"Also, I wonder," he continued, "where is the Cree war party? They abandoned chasing us because of the blizzard, but did they go home? Or did they seek shelter only to return here when the warm winds melt the snow?"
"Surely," she said, "they left to go home."
He shook his head, then signed, "I believe there is a chance they did not leave here as we would like. I think this because, alone, I present an easy scalp for one of the several young men who are seeking glory. This one thinks I would be easy to kill. Besides, they have seen you, and I believe this same man—the one who wishes to have my scalp—also lusts for you."
"Me? How can this be?"
"The Crees saw you on the boat. Do you not remember standing alone upon the deck of the boat? Unless they all have sweethearts waiting for them at home, there could be one or perhaps two amongst them who would prize you as much as my scalp. And, even if the Cree war party returned home, there are always other enemies of the Pikuni or Crow who travel across this country. They can hide in forests like these when they cannot do the same on the open prairie. For all these reasons, I think it is better for us to return to the Pikuni camp."
Sharon frowned, considering all he had told her. What he had said troubled her. Because she had stood on the deck of the keelboat, had she, in her innocence, unknowingly caused the keelboat fight? It was an unwelcome thought.
She asked in English, "Do you think, then, I am the reason for the river fight?"
Strikes Fast gathered her up in his arms and said, "No, not…your… fault." Then, settling her a little distant from him, he signed, "Nature has made you a woman, and a beautiful one. A woman does not need to do anything except be good-hearted and pretty to catch the fancy of a man. Nature has made men to be this way, and for good reasons. But, knowing the general nature of a man when he is confronted by a beautiful woman, our mothers and grandmothers guard our unmarried girls with a strict eye, and a young woman is cautioned continually about the lustful nature of men. Although a woman is not the cause of a man's desire, she can still fall victim to the sweet whisperings of a man who seeks to use her for his own pleasure. Again, this is why a girl is guarded so carefully by her family."
"I understand. But, please tell me this: if one of the Cree warriors saw me and this was the reason for their attack on the keelboat, wouldn't the fault be mine? I mean…"
When she paused, Strikes Fast went on to sign, "No. You did not invite the fight. Did you even know you were being watched by a Cree war party?"
She shook her head.
"You are not to blame. Amongst all tribes are the good and the bad men. A good man does not romance the wife of another, and he waits patiently for the girl of his choice. But, a young man must prove his worth before the girl's father will let her go. And, young men do not like to wait too long to ask for a girl to be his woman. And so, these young Cree warriors seek honors, horses and scalps to prove their worth, and because I am only one man, they think my scalp—and you, who are now my woman—might be easy to take."
She nodded, then signed, "Your words have relieved my mind a little, and I thank you. But…supposing the war party didn't go home, in leaving here, wouldn't we be more vulnerable? At least if we were to stay here, we would be on a ground we could defend."
"It might seem this way, it is true. But, you forget about my duty," he signed. "I must leave here each morning to hunt since I do not wish us to go hungry. When I am gone, you would be alone and unable to defend yourself against several warriors. Better it is we stay together and return to the Pikuni camp where there are others to help in a man's defense."
Sharon nodded. "I suppose you are right." Briefly, she gazed around their little encampment, noticing little things about it: to her left was where Strikes Fast had swept her up in his arms shortly after they had said their vows to one another. To her right was where Strikes Fast had shown her how to fasten and also how to walk in snowshoes. Additionally, if her recollections were correct, under one of the tall cottonwood trees to her left—and despite the snow falling all around them at the time—they had made passionate love.
And then, of course, there was their tiny lodge itself—hidden as it was in amongst the rocks and trees—where they had become of one heart. Always, she would have fond memories of this place, because it was here when, for a while, they had done little more than wait out the storm. It was also here, within this place, that they had learned a bit of each other's language and had first made love. And, this spot would forever hold the memory of when they had taken courage and shared the worst of their faults. Yet, in doing so, they had found their confessions had made their love stronger.
She whispered to him, "I will miss this, our little lodge."
"I, too," he uttered in English. Then, in sign, he continued, "But, it has always been a temporary place of refuge. We have our whole lives to spend together, and there will be many other locations we will come to honor and love…we will love them all because we love each other. Take heart; the best may yet be in our future."
She smiled. "Oh, my darling husband, I don't know how it would be possible to be even happier than I am now."
He reached out to take her into his arms and said, "We…make it…possible."
"Yes," she said, "you are right. Will you tell me your plans, then?"
As he set her slightly away from him, he brought up his hands and signed, "Within two complete paths of the sun, we will leave before sunrise on the third day. I will find a high place to look out from, where I can see the prairie and determine what our path shall be. We have made our home here in the northern part of these mountains because these were closer to us in our bid to outrun the Cree. The Pikuni camp will be found south and west of here. I think it best for us to use the cover of the mountains to hide ourselves and our trail as we travel south and west. Daylight will serve us well for this kind of travel because the forests here can be dense. But, once we reach the most southwestern corner of this mountain range, our path must be across the prairie. Then we will travel at night only, sleeping during the day. There are many coulees and high places along this southern route where we can set up camp at the end of the night and disguise it so the camp becomes invisible to others. There, you and the boy can rest."
"And, you?" she asked. "Won't you sleep, also?"
He shook his head and signed, "Someone must stand watch."
"But, you, too, must have some rest."
"This one will…sleep…when safe," he said in English, pointing to himself. Then, continuing in sign, he said, "But, until we reach the safety of the Pikuni camp, it is my duty to be on constant guard. Until then, I will stand watch while we travel across the prairie."
"Perhaps I could keep the watch now and again," she suggested.
He sighed and, wrapping his arms around her, brought her in close to him and placed his chin on top of her head. He said, "You know…how fight…enemy?"
"No, but I could raise an alarm."
"And…be…killed?" Setting her once again a little away from him, he signed, "I would rather die than force you to stand watch."
