f course, even then I will still let Yellow Hair have him, sometimes._

When Redbird awoke at sunrise and got up to begin the day's foraging,
Yellow Hair was back sleeping in her own place. In the faint light that
filtered through the wickiup's elm-bark skin, her pink mouth looked soft
and childlike.

White Bear was seated cross-legged on his bed, loading the rifle he had
brought with him when he came back to the tribe. With food so short,
even the shaman had to go out and try to hunt to supply his family; the
people he treated had no gifts to give him. She stood looking at him,
waiting for him to speak to her, but he kept his eyes on his rifle with
foolish shyness.

Did he think she was angry at him, or that she was going to tease him,
the way Water Flows Fast might?

Poor Water Flows Fast--she made few jokes since her husband, Three
Horses, was killed at Old Man's Creek.

Redbird said, "I know what happened last night. I am glad that it
happened. It was good for her and for you."

Now White Bear's dark eyes met hers, troubled. "Yes, it is good for me
and Nancy--Yellow Hair--but only for now."

"What troubles you?" she asked him.

"One day, when Yellow Hair must leave us and go back to her own people,
I think she will be very sad. That is why I did not lie with her when
she wanted me to at Victor. I knew we would have to part."

"Now she has what she wants, at least for as long as she stays with us.
Now she will have something to think about besides how afraid she is."

He smiled at her. "And you made it happen. I know that you sent her to
me. You are a great troublemaker."

He stood up and stroked her cheek with his fingertips, and she felt a
glow inside, certain now that speaking to Yellow Hair had been right.

* * * * *

The afternoon sun heated the interior of the birthing wickiup till it
felt like a sweat lodge.

Redbird screamed. It was not a baby; it was a wild horse down there,
kicking its way out. She felt about to faint.

The pain died away. Groaning, Redbird went limp between Wind Bends Grass
and Yellow Hair, who held her arms. Sun Woman crouched before Redbird,
observing the progress of the birth by the light of a single candle.

Her skin slick with sweat, Redbird was squatting naked over a pile of
blankets in the center of the wickiup. Her back and legs ached
unbearably.

"You don't have to scream so loud," Wind Bends Grass said abruptly. "It
doesn't hurt