Page 57 of Red Hawk's Woman

“I see. And I’m sorry. Had I not been so unfamiliar with scouting⁠—”

“Perhaps you would like to accompany me this night so you can better determine how scouting is done.”

“Yes,” she said at once. “Yes, I think I would like this very much.”

Perhaps she should have hesitated before agreeing so readily—it would have been the proper, ladylike manner in which to act. After all, any such excursion would necessitate her being alone with this man—a man who affected her as no other man ever had. However, as the director of this project, was it not also her duty to accompany him?

She sighed, and said again, as though to convince herself, “Yes, very much would I like to take a stroll with you...to learn about scouting, I mean.”

His laugh was soft and contagious. “Soka’pii,” he acknowledged huskily. “I will require a promise, however.”

“What sort of promise?”

“Once we leave camp, you will come under my influence. You will have to pledge you will do exactly as I say, when I say it.”

“Seems fair enough,” she said, “as long as your demands are reasonable⁠—”

“Saa. You do not understand. You must obey me in all things, if you come with me. We are in enemy country.”

“I think I can agree.” She hesitated, trying to discern his features in the dark. “I guess I have been naive, haven’t I? When my father and mother were in this country before, I was unaware that anything like scouting was done. But perhaps we were better armed then and didn’t need scouting. I know that besides my father and Mr. Owens, there were several other men working for us, and they all carried guns.”

He nodded.

“Tell me, Mr. Hawk, on these nightly jaunts, have you found evidence of any enemies?”

“Saa, I have not. As I have said, the Crows are friendly to whites. But there are other tribes that use this country, as well. All it would take is one mistake to kill us all.”

“Oh, dear.” Effie shuddered. “What you’re really saying is that I should have hired more people to help you.”

“Saa, I do not say this. Tell me, were there more people for you to hire?”

She hesitated. “No. You know there were not.”

“Then we make do with what we have. We will hope, also, that your luck from the days of your parents continues to hold for us now in the present.”

“Yes. Tell me, what would you do if you did find signs of an enemy?”

“I would leave a diversion for them to discover, then set our course toward another direction.”

She looked away from him. “I realize now that my ignorance has put you through much and will continue to do so. I am truly sorry.”

“I know this. ’Tis not important. When we reach my country, I will relax and perhaps find another to help with scouting.”

“Yes, let us hope this will be. But what of the other men, can they help you with the scouting?”

“They would not know what to do, or how to do it. Even if I taught them, they could easily make mistakes that would give us away, and they might get themselves killed. Besides, I would not trust their judgment.”

“Then all I can say is that I hope we find ourselves in your country very soon.”

“I, too, wish to visit my country soon.” There was a smile in his voice. “But until this time comes, I will continue to ensure the trails we take during the day are free of enemies.” He paused. “Now if you are to accompany me this night, the first task we must accomplish is to prepare you.”

“Prepare me?”

“You will need to look…Indian. Do you have other clothes that are not as full as this dress?”

“I have the garment I was wearing when you saw me in the water.”

“Saa, it will not do. It, too, is full, and it is red. It could be easily seen, even at night. Have you not something less…big, and perhaps of a material that does not tear easily?”