Winter Counts(57)
The meal was served, and it was excellent, just as Lack had promised. Nathan didn’t say a word during the feast but ate an astonishing amount. I had to remind him to make sure everyone had been served seconds before he inhaled the rest. Marie made coffee—some brand I hadn’t seen called New Mexico Pi?on—and Lack served small dishes of fresh berries for dessert.
After we finished with the fruit, Brandi turned to me and whispered, “Can we get wateca?” Knowing Ann and her feelings about rez customs, I shook my head a little. There was no way Ann would let people take home leftovers. She’d rather die than allow a wateca battle. Brandi looked at me with an expression of pure sadness.
“Uh, I suppose I have an announcement, everyone,” Marie said.
The whole table looked at her. Ann had a look of distress on her face, and I could guess what she was expecting Marie to say. Something about our relationship. She was probably imagining that Marie was pregnant or engaged or tied to me in some way.
“I think most everybody here knows I applied to medical school about six months ago. Brandi and Shawna, sorry about this boring stuff.” Brandi raised her hand and smiled. “So, I’ve been accepted at U of New Mexico med. In Albuquerque. That’s all.”
Ann let out a loud shriek that startled us all. “Congratulations! I knew you could do it. Your sister will be so proud. We’ll start packing right away.”
“Mom, I haven’t accepted their offer yet. It’s a big decision, because I’d have to do my residency in New Mexico and stay there five years after that. I don’t know I’m ready to leave Rosebud for that long. I mean, the whole point of becoming a doctor is to help our people.”
I could see the irritation blooming in Ann’s face. “Don’t be ridiculous. This is your chance to get out of here and become a professional. Someone respected. You can help the Indians in New Mexico and then come back here if you’d like. There’s no question you are going to move there for your schooling.”
“Mom, we can talk about this later. I’m excited, but I need to think this through, decide if it’s the right time. And I’m still waiting to hear from South Dakota’s med school.”
“My dear,” said Ann, “there is nothing to think about. Tomorrow you will send your confirmation or your deposit or whatever it is you need to send. And that’s that.”
I thought I should let Marie and her mother have their discussion without me, so I sneaked out back for another smoke while the conversation swirled.
“Let’s go over there.”
Startled, I looked behind me and saw Ben Short Bear. We walked behind a tin toolshed.
“Wanted to talk to you before you left. Seemed like a good time. They’ll be in there a while fighting. Nothing new. So, what’s the deal with Nathan and Rick Crow? I called Charley Leader Charge, but he says he can’t talk to me now that he’s Nathan’s lawyer.”
I knew Ben and Charley were friends, but it was unsettling to learn Ben was pumping the lawyer for information. But again, I didn’t see how I could freeze Ben out, given what he’d done for us.
“Nathan’s assisting in the investigation. I’m staying out of it, letting the feds bring the heat. Rick’s a scumbag, and he can rot in prison.”
“Assisting in the investigation? Does that mean he’ll wear the wire?”
Did he really not know about this, or was he testing my honesty? My gut told me to tell as few people as possible about Nathan’s status as a CI. But I couldn’t see how confirming this to Ben could hurt.
“Yeah, he’s going undercover. That’s all I know.”
“Glad to hear it. Long past time to get rid of the bottom feeders around here. Can I get one of those?” he asked, pointing to my cigs. I was surprised. I didn’t think Ben smoked, but I gave him one and he lit up.
“You know,” he said, taking a puff, “I was the one who exposed that dimwit who was pocketing the housing money. You remember that, about ten years ago?”
He didn’t wait for me to respond.
“Moron was taking housing vouchers from the government, depositing them in his own account. Idiots on the tribal council didn’t know, or maybe they were in on it. I was the only one with the smarts to notice something was wrong, so I went straight to the BIA, stopped the scam. Now we got hundreds of people in low-cost housing. Some of them are bums, sure, but not all. Point is, I did some good. That’s when I decided to run for tribal council.”
He took another drag.
“People around here think tribal politicians just want a paycheck and a per diem. But believe it or not, some of us are trying to do the right thing. Not always easy—we got to balance the BIA, OST, and the state blockheads. The paperwork, Jesus. But there’s a chance to make some changes if I get elected tribal president. I need your help—don’t let me down, all right?”
He crushed the cigarette with his shoe.
We returned to the dinner, where the conflict between Marie and her mother had apparently ended and the party had devolved into separate conversations. Marie and Brandi were talking while Ann conversed intensely with Lack.
I was ready to leave the party, but noticed that Shawna and Nathan were over in the corner, engaged in rapid-fire teen-speak. I saw him make some big gesture with his hands, and both of them erupted in laughter. He looked happy. He’d had so much of his childhood taken away, and there were so many problems to face in the next few weeks. Without anyone noticing, I slipped out to the backyard again and lit up a smoke.