Eagle Heart, his wife, Gray Falcon and Robert McIntosh sat on one side of the hastily constructed wiki-up, while the Crow scout, Strikes Fast, and his sister, Little Dove, plus her child, sat on the other side of the shelter. Between them was a fire.
Meanwhile, up on Granite Mountain, the trap remained unchanged by the trauma involving the human beings, the wolves and the Big People. But, in a deep valley at the foothills of this mountain, the men had constructed this particular shelter so they might discuss all that had occurred without fear of being discovered.
Chases-the-enemy continued. “Now, my brother, I know you spoke to the Giant female. Can you tell us what this is all about? What did you learn? Why did she steal the baby?"
"I will answer your questions and here is what I have learned: The Giant female whom you speak of is a woman from the tribe of the Big People. She lost her husband and her son in a river, I know not where." Eagle Heart also spoke in the language of sign so all would understand. He continued, "Her son was killed, for she found his body, but not the remains of her husband. Since he never returned to her, however, she has assumed he is dead. She has grieved much, and her loss troubles her. When she saw the human baby on his cradleboard and hanging from a tree, she knew a moment of peace. She made the decision to take the baby and raise him as her own. She never meant the baby harm.”
Eagle Heart looked toward his brother and continued in sign, "When you, my brother, followed her and stole the baby back, she, in turn, trailed after you. And, so began the dangerous game of taking the baby and running. She couldn't stop. When she did, her grief returned. Always, you found her, my brother, and many times she could have harmed you for, as you know, her strength is beyond ours. But, thinking you might be the baby's father, she couldn't do you or Little Dove harm.
"She now understands how the result of her grief has damaged others, and before she left she expressed regret for the danger and trouble she presented you.”
Chases-the-enemy sat for a few moments before using the sign language to say, "It is a sad story. Yet, the baby was never hers to take."
"It is true. Still, she is troubled by her grief. If I could, I would try to make her heart whole again. Now, is there anyone else who has a question?" asked Eagle Heart in sign. When no one else spook, Eagle Heart went on to sign, "I have a question of my own to ask the Crow scout, Strikes Fast. Am I right? Were you tracking me by finding me in the spiritual world?"
Strikes Fast nodded.
"You do it well," signed Eagle Heart.
Strikes Fast sat without visible movement. In time, however, he signed, "I am told I have a talent for this."
"Those who say this to you are right," signed Eagle Heart. "And, my friend, Gray Falcon, you are to be honored for coming here today. Your friendship and your strength are to be admired and you, my friend, are greatly thanked. And now, we must honor my wife, because, through her courage, we all came to our senses. And, somewhere out there is my sister, the wolf, who rescued us all. It is said by my people that a gun which shoots a wolf will never shoot straight again. This is a good saying. We should live with them as brothers and sisters. Do we all agree?"
They all agreed except one. Steals-my-breath's father, Robert McIntosh, sat within their council fire, yet he said not a word. Instead, he sat looking downward, his fists clenched.
"What say you, Father-in-law?" asked Eagle Heart.
"Damned Injuns, both Blackfeet and Crow," was all he said as he set his lips together so firmly, it looked as though there were a straight line where his lips should have been.
"Father!"
"And what kind of creature was that big thing?"
"Big People...what called," answered Eagle Heart. "Creator much loves them."
"Creator? As though you have any sense of religion. But, I'll give ya this, Injun, you win. I give up. You got her. Twice you saved my daughter, while I... But I don't like it, ya hear? Don't like it at all. And I don't like you!"
"Father!"
"I'm leavin'. I'm goin' back to where I belong. You comin', Crow?"
Strikes Fast shook his head.
"Stay...a while, Father-in-law," said Eagle Heart. "Long journey back. Stay. Help us smoke some meat. We give many horses. Other gifts."
"I don't want nothin' from you. Ya got my biggest treasure—my daughter."
McIntosh came up to his feet and stared around the group. "I'm leavin'."
"Take horse...mine. Good buffalo horse. He...yours now." Eagle Heart stood up, too. "Come," he said. "Show horse to you. Give...you."
"All right. I'll take it. You owe me anyway."
As the two of them left the council circle, Eagle Heart said, "Take all horses...mine. I give you. Your daughter, I love."
"I'll take 'em. Now listen here, Injun. You better treat her right. If not, I'll kill ya."
"Her, I love. I treat...good."
