“Can I see it?” Doug leaned forward, examined it. “That is amazing artistry.”
“Thank you.” Naomi handed the second box to Chaska. “I know you don’t really wear jewelry, but I hope you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will.” Chaska opened the box and found himself smiling.
Inside, was a silver and turquoise pendant at the center of which was a bear of inlaid onyx. The bear had one paw raised, as if it were walking.
Chaska drew out the cord, held the pendant in his hand, and looked up to find Naomi watching him, her eyes bright. “Is this to remember the day we saw the bears?”
Not that he would ever forget that regardless.
She nodded, smiled.
“Pilamayayelo. I love it.” He put the cord over his head, settled the pendant against his shirt, and turned so that Doug and Winona could see it.
“The manager of my apartment complex picked them up from my place and shipped them to Knockers. Rain dropped by yesterday and hid them in the guest room for me. You’ve both done so much for me. I wanted to do something for you.”
Chaska rested his hand over the pendant. “I am proud to wear this.”
They cleaned up the dishes, and Chaska helped Doug load Naomi’s things into his SUV. “Are you heading straight to Pine Ridge?”
Doug shook his head. “We need to run by her apartment. She’s been gone longer than she intended and has bills and things to manage. We’ll spend Sunday there, pack up her stuff, and then leave for Pine Ridge Monday after she makes a trip to the bank. That’s the plan at any rate.”
And then it was time.
Naomi insisted on saying goodbye to Shota, who whined and wagged his tail when he saw her, licking her fingers through the enclosure fence. “Pilamayaye,Shota. Thank you for having such a good nose and finding me. You saved my life.”
Then they walked together back through the house and out the front door to Doug’s waiting vehicle.
Doug shook Chaska’s hand and then Winona’s. “Thank you both for everything. I will never have the words to tell you how grateful I am. I’ll see you around.”
He climbed into the vehicle, giving Naomi some privacy.
She hugged Winona, the two of them in tears. “A month ago, I didn’t know you, and now you’re my best friend. Wearesisters.”
“Yes, we are.” Winona kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you again soon.”
Chaska took Naomi into his arms, savored the precious feel of her, not wanting to let go and yet knowing he must. “Promise me you’ll give this all you’ve got. Throw yourself into it.”
She buried her face against his chest. “I promise.”
He stroked her hair. “I’ll visit. When you can drive again, you can visit us.Tecíhila. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She drew away, smiling up at him through her tears. “We’ll see each other again soon.”
“Yes, we will.” He kissed her soft and slow, then helped her into the vehicle, waving to her as Doug drove away.
Naomi watchedScarlet Springs disappear behind them.
“You don’t have to call me ‘father’ or ‘dad’ unless you want to,” Doug said. “You can call me Doug.”
“I like calling you ‘dad.’”
“Tell me about it—tell me about how you grew up.”
So, Naomi told him everything she could remember, sparing him no detail.
He listened, and she could see that her words distressed him. He reached over at one point to hold her hand. “That is no way to treat a child. In the old days, when the Lakota people were strong in their traditional ways, it was unheard of for a parent to strike a child. I’m so sorry, Naomi.”