Again all he signed was, "I know."
Sharon didn't have an answer for this simple sign, and so she did little more than sit beside him, nervously clutching his hand.
After a while, he signed, "There is a thing that has happened, although I do not understand the reason for it."
"There is?"
He nodded. "The war party is not making good progress on the trail they have chosen. Something has taken place to cause them to delay, although I do not know what it is. I have looked at them in their camp, and I see they have killed many deer and are now busy making new clothing for themselves, but I do not understand or know the reason for this. However, I am happy to have come into the knowledge of their delay. It might give us the chance we need to escape onto the prairie where there is a better chance of our either hiding from them in the many different coulees or of escaping them utterly."
"Then, there's a possibility we might escape them?"
He nodded.
"But, this is good news."
"It is."
"Why did you not tell me before now?"
"Because," he signed, "if they do catch me, they might kill me, and I do not wish to give you false hope. There is another mystery I see with them, however, and it is that I detect now only five of them. If this is so, two of them may already be scouting ahead, breaking the trail in shifts. What I do not understand is these two who are no longer with the other five; I have not yet seen where they are. They might be close to us, but if this is so, I do not understand why I cannot find them in the environment around us."
"Maybe they left to go home. Is it possible there might have been some argument between these two and the others, causing the two warriors to have no choice but to leave? Do men on the warpath sometimes disagree?"
"Some do," he signed. "This is a good suggestion you make, and I will look further out from these mountains to try to find the two who are no longer with the war party. Maybe I have been looking for them in the wrong area."
"And, if they have left the war party and there are now only five of them, aren't the odds then a little better of you surviving the fight?"
He nodded and signed, "A little."
"Only a little?"
He nodded.
"Why do you think they are being so persistent? I mean, shouldn't they have turned back after the storm?"
"Maybe," he signed. "But, I believe this is what the white men call a holy war; at least it is for their leader. I have seen into his mind and this man is seeking revenge for the murder of his wife and child. While the others might go away if there are too many problems, this leader will not turn back."
"But, why is he after you? You didn't kill his wife and child."
"No, but I have killed others who were innocent, and for similar reasons as this warrior. I understand the way this man thinks. Regardless of any misfortune he might encounter, he will not back down."
"Oh dear. I so wish he would simply go away. I guess what I don't understand is where do I fit into this?"
"As I have said before, I think he means to kill me and take you to replace his wife. It is why I have warned both you and the boy to not fight him. He will not harm you, and if you both do not like him, you can try to escape later when the odds of escape more greatly favor you."
"Of course, I will not like him. If he were to kill you, or even if he means to kill you but doesn't do it, I will never like him. Never!"
"I know," he signed. "Perhaps it would be a good justice against him, since he would be in possession of a woman who hates him."
Sharon sat still for a moment, but then said, "I am not a possession."
"This is true. Never would a wise man ever mistake you for a possession." He looked down at her and grinned. "This is why I say it would be good justice to this Cree man if he manages to take my life and thinks he will gain you. He will never have you. This I know. But, come. You must get some rest. We leave at or even before first light."
"Very well," she signed. "But, if I am to rest, I would like to make my bed here beside you as you stand watch." She glanced up at him, her gaze at him a little sheepish. Then she signed, "Please?"
He was looking away from her when he replied and signed, "Very well. But, tonight only."
"Why only tonight?"
