Chapter 6

The cedar boats slipped quietly through the Haro Strait towards the San Juan Island. They were coming to their original potlatch sight. The entire First People, Lummi and other Coast Salish were coming together for a couple of weddings as well as the Potlatch. The boats were filled to the brim with food, families and of course gifts for everyone.

Chris slipped the paddle in the water thinking about the first time he had come to this Island. Although Merilee's family made their home on Lummi Island, he had met her when the entire clan was there for the summer catching salmon, and hunting, the women working the fields and collecting various supplies for the winter months. He had been hunting himself when he slipped down the side of a rather large hill and hit his head on a tree. He was out for several days and it was Merilee's family that found him and took care of him. When he was well, he really looked at her and was enchanted with her. He soon found out that she was married to another Indian and so did not think of her again until the next year when the family was again fishing and hunting.

"Uncle Chris, Uncle Chris?" Jake shouted at him,

"What?" Chris snapped at Jake.

Jake looked at him and then said: "I think we are almost there!"
Chris looked at where Jake was pointing and agreed. He slowly paddled to the right to head into the bay where there were many boats and people.
"Jake, you will help me, and Ben here get our gear on land, while I go up to find out where we camp. Do not leave anything alone!" Chris said as the boat skidded to a stop on the soft sand of the beach.

Jake looked at him then looked at Benjamin, the two boys just smiled.

Chris looked at them and then took off to find Merilee, Mark, and Anna.

As he strode up the beach he looked toward the main area. He saw the Potlatch house and an area where women were drying the salmon that had been caught. Some women were in the fields as well. He went up to the Potlatch house and went in. He greeted the elders and asked where he and his family were to stay. Peter Friday was one of the elders and pointed to an area in the center of the house. His family was there, and Chris would be welcome to stay in the area next to his. Chris thanked him and went down to where he had seen Merilee and the children. She was talking to her son by her first marriage. When she saw him, she broke out in a wide loving smile.

"Hello, my husband" she said to him.
"Hello, my wife" he said to her. This was a greeting they had started long ago when they first were introduced.

"My son, he is marrying today, a young girl but I have met her, and I feel that it is a good match. My brother helped Charles find a good wife." Merilee said.

"Hello Chris, I am pleased that you have come." Said Charles. "I am looking forward to my wedding and to give many gifts."

Chris looked at Charles, "could this be the little Indian boy that took him to see his mother when he was only 5 or 6? Was that so long ago?" Chris thought.

Merilee was looking at Charles and then at Chris. Suddenly she remembered something and with a secret smile. Made her apologies and told Chris that she would meet him in the house and have everything ready.

Chris and Charles said goodbye and watched her walk away.

"Chris, you are the best thing ever to happen to my mother. I knew you would be good for her" Charles said "I knew that after my father had been killed, she was sad. She worked to make sure that I was happy. Then you came along and suddenly her face was light and her heart was happy. I am glad."

Chris listened to Charles and then said: "I am glad as well. I am glad that she and her brother saw that I was going to be able to help her and the family through the years."

Charles smiled and then made his excuses and left Chris. Chris stood looking at the trees, then turned to the ocean and remembered a distant day. Sighing, he went back to the boat where the boys were waiting with everything unloaded. He grabbed some things and then they took them up to the house.

Merilee had just finished putting together everything in their space and had Anna dressed and ready for the afternoon. Mark had gone to find some friends and would be back shortly. Chris came in and looked at Merilee. Merilee smiled and said:
"Anna, will you go with Benjamin and Jake and find Mark for me. Your father and I want to talk a little."

Chris looked up when she said that she wanted to talk. She usually had something about the children or something about the farm that he would need to take care of. But to his surprise she said:

"Walk with me a little we won't be long!" Smiling she walked out of the house towards the trees.

Chris looked and saw the hint of a little smile across her face. He followed her. She kept walking and sometimes she was almost too far ahead of him. She always walked too fast sometimes.

They came to a little meadow where the grass was tall, the summer flowers were blooming, there were birds, and the sun was just right. She sat down and waited for him to sit down.

"Chris, I was just remembering when we first met. Do you remember?"

Chris nodded, letting her speak first.

"Charles was about 5 or 6, he had gone to get you. I told him. My brother did not know at the time about us. When Charles came back, he had brought you. Do you remember this spot?"

Chris looked around, he wasn't much for remembering places unless he was on a particular trail and used something as a marker to find out where he was at. "No, I can't say as I do?"

She laughed that special little laugh of hers and he smiled. "It was at this very spot we decided to get married. I said yes and you were so happy, I could see a special twinkle in your eye" she smiled at that memory.

"Yes, but then we had to convince your brother and the whole family that you would be an asset to me and to them. Do you remember what you did after that day?"

Chris laughed, he remembered, he brought fish, deer hides and whatever else he could to prove that he was worthy and could afford a wife, especially one with a ready-made family. He was even ready to build a house if they asked him to.

"Merilee, I think I would have done anything to get you." He said with a smile as big as his face. He then took her in his arms and held her.

"Chris, one more thing."
"what's that?"
"Another one is on the way" she said.

