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"Mountain lions, bears, outlaws, and even other Indians."
"I think I can manage."
"I do not. So, you will come with me."
They were resting now on a hill surrounded by boulders and rocks.
"How far are we going?" she asked.
"As far as we need to. Will your father follow?"
"Probably."
"Then we will rest a short while and move on." He told her.
"Why do you want to get involved in this. I told you I wouldn't tell anyone of you. It is not your problem and could cause you much trouble. Especially if we're found together." She said sadly. "No one knows you murdered Earl but me. No one knows Earl attacked me, and that you did not! If I had other clothes, no one would know anything except Earl is dead and I am not home."
He stared at her, his eyes searching hers. "You think a lot, do you not?"
"Yes, most men don't like women that think. I can understand that, sometimes I drive myself crazy with my thinking."
"That is why you are an old-maid as they call you. Not because of your beauty. You are a challenge to talk to. I will not leave you, though. For strangely I don’t mind your talking."
"But why?"
"Because I know the truth of what happened. We are bound, like it or not. I will protect you. I understand why you had to leave your home now."
"We are not bound. You can go your way now. I can take care of myself. And you don't owe me."
"Honesty is a virtue. Fifty years ago, no one would put an Indian on the stand to be a witness." He told her. "Today in some courts it is possible. It is strange. I could tell your father the truth of what happened, and he would not listen. You could tell them I killed to protect you, and they probably wouldn't believe you either. I suppose the truth is hard to accept in the white world."
"Are you going to turn yourself in?" she asked.
"No, because when a murder is first discovered, people become hostile and they let that anger get a hold of them. Tempers fly. Ropes come out, they tend to want to hang someone for it. After time passes, they cool down and start thinking about why they died, and who killed them, and maybe even why they were killed. So now, we must run, and keep running until we find a place where we can live and go on with life. You are an innocent woman, and I killed to protect you, it is simple but very hard to make others believe."
"You're right. Who'd believe an Indian saved a white woman?"
"In time the truth usually comes out."
"We are both guilty as sin, according to them."
He came up to her, close and grabbed her arms so she would look into his face. "You are guilty of nothing, but I did kill. Only you are witness to why. So, we must keep each other alive so that someday the truth will come out."
"I guess you are right." She stared into his face as though seeing him for the first time. "I will do my part."
"It is agreed then, we will stay together."
"It could cause more problems, being together."
"Yes, but at least we won't face this alone."
She stared at him with a smile, "Alright." She agreed.
Chapter Three
All morning they ran, when she began to stumble and could run no longer, he stopped and stared. "I will carry you."
"It's alright, I can manage."
