The American did not understand.
Neither did Pierre. Was the Mandan chief insisting all ten buffalo remain in the village? Pierre felt his muscles tense. He saw Captain Clark’s jaw tighten as well, apparently reaching the same conclusion—and no happier with it than Pierre was. They were hungry. It had been a joint hunting party. They would stand for no less than an equal share of the meat.
The chief continued gesturing toward his women, speaking louder, more emphatically. Noting the suspicious gazes of the surrounding warriors, Pierre gripped his musket tighter. Something lightly touched his arm. Jerking to the side, he found Miss Manette before him.
“Chief Black Cat is offering you assistance,” she said.
“What type of assistance?” Pierre asked warily.
“He says the women will prepare your share of the buffalo for you.”
“Our share?”
“Yes.”
So the chief hadn’t intended to claim the entire kill. Pierre quickly relayed the message to Captain Clark. The American’s face softened immediately. He bowed respectfully to the chief, then looked back at Pierre. “Please tell Black Cat that while his offer is greatly appreciated, it is Captain Lewis’s wish for the men to return at once to the fort. We will butcher the animals there.”
Pierre relayed the instructions to Miss Manette, but she cut him off mid-message with a perturbed look. Then, turning, she spoke most respectfully to her chief.
Pierre remembered her words. “Understand English? Oui. Speak? No.”
Black Cat forthwith dismissed the women surrounding the soldiers’ portion of the kill, and the men carried off the animals. Before turning to go, Chief Black Cat made one final remark to the American captain. Clark nodded and smiled. Miss Manette chuckled softly.
“What did he say?” Pierre asked,
She suddenly looked very uncomfortable, and Pierre couldn’t resist teasing her just a bit.
“Go on,” he nudged. “I know it was more than a wish for pleasant dreams.”
A hint of a smile tugged at her mouth, one she looked like she was trying desperately to keep hidden. Does she think I am amusing? he wondered.
“The chief said the white men are powerful hunters—”
“Thank you,” Pierre replied, his chest swelling just a bit.
“—but that you insist on doing women’s work.”
So much for his pride. Irritation took its place, for the look in her eyes seemed to say that she enjoyed taking him down a peg. “I see,” he said, curtly. “Thank you for relaying the message.”
She nodded brusquely, then added, “Black Cat says he does not understand your ways.”
And that brought Pierre directly to his next order of business. Understanding each other’s ways, and words, were the keys to peace. “Which is why Captain Lewis requests your presence at the fort.”
The smug look instantly vanished. Her eyes widened. Pierre couldn’t help but notice again what a lovely shade of green they were. Before he could tell her exactly why the captain had requested her, the mademoiselle’s mother approached.
Pierre removed his cap, bowed. “Madame,” he said.
The older woman seemed more at ease with him than did her daughter. She smiled broadly.
“This is my mother,” Miss Manette said guardedly. “Her name is Evening Sky.”
Madame Manette then said something to her daughter in Mandan.
“Oui,” the mademoiselle responded.
“Your mother speaks French, as well?” he asked.
“She understands but cannot speak with ease.”
“I see,” Pierre said once more.
“My mother asked if you were one of the soldiers who helped Spotted Eagle. I told her yes.”
“How is the boy?” Pierre asked.
“Much better, merci. Please express my thanks to Captain Lewis.”
“You can tell him yourself. He asks that you come to the fort and assist us with understanding your language, help us compile a list of words, an explanation of your tribal customs.”
Mother and daughter exchanged glances. “But Sacagawea—” the younger woman then said.
“Evidently there has been some sort of disagreement.”
“Oh.”
There was a long pause. Pierre could clearly see her hesitancy. Did she think the captain would command her service without payment?
“You would be rewarded for your service,” he told her.
Her eyes flashed angrily. “I’ve no need for useless trinkets.”
So vain baubles didn’t appeal to her. He respected that, but he wasn’t about to tell her so. It irritated him that she had so quickly assumed she’d be paid in useless trinkets. What did she think he and the other men were? A pack of scoundrels looking to trick or take advantage of the native tribes? We are here to explore the land, foster good relations between the tribes, promote fair trade for all. “You would have to discuss payment with Captain Lewis,” he said.
Her mother touched her lightly on the sleeve, spoke again to her in Mandan. The cross look on the daughter’s face softened slightly, but her expression toward him remained anything but friendly. “Tomorrow,” Miss Manette then said to him.
“Tomorrow?”
“Please tell Captain Lewis that I will pray about his offer and give you my answer tomorrow.”
Pierre squinted. Pray about it? While he respected her faith, this was hardly a life-or-death decision. What exactly was there to pray about? It was a few days’ work at most. Knowing Charbonneau, he’d come crawling back as soon as he realized the captains could do without him.
“The work is only temporary,” Pierre told her.
“I understand,” she said. “Still...tomorrow.”
Pierre couldn’t help but feel a measure of disappointment, but why, he did not know. He certainly didn’t enjoy conversing with this woman. Was he disappointed in his ability to perform his duties in persuading her to comply? Did he fear his captain would think him a failure if he didn’t bring her to the fort immediately?
Across the way, an Indian, a powerful-looking man with eagle plumes in his hair and arms the size of trees, was staring at Pierre. Who was he? A relative? Did he distrust the men at the fort as much as Mademoiselle Manette obviously did? Is he the cause of her delay? Whoever he was, Pierre instantly recognized he was not one to be trifled with.
“Very well, mademoiselle,” Pierre said. “I shall relay your message to Captain Lewis.” He tipped his cap to her and her mother, then returned to the fort.
* * *
After the meat had been carved and equally distributed among the tribe, Claire and her mother returned to their lodge. A comforting fire was glowing, smoke curling toward the small hole in the center of the roof. Claire was glad for its warmth. Although her mother did not complain, Evening Sky was walking slowly today. The cold made the older woman’s bones ache. Claire helped settle her mother in the spot against the wall, then piled the buffalo skins around her.
They shared this dwelling with twenty other family members—Running Wolf and his wife, their children, their spouses and several grandchildren, as well. It was within these walls that Claire’s Mandan family told their stories, tales of spirits and souls.
Claire loved and respected her aunt and uncle, her cousins and her cousins’ children. She wanted to believe they cared for