From the open end of the arena a large mule deer entered. It was strange how nobody saw it at first. I watched the deer run headlong into the dance ring. The great deer lowered its head and kicked up at the other dancers and they were laughing and trying to keep dancing. It bucked and we could all see its antlers, and there was a small roar and clapping from the audience. The buck seemed confused and was bleeding at the nostrils. I tugged at my holster and entered the dancing arena. The dancers were beginning to clear the dance floor, all the dancers but Baptiste.

I unsnapped the top of my holster. I felt the eyes of the audience and the dance-stopped dancers. There was a low drumming and the people were singing a sad prayer. My ears felt hot and I wondered how the hell I had found myself in this situation. My gun felt heavy on my leg, the gun I had no intention of using. I was the dangerous one here. Out of my element. Snagged like a squawfish. Useless. The deer began to circle Baptiste and Baptiste lowered his head. And in the second that it took for me to notice Baptiste, the deer had bounded to the end of the arena area and I caught just a glimpse, the strange silver shine of its tail and then it was gone.

I turned to see Stoner again. I was more aware of him than anybody because I could feel him smiling at me. He had a long grin. And he clapped his hands without noise, letting me know he thought the deer was staged, a show we had worked out as Indians. I began to really look at him. I cocked my head at him and for a moment I felt like laughing. He had bigger problems than me. I looked at his face, dry as dirt at the end of summer. And I’d say he wasn’t long for this life, at least not if Louise left him. But a man can live a long time on desire, an old man’s lifetime. He left the powwow, his big car clipping chuckholes. If he had looked back all he would have seen was me, my hands on my holster, the powwow grounds behind me, the teepees lighting one by one a deep yellow fire he couldn’t get near.

I hadn’t seen Louise. Hemaucus had been dancing earlier and then I saw her go back to the campground. It was still afternoon, but a heavy afternoon over the powwow grounds. Heat pressed the sky down upon us. A sling cloud hung low and purple. If you looked south, in the distance you could see blinding sun raining. I kept waiting for the wind to rush the camp tents and teepees. The wind to chase the candy wrappers and paper cups. But no wind came.