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"Yes," he put the blanket on his shoulder with a leather strap tied around it and turned away. "We have a plan."
"You're sorry you brought me now, aren't you?" she said in a low voice just behind him.
He turned around slowly but didn't look at her. "No, I am not sorry. And I do not believe I brought you," he smiled at her now with understanding. "You followed and I let you. It was the right thing to do. No matter what your father would believe of you, it would not be good to leave you with him, or alone in these woods. Besides, you are my witness. I need you."
"I promise, I won't be a burden." She rushed to say.
"It is getting dark, now. I will hunt for our supper. You stay here, we are high on a ledge now and you can see for miles, if anyone comes, see if you can make this call."
He put his hands over his mouth and made a bird call.
She watched and listened.
"Now, you try."
She made a sound, but it was nothing like a bird. They practiced for a while and she did have some kind of call. He nodded, "That will do. At least I'll know it is you making the sound." He chuckled.
He left and it was a while before he came back. When he did, she was sitting on the ledge and crying.
He saw the tears and was puzzled.
"What is wrong?" He came up to her.
She saw him and jumped up and ran into his arms. It was instinct, nothing more, but it shocked Shining Moon.
Her arms flew around his neck and she hung on.
"What is wrong?" he repeated as he pulled her arms away and looked into her face.
"I-I thought you weren't coming back." She cried and turned away, ashamed of showing her weakness. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so forward."
"What made you think I would leave you here alone?"
"I-I thought maybe you wanted to be rid of me," she looked up at him a bit guiltily. "I know I talk too much. Most men hate that. Well, you were gone so long. I wouldn't blame you. I guess I'm not as strong as I thought."
He cupped her chin with the crook of his finger which barely touched her chin and smiled warmly down at her. "I would not leave you in such a place, alone and defenseless."
"But you would leave me."
He studied the worry in her face and wanted to dispel it. "If there was a safe place for you to be. A better place, yes. But not out
here in the wilderness, alone. That would be murder for any woman."
"I'm not a weepy woman. And I can take care of myself." She quickly assured him, wiping her eyes. "But I really thought maybe you rethought it and decided that leaving me would be better for both our sakes. I wouldn't blame you for it."
"It would in some ways," He nodded and puzzled over what he wanted to say. "But in other ways it could mean real problems if you had to face your father alone." He smiled as he turned his head away.
"I'm sorry, I guess I just got scared, that's all." She backed away. "It was so quiet, and I was never so alone in my life. Sometimes, I talk bolder than I am. I'm used to being alone, it's just… "
"You do not have to explain everything you do to me. You are a woman, and crying is natural for a woman." He produced two rabbits and smiled, "There is no need for you to be afraid. I will protect you. And we have a good supper."
She saw the rabbits and smiled.
Later as he made a spit and a fire, they sat back and stared at the stars. "It's beautiful here."
"Yes, but it is beautiful in many places if you take the time to look." He smiled.
"I guess you are right. But sometimes what seems beautiful to one, is ugly to another. Like my home. I thought it ugly. Even though I cleaned it every day, I thought it an ugly place."
