Whispering Spirits

by Rita Karnopp

  “Or what?”

  “You…take care of your beloved grandmother for the summer or until you get a job.”

  “I have no intention of returning to the Res, other than to visit Father and Nah’ah.”

  “I know you swore you’d never to return to the reservation to work, but your grandmother needs you. As much as I’d like to say go your own way—and good luck, your father wanted me to explain your choices.”

  “I’m ready to make some choices and…start a new life. I’ve been offered a position to teach creative writing at Carroll College in Helena and I’ve also been offered a similar position at Montana State University here in Missoula.”

  “I thought your degree was in Native History.”

  “I have my Masters in writing and a BS in Native History. Wouldn’t you think a mother would know such things?”

  “Summer, that’s about enough from you for one day. Even if you start teaching at one of those colleges in the fall, you’ll need work for the summer. I’m not certain spending the summer with your grandmother is going to put much money in your pocket, though. You have your choices, think them over, and let me know tomorrow when I return.”

  “Don’t bother coming back. Like I said, I’ll call Father and ask him to bring Nah’ah here.”

  “Aren’t you ever going to forgive me, Niipo?”

  “Don’t talk Blackfeet to me, mother. You hate everything that’s Native…including Father. You walked out of my life when I was ten. Don’t expect you can just walk back into it when I’m twenty-four.”

  “Your father has forgiven me.”

  “I’ve forgiven you, too. That doesn’t mean I have to accept you as my mother and welcome you back. It just means I don’t hate you anymore.”

  “Fine, if that’s the way you want it. You do realize I paid for half of that fancy degree you hold. A little gratitude and respect would be nice.”

  “I’ll pay you back.”

  “That’s not my point or what I meant and you know it. Your grandmother has turned you against me, hasn’t she?”

  “Nah’ah tells the truth. She doesn’t play games with people’s lives. She was there for me when I needed a mother. She nursed me back to health when I fell off my horse, and she was there when my first boyfriend broke my heart. She’s now eighty summers and I’d be honored and happy to be there for her when she needs me.”

  “That would mean going back to the reservation. Do you really want to spend your life in Browning, Montana?”

  “It wouldn’t be a sacrifice to take care of Nah’ah for the summer. It’ll give me time to think about which university I’ll want to teach at. Nah’ah can help me make that decision. The further away from here and Jordan’s death the better.”

  “You…missed the funeral last week. I sent a bouquet of white roses from you.”

  Summer swallowed hard. Tears flooded her eyes, then spilled onto her cheeks. “Thank you for doing that. I’m surprised you even bothered. You never liked him.”

  “It’s not that I didn’t like him…you never gave me the chance to get to know him. I had to form an opinion from information I read on the internet. Your father wasn’t much help.”

  “Can you blame him? You left him, too. His family ranch couldn’t be picked up and moved…so he had to face his family and friends…humiliated his wife ran off to California with some rich salesman. I’m glad Father’s finally over you and has—”

  “Has what…who?”

  Summer smiled. “You really thought he’d never find love again, did you? Isn’t it funny you seem so surprised and almost angry? I can see it in your expression. You thought he couldn’t love anyone but you, didn’t you? You revel in the idea he’s never remarried.” She studied her mother’s face. “What? No, don’t tell me you really thought in time he’d take you back…did you?” Summer laughed, then pressed her forehead into her palm.

  “No, I don’t want to return to your father. You really think I’d put myself out there to be ridiculed by—”

  “You’d never be accepted back, or you’d try to get Father to take you back, wouldn’t you? He’s moved on, Mother. He found a really nice woman to make him happy. She treats him with respect—”

  “Shut up, Summer. I don’t want to hear it. If he’s found someone, as you put it, he’d have told me.”

  “Why? You think he owes it to you? You think he needs to explain himself to you? He didn’t tell you because it’s none of your business. He doesn’t owe you any explanations. I wish he’d found her years ago.”

