Whispering Spirits (5 page)

“Why don’t you come along? It would do us all
good to spend time fishing and hiking.”

“You really think
Nah’ah
is going to
go hiking? It’s my guess she just wants to experience life as it
was for the Blackfeet two hundred years ago.”

“
Inn
, what’s the point? It’s never
going to be like that ever again. Why is she clinging to it so
tightly? It drives me nuts.”

“Listen to
Nah’ah
and bite your
tongue. Respect is the key here. Don’t insult her with your grand
philosophy about closing all the reservations and making the Native
American assimilate to society.”

“You knew grandmother had this planned,
didn’t you? Couldn’t you have asked me if I wanted to go on such a
trip? You talk about respect…what about respecting me?”

“
Niipo
, you’re going to have to be
open-minded.
Nah’ah
didn’t plan this to annoy you. She has
wanted to do this for years and when you agreed to spend time with
her, she felt she could finally make this dream come true. Keep in
mind that respect is what links all things, our connection to each
other, the earth, the animals and birds, and even our gratitude to
the Creator for each beautiful morning and every peaceful
night.”

“The older you get, the more you sound like
Nah’ah
. I understand you two have a bond in your Blackfeet
beliefs, but remember that doesn’t mean I do. I’ve long since left
all that traditional values philosophy behind me. I don’t have a
need for it. I’m moving out of the old and seeing clearly for the
first time that I belong in today. I’m sorry if that disappoints
you and
Nah’ah
.”

“It’s sad to know my only daughter doesn’t
feel a need for her ancestors. If only you could feel their
spirits…they whisper all around you, but you have to want to hear
them.”

Summer choked back a tear that threatened.
She’d hurt him and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Her
mother had deserted her, but her
inn
had always been that
rock, that solid foundation she could count on. “You’ve always had
a connection to the old ones. I tried by learning our Blackfeet
language. Yet it seems I feel pushed toward the ways of the
Blackfeet instead of a pull or drive to be a part of it. I don’t
feel that link, that relationship you and
Nah’ah
have…I feel
nothing.”

“That’s because you don’t try,
Niipo
.
You’re like so many of the other young Blackfeet children who get
swallowed up in the white man’s world. You think it’s better to
leave the past…leave your heritage behind you. I think it’s because
you’re ashamed to be Blackfeet. You should be proud. You should
hold your head up and show a Blackfeet woman can be successful and
honorable in both the eyes of the
napi’kwan
and
ni-tsi-ta-pi-ksi
, the real people.”

“I’ll honor
Nah’ah
and listen to her
stories. For you,
Inn
, I’ll do my best to be open-minded and
try to hear the whispering spirits.” She moved into his open arms
and hugged him with all the love she felt.
“
Kit’sika’ko-mimmo
.”

“I love you too,
Niipo
.”

Summer grabbed her small bag and allowed her
father to carry the large suitcase and ducked under the whirling
blades. She loved new adventures, yet this one seemed daunting.
Would her father be safe from the man calling? Surely she’d have no
cell service. Maneuvering to the back seat of the chopper, she
first realized she wasn’t alone. “
Nah’ah
!
Oki
! I
didn’t know you were in here. I thought you were…never mind. I’m so
happy to see you.” Summer gave her grandmother a quick hug. She
snapped her seatbelt just as the chopper rose from the ground.
Nah’ah
grabbed her hand.

“I have not seen you since Christmas. You
must not stay away so long.”

“You’re right. I’ve missed you so much.”
Summer leaned over and hugged her again. Nah’ah had somehow aged in
those six months. Guilt swept over Summer and she shrugged it
off.

“This is exciting. I’ve never been in a
helicopter before. Don’t you find it exhilarating,
Nah’ah
?”

“It is like dancing with the sky. It was your
inn’s
idea to fly like the birds. He said you have always
wanted to do this. So now we do it together.”

“
Tst-ma-kii-tak-ki-ta-poh-pa?”

“
A’akah-kayo’pa.”

“What do you mean, we’re going home?” Summer
noticed her grandmother’s eyes misted over.

“When I was a little girl my
nah’ah
took me…like her
nah’ah
before her took her…and so it has
been done for all the ages. Now it is my turn to take you.”

