Sissy sat on the edge of her bed, her night shirt barely reaching to mid thigh. her head bowed and her hands clutching a crucifix on a gold chain around her neck. her hair hung in a divided cascade on each side of her face reaching to her waist. her toes almost reaching the floor. she mumbled a silent prayer asking for gods intervention in the lives of those she loved. this was a dailey ritual she had performed since she was a young child. she no longer had real family. all had died and left her with a step brother who she knew to be a evil man.  some times early in the morning  like this a little depression crept into her soul. but then as the sun rose over the antelope hills  her optimisum would return . she was greatful for the things she had, the roof over her head, the food and the friends that protected her.
   Coalie hd become her constant companion. her friend. he went about the daily chores on the ranch armed and watchful. he joked and chided her about her relationship with sam. she didn't know if love was the reason for her devotion to sam but she knew she needed him.  sam always seemed to be where she needed him to be. he worked hard, and was appreciative of her care of him and coalie. 
  sissy stood after her morning prayer  and padded into the kitchen. the coffee pot was talking its morning gurgles . sam sat on the porch , his back to the door. it was 4 a.m. and still dark. through the screen door she could just make out coalie walking across  the  yard from the barn. pouring a steaming cup for herself she returned to her room to dress.  the day before her benefactor, Eppi Moreno the captain of the desert wolves on the tohono reservation had been to visit. she had prayed for him as he was wounded and in a power struggle with the feds . Eppi had given her the greatest gift available to his resources. the i.d. card as member of the tohono nation was a free citizenship to the un ited states. as a member of the native American community her citizenship was guaranteed.  many papagos lived on the Mexican side of the border.  and they  traveled to the American side to shop and visit relatives.many spoke no English but as tribal members were considered americans.  a tear rolled down sissies check as she thought of what eppi had done for her. on his last trip to town sam had brought back the forms for her to apply for a social security card. with the tribal membership and that she was a bona fide American. she could travel , work where ever she wished. but leaving the ranch wasn't a option. she knew in her heart she would never leave unless sam told her to. she prayed that day would never come. she knew sam cared for her, she knew he wanted her there, but true affection he never showed. she just hoped that would come. but with trouble with the coyotes and the fed she was afraid to bring up their relationship. for the time being she was thankful for the care and the chance to be around this group of men. she still feared her step brother in Altar.  he could surface at anytime , anywhere. here she felt she was safe. she would continue to pray for all her friends.