  “She’s probably some Blackfeet whore!”

  “Careful Mother, I’m half Blackfeet and I take offense to that kind of comment. One thing I do know, she won’t desert him like you did. She’s very much in love with him.”

  “What’s her name?” Her mother’s brow furrowed.

  “What does it matter to you?” Summer paused, realizing her mother looked devastated by the news.

  “What’s her name?”

  “If you must know, Wapun Peta.”

  “Dawn Golden Eagle…my best friend?”

  “Used to be your best friend. Her husband passed away about five years ago. Father hired her to do the cooking during branding and roundups…since you weren’t there. Guess a way to a man’s heart is his stomach.” Summer laughed, then grabbed her forehead again.

  “You want me to call a nurse for some pain meds?”

  “If I need a nurse I can push the help button all by myself. Would you please just leave?”

  The phone next to her bed rang. Summer turned and grabbed it before her mother could cross the room.

  “Hello?”

  “Summer?”

  “Yes. Who’s this?” She didn’t recognize the voice and it sounded like he had muffled the tone.

  “You shouldn’t have killed Derek Wallace.”

  “He shouldn’t have killed Jordan Perkins.”

  “Who’s that on the phone?” Winter stood at the end of Summer’s bed.

  “Give us the documents and we won’t hurt you.”

  “Who is this?” She tried recognizing the voice but it was definitely muddled. “I don’t know what you mean? What documents?” She swallowed hard and looked at her mother. The last person Summer wanted to know about the phone call was Winter Timber Wolf.

  “When we got to Jordan’s apartment we found him and Ali taking a shower together. Kinda stinks to know that about your boyfriend, doesn’t it?”

  “You’re lying. He had pants and a shirt on.”

  “Yep, I told him to get dressed and sent him to the living room with Derek. I had a chat with Ali.”

  “And you killed her.”

  “She had a choice to cooperate or die. The last thing she said was Jordan admitted he had the documents.”

  “And you believed her? She told you what you wanted to hear…and you killed her anyway.”

  “Actually I was going to let her go. She hadn’t seen either of us since we were wearing masks.”

  “Then why did you kill her?” Summer fought past the pain in her skull and the nausea that set in again.

  “She called me by name. Bitch knew me and was too stupid to keep it to herself. Too dumb to live is what I say. Derek didn’t plan on killing Jordan either. Derek was only after information. The gun went off accidentally. You ‘ll pay for killing him.”

  “I just wanted to knock him out. I’m not sure it was me who killed him.”

  “You trying to fuck with me, Summer? I was there, remember? You hit him and he dropped to the floor.”

  “I know that…but I didn’t mean to kill him…just knock him out. He was going to kill Jordan and I had to do something. Except…I did it too late.”

  “Find the documents and we’ll call it even. Not…and you’ll be buried right alongside your cheating boyfriend. I hope you’re smarter than Ali.”

  “What are these documents for?” Summer closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips into her forehead.

  “Don’t play st
upid with me, Summer. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Wait!” A steady beep answered. Summer stared at the phone.

  “Who was that? What documents did they want?” Her mother’s expression revealed more curiosity than concern.

  “I don’t know and…none of your business. I’ll take care of it myself.”

  “I’ve had enough lip from you. I’ll be back tomorrow. Get some sleep.”

  Summer closed her eyes and didn’t respond. “I need to talk to you, Nah’ah,” she whispered. Questions swarmed her mind. What if Jordan had been cheating with Ali? It really didn’t matter to her. What documents? How strange, the man on the phone kept calling her Summer as though he knew her. Could it have been Joshua?

  The door clicked shut…she jumped and snapped her eyes open.

  Chapter Two

  Summer scanned the dimly lit room, but saw no one. Her head pounded as her heart raced. What had she gotten herself into? Had her mother been right about Jordan all along? No, Summer couldn’t believe…she swallowed hard. Her lids grew heavy as she struggled to bring his image to her mind’s eye.

