Page 46 of Red Hawk's Woman

“Yet I saw no evidence of someone going through my things.”

Red Hawk smiled at her. “Remind me once we have embarked on our journey to teach you how to look and observe what is properly there to perceive.”

Effie blew out a breath in disgust.

Red Hawk continued to smirk at her. Without another word, he rose and took a few steps toward the window. “I must leave you now.”

“Where are you going?” she asked crossly, as she too stood up.

He glanced at her from over his shoulder. “Your assailant will have left a trail. He will have no choice but to do so, for our Mother, the Earth, will have recorded each step he took. I would find his tracks now before others in this town awaken and take away the evidence.”

“Yes, yes. Of course you must, but please, we have other important worries to discuss, don’t we?”

“We do, but perhaps we should leave those concerns until tomorrow.” He took several more steps toward the window.

“Yes,” she repeated, and he glanced at her again from over his shoulder. What he saw puzzled him, for her gaze at him was odd. Was it shy? She said, “Please don’t leave me yet.”

He pivoted back toward her. “I must.”

“But I…” She hesitated. “I need your advice…on something. You see, I…I’m not certain I can trust anyone else in my party…at least not at this moment. In truth, I’m not certain I can trust you, either—it was a trading knife that was found here, one that has been brought into this country specifically to trade with the Indians.”

“Easily obtained by anyone,” he pointed out, “not simply by an Indian.”

“I know that. It’s why I’m dismissing the information as insignificant. Yet, I need advice.”

He drew back into the room. After taking a few steps toward the bed, he pulled off one of the blankets, which he spread over the floor. Gesturing toward the blanket, he said, “Let us sit and talk.”

She nodded. “This is good advice. Yes.” They sat, she with her legs to the side, he cross-legged.

At first, she seemed reluctant to say anything, but as he remained silent, waiting, at last she began. “My father isn’t here to guide me, and…I do not know what to do. Therefore, I must turn to someone to hear out my thoughts, someone who might be able to counsel me.”

He was flattered. “My heart is happy you have chosen me to assist you. I will listen to you and help you as best I can.”

“All right.” She hesitated once again, then, “The truth is, I am doubtful of what I must do from this point forward. It is evident there is someone—possibly someone close to me—who does not have my best interest at heart. I have already been assaulted by this person twice since arriving in this town. This last time was the worst. If I continue on toward the Gates of the Mountains, do I invite more harm?”

Red Hawk might have answered forthwith, but before he could utter a word, she continued, “And what happens if I do reach that country, find the things for which I search, and another in my party takes them from me by force? All my plans, all my work, will be for nothing. I would have failed my father…and another people in more need.”

Another people in more need? Red Hawk sat up straighter, focusing on her words. However, she didn’t take heed of the change in him, and she went on talking. “Would it be better if I disband the entire project, cut my losses and return here later, having picked another crew?” Solemnly, she looked up to him.

Weighing his words carefully, Red Hawk didn’t respond at once. Though it was important to him and to the welfare of his tribe that she continue on exactly as she was, he couldn’t very well tell her this. So he said, “You could do as you suggest.”

“Then you believe my leaving here would be advisable? To return back East?”

He shook his head. “Saa, no, I do not. I merely said you could do this if you decide it is right. But I am uncertain that your returning to the East—without discovering who it is that is doing this to you—will solve your problem. You might well find you could be bothered by the same dilemma.”

“What do you mean? I would be back home. These problems, then, would be different.”

“Would they?”

She frowned. “Wouldn’t they? Before I left, there were none of these occurrences. Nor did I encounter anything unusual on the way here.”

Red Hawk shrugged. “I understand what you say. However, without discovering who this thief is, the man remains free to do the same to you in the East, as well as here, or wherever you are.”

After a short space of time, she said, “I’m not certain I agree with you. I think my life and all these matters would be different there. In the East, my father would take great precaution, and he would lock up the valuables I carry.”

“Then you do bear something valuable?”

She gasped aloud. Clearly, she had spoken without thought.