Chapter 3

"You did well," Tall Grass said to Marcy. "I am glad you passed the GED.

"Thank you. I can't believe I'm a real Apache," she said.

"We prefer Kiowa, although we're Kiowa Apache," he said.

"And you are my Chief," she said.

"I want you to think about what you would like to study," he said.

"I thought I just passed," she said.

"I want to go to the community college in Albuquerque. I don't want you to ever be stuck, without options," he said.

"What do you think I should study, maybe law?" she asked.

"I think you should study what you are interested in," he said.

"You won't laugh?"

"I won't laugh," he said.

"I want to be a doctor," she said.

"Then we'd better plan for you to make all A's. Medical school is tough to get in," he said.

"You are serious. You think I could be a doctor?" she asked.

"It is hard, but I don't see why not," he said.

"I can't afford to go to school," she said.

"You are in my family now. I will help you. We can afford it.

"My mother's brother is a doctor at Johns Hopkins. Going there may be a stretch, but I don't see why you can't go to medical school here," he said.

"Maria told me you were nice. Can I tell you a secret?" she asked.

"Go ahead."

"I thought you just wanted to fuck me and all this stuff about family was just to get in my pants," she said.

"What's in your pants is nice, but I want you to be in the family too," he said.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" she asked.

He said, "No, I am going to be with Maria until we leave.

"And I am taking you back to get a diaphragm. Getting pregnant won't do."

Marcy Randolph registered for the pre-med courses at the community college. She was frightened, but she was determined not to end up like her mother.

Tall Grass' schedule was much the same. Marcy exercised with him and helped with the children. She had a lot of labs, so the he walked to class and she took the truck.

His study partner had gotten engaged over the holidays.

She told him, "Charles is different. He went to Tech and is an engineer at Los Alamos. We were in high school together, but he wasn't in my social circle. I thought he was a nice guy but a bit squirrelly. His father is a Presbyterian minister.

"He asked me out and really listened to me. He is very interested in me, not just getting in my pants. After all the shallow, face guys I dated, Charles was a relief. Anyway, we went out every night. It felt right when he asked me, so I said yes."

Tall Grass said, "I am happy for you. When's the big day?"

"First weekend in June. We already have the church and club reserved. I want you to come," she said.

"I would be honored," she said.

"What's new with you?" she asked.

"Not much, but I want you to come over and eat with us. I do have a housekeeper, so your virtue is safe," he said.

She frowned at him, "A housekeeper?"

"What could I do? My daughter introduces me to this beautiful blonde who wanted to move in?"

She smiled, "I should have known. Is that why you didn't make a pass at me?"

"No, I just met her over Christmas. I was sure attracted to you, but I didn't want to mess up school and I enjoyed studying with you," he said.

"Me too. Of course that was before I knew about the blonde. Now you are on my bad list.

"My dad is a huge football fan. He wants to meet you. He was disappointed that I didn't bring you home with me. He would have loved you as a son in law."

He said, "I hope that Charles is all you ever want."

"Thank you, me too. I think everyone figured we had something going on, so the wolves stayed away. You know you scare the hell out of some people?" she asked.

"Did you read through your texts for the semester?" he asked.

"Sure, and you did too," she said.

"What are you going to do when you get out of here?" he asked.

"I am going to be the trust officer of First National Bank of Los Alamos. The trust officer is going to retire when I graduate. Charles and I decided that summers, holidays, and some weekends will be enough. And Brooke?" she asked.

"A hundred miles isn't that far. Brooke sent me a nice note for the book dedication, that's all," he said.

"Sorry." She squeezed his hand. "I loved my drawing."

She paused, "Thank you for helping me though the semester. I know I can make it now. You helped a lot with my confidence, at all the right times. And I never would have gone out with Charles before you. I like nice now."

Tall Grass really enjoyed the tribal law class. With civil rights brewing, the professor laid out strategies for the Indian Nation. Time flew by until spring break.

Marcy didn't have a break, so she stayed with Princess and Warrior.

He rode the train home to see his parents'. And he rode it into Philadelphia and had lunch with Brooke.

When he saw her, his heart raced. They embraced and he said, "You look terrific. How are you?"

"You look fit and tan. And as handsome as ever," she said.

He took her hand and she smiled.

"You are still the only man I ever let into my heart or my pants," she said.

He pulled her hand to his chest. "Can you feel my heart racing?"

She said, "We can go to Bookbinders? It's on my expense account."

"I would as soon have a Philly cheese steak sub and talk," he said.

"Me too," she said.

They sat and talked for an hour. Then she walked with him to Penn Station. The only time they really broke the rules was when he kissed her, really kissed her, goodbye.

As he walked away, he stopped and turned, "Even though I won't call or write, I'll be thinking about you. Goodbye, Brooke."

Brooke said, "Bye."

He stayed at his parents' house three days. His father asked him to do a book signing and make a talk at the college library.

The talk drew a respectable number of people. Tall Grass included Janet and April in the signing. The next day he returned to Albuquerque.

He got a Pullman on the way back. He thought a lot about Brooke in the Pullman bed.

