CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The morning began with a mist composed not of humidity, but of sharp, stinging ice particles. Were Sharon not feeling the effects of the piercing and spiky fog, she would have never believed this feat of nature could even exist. Yet, it was overwhelmingly real, and she pulled up the hood of her cloak and pushed the buffalo robe more firmly around her shoulders to give her a little more protection from the fog's tiny projectiles.
It was with a sense of shock when Sharon saw that, despite the harsh weather conditions, both Strikes Fast and Rising Bear were bathing in the stream, the same ritual they accomplished each morning. It was as though the piercing fog were commonplace to them. However, seeing the two of them brave the icy cold, Sharon stirred from the buffalo robe clinging to her shoulders and, taking hold of the pouch of water at her side, warmed the water over the fire. Eventually, she bathed too, but she only did so once the water was hot.
When the men returned from their early morning bath and prayers, Sharon welcomed them with a smile as well as the breakfast she had prepared of dried meat and berries. Gazing over the fire at Rising Bear, Sharon realized she had begun to think of the youth as a man instead of a boy.
But, why wouldn't she? Rising Bear continually amazed her with his knowledge and his skill at helping Strikes Fast with the chores…unlike her own efforts.
Trouble was, she often erred in referring to Rising Bear as a man instead of the youth he was. Rising Bear didn't seem to mind; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Usually he smiled in response to her and squared back his shoulders, making himself taller and more manlike in stature.
While still at their breakfast, Strikes Fast gained both her and Rising Bear's attention by clearing his throat and then signed, "Within two suns, we should be at the most southern and western end of this mountain range. From that time onward, we will travel over the open prairie, though we will do so only at night. There will be many coulees, with their tree-lined streams to provide us with places where we can hide our camp from the enemy. Also, there will be rugged and high bluffs, and, from these high places, we can more easily surveil the plains around us and avoid this Cree war party, or any other travelers we might encounter."
"Good," signed Sharon. "This is very good. I, for one, will be glad to leave these heavily forested lowlands."
"I, too," signed Rising Bear.
Strikes Fast nodded. "But," he signed, "until we leave these forests and can again set our path upon the prairie, I fear we must be on our constant guard. I have the seen the Cree are again on the move, and the snow is not as deep as it once was under the canopy of the trees, and they are making good progress toward us."
"No!" Sharon couldn't help gasping.
"We can still evade them," continued Strikes Fast. "There are only five of them now. Two of their party returned to their camp. But, unlike these men who are still on the warpath, we must travel a little slower than they, and I expect them to catch up to us within the next few days. It is still my hope to keep in the lead of them, however, and to avoid them. Yet, it will not be easy. We must also rest, whereas they do not, and if they come too close to us, our ponies will give away our position."
"Could we let the horses go?" asked Sharon.
"We could. It is true: letting them go at night might aid us to hide within the forest, but it would be at too great a sacrifice, I think, since we will require both horses to carry us over the prairie once we reach it."
Sharon nodded.
"It is therefore in my mind to not break for camp at night. This will enable us to remain in the lead. Perhaps you and the boy might take turns sleeping in the saddle."
"Yes," said Sharon. "I will gladly do this if it will mean we would be able to evade them."
"I, too," signed Rising Bear.
"Good," signed Strikes Fast. "Then, since we all agree, it will be so."
****
"I fear our rush to get to our friends might be too late," said Eagle Heart as he and his two companions paused after a hard ride over the starlit prairie. "I have seen where our brother, Strikes Fast, is positioned, and I have also looked into the environment around him to try to locate where the Cree war party is, and I fear the Cree are not too far away from our friends."
"If this is so, then perhaps we should not stop to rest this day, but should forge onward," suggested Gray Falcon. "After all, we are still in the territory of the Pikuni, so we might ride out boldly upon the prairie during the day. I, for one, am in favor of this."
McIntosh coughed before saying, "Well, boys, I gotta admit I's in favor of it, too. Let's get to 'em."
"Yes, let us get to 'em, as you say. Now, my brother," said Eagle Heart to Gray Falcon, "spread your attention out widely while keeping a close watch on our friend, Strikes Fast, as we ride fast over these plains. I am going to reach out to my sister wolf and ask if she and her family of wolves might be close enough to the Bears Paw Mountains to come to our friends' aid. There is another ally, too, whom I will try to contact. Perhaps she might like to help, also. And, since she can move faster than we can, she might be able to get to them before us."
Gray Falcon nodded, and said, "I will keep a close watch over where our friends and the enemy are."
"And, whatcha want me ta do, fellas?"
"I think it would be good if you could keep an eye out on the prairie around us," said Eagle Heart. "And, if you see an enemy anywhere nearby, alert us. From this moment on forward, although we will be riding swiftly—and so might appear to be here with you in body—our minds will be elsewhere."
"Sure thing. I can do that. Yep, sure thing."
And, so it was agreed. Luckily, the next few days saw fair weather over the plains and so did not require them to seek shelter. It was to be hoped by the three of them that the weather would hold.
****
