Amelia gulped before she whispered, "He walked away from the fight…."
And away from me.
Sharon felt suddenly close to tears. But, she wouldn't break down and give-in to the emotion. David, of course, would have had a good reason for leaving her alone to face the Crow warriors without him. Simply, she didn't know it.
****
Sharon, Strikes Fast, Amelia and her husband, Gray Falcon, as well as Gray Falcon's sister, Itsiiy-Aakíí, or Sweet Woman, made up the small party returning to Fort McKenzie. When evening came, their little troop parted ways from the war party; those warriors would continue south and eastward, tracking the Crow combatants who had so recently attacked the Pikuni people and had stolen many horses.
After a brief supper of dried beef and what the Indians calledmóókaakin,pemmican, Sharon helped the others pack up their belongings and they turned their direction around, heading back west and a little south toward Fort McKenzie. At present, they were riding in single file with Gray Falcon in the lead and Strikes Fast pulling up their rear; the three women were saddled in the middle between the two men.
Because there was only a crescent moon overhead, it seemed to Sharon as though the night were unusually dark, and perhaps it was this very fact which caused the stars to appear innumerable. Some constellations she recognized easily—the Big Dipper being the easiest to see. But, out here on the open prairie, even the Milky Way itself lit up the night sky like a twinkling roadway.
How different it was here than in the town of St. Louis, where the lights often hid most of the stars in the Milky Way. Here in this wild northwestern prairie, the sky looked as if a child had thrown the stars haphazardly into the heavens. It was strange how the simple act of looking up into the night sky could bring on such a welcome feeling of peace, especially after Sharon's recent trauma.
She inhaled and, at once, smelled the scent of sage in the air. She also identified the fragrance of the dried grass, dirt and soil over which they trod, as well as the sweet-smelling perfume of the pines that grew up so closely beside the Missouri River. The atmosphere here was clean, the oxygen-filled environment making it a pleasure to simply breathe in. Also, the touch of the breeze pushing against the night air caressed her skin as though the kindly hand of God were a part of the very wind; even the coolness in the air seemed like a welcome friend after the extreme heat of the previous day.
Oddly, while Sharon felt small in comparison to the vastness around her, at the same time she was aware of a part of her expanding out into the open space of this western environment. Funny how the darkness encompassed all, yet was also alive with the white and yellow lights overhead.
Their journey seemed endless as they traveled on throughout the night without stopping, and, as one hour passed into another, it seemed to Sharon as though the night might extend well into the day. Yet, though the travel was tedious, it was not without its thrills. Now and again they startled a group of elk or antelope. Once they had come in close to a herd of buffalo, and occasionally they heard the call of the night hawk. And, though Sharon was tired and her muscles ached and begged for relief, the trip across the prairie was oddly invigorating.
It was toward the early hours of the morning—the deepest, darkest part of the night—when Gray Falcon called a halt; it was at this same moment when Strikes Fast walked his pony slowly to the front of their party. Briefly the two men conversed, speaking in whispers, but mostly in signs.
Unfortunately, for a reason she could not fathom, the outcome of their "talk" was not revealed to either her or to the other women. However, whatever was the result of their discussion, it caused them to change their course so they now headed in a northerly direction toward the white sand-and-clay cliffs that rose up so closely to the water's edge. Surprisingly, those bluffs jutting up so grandly from the prairie floor and forming a jagged line next to the river seemed like a friend.
Because of the time of year, the daylight hours were surrendering their light more and more to the darkness. This worked in their favor, however, as it gave them a little extra bit of night in which to find a good spot to set up their encampment.
They found such a place upon a ledge situated high up in the cliffs, and, at last, the men called a halt to their nightly journey. It was still dark when the two men and Gray Falcon's sister, Sweet Woman, started a fire. And, while Sharon and Amelia warmed themselves by sitting up closely to the small blaze, both Gray Falcon and Strikes Fast left, though their activity in cutting wood and branches was easy to hear. Sweet Woman also accompanied them, although it was assumed she wasn't engaged in cutting wood herself.
"What are they doing?" Sharon asked Amelia.
"I think they are making two, or, most probably, three small lodges. There will undoubtedly be one for Gray Falcon and me, one for you and Sweet Woman and, most likely, one for Strikes Fast. It seems to me they might have it in their plans for us to be here awhile."
"Oh?"
"I believe so," said Amelia.
"Do you suppose," asked Sharon, "there is some kind of trouble at Fort McKenzie? Could it be some problem there causing us to stop here rather than continue on? After all, if my calculations are correct, the fort might be only a few days away from us."
"There must be some kind of happening going on there," answered Amelia. "Otherwise, you are right; we would still be journeying there."
Sharon nodded, then asked, "Do you think they will tell us what the problem is?"
"I really don't know," replied Amelia. "I do hope they will relay the news to us about it, though."
Sharon returned her attention to the small fire; it was so very tiny it could hardly even be seen glowing. However, as Sharon sat closely by it, both she and Amelia warmed their hands by its dim light.
Soon the men returned, followed by Sweet Woman, who was, according to custom, trailing after them. The shelters were now built, and all could retire while darkness still hung in the air, making it, perhaps, a little easier to sleep. It also appeared the two men had already decided who would take the first watch. But, both men made it clear to the women that they were to sleep until well rested.
And, as it was decided, so it was done.
****
After arising late in the afternoon, both Sharon and Amelia sat quietly, speaking to one another in whispers. Said Amelia, "My husband has gone scouting in the direction of the fort, leaving Strikes Fast here to guard our camp. But, before Gray Falcon left, he told me briefly about what the problem is awaiting us at Fort McKenzie. It seems Gray Falcon, using the mind-to-mind speak, has been in touch with Eagle Heart, my sister's husband. You were right. We are encamped here, high up on these sand bluffs, because we are safer here than we would be were we to journey onward toward the main Pikuni encampment—the one set up next to the fort. You will be glad to hear about David: my husband told me David has been found and is back in camp. He also said David is well. So, at least, there is one problem you needn't worry about."
Sharon smiled. "I am happy to hear about David. How pleasant it is to know he is back in camp and is in no worse shape because of the Crow attack. Yet, I am troubled to learn there are problems at the fort."
"Yes, I am, too. But, I have been eager to talk to you since learning David is well and is returned to us, unharmed. And now, knowing this, I am certain you are yearning to return to the fort."
