Signed Strikes Fast, "Our enemy has made good time. They have found us."
Sharon gulped, but shock kept her silent.
"They are even now seeking cover behind the trees across the meadow." He pointed to it. "Prepare yourselves for a fight because if I perish in this struggle, they will come after you. Rising Bear, you are to cover me as I ride out into the meadow between their position and ours."
"Why are you going out there to meet with them?" asked Sharon in sign. "They will kill you if you expose yourself to them so blatantly. Please don't do it. Stay here with us and lead our fight against them."
The gaze Strikes Fast gave her was warm and full of love, as well as understanding. Yet, there was another emotion clearly evident upon his countenance, and, watching him tense his muscles, Sharon could only describe his appearance as hostile. But, it was not aimed at her. She knew it wasn't. He said in English, "You…not fight. You…hide."
Sharon hesitated as she gazed straight back at him. After a moment, she spoke what was in her heart and said, "Please don't make me hide. I want to be here with you. If you are to fight, I want to be at your side."
"And, if I die? What will you do then?"
"Then I will die with you." Because she meant what she said, she kept hold of his gaze. Then, in a whisper, she added, "I am not afraid of this."
He drew in a deep breath and let it out forcefully before replying in sign, "I do not wish you to die. I want you to live. To perhaps marry again should I die here. Hear me on this: if I am no longer alive after this fight, I wish you to find another to take as husband and have many babies. Be happy."
"But, my husband, how could I be happy without you? Don't you know? I think I was meant to be here with you."
He didn't seem to be able to present an argument against her logic. Instead, he said nothing, he signed nothing. Yet, his look at her was hard, unyielding. And, it appeared to Sharon as though he were deep in contemplation. At last, he complained to her, saying, "I should not be arguing with you. I should be preparing myself for battle."
"I agree. You should be preparing yourself to go into this fight."
His look at her was more than a little frustrated as he uttered, "I have thought on this now and have decided I will not forbid you doing what you think is right. What you wish to do is admirable, and I will not squash the courage I see within you. And, I offer no argument about you and I being meant to be together. I, too, think the Creator arranged us to meet. But, know this, also. I want you to live even if I do not. And, if I go down, I would caution you to not fight them."
She nodded. "I will do as you say. But, I will stay here beside you regardless of what happens. After all, I, too, could back you up if you decide to go and meet with the leader of the war party, even though I think it is unwise. I can shoot a gun as well as a man. You should know this."
He didn't say a word—not to order her away nor to admire her courage. Instead, he turned away from her and stepped toward his pony.
However, before he mounted up, he turned toward her and signed, "They will not kill me right away. They will parley with me if I ask for it. And, I am going to ask for it. Now, while I go out to meet with this warrior, both you and our son are to find a good place to shoot from and to hide in. Barricade yourselves against their weapons with whatever branches, trees or other cover you can find that will still allow you to shoot an attacker. Do you think you can do this?"
Both Sharon and Rising Bear nodded.
"My attention must be centered upon them and, if possible, how to win this fight; because of this, I will not be able to help you make an effective shield against their arrows. For now, they do not know I have seen them and know where they each one are. It will take them by surprise when I ask to meet with them. My wife, if you do not already know this, I will tell you about the honor of a warrior: if an enemy asks for a parley, it is dishonorable to all Indians to refuse to talk. Also, a man's honor will force him to keep the peace during the talk. So, do not fear my doing this."
Again Sharon nodded.
"Good," signed Strikes Fast, then, reaching into one of his bags tied to his pony, he pulled out a whitish-looking skin rag and attached it to his lance. Then, jumping up into his seat on his pony, he looked over his shoulder at her, and in his look was so much love for her, Sharon almost cried, realizing these might be their last few moments together.
She attempted to smile; it was, however, shaky. But, though she was unable to keep the tears from streaking down her cheeks, she didn't reach up to dry them. Instead, she murmured, "Husband, I love you as I have never loved another. And, so it will be for all my life."
"It is…same for me," replied Strikes Fast in English. Then in sign he continued, "I only wish we had more time to come to know each other so completely that our thoughts would be as one. I will love you, even unto death. I will always love you."
Then, kicking his horse forward, he set his pony into a zigzag pattern toward the center of the meadow, the crisscross steps of his pony telling the enemy of Strikes Fast's wish to talk.
"I, too," whispered Sharon, watching her husband ride out toward the meadow, there to confront the enemy. And, so distressed was her emotional state, Sharon thought she might die right here, right now. She gulped and hiccupped as she tried to keep from crying, but it was no use, and her shoulders shook with her sobs.
It was Rising Bear who brought her back to the urgency of the moment and, taking hold of her arm, signed, "We must do as he says. He is giving us time to prepare for this fight. We must build a defense where their arrows will not find us, yet our guns and arrows will do damage to them. The branches of a tree, placed one atop the other will be good. Come, let us do this together and do it as quickly as we can."
Sharon nodded. But, before she left to do as Rising Bear suggested, she fell to her knees, and, bowing her head, she prayed, "Please, dear God, let him live. Please let him live, and please guide my hand to shoot accurately. If there be a helper in these woods to aid us, please send him or her to us. I ask this in Your Name, Lord. Amen."
Rising up onto her feet, she took hold of Rising Bear, placing her arm around him, and with one hand she signed, "I do not know how to build one of these very well, but perhaps you can show me."
"Do not worry," signed Rising Bear. "We boys are taught early how to defend ourselves and others. Come. Time is short. Let us make a good shelter."
****
"We must pause here," said Gray Falcon. "And, while there is a coulee so close to us, let us go down into it and take a moment's rest while I reach out into the environment around our friend, Strikes Fast. I fear there is great trouble for him."