“Where exactly is that?” Summer hoped they
wouldn’t be living on the hot prairie, treeless and no streams.

“Our people would camp on the prairie beyond
the eastern shore of Many Chief’s River. It is now called St.
Mary’s Lake. My women relatives would leave the camp and set up two
tipis further east, alongside the Green Banks.”

“I’m glad to hear we’ll at least be near a
river and hopefully under some shaded trees. Why did they have two
tipis?” As she often did when a young girl, Summer found herself
caught up in
Nah’ah’s
story.

“It is for the protector. It is the duty of a
husband or a favored son to have a separate tipi nearby. He makes
sure the women have fresh food and are protected from animals,
especially the two-legged variety.”

Nah’ah’s
warm laughter made Summer
smile. “So will we have a protector?”

“Most certainly. You know him rather well,
since you dated his brother for two years or more,
Nato’sin
.”

“Cameron Running Crane? Why him?”

“I would have thought you’d be happy to have
a strong, upstanding young man of our people be our protector. He
has proven he has good aim with his rifle and he knows the land of
our ancestors better than most.”

“
Nah’ah
, you must get someone
else.”

“But why?”

“Because…because—”

“Because I’m the reason she and Terry split.”
Running Crane turned around in the pilot’s seat and stared back at
Summer.

“What the hell are you doing here?” She could
now see the resemblance to the younger man she remembered.

“Watch your language, young lady,” Nah’ah
said.“Just so you know, I am the reason Terry and Summer broke up.
She has a right to be angry with me.”

“No, that isn’t the reason,” Nah’ah looked
from Summer to Cameron Running Crane. “She and Terry stopped seeing
each other because he didn’t want her to go to college. He wanted
her to marry him and stay on the res. She left for school and he
married that white girl, Peggy Baker.”

Summer glared at him. “You really know how to
fly this thing?”

“Well, I hope so. We haven’t crashed yet so I
guess I’m doing okay.”

Nah’ah
leaned forward and patted him
on the shoulder. “
Nato’sin
is a member of the Smokejumpers,
aren’t you? Why would you think you caused
Niipo
and Terry
to break up?”

“It was a long time ago, maybe it’s best left
there.” Running Crane turned his back to them.

“Tell me,
Niipo
. You know how I must
know everything.”

Summer laughed at her grandmother’s honesty.
“Well, like Cameron said, it was such a long time ago. I was
waiting for Terry to come meet me at a school dance. It was hot in
the school auditorium so I went outside and leaned against a large
cottonwood out back. I heard someone coming up behind me and I
thought it was Terry, so I didn’t bother turning around. He came up
and kissed the back of my neck, then my cheek, and then he swung me
around and kissed me on the lips. I thought it was—”

“No you didn’t think it was Terry. I saw you
watching me dance with Sarah Dark Cloud and she did, too. She
commented that you watched me a lot. She was certain you were more
interested in me than with my brother.”

“That’s crap, and you know it! I…never
encouraged you.”

“You knew I wasn’t Terry and you kissed me
back with the kind of passion I haven’t experienced since.”

Summer swallowed hard. “Imagine all you want.
I thought you were Terry.”

“I know, that’s your story and you’re
sticking to it.”

“My…my…this is most interesting,” Nah’ah
giggled into her hand. “Maybe our campfires will allow for the
truth to be told.”

“I’ve already told the truth. It appears you
haven’t changed much, Cameron. Still think you’re irresistible,
don’t you?”

“But neither of you are telling me how this
broke-up Terry and
Niipo
,”
Nah’ah
prodded.

Running Crane cleared his throat. “Wouldn’t
you know it. Terry walked up and pulled us apart. He glared at
Summer
and spit at her feet. The real surprise came when he
punched me in the jaw. Knocked me on my as…uh butt.”

Summer noticed her grandmother had covered
her mouth with her hand. She was either appalled by Terry’s
behavior or amused. “Now you know the whole story. Not exactly
worth talking about.”

“You never told me this. How strange.”

“Not really. We were young and I was heading
for college. Most high school sweetheart marriages don’t make it.
They’re too young to be making such commitments. I’m glad I didn’t
have to explain why I wasn’t willing to marry Terry.”

