CHAPTER TWENTY
As Laylah McIntosh gazed around her cozy and newly made winter lodge, she felt safe, happy and warm. Yet, as she sat with her husband, Eagle Heart; her sister, Amelia; and her sister's husband, Gray Falcon, Laylah felt compelled to speak about the worry in her heart, and she said, "My husband, I fear your friend Strikes Fast as well as mine and my sister's friend Sharon are in trouble. Although I have not dreamed this, nor have I been gifted with a vision about this, I yet fear she and Strikes Fast have been set upon by terrible events."
"I, too, have had much the same intuition," added Amelia.
Laylah knew these were odd words to speak during a time of feasting. Most of the people were celebrating a recent and good buffalo hunt, and it was a happy occasion for the people, made so because of the tremendous amount of game and food both Gray Falcon, Eagle Heart and other men had brought into camp. Yet, Laylah felt it was important to speak of her concerns openly, since whatever happened to Sharon and to Strikes Fast would affect them all.
Although the two sisters and their husbands visited with one another daily, they rarely discussed news so concerning. Today, however, Laylah's husband, Eagle Heart, had already lit and had passed the pipe to his friend, Gray Falcon. It was as though he had known they, as a group, were to be discussing a matter of importance. And, once Gray Falcon had returned the pipe to him, Eagle Heart answered Laylah and said in English, "It is true. Both I and my friend, Gray Falcon, are aware of their troubles and have been making plans to go to them."
"Oh?" asked Amelia, looking directly at her husband. "You were going to tell me about this, weren't you?"
Gray Falcon smiled at his wife and, without missing a beat, replied, "Of course. But, have patience, my wife. My good friend, your sister's husband, has not finished speaking."
Amelia nodded and looked toward Eagle Heart, who continued and said, "The Cree attacked the boat-that-is-pulled-by-white-slaves—the one your friend was taking back to your father's former fort on the Big River. Our friend, Strikes Fast, rescued your friend, Daasé Isée, and saved her from the Cree. With the help of a black blizzard, they both escaped harm but were heavily pursued. At present, they are safe within the Bears Paw Mountains. But, I have also seen they are not out of danger from the Cree war party. I know not why the Cree are still hunting them. I only know our friends are still in danger. As soon as the snow melts a little, the Cree will resume their tracking of these two. And so, our friends are not yet safe. This is why both Gray Falcon and I have been making plans to leave here and go to them. Three is always better than one to stand against an enemy."
Amelia darted a look at Gray Falcon. "It is in your plans, is it not, to invite both me and my sister to accompany you?"
"It is not," answered Gray Falcon, and without apology. "The Cold Maker is not yet finished with his wrath upon this land. Therefore, the way will be difficult and dangerous. And, if we are not successful, neither my friend nor I wish you to be taken by the Cree. I have seen into Strikes Fast's mind, and both he and I believe the Cree are being so persistent because of the beauty of Daasé Isée. Also, we do not wish you to be taken as prisoners or slaves, or even as Cree wives.
"Besides," Gray Falcon continued, "your sister has a boy to care for here within our camp, and you, my wife, are now with child. How foolish my friend and I would be to let you accompany us into danger. You must protect the children—your sister's and your own—while my friend and I go to aid our companion, Strikes Fast."
Laylah, who had been watching her sister closely, witnessed an unusual sort of meekness come over her sister's composure. As if to confirm the observation, Amelia said, "You are right, my husband. Of course, I must consider our children. But, oh, how I wish I could go with you."
Gray Falcon—who had been sitting across from Amelia—came up to his feet and crossed around the lodge fire to his wife, where he sat down beside her and took her hand into his own. He then brought their clasped hands together over his heart and said, "I know. I realize it will be difficult for you to stay behind, but you must consider your sister's child and now your own. You, my wife, will always hold my heart, and I tell this to you true: I feel how difficult this will be for you to stay behind."
Amelia nodded. "Yes, it will not be easy to let you go without me," she said. "But, you are right."
To strengthen Amelia's resolve, Laylah—who had been sitting next to her sister—arose and crossed around the fire to sit beside her husband. She took his hand into her own, and as soon as she did so, Eagle Heart brought her hand up to his lips, where he kissed the pressure point at the back of her wrist. Then, like Gray Falcon, he brought their clasped hands over his heart.
Said Eagle Heart, "You are very perceptive, my wife."
Laylah grinned at this handsome man whom she loved dearly, and she answered, "Not as perceptive as you. But, I am learning. When do you leave?"
"In two days' time."
"In two days?" Both women echoed the words in unison. "But, this is so soon. Why are you only speaking to us about it now?"
It was Gray Falcon who answered, and he said, "We have only discovered the truth of this ourselves. It was the day before this one when Strikes Fast reached out to me in the mind speak. We plan to leave soon only because the journey there is long."
"And, I did not wish to worry you both until the time had come to leave," said Eagle Heart.
Although Laylah felt a little shocked because of the urgency of their husbands leaving so quickly, she yet said, "Well, I am glad you have spoken of it now because, my husband, though I know it was in your heart to spare me, if you were to have told me about this on the very day you planned to leave, the shock of discovering this would have been much worse. Now, at least, I and my sister can help you both prepare to go."
Again Eagle Heart brought her hand up to his lips, this time kissing the palm of her hand. He said, "I will welcome your help, my wife. I am a lucky man, and because I have you in my life, I might also be the happiest man in this camp."
"I, too, feel this way, although I believe I might be the happiest man in camp." Gray Falcon grinned.
Laylah giggled, as did her sister. Never in all of her early years in St. Louis, had Laylah ever felt so happily situated than now, here with her husband and within this Pikuni camp. Thank goodness, all those years ago she'd had the good sense to follow her heart instead of giving in to fear and adversity. She was amply rewarded for it now.
Smiling at her husband, she said, "I will miss you, and I will look for your return each day."
As Eagle Heart returned her smile, he murmured, "You will be in my thoughts every day, every hour and every minute until I return. You, my wife, are always in my heart. Now and forever. Do not forget it."
"I will never forget it, my husband. Never."
****
Sharon, Strikes Fast and their almost son, Rising Bear, were making slow progress on this, their first day on the trail. Hindered by her pony's slipping, trudging and stumbling through the crusted, melting slush, Sharon found it challenging to simply keep her seat. Both Strikes Fast and Rising Bear weren't riding, but were instead leading the horses. And, when Sharon suggested she could do the same, Strikes Fast objected, stating he would rather die than be the cause of his woman having to walk on the crusted ice.
