Standing just inside the window, the sun very nearly blinded me, and I grabbed my sunglasses from the table between the windowsill and door. Better. For all the speed of the vehicle as it turned into my yard, it took forever before a door opened.

The first thing out was a cowboy boot, and I almost collapsed in relief. Chayton. Who was with him? I slid my weapon into the waistband of my jeans and went out to greet my visitors.

"You could have warned me," the first words out of my mouth sounded petulant and whiny. Not the first impression I needed to make.

Chayton wrapped me into a tight hug, whispering in my ear, "Sorry. No time. I have people with me. How they found me at the hospital was a miracle, but you need to listen."

"Was that you, trying to call me?" I reached into my pocket for my cell phone. Chayton shook his head. Putting it to my ear I found dead air. "Hello?"

"I heard what is going on. Listen to what they have to say. Act on it. I'll call again." Click.

I stared at the now blank screen

"Who the hell was that?" Chayton asked. "And was it male or female?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea. I've never heard a voice that neutral. Could be either." I couldn't worry about it right then then. "Who did you bring me?"

"A Cree Chief and a medicine woman. In full native apparel. They created quite a stir when they arrived in the ER. They have come a long way, from the Slave Lake Cree band." He went over to lean into the Tahoe's open door. I couldn't make out exactly what he was saying but the rear door opened, and two people took their time getting out.

The Chief, in full eagle feather headdress, turned back to give aid to the woman who followed.

Ancient wasn't quite adequate. Her hair was snow white, and she wore a buckskin jacket with intricate beadwork. The colors intense, were dull in comparison her lavish ribbon skirt. Her eyes were bright, the wrinkles on her face deep. I didn't quite know how to address her, but I knew she was an elder of great importance. I felt like I should bow down but resisted the urge.

She nodded her head as if confirming some inner thought and grasped a carved staff. Using it to lean, she made her way toward me. I stood there, frozen in place.

"Chief Choogan, also known as Chief Blackbird," Chayton introduce the man with thick black braids.

The tall barrel chested man spoke softly as he introduced the woman. "Medicine Woman Kimi Wapun, Secret Dawn, also my grandmother."

"We have come far to find you, child. You are the one I have seen. Finally, we meet." She held out her right hand, and I grasped the gnarled, arthritis swollen digits. Her strength astounded me, as I returned her firm handshake.

"I am honored, Kimi Wapun. I am Alyana, welcome to my home." Shivers ran down my back. I turned to extend my hand to the imposing Chief who introduced her.

"After untangling the web of red tape between our governments, they have agreed to let us talk to you," Chief Choogan said.

"I do not have much room inside, almost nowhere for you to sit."

"If you have a cushion, I am comfortable on the floor," Kimi Wapun said. I worried she wouldn't be able to stand up again, but I knew better than to question my elders. They often surprised me. Grandmother did, great grandfather even more often.

I noted the tomahawk dangling from the waist band of the chief's buckskin pants. A brief question about how he got across the border like that flashed through my head before he smiled.

I pulled the oversized pillows off my sleeping platform and brought them out into the kitchen living area. Kimi Wapun's smile was all the thanks I needed. She lowered herself in a movement so natural, I wondered if I could learn to do it as well.

Chief Choogan did the same, and pulled a long, ornate carved stone pipe out of a pouch hanging right beside the tomahawk. The ceremonial object was a rarity these days, and Chayton's eyes widened at the sight.

"I'll get straight to the point. These girls were lucky. Unfortunately, our women are considered exotic in certain circles in the Middle East. We have some clues as to the method of transportation, and three or four names which have come up repeatedly from the rare ones who escaped before transportation was arranged." Kimi's eyes turned steely, as she spoke.

"We believe you are the one who has the resources to trace the market. With the records Chayton told us about from the auction yesterday, you should have some of the same names we have discovered." The chief tapped the pipe. "In this case the border between Canada and the USA should be abolished. This is of concern to all the Indigenous of the Americas."

"My office is hard at work tracing the records with the help of other agencies. The Department of Justice has taken a serious interest in the disappearances of women and young girls from indigenous tribes. Especially the reserves, where they should be safe." I told Kimi.

"I gave the paper copy of our records to Chayton. I'm giving you the files we have amassed digitally." She reached into her own decorated bag and handed me three thumb drives. "They are exact copies. I suggest you place one of them in safe keeping. The perpetrators of these crimes are rather ruthless."

"I'll Fed Ex one to my staff. I'll keep one with me, and the other goes into Flagstaff when I go in to do my major staple re-supply. I agree, it needs to be kept safe. I'll put copies of all the other import evidence in there with it."

Chayton nodded, from where he sat on the raised hearth by my fireplace. "If we are going to light the pipe, I would like to change into appropriate clothing. I have everything with me."

I nodded. "Do you want the fire lit?"

"We will do a smudge first, then pass the pipe between us." Kimi Wapun said and brought her sage bundle out of her pouch. "Windows, door and hearth to chase all evil and ill from this dwelling."

I handed her the candle I lit to use to ignite the tightly bunched dried sage. "You do that, and I'll go change as well."

Chayton came back inside carrying a suit bag and headed right into the bedroom. I joined him and closed the door, going over to my tiny armoire. Gently lifting my light cotton dress from the shelf where it was folded between a couple of muslin sheets. The zigzagging decoration mimicked the tattoos on my arm. It draped in a loose sheath, the fringe letting my knees play peekaboo between the strands.

I watched my lover strip. He opened his bag, and a cotton loin cloth with silver decorations was the first thing he brought out and fastened around his hips. Leather leggings followed, with a tunic to go over them. He drew a heavy silver and turquoise belt from the zippered pouch on his bag, and moccasins came out as well.

I had soft boots to go with my dress, and I went over to a locked drawer, dug the key out of its hiding place and pulled out my own silver and turquoise cabochon belt out of the drawer along with a solid necklace of beads and flat rounds. I left my hair loose, with the waves from the braid creating a lovely pattern down my back.

His necklace was massive, and my eyes popped when he eased it over his head.

"It was my grandfather's. A fierce warrior, but a gentle giant with our family. You remind me of my mother when she dressed for ceremonies or rites."

I could smell the sage smoke and opened the door. Kimi was there, and entered without a word, deliberately circling the computer desk and then the window.

"That's it, the dwelling is purified," Kimi said. "Let us go and share the pipe. Bring a blessing and vow to end this theft of our women. Together we will succeed." She nodded approval as she scanned us then led the way out into my living area.