He didn't, however, look away. Instead, he warmed to his subject. Although he knew she wore the same dark-blue dress from earlier in the day, he could not distinguish its exact color now because the lighting was too shadowy and dim.
Still, her choice of dress did not hide the curves of her figure from his perusal, and he appreciated every rounded hill and valley within her silhouette. And, though his gaze at her was not hidden and might have been detectable to another, he didn't care at present, and he watched her as she sat still, her gaze not upon him but out into the night where all four horses were grazing—her own three mounts and his own pony.
"Mr. Stands Strong?" It was the voice of the boy. "May I sit with you?"
Stands Strong nodded and padded a place next to him.
"Will you be on watch through the entire night?" asked the youth.
"I shall," replied Stands Strong.
"But, if this be so, and if you intend leading us back to Fort Benton, do you not need some sleep?"
"I will obtain the rest I need once we reach the fort and I have ensured you are all safe," answered Stands Strong.
"But, how will you be able to remain alert if you do not get some sleep now? And, without enough rest, you might doze off even while in the saddle. What will become of us then?"
Stands Strong grinned a little as he gazed at the boy. He took his time answering—as a man should—but at last he said, "A man who must guard women and children does not doze off nor does he wrap his sleeping robes around him until any danger is passed. A man is expected to endure through the urge to sleep. It is his duty to those he loves."
"But, you don't love us."
Stands Strong shrugged.
"That's true, isn't it?"
Again, Stands Strong said nothing; he merely lifted his shoulders.
"So, if you don't love us and we are not your family, why have you decided to help us?"
Stands Strong paused for a moment in thought. Because of his almost-mother's teachings, he was well aware of what were the white man's ideas of love and family. He was also cognizant of another fact: the white man held little regard for his Pikuni people's custom of extending their family to include others unrelated by blood.
At length, however, he said, "After talking with your sister this morning, I took her pain upon my shoulders, and, in doing so, came to regard her as one of the women in my life. I told her this, which is the same as a vow. And, since I have decided to make her one of the women in my life, I must protect her and her family…you."
"But," said the boy, "she is not really a woman in your life. That's all made up."
Stands Strong shrugged. Yet, realizing he needed to help the boy to understand, he said, "My almost-mother is white, and I hold her here"—he pointed to his chest—"within my heart. Perhaps this is why I could feel your sister's pain and decided to take on her sorrow as my own. By doing so, I extended my strength to help her. Besides, a man is expected to defend and help women and children. It is his duty."
"His duty?Why?"
"Because women and children are innocent in the wars of their men. And so, they need protection against enemies who would seek to bring war to them. A woman's gifts are many, and a man without a woman is an object of pity. Never forget, without women, there would be no race.Áa, a real man protects his women and his children…you."
"I am not a child!"
"Saa, you are not. When I said 'you', I meant all of you…your family. Though you are not yet a man in strength, you must now put away your childhood dreams and become a real man. No longer may games take your fancy. Instead, your attention must go to the environment so you can protect your sister and the other girls. Be aware, there are many dangers for your family on the prairie, and, without the force of the white men's powerful guns, you are all in danger from the war parties who roam the prairie at this time of year."
"Are there really war parties on the prairie? And, do they truly travel at night? Or are you making all this up?"
Stands Strong grinned, but only a little. In due time, he replied, "I tell this to you true; I am not making this up, and war parties are plentiful at this time of year. It is also true about war parties: they usually wait until nightfall to ride through this, my country. This is a common and usual practice amongst our people. However, if there are many men in the war party and all are well-armed, then the warriors might ride out upon the prairie duringthe day when all eyes can see them. Most men, however, travel only at night when they go to war."
"Oh," said the boy, looking away. "Sir, I…I was wrong to distrust you in the beginning, and I apologize. I see now how it is and that you came here to help us, not betray us."
"There is not the need to apologize, young George. This is what you are called, is it not?"
George nodded. "It is," he said.
"Good. Now, listen well to me when I tell you how greatly I admired your stand against me. It was good and it was right.Nitákkaawa,my friend, what did you know of me?Áa,you were right to question my intentions, and you are still right to continue to be leery of me."
"But, I am not suspicious of you now. Is this wrong, then?"
