Where the Lost Wander

Chapter 17 begins in John’s perspective as he heads to the Gathering Place with Washakie and his group. Washakie reveals that his parents were from two different Indigenous nations, making him a “two-feet” like John. He was raised by his Shoshoni mother, Lost Woman. He tells John that someday, “the blood of the Indian and the blood of the white people will flow together” (257), but he is not happy about it.

The point of view shifts to Naomi as Pocatello’s band reaches the Gathering Place and makes camp. At night, the celebrations begin with dancing and singing. Horse races follow in the morning, and the men bet on them. Beeya makes Naomi draw people’s portraits in exchange for beads that Beeya keeps. Naomi steals away to see Wolfe, who is sleeping in Biagwi’s tent, but Weda finds her and screams for her husband.

Biagwi arrives with Magwich, who drags Naomi away and tries to trade her to a warrior with a scarred face in return for horses that Magwich lost in a bet. Beeya runs to get Naomi’s drawings and shows them to Magwich and the warrior, causing Magwich to change his mind. That night, he rapes Naomi.

The point of view changes to John’s as he arrives at the Gathering Place. Washakie sends Hanabi and some other women to look for Naomi and Wolfe in Pocatello’s camp. The scouting women see them and report back to John. They tell him that Biagwi’s brother was the man whom Will accidentally killed, and Biagwi spared Wolfe in order to give him to his wife. Naomi is now Magwich’s woman, and he refuses to trade her, because her paintings are valuable. Washakie promises to speak up on John’s behalf when the group meets in council that evening.

The last section of the chapter is in Naomi’s point of view. She has seen Hanabi and reflects that the same Shoshoni people who killed her family once fed her family. Beeya gives her a new skirt and blouse and takes her away.

Chapter 18 opens in John’s point of view as he sits behind Washakie at the council meeting. When it is Washakie’s turn to speak, the chief says they should not break their agreement with the white men. He introduces John as a brother to his wife, who saved their daughter from drowning. He says John has come to ask for the return of his wife and her brother, who were taken by Pocatello.

John tells his story and then asks for Naomi and her brother to be given to him. Biagwi rises and says he claims Wolfe in the place of his dead brother, “A brother for a brother” (270). Magwich then stands and says Naomi is his and he will not give her to this “Pani daipo” (Pawnee white man). Washakie says Magwich stole a man’s wife, and Pocatello is going to bring death and vengeance to all the Shoshoni.

Another chief says to bring Naomi and Wolfe to the council, and Biagwi and Magwich go to get them. Naomi cries out John’s name when she sees him. They question Naomi, with John interpreting, and she identifies John and Wolfe. When Pocatello protests that the white settler killed first, Biagwi says that John should take his wife, but the child should stay. The leaders vote, and they agree to Biagwi’s plan. Washakie says that Biagwi is a man of honor and Wolfe will be raised as a son, like John was. Naomi protests, but John carries her away.

The point of view moves to Naomi. John finally puts her down and cries with his arms wrapped around her. Lost Woman, Washakie’s mother, has followed them. She gives them blankets and food. John tells Naomi that Webb and Will survived and that Wyatt is leading the boys to find the wagon train. She can tell that John thinks the attack was his fault, but she thinks if he and Wyatt had been with them they would be dead too.

The point of view returns to John. The next morning, they return to the Gathering Place and see Lost Woman and Hanabi. Naomi goes into John’s tent to sleep, and John tells Hanabi that Naomi can’t leave Wolfe. Hanabi tells him that he and Naomi should stay with her band. He says he has nothing, and she says, “You have all things” (278).

Chapter 19 opens in John’s point of view. He takes care of his animals and then goes to find Wahatehwe, the scarred warrior who took Naomi’s drawings. The man is taking part in a horse race and easily wins. John asks for the “paper faces” that Magwich gave him and trades with the man for one picture each of Winifred, Warren, William, and Webb. Then he offers his horse for the rest, but Wahatehwe won’t take it. John offers to race him for the pictures. If he loses, Naomi will paint another skin for Wahatehwe. Magwich inserts himself into the race to get back the five horses he lost to Wahatehwe, but Wahatehwe says that if Magwich loses, he will give the horses to John.

They race, and John’s horse wins. He collects the drawings from Wahatehwe just as Magwich stabs both John and his horse. He slashes at John, but the cut is shallow. They fight, and John tells him to take Wahatehwe’s horses and go, but Magwich continues fighting. John kills him, expecting all the men to confront him, but they do not.

The perspective shifts to Naomi as she wakes up in John’s tent. She sees John, blood-stained, leading his horse toward the camp. He washes himself and the horse, then gives Naomi the satchel containing her drawings. Wahatehwe arrives with the five horses John won in the race. John says they can trade the horses for whatever they need to spend the winter in the camp. He then tells her how he won the horses and that he killed Magwich in self-defense. She has been shrinking from him, but he tells her that neither of them has anything to be ashamed of. They touch each other gently.