Though it was unnecessary, the white men rode furiously toward them, and, when only a short distance away from himself and Steals-my-breath, they reined in, their sudden stop kicking up dust and rocks and creating a dusty cloud around them. They then formed a line of defense against him.
But, he did not flinch back from them. It was, after all, what he had expected, and he stood straight, facing forward. If he were to meet his death here today, he realized he would do so bravely and with no regret, for he had not done wrong by this woman.
He was glad, however, to see she didn't rush forward to meet her people. Instead, she stood by him, looking outward, her countenance sad and the tears still upon her cheeks.
But, because she had already made her choice, there was only one action for him to take, and he gestured her forward, saying in Blackfeet, "Itapoo!Go!" Then, he continued in his own language, saying, "We have spoken of this time when you would have to leave me, and we knew it would be hard for us to do. But, as you go, do not think I love you less. From now until the sun no longer shines, I will love you. Now, go.Itapoo."
She signed, "I wish I had learned your language as well as you have come to know mine. What did you say?"
He simply shook his head.
"Goodbye, Mr. Eagle Heart. Always, I will remember you. Always, you will be in my heart."
At her words, he almost wept. But, now was not the place to show weakness. Big tough men were watching them.
He saw when Gray Falcon separated himself from their throng and set his pony to walking toward them. He was followed by a young girl who was also pacing toward them and leading her mount behind her. In addition, there was an older woman following along behind her. The more mature woman—perhaps Steals-my-breath's mother—rode a small mustang. The younger girl Eagle Heart recognized as Steals-my-breath's sister.
He nodded to Gray Falcon, including the young girl and the older woman in his perusal. Quick though his glance was at the other woman, he realized she, indeed, had to be Steals-my-breath's mother, for the woman was still pretty and looked very much like her daughter.
The sister seemed to be the only person capable of movement as well as speech, and, as she dropped the reins of her pony, she ran forward to hug Steals-my-breath, crying out, "I have been so worried about you, Laylah. Do not ever do this again. Mr. Gray Falcon convinced the others to let me and our mother accompany the men here, and it is he who tried to find out what had happened to you, but he was unable to reach Mr. Eagle Heart with silent words. I have cried until I am almost sick because of my tears."
"I am sorry, Millie. But, I was well taken care of, as you can see. Hello, Mother."
"Hello, Laylah. I have cried very much, too, and I am very happy to see you." Steals-my-breath's mother was still sitting atop her mount when she glanced down uponhimand said, "Thank you, Mr. Eagle Heart, for saving my daughter. I will be forever in your debt because of what you have done for her."
Eagle Heart nodded briefly, quickly, glad that Steals-my-breath had explained to him—and he understood now—what it meant to be in a person's debt.
Amelia McIntosh glanced up at Eagle Heart, also, and, catching his eye, said, "Thank you," before she gently placed her arm around Steals-my-breath's waist and stepped toward the waiting line of men, escorting her sister with her. Her mother followed, still astride the mustang.
As Eagle Heart watched Steals-my-breath walk away from him, he felt his pulse beating hard against his chest and neck. It wasn't, however, from fear. It was grief. He would miss She-steals-my-breath, perhaps more than he had ever reckoned.
He watched as the trader, Robert McIntosh, dismounted and took his daughter in his arms. The older man hugged his daughter heartily and placed kisses against her head and her cheek. Eagle Heart heard him ask Steals-my-breath, "Was he kind to you?"
"Yes, Father. He saved my life. Without him coming to me, I would not be standing here with you. I tell this to you, truly. I would have died there but for him."
"But, did he take your..."
"He did nothing to me, Father. He saved me, fed me and helped me to heal. That is all. He is an honorable man, and we owe him much."
Only then did the elder McIntosh, her father, glance over towardhim.
Eagle Heart met the unspoken question and the threat without flinching. But, it was understood between them: if his daughter was not as pure as she had been before her accident, McIntosh would seek him out and kill him.
Eagle Heart didn't acknowledge the man in any way. But, he did meet the trader's stare without cowering away from him.
Steals-my-breath's sister looked over her shoulder toward Gray Falcon and signed, "Thank you for assisting me."
Gray Falcon answered her by a single nod. The younger sister stepped up to the waiting line of men, with her own and her sister's ponies in tow behind her. Within little time, Steals-my-breath, her sister and their mother passed into and through the several lines of the white men.
"Do you think we have a fight ahead of us?" asked Eagle Heart of Gray Falcon, using signs.
Gray Falcon answered by a quick shake of his head. "They are happy she is alive. But, they have great distrust of you, my friend. I fear they do not know what to do about you. Do they harm you for being alone with her for these many days? Or do they stand back and do nothing because they know she would not be here were it not for you?"
"Áa,I can see their doubt, as well as their displeasure, for both of their mindsets appear to me as though they are as solid as the earth beneath my feet. I suggest we do not move, we do not go forward. We do not retreat from them, either."
"Whatever happens, I will stand here with you, my brother."
"I know. There may yet come a time when I will do the same for you, for we have many trails ahead of us."
