It happened after a week and a half out on the trail. Ernest became dangerously careless, and while bathing in the river, he left his clothes on a large rock, his boots next to it. He had also left his rifle behind, propped up next to the rock. Also, the guns he usually wore about his waist were buried beneath the wad of his clothing.
It was an open-ended invitation to gain their next advantage over him. Yet, to sneak into camp and take his gunsand his rifle was risky at best because, as careless as Ernest was, if he discovered First Rider and his friends in the act of taking away his only means of defense, he could become a wild man…and there was the possibility he could kill one or more of them with his knives if he had retained them on his person as he bathed.
Also, though the light from the sunset was low in the western sky, there was still enough of it that could outline a scout.
But still, here was the chance they had been waiting for: the means to disarm Ernest. The opportunity could not be dismissed.
Now they just needed to determine which one of the three scouts would be the one to accomplish the task.
"I will go," signed First Rider at once, causing Liliann to gasp. First Rider instantly placed a finger to his lips, asking for her silence.
Then, not being able to use words nor even to whisper, Liliann began to use her eyes to plead with her husband to reconsider and to remain safely here in camp. But, when First Rider ignored her, she reverted to sign and said, "No, do not do it! Do not take on such a duty! It is too dangerous! What will Ernest do to thee if he sees thee?"
First Rider frowned at her, then signed, "Do I appear to you to be a coward?"
"No!" she responded in sign. "I just want thee to be safe and remain alive!"
"What is a life worth without some risk?" he countered in sign. "Besides, this is my duty to perform. You are my woman. This man abused you and would have killed you had you not escaped. I will allow no other to do what is mine alone to do."
"But—"
"Come here," he interrupted.
While she scooted around their small, smokeless fire toward him, both Stands Strong and Red Fox appeared to have suddenly found other chores to do in camp, and they silently crept away from the council.
Sitting down in front of First Rider, her knees once more touching his, he reached out to take her hand within one of his own while he signed his thoughts with his other and revealed, "This is my duty. This I will do. But, you might help me by praying to the Creator to guide my path."
"Of course I will pray. But—"
"It will go well, I think."
Gazing up at him, she bit her lip before throwing herself into his arms, and she whispered in his ear, "If I cannot keep thee here with me, then I shall watch thee from this place where I sit."
"Soka'pii. And, you will do nothing to interfere," he added in a murmur. "Promise."
"How can thou be tryin' to force me to make such a promise?"
"If you do not give this vow to me," he signed, "I will not allow you to watch."
"Not allow? Not possible. I will sit here and look at thee. Just try to stop me," she said, back talking to him in sign.
"Then, you must promise you will not interfere."
Leaning forward, she again whispered in his ear, "Well, I be not makin' any other promise but this: I will watch thee."
She heard his slight chuckle before he whispered, "A fireball…I have as…woman mine. A fireball."
She frowned at him.
"It…good…not bad. Heap much good."
Liliann shook her head, yet couldn't help smiling because of his very bad English, knowing it was deliberately done.
"But," he signed, setting her away from him, "if not promise, I will set one of my friends to watch you and put a gag over your mouth if you try to shout out a warning to me."
"Thou would not dare to do it!" she whispered.
"I would," he muttered softly.
