“Well, I am… That is, I could be…”
“Yes, yes,” said the angel. “Mister Swift Hawk, might my brother and I interest you in a little chat?”
Swift Hawk drew back from her. “A chat?”
She nodded. “Yes, a chat…a conversation. I believe that my brother and I would like nothing more than to have a moment of your time, if you will…away from here, where we might talk. If you would be so kind.”
As though his assent were already given, she placed her hand through the crook of his arm, as well as that of her brother. Then, without another word being spoken, the angel in white and red led Swift Hawk and her brother out into the ever-darkening night.
Chapter
Seven
The Native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury… Thus he kept his spirit free from the clog of pride, cupidity, or envy, and carried out, as he believed, the divine decree—a matter profoundly important to him.
—CHARLES A. EASTMAN,THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
While it was a fact that a white man and an Indian might converse in private, it was not a common sight to see a white woman doing so. Angelia supposed this was why there were a few startled looks directed toward her. Indeed, it seemed to her as though a mere scowl might contain material weight, so heavy did these feel upon the back of her head.
Angelia chose to ignore the looks, the stares, as well as the people who gave them. For truth be known, she needed Swift Hawk. She needed his help, his advice, his cooperation, and she needed it now. That is, she required it if she were to ensure her own and Julian’s safety.
Besides, she was perfectly within her rights. It was not as if she were meeting with Swift Hawk privately. Julian was here too.
Strolling a few hundred yards from the scene of the dance, the three of them came to a small wooded area bordering a stream.
Letting go of both men’s arms, Angelia began, “Let us speakto one another plainly, here where no one else can hear us.”
“I can’t, Angel. There’s a meeting I need to?—”
“Yes, yes, but a moment, please. Let me say my piece.”
Julian sighed but remained silent.
“Mr. Hawk…” Gazing toward Swift Hawk, Angelia caught her breath. The moon, which was almost full, was shining down on the man in such a way as to make him look…handsome. Incredibly handsome, and… She coughed. “Since you already grasp that my brother knows only as much about scouting as he has learned from this book written by Mr. Bogart, I am wondering…” She hesitated, then cleared her throat. “I am wondering if you might teach him some skills. Perhaps take him with you, show him what he should know, maybe cover up for him if he makes mistakes, and in exchange I?—”
“Angel!”
“Please, hush. Let me finish.”
Julian groaned, but again he remained silent.
Angelia resumed her entreaty. “Mr. Hawk, you know already that my brother and I are in trouble, and that we are running away from the authorities, who are offering a rather large reward for our capture?—”
“Have you lost your mind?” Julian spouted. In a more whispered tone, he asked, “Why are you telling this man these things?”
Angelia shrugged. “He already knows about it. Remember? He heard us talking.”
“Oh.” Julian frowned. “Right.”
“Therefore,” she addressed Swift Hawk, “it is important to my brother and myself that we reach Santa Fe as quickly as we can, because, you see, Santa Fe is out of the jurisdiction of the United States. We will not be easily caught there.”
Angelia bestowed Swift Hawk with another sweeping glance, but whatever his thoughts were on the matter, he held them to himself.
Resigning herself to the task at hand, she voiced, “I admit at first I was surprised by Julian signing on to the job of scouting. However, the more I considered it, the more I began to see that perhaps it might be a blessing, for as Julian had reckoned it might, it will allow us to travel to Santa Fe without recognition. That is, it will if I can enlist your aid to help him. Without that aid, I am afraid that within the passing of a few days, Jules will be quickly discovered.”
“Don’t say any more. I?—”
Casting her brother a frown, Angelia held up her hand.
