Gray Falcon appeared to be unmoved by her antics until, at last, as though the sound were bursting from him, he laughed and again set down both knife and wood. After a moment, he said, "Come closer."
"No! I will not. Not until you agree to accompany her."
Again he chuckled. "I like what you are doing, and I warn you, if you continue, it may have consequences."
"Really? Then, you will go with her?"
"I cannot."
"Oh, you! You could miss a council this once. Why can you not?"
"Because Strikes Fast has already left to follow her."
"Strikes Fast has already… He is gone?"
"He is. He follows her."
"Oh, you! You led me on with your 'I cannot,' making me think all I had to do was to convince you to go. Why would you do this to me and pretend…?"
Gray Falcon smiled at her. "Because," he said, still grinning as he reached out to bring her into his arms, "I enjoy the way you try to convince me to do tasks I do not wish to do. It brings happiness into my heart, and also, you, with your convincing ways, lighten the burdens I must carry."
"I do?"
He nodded. "This and more."
"Oh, my darling husband. What kind words you are saying to me. I love you so much."
"I, too, love you, and I think I might forego the council tonight, as you have suggested. I find I am now curious to know what you might do to appease me if I promise to do as you say at some time in the future."
"Oh?" asked Amelia. "What did you have in mind that we might do tonight, my husband?"
"I will show you, my wife."
"Tonight?"
"Indeed. It will be tonight." And, as he brought her down to lie upon the soft buffalo robe at her back, he proceeded to show her, and in a very pleasant way, exactly what he had in mind….
****
Strikes Fast kept hidden as well as possible, given the lay of the land. Because the majestic sand and clay bluffs jutted up from the river without even a single beach to soften the change from the water into the tall and sharply defined cliffs, it was not always easy to appear invisible to the white man's tiny walk-on-the-water keelboat. Enemies also abounded on this part of the plains at this time of year when hunting was so vital for the winter stores. But, Strikes Fast was less fearful of an enemy than he was of losing this woman who seemed to be determined to leave this land forever.
He tried to tell himself he was following this stronghearted woman, Daasé Isée, because she was now his almost sister and she would need protection in this, an environment she didn't understand. But, he knew in his heart he wasn't being completely truthful.
When had he started loving her? She, with her womanly beauty and shy ways. Had it been when he'd first rescued her from the buffalo attack? He had certainly wanted her then, as a man wants a woman, though he had dared not show it, not even with the slightest hint.
But, he had watched her after that first encounter. He had never been conspicuous about his interest, though at the time, he had wondered if she were married. She was always to be seen with the white painter, but they did not live together as married people like to do. The white painter had secured his own living quarters within the fort, and she had dwelt amongst the Pikunis in their village, residing in a lodge shared with her friend Amelia.
It had puzzled him.
He remembered now how his heart had rejoiced when she had informed him she wasn't married to the white painter, and, even though she had planned to marry the white man soon, she had still been free of commitment for a little while longer; in that time, he had dared to dream.
Making her an almost sister had been his way to keep her close, as well as the many and other good reasons for doing it. He knew she would fare better within the Pikuni camp if she were part of a family. He had simply omitted telling her he'd wanted to keep her as close as possible to him without at the same time infringing upon her plans for her life with the white painter.
Why was she leaving now, at a time when she had appeared to be happy with her new status within the tribe? It had to be because of the white painter.
What had happened between the two of them? Strikes Fast was now aware there was more than simply bad blood between the two of them.
Truly, the white painter had done wrong by marrying another woman after he had promised this place of honor toDaasé Isée. But, would the man's betrayal alone have caused this beautiful woman to leave in such a panic? And, after she had been brought into his family?
