Page 48 of The Spirit of the Wolf

She pulled away from him. “How far is it from the forest to the trading post?”

“Less than a half moon. Perhaps three, maybe four days.”

“That is all?”

“Hau.”

“Very well. Let me ask you this also: If we were to head straight to the trading post from here, how long would it take us to arrive there?”

“From here?”

“Yes.”

“But I cannot go there first,” he said. “The trading post is also within enemy territory, and if I am to ensure our safety, I must make more arrows before we go there. This particular post is not considered a secure place.”

“I do understand, but please indulge me. How long would it take?”

“We would travel eight, nine, perhaps ten days.”

“I see.” She took a step back away from him. “Much less than if we journey to the forest first.”

“That is true, but⁠—”

“Well, that’s that then, isn’t it?”

Grey Coyote relaxed too soon, for she continued, “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

“I have only this day realized we must be extra cautious. Plus I did not want to upset you.”

“But you knew I would be upset.”

“I did.”

“I think… I don’t know what to say. I’m surprised. Badly surprised.”

“I understand. It is possible you look on this as a hardship, for it would appear to me that the white woman is not used to walking. But you will soon become accustomed to it.”

“Will I?” she asked. “And white women do walk, but not hundreds of miles…and carrying things as well.”

Having no response to make to this, he remained silent.

“Well, as far as I’m concerned, if we don’t go by horseback, we don’t go at all. Perhaps we should stay here for the rest of our lives.”

He decided to ignore her comment. Instead, he gazed at her carefully. “This would be good to stay here forever…if we both did not have a duty to perform. You know we must go.”

She exhaled on a sigh. “Yes, yes, I do know. My duty…and yours. And you’re right. We cannot really stay here. It was just…” She shrugged.

He nodded. “A dream?”

She turned her face aside but said nothing.

“Ito, come, it is good, for you have grasped what is at stake. I understand, too, that you have been⁠—”

“Do you? Do you understand me, really?”

Eyeing her cautiously, he turned reticent.

“Fourteen years ago,” she continued, “I was sent away from home and put in the service of another. Fourteen years ago, my life changed. I no longer had a home to call my own. My parents were dead. But recently I have discovered I should never have been sent away. It was all a mistake.”