As he awoke that morning, Billy Black could feel the earth beat like a soft drum all throughout the land. He was the chief of the Quileute tribe on the reservation at La Push and he led his tribe with fairness, honesty and patience. Just like his grandfather Ingram had before him. Now as he watched from the entrance of his porch,, as the rest of the tribesman and the children were rising from their beds to greet the morning, Billy sighed. This was home. His heart echoed the beat of the land and he saw the river in front of his house flow. Steady and easily as it always had.
"Sara! Jacob! Time to get up!" he called inside the house. His wife Sara was drinking coffee and Jacob, his youngest son was happily snoring away in his bedroom dreaming.
"Jake!"
His daughter Rachel came outside and kissed him on the cheek. His wheelchair creaked as he turned to smile at her. She was as wise as her mother was and Billy was proud he had married such a good, strong woman like Sara.
"Get your brother up please Rachel." Billy said. "He has to blow the shell today."
She nodded and went to find Jacob. His room was neat and he slept with one arm slung over the side of his bed with a contented smile on his face.
Must be a really happy dream. She thought as she went over, knelt down and kissed him. He sighed and she took the silver bucket of water she was holding and poured it on him.
Jacob spurted awake. Eyes raging, he glared at Rachel with disgust.
"What was that for?"
"Dad says its your turn to blow the shell Jake." she smiled apologetically and he shook himself off. It was sunny today so he would dry soon. He hopped over the railing of the porch and ran to the top of a hill and blew a shell signaling the start of a very special day in La Push. The springtime sun warmed Jacob's back as he blew the shell, causing it to give off a sweet, milky sound. He smiled proud as the others in the village poured outside and saw the row of strong men come up to the shore.
"They are here!"
Jacob ran to the edge of the hill he was standing on to watch the elders of the tribe come up over the hillside.
"Quill! Embry!"
The two boys looked up and ran to meet Jake who had blown the shell again as a way of proclaiming his happiness at seeing his two best friends. Quill had gone with his grandfather, one of the council elders who had gone fishing. They had caught good sized fish today and he also noticed Harry Clearwater emerging from the edge of the woods with a bear slung over his shoulder. Embry and Quill waved and Jacob ran down the hill to meet them.
At the other end of the reservation the women, Sue Clearwater and her daughter Leah were waiting for Harry to come home as well. When she saw Harry striding over the dirt road to his house, Leah and Sue ran to meet him. Emily Young followed as she saw Sam emerging from the crest of the hill behind him.
If Billy could stand up, he would have but Sara and Rachel welcomed the others back from their excursion for Billy. He watched from the porch of the house with a smile on his face as big as the sun. he was extremely proud of the tribe and loved the reservation with all his heart. A heart that beat along with the feet stamping across the dirt as women and daughters met their fathers and sons chased their friends. This was Billy Black's tribe and it was steady. He chanted songs in ancient Quileute saying one phrase over and over which echoed its statement in his heart.
Steady as the beating drum.