March 31, 1870

Kansas. 

I spent the morning talking with the Apache tribe and then in the afternoon I took a seat at the rock looking out over the water. I watched the beavers at work and pulled out my notebook to write. 

“Haáahe miss Trin,” Young Doe said after a while, startling me. 

“Doe is in disguise. Me a cowboy!” she exclaimed. 

“Haáhee, little one. It is pretty here, isn’t it?” 

She nodded fast and said, “Miss Tala says Doe must stay here.” 

“I like sitting by the water and watching the beavers. Why did she say that?” 

“Um… She catch Doe in disguise in the saloon… Watching pretty dancing ladies in feathers.” 

“And she didn’t like that so much? Does Hawk and Sasha know you’re here?” 

“Miss Tala say many suns ago if she catch me in saloon again she take stick to me. I not know if they do or not,” she shrugged. 

“You should listen to Tala. You don’t want to get in trouble. You should listen to grownups,” I said and waved at Tala walking by. 

Doe continued to talk to me and I smiled as she rambled on. It was so good to be able to talk to her and know that she trusted me again. Tala came over and joined us and Doe continued to tell stories. Doe told a story about how Chief Nah asked Doe’s permission to court Tala but she didn’t want to, but she gave three conditions. 

“Three conditions?” 

“One: Must name first daughter after Doe. Two: Must learn how to hunt gator before courting start. Three: If ever mean to Miss Tala, Doe will geld him.” 

“Uh huh,” I smiled. “Those are good reasons.” 

Nah came over then and noted on how different Doe looked. Doe ran off and I looked at Nah. “I was watching the beavers… Chief, I think maybe I figured out my spirit guide…” 

“They are good to watch. Good, allow your Spirit Guide to talk to you is the next step,” Nah said as Doe wandered back to us.  

“These beavers... the way they work so well together.It’s how people should work together.” 

“Doe not like her spirit beast.” 

They are like us, a family,” Nah nodded. “Animals are smarter then some people.” 

“Beastie not see colour of skin,” Doe pointed out. 

“I would agree with you on that. I feel inspired and encouraged watching them work.” 

“Brown horse like white horse. White horse like red,” Doe said. 

“You’re right, Doe. Animals don’t care about skin colour. They live in harmony with one another, unless someone should come against their children. They protect their family.” 

“Can Miss Trin guess Doe’s spirit beastie?” Doe asked. 

“I guess that yours is the horse? The Chelee?” I looked to the chief for approval of my use of the word. 

“Nooooo. I not like mine,” Doe giggled. 

“You said it correct,” Nah smiled. 

“The bear?” I guessed. 

“Noooo. I give you hint. I get new name when I find spirit beastie My birth name was Mimiteh,” she said and I looked from Doe to Nah, confused. “My spirit beasties is deer,” she scowled. 

“I see,” I smiled. 

I continued to learn Apache words and we talked about our spirit guides and how there was a family deer a family of dear up on the hill. Doe ran around playing with the animals, including a big cat that had joined us. I told them how much at peace I felt by being in nature. 

“Does Miss Trin ever dance in feathers?” Doe asked me at one point.

“I used to... a long time ago. That is part of my old life now. I still have some of the dresses maybe though…” 

“We should have party where all ladies dance in feathers!” 

“Nah would shoot us all,” Tala laughed. 

“That he would,” I chuckled. 

“Why? He think you turkeys?” Doe giggled. 

“Maybe so, with all those feathers,” Tala and I chuckled. 

“I should go back to my teepee and get some rest. It was good to see you both this evening,” I said then. We said goodnight and I headed to my tipi for the night.