He and his best friend, Chigger, were night fishing on Lake Tenkiller in eastern Oklahoma.

This region, part of the old Cherokee Nation, was filled with rivers, creeks, and lakes.

All nestled between heavily wooded hills.

Chigger let out a few more inches of rope until the camping lantern almost touched the water’s still surface.

Chigger, also sixteen, tied off the rope and picked up his fishing pole.

Night fishing was one of Billy’s favorite things to do in the summer.

Well, really, he liked fishing any time of day or night, any time of year.

And hunting, too, for that matter.

He liked Cherokee bowhunting the best.

From somewhere off in the murky distance along the lake’s shoreline, the boys heard the snap of a breaking branch and a rustling of leaves.