"Excuse me for a moment as I step out of line," said Laylah to Sharon and Amelia. "I am being called by my mother-in-law to come and help her. I think her pony is giving her trouble. I will come back to you both as soon as I can."
Sharon nodded, while Amelia replied, "Yes, please help her. You know where we are."
Laylah smiled, and, grabbing hold of her son's hand, she led her mare in a diagonal direction ahead of them.
After a moment and without looking at Amelia, Sharon muttered, "A keelboat pulled into port at the fort on the day we left."
"A keelboat?" Amelia asked, gazing back at Sharon. At present, both women were walking side by side, leading their ponies within the Pikuni procession. To be afoot seemed to encourage conversation, and Sharon was glad of it, if only because she needed to speak to her friend.
Sharon didn't answer Amelia's question at once. Instead, gazing at the environment around her, she stared at the colorful sight these people made upon the brown and dry prairie. The Pikunis' many ponies were loaded with bright and many-colored possessions, and Sharon could feel the happiness of the people surrounding her.
And, why not? Here, with the dry atmosphere being so easy on the lungs, it encouraged a sense of gladness within the heart, and joy filled the air as if it were contagious. Although, if she had been asked, Sharon would have claimed to not feel the happiness around her, and might have even said she was immune to such northwestern charm.
Even if not true, it had to be this way now. She couldn't, she wouldn't be the cause of doing harm to people who had shown her nothing but kindness. And yet, here under the warm, bright rays of the sun and the high-pitched sound of children's laughter, her troubles seemed to become a little less.
It was then when she realized she was going to miss all of this. It seemed somewhat odd to her that she, who hadn't desired to come here, who had been afraid of the idea of even meeting one, single Indian, was going to miss this Indian life and these people.
How strange it was, too, that she had at last become part of a family, only to have to now walk away from it. But, there was little else she could do and still remain true to herself.
Yes, there was no other way; she was going to have to leave all this behind. And yet, in her heart, she now wished to stay. How this had come about, and how she had changed this much in so little time, she didn't know.
Yet, she had.
As she paced forward, she felt the dry grass cushioning her feet, even as the ground beneath her footfalls felt solid and real. Listening, she heard the sounds of jovial laughter and talk; children were skipping and running, were giggling or shouting to one another, and the conversation between the women sounded elated and lively. In truth, the noises around her reminded her of the din of an orchestra tuning their instruments. Children— the very young, as well as the older children—were playing games as they darted past her and Amelia. Yes, it was joyful. Yet, Sharon could not allow herself to feel their bliss.
"I have need of talking to you, Amelia," said Sharon.
"Yes, I am aware of this. I have observed sadness within your countenance today," said Amelia. "And, this is a good time for us to speak to one another. Please, can you tell me why there seems to be a black cloud following you?"
Sharon smiled a little and nodded. "Yes, I wish very much to talk to you. But, please give me a moment to gather together my thoughts."
Sharon inhaled deeply and raised her head, feeling the balminess of the sun in the cool air of an early afternoon. As she thought about what she might say to her friend, she looked forward. At the front of the procession were chiefs and warriors—though Sharon could barely make out their figures because they were so far ahead of her. She was well aware of why those men were in the lead: they were positioning themselves to be the first to confront an enemy, should one be near. Young warriors, some who looked to be little more than boys, guarded each side of the moving and colorful parade of horses, women, children, dogs and the overloaded travois.
Behind them rode many strong warriors, and if Sharon dared to turn around, she knew she would see Strikes Fast there since he had told her where he would be in this convoy of goods and people. She knew, also, these were the warriors who were given the duty to confront and repel an enemy should an attack come from behind.
Listening for a moment, Sharon picked out the laughter from amongst the barking dogs and the crying babies. Slanting a look to her right, she beheld the grand and beautiful, yet austere sand and clay cliffs, and, although she didn't look to her left, she knew there in the distance was the Missouri River. And, since she meant to leave all of this, she deliberately felt the dry grasses and vines snagging at the bottom of her dress so as to always remember it.
Yes, it was true. She would miss this.
Gazing toward her friend, Sharon asked, "Do you think a keelboat is as safe to travel upon as a steamboat?"
"I don't know," Amelia replied. "Probably it is safe. After all, these boats travel a great deal upon the river at this time of year. Apparently, steamboats don't make the trip from Fort Union to Fort McKenzie in the fall. I guess the autumn weather is too unpredictable. I am very glad both of my parents have decided to winter at Fort McKenzie this year."
"Yes," said Sharon. "It is good."
"Why do you ask about the keelboats?" asked Amelia.
Sharon shrugged. "Because…I believe I have no option but to return to Fort Union and to winter there."
"Fort Union?" Amelia appeared to be shocked. "Why, that's a two or three month trip. Anything could happen on the way there. But, why are you considering doing this when your new family will be wintering in our own camp? My husband tells me the location where our camp is to be pitched is very beautiful."
"Is it? But then, almost any place in this country is beautiful," said Sharon.
"Yes, I suppose you are right. But, why would you even be thinking of journeying all the way back east to Fort Union? We are already a good ways south and west of Fort McKenzie, and it would require you to turn around and go back there with all due haste."
"I know," replied Sharon. "And yet, I think I must do it."
"But, why?"
