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When he heard a low gasp behind him, he turned and met Leonida’s frightened stare. She knew the dangers in going against Chief Four Fingers and his Kiowa warriors at this time. If Sage and his warriors were overtaken in a surprise ambush by the Kiowa, then what of the future of the Navaho?
But he saw no other way than to take the gamble. No one but the Navaho could ever be allowed to know of this special place that Sage was taking his people to. It troubled him that perhaps Chief Four Fingers already knew. There was no recourse except to silence the Kiowa chieftain once and for all.
Putting Leonida’s fear out of his mind, Sage motioned to his people to follow him again as he led his stallion at a soft trot into the beckoning, purple twilight of evening.
Chapter 23
Let no false pity
Spare the blow—
—ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER
The moon was high as Sage finally decided on a spot for a campsite for his people. The children were restless, some weeping from exhaustion. The women moved listlessly about, spreading blankets across the dew-dampened ground and digging among their belongings for food for their families.
Since Chief Four Fingers and his warriors were in the vicinity, Sage refused to allow a campfire. His people were forced to eat cold provisions and to sleep without the comfort of a fire to warm them through the long, cool night.
As Leonida gently lay Runner on a blanket that Sage had spread for her, the child awakened, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
“Are we there yet?” he asked, leaning on one elbow. “Are we where we will have a new home?”
Sage knelt down and ran his fingers through Runner’s thick hair. “We are at a temporary shelter,” he said. “Tomorrow we will move onward. We will arrive at a place you will learn to call your home.”
Runner shivered. “I’m cold,” he whined, gazing questioningly up at Sage. “There is no fire. Why is there no fire?”
“It is not safe to throw off the light of a fire into the heavens to be seen by our enemies,” Sage grumbled, grabbing another blanket and wrapping it around Runner’s tiny shoulders. “Tonight the blankets alone must warm you.”
“I shall keep you warm, sweetie,” Leonida said, sitting down beside Runner. Sage lifted the child onto her lap, smoothing the blanket back around his shoulders as it fell down away from him.
As Runner cuddled against Leonida, she gazed up at Sage, frowning. “Must you leave us?” she murmured. “Surely Chief Four Fingers is far gone by now, so far you will never be able to catch up with him. Let us trust that he is, Sage, and go on with our lives as we have planned.”
“Our plans were altered the moment I smelled the smoke and discovered it was from a temporary camp of the Kiowa,” he said. “Four Fingers knows too much about this land that I foolishly thought was my own secret. There is not enough room for both the Kiowa and the Navaho on this land, nor can I risk that Four Fingers may find our new village once it is established.”
He paused and put a gentle hand on Leonida’s cheek. “Or we will always be looking over our shoulders wondering which rock or tree he is hiding behind,” he said thickly. “Or which moment one of his arrows will find the hearts of those we love.”
He rose to his feet and placed his fists on his hips. “Once and for all I must rid our lives of all obstacles,” he said flatly, looking down at her.
“But that’s impossible,” Leonida said, easing Runner from her lap. She made sure he was wrapped securely in the blanket, then rose to her feet. She put a hand on Sage’s arm. “Darling, besides Chief Four Fingers, there is Kit Carson and . . .”
“This I know,” Sage said, his eyes flashing. “He, too, will vanish from our lives. Soon I will guarantee that to you.”
Leonida paled at the thought of his coming face to face with Kit Carson, which meant that he would also be facing the soldiers from Fort Defiance. She started to risk his anger by arguing with him, but he was already walking stiffly away from her.
She hugged herself with her arms, staring at him, loving him and fearing for him in the same heartbeat. In the spill of the moonlight’s silver rays, he looked so magnificently noble as he went to his horse and quickly swung himself into the saddle. One thing that she was grateful for was that he had taken the time to dress in trousers and shirt of goatskin and tall moccasins of deer hide, instead of his usual scanty breechclout. At least he would be shielded against the colder breezes as he rode hard across the land toward danger.
Leonida looked nervously past him at the many Navaho warriors awaiting Sage’s command to follow him into the forest, in search of their enemies. Every warrior was mounted on a fine war horse, and the gleam of the moon glittered threateningly on the steel of their rifles. As Sage whirled his horse and galloped away, his warriors wheeled their horses and swung their rifles above their heads, following his lead.
“My belly hurts,” Runner whined. “I’m hungry.”
Leonida turned around and looked down at him, glad that she had something to do to busy her hands and her heart while Sage was out there somewhere risking his life for the freedom of his people.
As she reached for their travel bag, in which was food enough to last them several more days, she glanced over at Pure Blossom, asleep close by on a blanket. Leonida wasn’t sure if she should awaken her so that she could share the cold, late meal with her and Runner, or if she should allow her to sleep. Rest sometimes was as important as food for those who were ill.
Leonida chose to let her sleep. When she awakened, there would be time enough to eat. It seemed that food had lost its importance for Pure Blossom these past few days. Sleep seemed of prime importance, and perhaps that was a blessing for someone who was facing imminent death.
Taking one of the last peaches, Leonida placed it on a wooden platter and split it in half. She plucked the pit out and carefully put it in a leather pouch. It, along with many other seeds, was being saved as the last of the peaches were eaten, to be planted later, so that another orchard might be allowed to prosper for the Navaho at their newly established stronghold.
After the seed was securely in the pouch and back inside the travel bag, Leonida gave Runner half of the juicy fruit.
