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I ROLL OVER AND LOOK at the time. It’s 10AM. I can’t believe I slept for that many hours.
I slowly reach up and touch my face, anxious about how swollen my face might have become. Much to my surprise, I can feel the definition in my cheeks and nose. Wow! Mom’s herbal concoction really worked. There’s definitely something to be said about the effectiveness of Indian medicines.
In the bathroom, I look in the mirror. The swelling has almost disappeared, but I’m still black and blue, especially around the eyes.
THE BRIGHT SUN CASTS light on the muddy road. As much as maneuvering through deep potholes of murky water is a nuisance, it beats the hell out of roving on the ice and snow. I pull up to the lodge just in time to see Joe’s back as he enters the building. I hope to hell that he doesn’t look as beaten up as I do. After I park, I put my sunglasses on, lock up the van, and make my way to the lodge.
Joe is pouring himself a cup of coffee when I walk in. He has a bruise in the middle of his forehead but no swelling and no black eyes. I walk up. “Hey, man. Pour me one, too.”
He looks at me, then does a double take. “Why the hell are you wearing your shades indoors?”
Knowing that the chief will probably ask the same thing, I remove my glasses.
“Whoa. Shit, man. Your face looks like it got run over by a tractor.”
“Thanks. I was thinking if this whole band thing doesn’t work out for me, I can work as an extra in a zombie film.”
We laugh just as Chief Harlan walks out of his office and waves us in. We grab our drinks and head in.
Harlan sits behind his big wooden desk. Joe and I sit in two comfy chairs across from him.
He folds his hands on the desk and leans forward, his eyes on me. “You look like you’ve been hit by a train.”
“I kind of feel like I have.”
He shakes his head. “First, let me start off this meeting by saying I don’t know either one of you to be troublemakers. That being said, this morning I had an eyewitness call and tell me that it was the two of you that started the fight with Butch last night.”
Joe scoffs. “Are you kidding me? That asshole attacked me and Ray. And Dakota, too.”
“Well. That’s not how the witness recalls the incident.”
I shake my head. “Chief. You said you know Joe and I have never caused trouble, whereas Butch has been a shit disturber since he could walk. You can’t really believe that we attacked him.”
Harlan takes a deep breath. “I know. And I’d like nothing better than for Butch to move the hell away. That being said, he does have his defense down pretty tight. The problem is if I call the cops and Butch has his witness sign a sworn statement, you two could get arrested, and Dakota could be in trouble, too.”
I stare at him. “What? How could Dakota be in any trouble? He was choking her.”
“Yes. But according to his cousin, Dakota slapped Butch and Butch was trying to hold her back in self-defence.”
Joe shakes his head in disbelief. “Chief, this is all such a load of bullshit.”
“I’m not stupid, Joe. I know it is. But I can’t act on what I didn’t see, especially when nobody is coming forward to back your story.”
I lean back hard in my chair. “That’s because everyone who was there is afraid of Butch.”
“Yes. That makes sense. But the law isn’t going to convict him without evidence. And unfortunately, Butch is claiming self-defence all the way.” Harlan shakes his head and sighs. “If I were you, I’d steer clear of him and hope he messes up in some other way, which I’m sure he will. If I see him break one more rule, or if someone actually records him screwing up, I can kick him off the rez. But until that time, my advice is that you two—and Dakota—keep well out of his way.”
“It’s a small village, Chief. How the hell are we supposed to do that?”
“I know. I know. Just stay close to home. If you attend on-rez events, make sure you stick around family or friends. That way you’ll have protection and plenty of witnesses. I’m going to call Dakota and tell her the same thing. As for you, Ray, you’ll be leaving for Toronto soon, which will give Butch time to focus his attention elsewhere.”
I scoff. “Yeah. Until I get back.”
The chief stands and walks around to the front of his desk. Joe and I stand up as well. Harlan puts one of his big hands on each of our shoulders. “If you need to get a hold of me for any reason, at any time of the day or night, just call my cell.”
After we leave the office, we rinse our coffee cups, then head outdoors. We don’t speak about the meeting; it’s obvious we’re both disgusted with the outcome.
WHEN I PULL UP TO THE house Mom is standing in the doorway, wearing her apron over her clothes. From the eager look on her face, I can tell she’s been chomping at the bit to hear what happened with the chief. I walk into the house and close the door.
Mom follows me into the kitchen and we both sit at the table.
“Well? How did it go? Is the chief going to kick that jerk Butch off the rez? “
I know that once I tell her that nothing is happening to Butch over what he did, she’s going to flip her lid, but I have no choice. She’s never going to let it be unless I tell her everything.
I take a deep breath, then reiterate everything the chief told me and Joe. As expected, Mom stands up and starts ranting about how unjust we’re being treated. “Look at your damn face. How can Harlan think that was done to you in self defense?”
I explain that Butch had his cousin lie for him and will act as a witness. “See? There’s nothing we can do about it. Harlan said once Butch messes up again, he’ll be off the rez for sure.”
It takes a good twenty minutes before she starts to calm down. Finally, she sits back down at the table. “Butch is a menace. A real bully. And I don’t know anyone that doesn’t think so.”
I lean over and kiss her on the cheek, then tell her not to worry. “I’m sure Butch’s moment of truth is coming.” Then, I get up and go to my room to practice.
Halfway through breaking into the solo that I’ll be playing for Leroy and James in Toronto, my cell rings. I look down at the screen and smile. It’s Dakota. It’s been long enough since we left the chief. I’m sure that he had time to speak with her.
I pick up. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just in utter disbelief. I can’t believe Butch gets off so easily. I mean, look what he did to the three of us, and he gets to just walk away? There’s no justice!”
“I know. But don’t worry. Somewhere, some place, things will even out. Luck doesn’t last forever and everyone is fed up with his bullshit. He’ll meet his match, eventually.”
“Yeah, but until then?”
“Just do what the chief says and stay out of his way. And, if you do see him following you again, make sure you call the chief’s cell number. Other than that, there’s not much you can do. Just make sure you surround yourself with people when you do go out.”
Dakota sighs in frustration, then changes the subject. “How are you feeling? Has the swelling in your face gone down at all?”
“Yeah. A lot. The problem is, I look like a raccoon because of the bruising.”
We talk for another half-hour, then I tell her that I’ve got to practice my drum solo. The incident with Butch has already cost me too much time. Now, I’ve got to get serious.
