Preparing to leave the fort, he retrieved his weapons from the man on duty. Quickly, he drew on his quiver full of arrows, pulled his bow over his shoulder and grabbed his lance and shield, as well as his gun. Only then did he jump up to seat himself on his own steed, a spirited Appaloosa. Lastly, he reached out to take hold of his packhorse's reins, and, to the rhythm of the wind and the swirling of the snow around him, he set his course out of the fort, moving as fast as he dared over a ground that was amassing snow so quickly, even the horses' hooves were disappearing beneath a layer of white.
Eagle Heart was honestly worried, and, to counter this, he reached out into the environment, looking for She-steals-my-breath in the age-old manner of communication known and practiced by and between medicine men, as well as the Indian scout. Was she still alive?
He could no longer check his path for accuracy. The snow was too thick and spinning about the ground, and he could not see even a few hand lengths in front of him. There was now danger of losing his direction, as well. But, he wouldn't be turned away. No woman as beautiful as she should be made to die because her man did not understand the dangers of this land.
He reached out to her with his mind until he thought he'd found her, then said to her in the ancient way of medicine men, "I am coming for you. You must talk back to me with your mind so I can locate where you are. The snow is too dense, and I could lose my way. Can you speak to me with your mind so I can find you?"
"Yes," came her response.
With relief, he let out a deep breath. She had heard him and had even spoken back. He reached out again with his mind and said, "It is I, Eagle Heart, from the Pikuni tribe. Are you cold?"
"Yes. My fingers are frozen, I fear."
"Are you hurt?"
"Yes," she answered with her mind. "I can't move my right leg and my right arm. I fell upon them. My spine is hurt, too, I think. Maybe it's broken, for the agony in my spine when I try to move is very painful."
"I understand. You must remain warm, for the blizzard is coming upon us fast. I am going to see if there are wolves close to you who might come and surround you to keep you warm until I can get to you."
"Wolves? I'm afraid of wolves."
"You will not be afraid of these. I will try to find them and speak to them so they can come to you. If I locate them, they will help you and keep you from freezing. Do not be afraid of them."
"But, how can you do this?" she asked. "Talk to wolves?"
"I am speaking to you this way. I can also speak thusly to the wolves. I will send them to you. Do not be afraid of them."
The communication between them stopped, and, quickly, he reached out to her again and said, using the same ancient manner of communication, "You must keep talking to me with your mind even if I do not answer, for I am also seeking to find the wolves. Wait! I have found them. They are close and will come to help you. Let them keep you warm."
"I will try," she silently spoke back to him. "If I am to continue talking to you, as you say, what shall I tell you? I know not how to help you find me, and I am afraid for my life because I am so cold. Is there something else I could talk to you about to keep my mind off my fear?"
"Tell me about yourself. Why are you here? Are you in love with the man you are to marry?"
He sensed she might have found a little humor in his question. This was good. If she could laugh—even a little—perhaps she wouldn't center all her attention on her fear.
She silently spoke again in the mind-to-mind speak and said, "My name is Laylah McIntosh, and I have come here to help my father and also to marry the man I am engaged to."
"Do you love him?"
"Why do you ask?"
"It matters."
"Then I will tell you honestly," she told him, "that I don't know if I love him or not. I have believed I am in love with him, but recently I am beginning to experience doubts."
"How old are you?"
"I am eighteen years old. How old are you?"
"I am twenty and four snows."
"Snows? Do you mean years?"
"Yes."
"Mr. Eagle Heart, the wolves are here. I am afraid of them."
"Do not be. Let them lie next to you. They have answered my plea and are there to help you. You are close to me now. I have found the coulee, for I almost fell into it when I dismounted from my horse."