  She woke to darkness and an empty room. What caused her to wake? Was that sweetgrass she smelled? Summer quickly glanced around hoping to see Nah’ah…her gaze rested on a white envelop on the bed table. She tore it open and found a small, folded paper.

  Opening it, she read, “Go back to your people…it might be the only safe place for you. Trust no one.” She refolded the paper in half, then noticed in tiny print, “The devil can corner you in a house, but not in a tipi.”

  Summer stared at the note. She recalled using Herman Yellow Old Woman’s quote in her Native history thesis on the Blackfeet in Sitsikaa. Who would know that? Was this a warning or an attempt to scare her?

  Inching the blankets to her chin, Summer pulled her knees up and wished Nah’ah was there to make her feel safe.

  A nurse pushed through the door. “Looks like you had a good night’s sleep. I’m sorry to wake you, but I must take your temp and blood pressure. If you’re lucky, Doctor Wheat will release you today. How’s that headache?”

  Summer wanted to tell her she’d barely slept a couple of hours. “I’d like nothing more than to go…home.” The doctor wouldn’t release her if he knew she’d barely slept and her head still pounded. There was no way she was spending another night in this hospital room.

  “I’m feeling so much better.” The lie rolled off her tongue too easily. “What time will Doctor Wheat be coming to see me?”

  “You have time to eat some breakfast and take a shower. He’s usually doing rounds on our floor around ten. No temp but I see your blood pressure is still a bit high. Do you usually have an elevated blood pressure?”

  “No, but I’ve been under a lot of stress lately.”

  “Oh, your boyfriend was murdered, wasn’t he? I’m sorry, dear.”

  Summer nodded and looked away. Her relationship with Jordan was over, but she never wanted him dead.

  “Did anyone tell you that you had a late male visitor last night?”

  “No. Did you let him come to my room?” Summer suddenly clung to every word the nurse said.

  “It was way after visiting hours. We never let visitors disturb patients and certainly not around midnight. We sent him packing.”

  “What’d he look like?”

  “He was a man around thirtyish, tall, thin, and very handsome. He wore a nice black suit with a white shirt and tie. Strangest thing though.”

  “What?”

  “He wore white Nike Air Force One sneakers. I know because my son keeps hounding me for a pair and they’re too expensive for my salary. Both Doris and I noticed. Maybe that’s the style now days, but it still looked odd. Doris thinks he snuck back up the stairs and into your room anyway. I really don’t think so.”

  Summer looked at the bed table and then night stand. “No one came in here or I’d have noticed. Where’s the letter?”

  “Letter? You lose a card?”

  “There was a white envelop on the table. You didn’t see it? Maybe it fell on the floor?” She leaned over and checked the floor.

  The nurse looked under the bed. “I’m sorry, dear, but I don’t see a white envelop anywhere. You sure you didn’t dream it? Drugs can make you imagine all sorts of things.”

  “I didn’t dream it. It was there because I put it there. I read it last night and I know I placed it right here.” She slammed her palm on the table top.

  “Calm down or I’ll have to give you something to take the edge off.”

  “I don’t need…I’m sorry.” She drew in a long, deep breath. She needed to get released and throwing a fit wasn’t a means to that end. “Maybe you’re right. I could have sworn I read a note, yet I can’t remember what it said. Maybe it was a dream.”

  “There you have it. Don’t worry. I see these things happening all the time. Go ahead and brush your teeth. Breakfast will be here in no time.” She placed a small plastic container, tooth brush and paste, plus a glass of water on the table. “I’m sure a shower will make you feel much better, too.”

  The nurse left the room and Summer immediately searched the blankets for the envelope. Who could have taken it? Why? The phone rang and she jumped.

  “Hello?”

  “I see you’re finally awake.

  “Who is this?”

  “Detective Buggeta. You sound tense. Did something happen? You remember something? Work with me, Summer. I’m here to help you.”

