I nodded.
She changed the subject, probably hoping to divert my attention. “So, KRZZ is looking for a new morning drive guy?”
I watched as the black horse carrying my daughter crossed the clearing as the other maidens, including Dena Many Camps, followed on their own mounts in single file. “I guess so. It turned out the first child that Audrey miscarried was Clarence’s, but when he was in Iraq he got hurt.”
Vic leaned in. “So the one that went over the cliff with his mother?”
“Adrian.”
“Adrian belonged to Herbert His Good Horse?”
“Yep. Audrey was leaving the Rez with Clarence and taking Adrian with her. I guess it was more than Herbert could stand; Adrian is the last living heir to the His Good Horse name.”
“What about the nephew in the wheelchair?”
“Karl’s name was different, Red Fox, and that’s why it didn’t ring any bells on the medication listing I got from Lolo Long’s mother at Health Services-at least at first.”
“And the bracelet belonged to Karl?”
“Yep, it belonged to his great-grandfather, who fought in France during WWI; then Herbert used it to put Karl’s medication on when he lost his legs in the car crash. After a while, Karl was doing so well that Herbert started wearing the bracelet as a reminder. Audrey must’ve pulled it off of him when they were struggling.”
“So, he was the one who tried to run over you on 212?”
“Yep.”
“And Herbert made the tape from recordings at the Tribal Offices?”
“Yep, and just filled in the parts he needed Clarence to say by manipulating his own voice. He’d been worried about what Audrey was going to do and had been taping her for months.”
“And used the Old Indian Trick of blaming it on the FBI?”
I shifted my weight. “Herbert was a source for the BIA and dropped the tape on them anonymously. The FBI would’ve figured it out with a little more analysis, but everybody was in a hurry to jail Artie.”
“Well, they must not have taken it too badly since they’re in attendance.” She glanced at the collected law- enforcement and then over their heads where a small contingency of tribal security, two officers to be exact, stood watch. “Is that her?”
I rested my eyes on the tall woman with the broad shoulders, her hair loose for once, spreading down her back like a luxurious, blue-black shawl. I noticed she’d traded in the S amp;W for a Sig-Sauer P229. 40, complete with stylish rosewood grips. After a second, the jasper eyes turned and looked back at us, and I could’ve sworn she’d overheard our conversation from almost fifty feet away. The nearest eyebrow was arched, and her full lips were smiling.
My undersheriff turned her head to look at me. “I don’t like her.”
“Too bad; you have a lot in common.”
“You think so?”
I turned and looked at her for a change. “I was giving sheriff lessons.”
“I bet you were.”
A familiar voice sounded from just behind us. “I hate to break up this lovely conversation, but would you mind going and helping your daughter off the horse so that she can get married?”
I glanced back at the Cheyenne Nation, master of ceremonies, my best friend, and the man who was going to actually be marrying my daughter to Michael Moretti. “ E-hestana Na-he-stonahanotse.”
He looked at me blankly.
“Right?”
He shrugged and nudged me with a strong hand. “Close enough.”
Vic added, under her breath, “You’re on.”
I started the walk down the aisle between the two families, as Ruby, always able to read my moods, stretched a hand out to squeeze mine as I passed, in a token of reassurance.
There were rows of poles meandering across the meadow and leading into the forest at the head of the valley that led down to the springs. The staffs were festooned with Indian paintbrush and white and pale-blue ribbons, the Cheyenne traditional colors, and flittered in the slight breeze.
The scent of cedar, sage, and sweetgrass filtered through the air as I pulled up at the back of the crowd alongside the tribal police chief and sighed deeply.
She glanced at me, still wearing the smile. “I don’t think your undersheriff likes me.”
“No, I don’t think she does.” I glanced at Lolo Long. “You mind telling me something?”
“What?”
“What is it you’ve got against Henry?”
She looked uncomfortable, and I was almost sorry I’d asked. “Nothing big.” She paused. “I had this huge crush on him when I was a kid, and he never gave me the time of day. He even dated my mom.”
I glanced at her.
“There was a time when my mother was rather hot.”
“I don’t doubt it.” I played with the ring on my little finger. “Where is your mother?”
“In Billings, making arrangements to adopt Adrian-there was no other time or she would be here. I’m supposed to go up there after the ceremony.”
I leaned a little forward and watched as Albert Black Horse, in full Tribal Police uniform, did his best to ignore us and watch my daughter approach. “Well, you’ve got good help these days.”
I listened as the Four Dances Drum Group beat in time to the horses walking down the pathway. E-hestana Na-he-stonahanotse, E-hestana Na-he-stonahanotse, E-hestana Na-he-stonahanotse.
“I might try and visit my son, while I’m up there.”
I nodded my head, and then realized what she’d said and smiled back at her.
“Nothing big, just touching base. You know, get things started.”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
She waited a moment before speaking again, and I could tell it was still hard for her. “If I haven’t mentioned it…”
“You have.”
She leaned a shoulder into my arm and bumped me-and that was enough.
The black mare made the last turn in the path, and I could now see that its mane was braided like Cady’s hair. “You know, it was something you said that jogged my memory loose about the connection between Herbert and Karl and the bracelet. When you were getting ready to head off, you said something about the family stuff being more than you wanted to handle, and it got me thinking.”
“You’re being kind.”
“I’m being honest.” I took a breath and repeated my line, careful to not speak out loud this time.
“You’d be very proud of me, Walt; I wrote up a very nice report explaining to the DOJ that Special Agent Cly was instrumental in breaking the case and that I was looking forward to working with him in the future.”
I nodded. “You’re trying to get rid of him.”
“Just as fast as paperwork can travel.”
Breathing a laugh, I glanced back at the AIC, and he raised his eyebrows at me.
My attention was drawn to the sky as two large, dark birds circled each other, and I quietly prayed that they weren’t turkey vultures. I looked at Lolo. “So, you’re going to keep the job?”
There was a long pause as she thought about it. “For a while; see if it suits me.”
I reached out and bumped the extra mags on her gunbelt with the back of my hand as I stepped forward. “It does.”
Cady had pulled Wahoo Sue up to the assigned spot; she was an admirable horsewoman but working without a saddle or bridle was always a trick. I raised my hands up to her, took her by the waist, and gently lowered her to the ground.
She looked at me and grinned, and I don’t think I’d ever seen her so beautiful. She spoke in a whisper as her hand crept up and stroked the big horse to quiet her. “So far, so good.”
“Better than the wedding march on an accordion, I can tell you that.” I took her hand, and we turned toward