"Another what?" Chris said and then realized he was going to be a father again.

Just then Jake, Mark, Benjamin, Anna, and Charles came upon them.

"Oh, hi, mom, dad" said Mark, we were looking for you. Mr. Friday and the elders want to talk to you."

"Me or you mom?" Chris asked.

Ben said: "Both."
"Okay then let's go see what they want." Merilee said smiling as she left Chris's embrace. Chris had a momentary feeling of losing something, but it did not last long. They all headed back to the village.

Inside the potlatch house it was warm. It would get warmer as the rest of the families arrived. Jake and Mark were sitting on the blanket and talking about their favorite things to do. Jake noticed that Lisabeth was talking with her mother and had glanced over to see Jake looking at her. She gracefully steered her mother to another side of their spot so that she could see him, but her mother could not see him. After that she would steal a glance at Jake as well. He saw one of the other Indian men coming towards he spaces. He motioned to Mark to slide a little closer to the edge to listen in on the conversation.

The Man introduced himself as John Wolf to her mother. Her mother looked at him and said nothing. He then continued with a gift for her mother. She still stared at him. Lisabeth was not too happy about this. It meant he was interested in her. She was not interested in him. How could she get Jakes attention? She looked over and saw Mark, with her eyes she motioned to Mark, who knew what was happening. He nodded his head and went to work.

"Jake, what do you have to give Lisabeth's mother?"
Jake looked at him and scrunched up his face so much that when Lisabeth looked over, she almost laughed out loud. "Why would I want to give Lisabeth's mother anything?"

Mark looked at him as if he was blind. "You want to give Lisabeth's mother something that is better than what John Wolf is giving her. This is how the courting starts!" Mark said.

"I thought we had to wait until her father gave me permission?"

Mark said: "I don't know if he has asked her father yet. But sometimes it is a way to get the courting started by offering the mother something and you know flattering the mother first!"

Jake sat and thought about it. He really had not brought anything with him, what could he give to her mother that would be better than what… "Mark, did you see what he gave her mother?"

Mark said he saw a box but did not see what was inside. Just then Lisabeth looked over at the boys with a question. Mark mimed the box and asked what was inside.

Lisabeth asked her mom if she could see it and her mom gave it to her to look at. She took it out of the box. It was a silver hairbrush. She liked it. Her mother always liked to brush her hair. The boys saw that, and their faces sank. Jake could not think of what would top that. Mark, wondered as well, what could they do.

Chris and Merilee came back from talking to the elders and saw the boys faces.

"What's wrong?"

Jake wanted to say something, but Mark poked him in the side and said: "Father, could we see you outside?" Chris looked at Merilee and said he would be back.

They both went outside and talked about what Lisabeth wanted them to do and what had happened. Chris listened and smiled. He knew what to do. He was going to talk to Peter first and then tell Jake what to do, although he had a good idea already because he had done that for Merilee, except he had to gain the favor of her brother and the rest of the clan.

Jake sat and sulked for a while and waited until Chris came back. When he came back, he had his hunting gear and said they were going hunting. Merilee said that they might not have time, but Chris had said don't worry, they would be back in time for the wedding ceremony.

Chris took Jake out to the far end of the stand of trees nearby. "Okay, I am going to teach you how to use these." Pointing to the bow and arrow he had brought with him.

"But why?" Jake asked.

"Well, John Wolf can hunt fairly well, but he does not usually provide all the food necessary for his family. What you need to do is to learn how to use this to catch food. Each day you will go out and catch something, fish, bird, rabbit, etc.… until you catch a deer. Each day you will learn to clean a carcass, prepare the meat, and bring it to her father and mother. By providing for both parents, this will show that you can provide for her as well." Chris finished and picked up the bow and arrow.

"But can't I just use a gun?" said Jake.

Looking at Jake he sighed and said: "When I was even younger than you, we were in Seattle, it was sonly my second year there. There was this gunfighter that helped Jeremy and wanted to teach me how to use a gun. Jeremy stopped that and ever since I have always thought first before going for a gun. Besides, shooting small animals with guns usually will ruin the meat and if you run out of bullets then what do you do?

"I can fish?"

Chris looked at him again and said: "Yes you can but are you going to eat fish every day? The bow and arrow will work a lot better than a gun. The bullets won't ruin the meat and you will be able to catch more this way. Plus, if you learn well, you can also use the arrow to spear a fish. But I think Merilee has a corner on that market!" Chris said with a laugh. "Now, today I teach you and show you. Each day either me or Peter will be with you. Only an hour or so and then you come back. We will also teach you how to dress and prepare the food. Do you understand now?

"I understand Uncle Chris." Said Jake "But, how if this takes time, will this work for me marrying Lisabeth?"

Chris said to him: "think about it while we are learning, you will understand soon enough. Now, let's get practicing, here is your bow and arrow, this is how you…."
Chris and Jake practiced for another hour and then arrived back home. They would go out early in the morning tomorrow for another lesson.

Meanwhile, Lisabeth was fretting, she did not want to marry John Wolf, in fact, she knew the girl who wanted to marry him so, she thought she would take matters in her own hands and try to get him to pay attention to Mary Star.