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"Everybody's heard of Mackenzie I reckon. He's killin' all the redskins this side of the border. They are supposed to be on reservations."
"This is true."
"Why did he send an Indian to escort a white woman?" The other one chimed in.
Hawk sized them up and shook his head as though they should have realized it. "Because I can get her through the Indian Territory without getting killed…for one."
The young one holstered his gun. "That makes sense. They'd massacre a troop of blue coats fast. Why is she going to Kansas, she someone important?"
Hawk shrugged, "Her husband is dead, and she has no other kin. The Comanche burned down her place not long ago. Her and her girl child was nearly killed."
"Son, this Indian done you any harm?" The big one asked.
"No sir," Matthew spoke up quickly.
"He messed with your Ma?" The young fella asked.
"No," Matthew seemed to study them and added. "He's the Colonel's best scout."
"Well, it sure would be nice to have some coffee and a meal, can you spare some food, ma'am?" The big fella asked getting off his horse and coming straight up to Eve.
"Of course, can we make camp here, Hawk?" Eve asked not even looking straight at Hawk.
He nodded.
Eve got down and took Jane Ann down, and then Hawk began to gather firewood. The young one followed him.
"There should be game about, rabbit…or deer if we are lucky." Hawk told him. "Want to help me get something for supper?"
"Sure, why not. My names Corey Phelps, Badger is the big guy and the other one is Smitty. We're headin' to Fort Worth."
Hawk glanced at him, "Fort Worth, huh?"
As Hawk saw a couple of rabbits, he motioned for the young man to be quiet. He took out a slingshot and killed the first one, the other ran. Hawk chased him and got the other one. "Say you use that sling good."
"It is quieter, and we don't want to alert any renegade Indians that we are traveling through."
"That's pretty smart. Does the white woman trust you?" He asked Hawk.
"Yes."
"Why? I mean, you're an Indian too."
"Because I rescued her from the Comanche." Hawk looked at him now. "We will need more than two rabbits for this many." He motioned for him to follow.
There was a feral hog running about the dense mesquite, a small tributary ran off the Red River giving water to many wild animals, making the area flourish with vegetation and game.
"Wild hogs…" Hawk whispered.
"They are mean…."
"Yes, but mostly they are fast. But they are very good eating, especially the females. I got some dried corn here," he produced from inside his shirt." I'll lay it out, you get one side, and I'll get on the other. Don't fire your gun; I will kill her with my bow. They won't be staying long, and if they get after you, climb one of those scrub oaks if you can. We don't want the biggest ones, those are males, we want the female, and they are tastier."
Corey did as he said as Hawk laid out the corn, stripping the cob of several and laying it out on the ground He also had some nuts, he spread it on the ground so it was easy to see.
Hawk made a strange sound, and the hogs came running. He motioned for Corey to be careful. Cory tried to grab one, but it got away, Hawk saw the female eating and hit her in the side. She fell helpless.
The male ran off at a speed faster than a horse.