Marcy and the kids met him at the train station.

He did well again the spring semester, but not as well as Marcy. Marcy transferred to the University and signed up for a full load in the summer to catch up. She wanted be admitted to medical school at the end of her third year, but her advisor told her that it wasn't likely to happen with a GED and her first semester at the community college. Tall Grass and the kids went back to the Western Land for the summer. Marcy stayed in the apartment and went to summer school.

Black Rock was accepted at Texas A&M to study petroleum management. Maria planned to go to Texas Tech in Range Management. Tall Grass took her to the council meetings. He purchased a several surplus Jeeps. Six chiefs got one, including Black Rock.

Maria went with him when he visited the small ranches on the Western Land. He had the ranches sign leases with the Kiowa. A twenty-year lease didn't cost more than the windmill and well, which Tall Grass put on the property. He brought two families of Mexican Indians from Maria's village. She trained them to operate the drill rig.

The ranches had never heard of adverse possession and Tall Grass wasn't going to put them in the position to use it. Law school had taught him a few things.

South of Abbott they found a Kiowa family, the Parks family, who lived on the northern border of Western Land. Mr. Parks was a Kiowa and his wife was a prim Angelo schoolteacher. She taught in Abbott and Mr. Parks ranched. They had one son, a bright boy about Maria's age. While Tall Grass visited with the parents, Maria and Robert talked.

As soon as Tall Grass and Maria got in the Jeep, he knew. "You like Robert."

She nodded. "He wants to study land management too. They don't have enough money. Can you help him?"

They got out of the Jeep and went back to the house.

The Parks were a bit concerned.

Tall Grass said, "Maria tells me that Robert is interested in land management. I have scholarship money for the study of range management, civil or agricultural engineering, or agronomy. Maria is going to study range management at Texas Tech. Would you be interested in a scholarship?"

They were.

"The scholarship requires that you return to the Kiowa land, either here or the Eastern Land. It pays for all expenses," Tall Grass said.

I haven't seen that sparkle in Maria's eyes. Robert has the same look.

"We are building a Western Land council house in Mills. Maria is surveying the land. We could employ Robert this summer also," he said.

Maria and Robert liked that idea.

Mr. Parks said, "That would be nice, but I need Robert's help this summer."

"I have an Indian family from Mexico that could help year around for half of what Robert makes this summer," he said.

Mr. Parks was reluctant, but it was evident that Robert was excited. So he agreed.

Tall Grass thought, By the time I get back with the family, Maria and Robert will know each other intimately.

In the Jeep, Tall Grass said, "When I get back, you will not be pregnant."

That night she showed her appreciation.

"Only one man at a time," he said.

She nodded.

"Fix up a place for the Mexican family. Some time you might want to take him to the falls on a hot day," he suggested.

When he got back with the family, they had the look of excited lovers. They got the family settled in near the Parks.

Maria asked, "Could I stay in Mills?"

He hugged her kissed her forehead and nodded.

That night Anna moved into his bed. She said, "It has been forever. Please let me stay."

In August, Robert came to Tall Grass, "Do I have your permission to ask Maria to marry me?"

"Yes. Your folks?" he asked.

"That would prefer we waited, but they agreed," he said.

Friday at dusk, Tall Grass made Robert the second chief of the Western Land.

Tall Grass performed the wedding ceremony at dawn Saturday. Marcy brought Princess and Warrior. Dolph and Dawn came. Black Rock and his family came. Stinson and his family came.

The ceremony and party were at the home site that Maria and Robert had selected for their new home. It was on the west bank of the Canadian River almost midway between Tall Grass and Robert's parents. Tall Grass drilled a deep-water artesian well for them, gave them enough money to furnish their apartment in the married student apartments at Texas Tech, and a new pickup. They spent their honeymoon camped in the pickup on their land.

Friday and Saturday nights, Marcy was in Tall Grass's bed. Chief Stinson talked with Anna about enrolling in the paramedic-training program. She enrolled in the paramedic-training program and Rosa enrolled in the community center chef-training program.

Tall Grass found out about the law school saying, the first year they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death, and the third year they bore you to death. He didn't know about the bore part, but his second year they worked him hard. And his newlywed study partner perked up each time her husband visited. Just before Thanksgiving, he was selected to be editor of the Tribal Law Review. There was a semester overlap so the last editor helped him for the spring semester.

At Thanksgiving, they all returned to the house. This year, the Parks were invited. The chef instructor, a retired Army mess steward, was Rosa's guest. And a young paramedic student, Wes, was Anna's guest. I don't know if my family is growing or splitting.

Everyone seemed to be doing well. Maria and Robert loved their classes. Rosa had never been happier. And Anna and her young man were very interested in each other.

Tuesday evening, Anna came to Tall Grass, "I have not taken Wes to my bed, but I want to."

He kissed her cheek and said, "I hope it works out."

From the look on their faces Wednesday, at least, Tuesday night worked out well.

At lunch Wednesday, Tall Grass said, "Anna, you and Wes are welcome to stay with us."