  “Yes…no…I mean…I don’t remember anything I haven’t told you. I’m just frustrated and still upset over Jordan’s…death. I’m being released today.”

  “I don’t want you leaving town.”

  “Well I am leaving town. I’m going to Browning to take care of my grandmother for the summer. You have my cell number. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell anyone where I’ve gone.”

  “You sure you’re not telling me something?”

  Summer considered telling him about the call and the note, but remained silent. The stigma of trusting napi’kwan police stayed with her. They had the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the res. White police weren’t needed, wanted or trusted.

  “If I think of something, I’ll let you know.” She reached for the toothbrush and waited while Buggeta’s muffled voice revealed he spoke with someone else.

  Who did he have listening in on their conversation? Was she really talking to Buggeta? Was this a trap to see if she was talking to the police?

  “We’ll keep in touch, Summer.”

  “You do that.” She hung up and glanced at the door in time to watch her father walk into the room. Suddenly everything seemed like it was going to be okay.

  “Oki, itan.”

  Smiling at her handsome father, she answered, “Oki, Inn.” She waited for him to place a kiss on the top of her head, his usual greeting.

  “It’s good to speak our language so we don’t forget it. Too long we have talked the white man’s language and we have nearly lost our own. I am now teaching at the school so our young people will learn our language as well. Soon there will be a lot of nitsi-poi-yiksi.”

  “There are already a lot of people who speak our real language. You must do what makes you happy.” He sat with effort.

  “Enough small talk. Tell me what you know about Jordan’s murder. What’s this nonsense about you killing his attacker?”

  “I don’t know anything, Inn. I still don’t believe I killed that guy with a fry pan. I hit him over the head, yes. I know it knocked him out. But kill him? I don’t think so. I hit him once.”

  “Napi’kwan police going to charge you with anything?”

  Summer drew in a deep breath, then slowly released it. “No, they believe I was trying to save Jordan.”

  “Good. Your mother wants to take you on a two-month tour of Europe.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with her. Besides, I thought you two decided I would take care of grandmother this summer.”

  “She thou
ght you needed the trip more than your grandmother.”

  “Well, she’s wrong. I might not want to be at the res this summer, but I’ll not turn away from Nah’ah. I can’t stay here in Missoula…too many places remind me of what happened to Jordan. I was planning on moving on at the end of the month. We decided to remain friends. So my apartment lease is up in a couple of days. If you don’t mind stopping there before we leave, I’ll get my stuff packed up and—”

  “Making plans to leave already? Sounds like you’re feeling much better.”

  Summer glanced over at Doctor Wheat standing in the doorway. “My headache is nearly gone. I’m definitely ready to leave.”

  “I understand you were a bit agitated this morning. You care to share that with me?”

  She closed her eyes a second and shook her head. “Nothing to share. I woke and was a bit confused. I think my dream was so real…I quickly realized I was wrong. I think the sleeping pill I was given hit me kinda hard.”

  “No problem. It sounds like you’re doing rather well now. You mentioned the headache was better. Does that mean you still have it?”

  “It’s there but way back inside.”

  “Excellent. I see no reason your father can’t take you home. I’d like to see you again in about two weeks. Sooner if you’re having problems. You’re to stay calm and not get worked up over this murder. Leave the catching of your boyfriend’s killer to the police. You need to concentrate on getting yourself healthy. How does that sound?”

  Summer stared at him a moment and nodded. Was he warning her…or was she imagining it? “Sounds perfect. Thank you, Doctor Wheat.”

  * * *

  Summer adjusted the neck pillow and gave her father a dowsy glance. He was the only person she felt safe enough to sleep while he drove. The pounding in her head reminded her of the powwow drums during the summer celebrations. Maybe she should have been honest with Doctor Wheat and told him her headaches were still bad enough to cause nausea.

  “Did you get a good rest? We are almost home. Nah’ah is excited you are coming to spend time with her. She talks of nothing else.”