If David were to blacken her reputation, would she bring insults and shame to her new family? Worse, would she be the cause of them losing status within the tribe? Wasn't Little Dove the wife of a chief? What if…?
Yes, she cared; she cared deeply.
"Do you wish me to tell others about your seduction of me?"
Sharon didn't face around. She simply kept walking. She couldn't give in to him, and she wouldn't answer his insult because not only was his request indecent, what he was suggesting went against the commandments of God. Think what he would and do what he would, she could not ignore her faith.
Again two hands clamped down on her shoulders, and David jerked her around to face him. Quickly, without even a pause, he raised his hand up to strike her.
Swish!
His blow never came. Sharon even cringed.
Instead of the slap, however, a sound much like the crinkling of paper whizzed by her. She even felt the air move around her, and, following on the tail end of the movement, she caught David's cry. Glancing quickly at him, she saw blood oozing from his arm. But, there was no arrow nor knife nor bullet, nothing at all to show the cause of the injury.
As instinct took over, David let go of her, and Sharon watched as he turned speedily in the direction toward his attacker; he even attempted to draw his gun with his uninjured other arm, but he wasn't fast enough.
Curious, Sharon gazed in the same direction as David, and there stood Strikes Fast. His bowstring was drawn back with an arrow pointed directly at David's heart.
"Meant…I…" Strikes Fast called out in broken English, "to…miss. Not…miss …again. Daasé Isée…move away."
David didn't budge, but Sharon took a few steps away.
"Now!" ordered Strikes Fast. "Leave! Next…time…I kill."
David backed away. But, before he turned to leave, he shouted out, "This is not over, Injun. Why, you're nothing but a savage. I've got news for you, buddy. I've already had her. But then, you probably know this already. I guess I'll let you have my seconds, though. It's all you deserve."
"Go…run!" threatened Strikes Fast.
"I'll be speaking to your chief about her and about you. You'll not win this, Savage."
Another arrow shot past him, barely missing him. "Go…fast…run!"
Finally, David turned away from her. But, he was not quick enough. Another arrow, carefully aimed, knocked his hat from his head. Sharon saw David bend over to make a grab for the hat, but another arrow shot into the hat and pinned it to the ground.
David jumped away and took off in a run like a scared rabbit, not even looking behind him. And, it seemed to Sharon he was racing away faster than she had ever seen him run. Fascinated, she watched until he rounded a lodge, disappearing behind it. Only then did she hear the footfalls of Strikes Fast as he trod toward her. She watched him as he bent over and quickly picked up his arrows.
Then, looking at Sharon, he said, "You…go…ahead. I…guard… behind…."
Sharon didn't hesitate to do exactly as he'd ordered. But, she took a moment to say and to sign, "Thank you."
"I…want…kill…him."
"I know," she said, but she didn't hesitate to gather the ropes of the mares, and once she had the buckskin reins in her hands, she, too, stepped quickly in the direction Strikes Fast had pointed out to her. Once, she glanced behind her and saw Strikes Fast covering their retreat; his back was toward her as he stepped steadily to his rear. His bowstring was drawn taut with an arrow ready to fire, and she knew if David were to show his face again to this man, he would be a dead man.
For now, and thanks to Strikes Fast, it was over. But, she feared it was only the first battle she would have to endure from David.
Gazing ahead, Sharon tried to blink away the tears. If David made good on his threat to bring tales about her to the Pikuni men's societies, she would have no choice but to leave. She couldn't stay here if it meant causing embarrassment or harm to any member of her new family, especially if such harm came to them because of her indiscretion with David. Not only would she be embarrassed because of it, her almost relatives would be, also.
And, then there was Strikes Fast to be considered. If he found out about her transgression, would he wish he had never offered to become her almost brother? Would he begin to dislike her because she hadn't confessed this to him before the adoption?
Oh, I don't think I could bear it if Strikes Fast were to think ill of me.
Perhaps it was this last thought that settled the matter for her: she had to leave. And, she would have to go before anyone—and, in particular, this included Strikes Fast—found out about her wrongdoing with David.
It was the only way.
****
