FIVE

They arrived in Montana early in the afternoon. Savannah’s parents were waiting at the airport, as they always were when Savannah came home.

“Welcome, Tyeshia,” Abigail Warren said, embracing Tyeshia as if Tyeshia was her long-lost child. If not for her dark skin, Tyeshia’s blush would have been very noticeable.

“Yes, it’s good to have you visit,” Thomas Warren added. “Savannah has told us quite a bit about you.”

“I can just imagine,” Tyeshia said glancing at Savannah.

“So, ladies, where would you like to lunch today?” Abigail asked. “The Country Club?”

“Wherever you want, Mom,” Savannah said, taking her friend by the arm and leading her to the waiting limousine.

“How long before you have to head out this time, Savannah?” Thomas asked.

“We really should be on the road in about an hour, Dad?”

“Okay,” Thomas said, flipping open his cell phone, “I’ll just have George get the Mustang checked and gassed.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Tyeshia watched the exchange in wonder. Obviously, Savannah was extremely close to her parents and that they held great affection for their daughter. However, what had not been apparent, from Savannah’s dress and behavior at college, was how wealthy she obviously was. It was a little disconcerting.

Now as two girls sped down the highway toward their destination, Tyeshia was a little more than curious what drove her friend. With her wealth, she certainly did not need an education to live well for the remainder of her life.

“So why do you make this trek, anyway?” Tyeshia shouted above the roaring wind in her ears as the ruby-red Ford Mustang convertible whipped down Highway 2.

“You mean to the reservation?” Savannah pushed the button to raise the top, allowing them to talk without having to yell at the top of their lungs.

“Of course I mean to the reservation! What else would I mean?” Tyeshia shouted even louder so that Savannah could hear her over the wind and the whirring of the top as it slowly descended over their heads and clicked into place. “Oh, that’s much better; now I won’t have to worry about getting laryngitis.”

“Funny, Ty.”

“So, why didn’t you tell me you were stinking rich?”

“You’re stinking rich too,” Savannah said with a laugh.

“Yes, but I act stinking rich,” Tyeshia pointed out. “You, on the other hand, behave as if you are attending school on the good graces of the government.”

“Truly?”

“Yes, so why go? Your family obviously has more money than my parent’s do, so you could easily relax and travel until your bones turn to dust.”

“Well, why do you go? Your family is rich.”

“Yes, but not as rich as yours. Besides, Mom says a good place to meet a husband is at college, so she sent me.”

“Really? That’s the only reason you’re there? You weren’t joking about that?”

“Of course I’m joking,” Tyeshia laughed. “My mother has a Master’s Degree. She met my father at college all right, because the college invited them both to give a speech to the students on the same day. It’s kind of been a family joke that they met ‘at college’”.

“Oh. I don’t get it.”

“You wouldn’t. So, are you going to explain why you feel the need for an education, when it’s obvious you don’t really need one?”

“Only if you explain why you feel the need to throw your education away.”

“Point taken. So, how about explaining why you have to drive out to the middle of nowhere to do research? Why can’t you simply conduct your research the old-fashioned way? On the Internet, like everyone else? I know you can afford a computer.”

Savannah burst into distracting laughter and had to swerve to avoid running into a ditch. “Oh, Ty! You really are something else. You know that?” Savannah continued laughing, trying to maintain control of the car and her mirth.

“Well, I’d like to remain a live something, if you don’t mind,” Tyeshia squealed, holding tight to the arm of the door, her ebony face ashen.

“I’ll try to be more attentive of my driving, if you promise not to make any more absurd comments. Internet! Good Lord!”

“Well, it’s a lot safer to surf the net than it is for you to be behind the wheel of a car, that’s for sure!” Tyeshia’s knuckles were nearly white where she gripped the door handle.

“You’re perfectly safe, I assure you.”

“A little late for assurances, but I’ll take that as a future promise.”

“Well, to answer your question as to doing research on the Internet—I do, somewhat. However, surfing the net doesn’t put you in touch with the heart and soul of your research. It’s not real. It’s just a bunch of words on a page. You can’t see your subject, feel it, touch it and therefore, how can you possibly comprehend its meaning, its history, and its beauty? Also, the Internet can only give you so much information, and since flawed humans generally write the information, it’s prone to error. Understand?”

“I don’t research topics in any form, shape, or fashion, so I could not possibly understand. All I know is that you’ve somehow managed to talk me into driving out to some Godforsaken wilderness...”

“Wrong, Tyeshia. The hand of God touches this wildness. The reservation we’re heading to belong to the Blackfoot Indians, namely the Pikuni Tribe. It borders Canada on one side and Glacier National Park on the other and is the most awe-inspiring land to which you’ll ever bear witness. It makes you wonder why man would destroy such beauty in favor of concrete and mortar.”

“Well, right now all I see are few trees and even less beauty, so you aren’t exactly preaching to an attentive congregation here, sister.”

“It’ll change. Believe you me, it will change.”

“So why did you choose to do your research on this tribe? This Pikinu Tribe? Isn’t there a tribe closer to the college?”

Savannah laughed again, but this time was careful to watch her driving. “That’s Pikuni, Ty. Pikuni.”

“Whatever.”

“I’m from Montana.”

“So? I’m from Georgia, but that doesn’t mean I need to fly down there every time I want to know something about Cherokee Indians.”

“I’m amazed you even know what Indians live in that region,” Savannah said, genuinely surprised.

“My brother-in-law is half Cherokee.”

“Well, that explains it.”

“What is your interest, Savannah?” Ty prodded, bringing their conversation back on track.