Nervously Andy greeted them in their own language. Like so many others he had encountered, they wanted to know how a white youth knew the words of The People. He explained as briefly as he could. “I have been away from my people a long time. I am looking for them.”

He decided against using his brother’s name. Should things go badly, he did not want to bring trouble to Steals the Ponies.

The hunters accepted him with reservations. “Ride with us,” one said. “We will take you to our camp. Perhaps there you will find your family.”

Nearing the encampment, they passed by the horse herd. This time Andy was not disappointed. He recognized Billy’s pony and Purdy’s horse standing together near the outer edge, like two old acquaintances thrown unwillingly among strangers.

One of the hunters said, “We hope you find what you are looking for.”

Andy already had. He saw a woman cooking meat over an open fire in front of a tepee. She was Steals the Ponies’s wife. Seeing no other woman with her, he assumed she was still the only one. Two children, a boy and a girl, played nearby.

He approached slowly, not wanting to startle her. She looked up at him without recognition. He said, “Do you not know me?”

Her face was blank. “I do not believe so.”

“I am Badger Boy.”

She almost turned over the meat pot. She embraced him, then stood back for a better look. “I can see now, but you are much changed. You were a boy. Now you are a man.”

“I have come to see my brother.”

“He scouts for buffalo. He should be here soon.”

The boy and girl had stopped their play to stare at him in curiosity. He asked, “These are yours?”

“Yes. Before winter there will be another.” She looked away, then pointed. “He comes. Say nothing. See if he recognizes you.”

Andy’s heartbeat quickened. The passage of years had not changed the way his brother sat on his horse. Andy could have recognized him from far away. Steals the Ponies did not seem to notice the visitor at first. He dismounted, obviously tired, and tied his horse behind the tepee. He carried his medicine shield inside, for it was a sacred thing to be protected from harm.

Coming back outside, he spoke to his wife. “I am hungry.”

“The meat is soon ready. Look. Someone has come to see you.”

Steals the Ponies stared blankly a moment, then his eyes brightened and the weariness fell away. “Badger Boy!” He embraced his brother with such strength that Andy almost lost his breath. “But Badger Boy is no longer a fit name. You are not a boy.”

“Among the Texans I am known as Andy.”

Steals the Ponies spoke the name but found it not to his liking. “It means nothing. We must find you a new name, something better.”

His delight began to fade, and concern crowded in. “You should not be here. Have you forgotten why you left us, why you had to go back and live with the Texans?”