Free In Darkest Depths by David Thompson

and pecked Shakespeare on the cheek. “Ma had me wait out here to welcome everyone. This will be fun. We haven’t had everyone all together in a spell.”
    â€œWhy did your mother ask us here?” Shakespeare inquired.
    â€œYou will have to wait and find out with the rest,” Evelyn said, and gave his hand a tender squeeze. “She told me to say that. She said you would pester me if I didn’t.”
    â€œFemales! Their tongues outvenom all the worms of the Nile.”
    â€œI am a female, Uncle Shakespeare.”
    â€œYes, girl. But you are young and innocent yet. Deceit has not found lodgement in your veins.”
    â€œAre you saying that all females are deceitful?”
    â€œNever in a million years, child. Only those who live and breathe.”
    Blue Water Woman smiled wearily at Evelyn. “You must forgive him. When he was an infant he was dropped on his head.”
    Evelyn laughed cheerfully. “I love how you two can poke fun at one another and not get mad.”
    â€œHe does most of the poking,” Blue Water Woman said.
    Shakespeare wondered if she meant what he thought she meant. For all her meekness, her wit was every whit as sharp as his, and she was not above thrusting deep when the occasion called for it.Coughing, he said, “How about if we go on in? I would like to find out what all this is about.”
    â€œGo ahead,” Evelyn said, “but the finding out will have to wait.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI heard Ma tell Pa that she wants everyone here before she explains why she and Blue Water Woman called us all together.”
    â€œMy wife, you say?” Shakespeare said, and gave his other half a smug glance. “If I were any brighter I would be the sun.”
    â€œI sometimes think that in a past life you must have been a rooster,” was Blue Water Woman’s retort.
    â€œA noble bird. I commend your choice.”
    â€œYes, roosters like to preen and strut and crow.”
    â€œI am twice pricked,” Shakespeare said. He placed a hand on his hunting knife. “Want me to give this to you so you can do it right?”
    Squealing with glee, Evelyn clapped her hands as if she were applauding a play on a stage. “Oh! Keep it up! It gives me something to write about in my diary.”
    Just then five figures in green came around the corner. Wakumassee and his wife, Tihikanima, were in the lead. After them came Degamawaku, their oldest, then their daughters, Tenikawaku and Mikikawaku.
    â€œDega!” Evelyn exclaimed, and dashed to meet him.
    â€œStrange how of the five she only has eyes for one,” Shakespeare playfully remarked.
    â€œAs you said, she is young yet,” Blue Water Woman responded. “She has not learned that men are fickle in their affection and do not care if they cause unending worry for those who care for them.”

    Shakespeare was spared another round by the arrival of Zach and Lou. He shook hands and they all went in.
    Nate was at the counter, sipping coffee. He raised his cup in greeting. “Take a seat, everyone. My wife will be with us directly.”
    The table and chairs had been pushed against a wall so there was space for everyone to sit on the floor. Shakespeare eased down and crossed his legs, his elbows on his knees. “Do you know what this is about, Stalking Coyote?” he asked Zach, using the younger man’s Shoshone name.
    â€œAll my mother would tell me when she rode over to invite us was that we must be here on time.”
    Louisa was grinning from ear to ear. “We should do this once a month for the fun of it. We don’t see everyone often enough.”
    The bedroom door opened and out came Winona. She had on her usual beaded buckskin dress and moccasins. “ Tsaangu yeitabai’yi . Good afternoon, and welcome. I am glad all of you could make it,” she said in flawless English. She was a natural linguist; every language she learned, she learned