"I know enough," she signed. "I will not stay here. I will go with thee."
He seemed truly startled and had no ready answer to give her. However, after a moment, he leaned in toward her and kissed her. Then, lifting his head a little, he whispered, "As you know, I have been praying…to Creator each new day. He has put…plan into my head. If you come with me, will you take my orders?"
Placing her lips against his, she murmured, "I will."
"Do you promise…to me?" he whispered.
"Aye," she murmured. "Aye, I will."
****
The best time for scouting was at night, and though the moon was bright this evening, First Rider did not wait for it to set. The encampment, he estimated, was composed of about two hundred lodges and, with an average of six people per lodge, there would be about twelve hundred people here encamped; he guessed that about four to five hundred of those would be fighting men or boys. But, if he were good enough, there would be no fight.
Keeping an eye on their camp, he saw there were not many people about. Most were visiting friends or were retiring to their sleeping robes early. He and Otahki were close enough to the camp that the welcome scent of the fires was pleasant upon the senses, but he had not come this distance to enjoy the comforts of camp. He had one mission to accomplish and one mission alone: discover the truth.
Because the Pikuni and the Flathead resembled each other well enough, it had been his plan to walk calmly through the camp, listening at each lodge until he might hear Tsistsaki's voice.
But, with Otahki now sitting beside him, he could no longer set this plan into motion. However, there were other means of discovering if Tsistsaki were living within this camp.
All women, young and old alike, were tasked with accomplishing early morning chores: obtaining water for the lodge and finding wood for their fires. All he had to do was discover a place where he could watch the camp, and it should be easy, considering that the camp—like most Indian encampments—was arranged in a circle.
Luckily, there was enough timber on the outskirts of the Flathead camp so he and Otahki could hide and keep an alerteye on the women as they went to and fro, accomplishing their morning tasks. The only problem was finding the right place without making any noise. He was trained to do this; Otahki was not.
But, she was insistent on accompanying him, and…well, he could deny her nothing.
And so, they set out under a star-filled sky and under the gentle light of Sun's wife, or what the white man called the moon. There was a breeze fluttering through the branches of the woods. This was good. This would hide sound.
Before they set out, however, First Rider again reminded Otahki in sign, "We say nothing, sign only. Do not place a hand, foot, knee on stick or sticks, a rock, leaves or bushes, anything…make noise. If it make noise when moving, you not touch."
She nodded.
He signed, "We go. Follow me. We go on stomachs. Place hands, legs, knees where I do."
Again she nodded.
On stomachs and elbows, they discovered a place behind several bushes and a little uphill so they could keep a watch over the camp. Glancing at Otahki, he allowed himself a moment to admire her. She was brave, this woman of his; brave and courageous, especially considering what the discovery of Tsistsaki could mean to her…to them.
He was not about to lose her. Of course, there was the possibility she might leave him even when the matter was completely settled. And, if she chose to go, he, of course, would let her. But, he would never be the same again.
What he had told her was the truth. He belonged to her, and she… She belonged in his world. Ah, what pleasure it would be to welcome her properly into his life, sharing himself with her without all this worry. And, she? He would like to know herworld. Indeed, he wished to know everything about her, good or bad.
And, if he were good enough and wise enough, they would be together, sharing the hills and the valleys of life. He wanted her in his arms always.
But, he was here with several tasks: discovering the truth, suggesting a solution favorable to all and, at this moment, remaining alert to any hostility around them. Bringing his attention back to the matter at hand, he set himself to wait…wait until the first light of morning.
