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"And I will not tell you goodbye, but that my heart is with you always." He said.
A tear almost spilled, but she willed it not to. He saw how hard she fought it back. "Don't you dare cry. For I will return quickly. I promise it. My heart is promised to you always."
"And mine to you!" She said and kissed his lips once more.
His hand went inside her shirt, and touched her nipple. She closed her eyes and stood there letting him fondle her for a few precious seconds. "Until I lay my head upon your breasts, be strong woman, for you are Hawk's woman. Remember that!"
She held her head high and smiled, "Yes, I am!"
He nodded and mounted his horse and left.
She didn't move until he was out of sight. Her heart already ached for his return. His words had strengthened her, and she went inside with a big smile on her face.
When she saw all the sad faces, she smiled brightly once more. "Why is everyone so sad? He'll be home before you know it. Come on, we've got work to do."
Bended Knee seemed proud of her.
At night, as she lay alone in bed though, she felt herself weaken some, and a tear would slip away unnoticed. She'd rub her belly and smile. "Don't worry little one," she said softly, "He'll be back before we know it."
Days passed and everything was good. Bended Knee chopped more wood than Eve thought they would need, but she didn't say anything. Perhaps there was a reason for it. There were no problems and Eve grew confident that there was nothing to worry about.
He stocked more water in the houses and made sure the food supply was ample.
Eve noticed all these things but said nothing.
Bended Knee though did his best to keep watch and to not show that he was doing so around any of them. He listened and he looked about all the time. He was alert. Being Indian he had better instincts than the white and something told him that he had to be aware of everything now.
There were rumblings to the west and several times, he thought he heard gunfire. A few days later, he saw smoke.
Two days later a couple of braves from his tribe showed up. They were welcomed. They explained in sign language that the Comanche had been raiding, and that they were headed this way. They were instructed by the chief to stay with them and help fight if there was a fight.
Bended Knee appreciated the warning and let them stay in his house, while he stayed in the big house to protect Eve and the children.
She noticed the extra work they did, the firewood, the meat they brought from the forest behind the house. They did not go too far from the house either, and she wondered why. When Hawk hunted he could be gone half the day, but Bended Knee was around almost constantly now.
"Why are they here?" Eve asked when she had grown worried of how they all acted.
Bended Knee stared into her eyes. "Comanche are about. Out Chief sent them to help us if we needed it."
"Oh," Eve took the news easy enough. "Tell them to come in, I will feed them. They don't have to cook their own meals."
Bended Knee told them and they joined them for all the meals afterwards.
Nothing happened for the next couple of days, and Eve and the children got to know the two braves. Matthew liked them and listened to their stories intently.
Little Eagle was a full-grown brave, but Bear was still young, in his teens. They taught Matthew many things, and the sling shot that Hawk had made for Matthew; Bear showed him how to use it more effectively. Matthew got to be an excellent shot with it.
However, one afternoon, just before supper, Eve was gathering some water in the pail with Matthew and an arrow flew by and almost hit Matthew in the arm.
Eve grabbed him and they tried to hide behind the well.
Bended Knee had seen them and so did the other two, Little Eagle and Bear. Bear, the smallest one, ran out to her and shielded her from the arrows. As Little Eagle and Bended Knee kept them busy, Bear helped them get back to the house.
Once inside, they bolted the doors and kept only one window open to shoot from.
Jane Ann cried and ran toward Eve.
"Matthew get her under the table."