Running Crane glanced back. “Now it makes
sense. You were hoping I’d try to kiss you and you knew Terry was
on his way and would see us. I feel used!”

Nah’ah
laughed. “Men rarely have a
clue what is happening around them. Consider yourself lucky you got
to kiss
Niipo
.” She laughed again.

“
Nah’ah
, you’re not helping at all.
How long before we—”

“Well, strange you should ask. We’re at our
destination, ladies. Hold onto anything solid, I’ve only landed
this thing one other time by myself.”

“What? Are you kidding? You picked a fine
time to let us know—” Several jolting bumps sent Summer pressing
back into her seat. She grabbed Nah’ah’s hands between her own. The
rough ground sent them bouncing in their seats. Summer swallowed
hard. They finally slowed, then stopped. She released a heavy sigh
of relief.

“Well, that was painless.” He shut down the
engine while the blades slowed with each revolution.

“Funny, Cameron.” Summer released her death
grip from the chair arm and unhooked her seatbelt. She drew in a
deep breath before reaching over and helping
Nah’ah
with her
seatbelt.

“Do you think you could manage to call me
Nato’sin
or Running Crane, like everyone else?”

“I know a few other things I’d like to call
you. Stop trying to push my buttons. I’m not impressed.” Summer
waited for him to slide open the door. He extended his hand and
ignoring his offer, she jumped to the ground and dropped to her
knees. By the time she got up,
Running Crane
had assisted
Nah’ah
out of the chopper.

Summer grabbed her bags and stomped up the
trail. Looking up she stopped abruptly. Their tipis edged the
grassy plateau overlooking St. Mary’s River. Like a painting they
were tucked under green groves of balsam poplars and willow
thickets. The sharp peak of Chief Mountain rose like a great
pyramid. Both sides of the river were lined by masses of
sweet-briar roses.”

“It takes my breath away every time,”
Nah’ah
pointed to the Chief Mountains and said, “Our people
believe
Nin-as-tako
is home to
Ksiistsi-komm
.”

“The Chief Mountains are the home of thunder?
How is that,
Nah’ah
?” Summer dropped her bags and turned
toward her grandmother.

“Legend says Thunder was jealous of a man and
wanted his wife. He struck their tipi, knocked him unconscious and
stole the woman. When the man recovered, he wandered all over,
asking many animals to help him find his wife. All were afraid of
the power of Thunder. Finally,
Omahkai-stow
agreed to
help.”

“Raven helped? My father often says Raven is
cunning and has the power of giving people far sight,” Running
Crane stood beside Summer.

“And my father says Raven tells our people
when game is near. He’d even call to the hunter and fly away, only
to return and call again while flying toward the game. Like this
information is of any use to us now, right?”

“I like the old legends, Summer. Finish your
story, Morning Star.” Running Crane scowled at Summer.

“You may call me
Nah’ah
.”

“Why should he call you grandmother?”

“Because I will allow him to,
Niipo
.
Now back to my story. Raven did help. He flew to Thunder’s home and
challenged him. Thunder shot lightning bolts at Raven, trying to
kill him. But he flapped his wings until he brought cold north
winds and snow,”
Nah’ah
cleared her throat and continued.
“It didn’t take long and the cold slowed Thunder until he was not
able to strike his dangerous bolts of lightning at Raven. It was a
long battle, but finally Thunder gave up and returned the man’s
wife.”

“What does that have to do with the Chief
Mountains?” Summer asked.

“Raven insisted that he and Thunder divide
the year into two parts—winter, which is Raven’s season, and
summer, which is Thunder’s time. Raven also ordered Thunder to make
a peace treaty with man and to give our people his pipe as a sign
of this agreement. From that day onward we have opened our Thunder
Medicine Pipe Bundles each spring at the first sound of thunder. We
ask for good weather, good crops and good luck for the coming year.
Raven lives at a place now called Crowsnest Mountain and Thunder
lives at
Ninast’ako
, or Chief Mountain.”

“Thank you,
Nah’ah
. It always amazes
me that every part of this land has a tale.”