its own way,
supper was as formal as a dinner party. Woman Who Dreams bowed her head and
spoke a few words in a language Maggie didn’t understand. Then, she raised her
head. “I am giving thanks for the food.”
Maggie blinked. “You believe in
God?”
Woman Who Dreams hesitated. “Not
the Christian God. Many things are sacred to us: the wind that blows the
prairie grass, water that gives us life, the fire that warms us, the earth that
sustains us."
The women served her in silence and
with courtesy. The food tasted strange, but it was delicious.
Woman Who Dreams touched Maggie’s
shoulder gently. “You will stay with us tonight and return to Bear In A Man's
Body tomorrow.”
Maggie grinned. “Is that what
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