Page 75 of Red Hawk's Woman

When he returned to the two men, Henry asked, “How did you do that? And so quickly?”

“With intention. That is how you fight a battle. You take aim, yes, but a man must never fail to intend to hit his target. It is this which makes the difference between a good shot, one who brings home meat to his family, and one who returns home empty-handed.”

“But,” said Henry, “at least you were able to see the target. That night when we were attacked, we couldn’t.”

“It does not matter.” Red Hawk shrugged. “Under such conditions, a man might use instinct, he might call upon his spirit helpers to give aid, but one thing he would never fail to do is to intend to hit the target at which he is aiming.”

Henry nodded. “All right. I’ll try it. I’ll practice it. What can it hurt?”

Carl was more reluctant to agree, but eventually he too nodded.

So it came about that each evening the three of them set up practice. That a camaraderie of sorts sprang up between them was only to be expected.

What wasn’t expected, however—at least by Henry and Carl—was within only a matter of days, both of them were making those shots too.

“Who do you think attacked us?”

“I do not know.”

Another cool, moonlit evening was spread out before them. As Effie and Red Hawk stood in the shadow of one of the wagons, the languid breeze of evening blew the scents of balsam, pine and prairie grass upon them. It also brought with it the delicious smell of roast duckling.

In the center of their camp a fire was blazing, throwing out indiscriminate warmth and sparks on this refreshing Montana night. The two married couples, as well as Mr. Owens and Fieldman, were sitting around the fireside, looking as though they might sleep right where they sat.

It was the first time Effie and Red Hawk had been alone since the night of their attack, almost five days ago. The camp had been cleaned, the wagon wheels repaired, their equipment and papers restored and their defenses strengthened by finding the missing ammunition.

“Isn’t it strange that whoever attacked us,” said Effie, “didn’t take anything, not even our weapons? Certainly, we had to search to locate many of the valuables, since our ammunition and a few other items had been hauled almost a mile from camp. But everything was left intact. What do you make of it, Mr. Hawk?”

“I do not know what to think of it. ’Tis strange behavior indeed. Stranger still that I have found no clues of an enemy. There were no tracks for me to discover, not even the downturn of a blade of grass to show the direction the enemy came from or took in retreat.”

She nodded. “Did you scout to our rear, then?”

“Aa, ’tis so. I can make no sense of the clues left me. Except perhaps one. I hesitate to mention it, however, because I think it unlikely to serve any purpose.”

“But there is a clue? What is it?”

He pointed toward the north side of their camp. “A boulder was split in two over there. And in that direction…” he pointed to the east, “…Mother Earth was overturned as though a white man’s plow had been taken to her. It required great force to do these deeds, and yet again, there are no tracks.”

“Hmmm. What do you suspect?”

“Maybe there are good scouts who are helping the person who seeks these…” Gently, he touched her waist, where she kept the artifacts hidden.

The graze was innocent, yet he was pleased to note that despite this, she scooted in closer to him. “Could it be the sheriff who is following us? That maybe he’s hired a few scouts?”

“It could be,” said Red Hawk. “But if this were so, he has hired some very good guides. Do you think many were for hire in Virginia City?”

She paused for a second, then, “I didn’t find any.”

He nodded.

“Where do we go from here?”

“We move on,” said Red Hawk. “Whoever it is, or whatever it is, will either give up and leave us alone or will try to do the same again. Next time we will be more prepared.”

“Yes. I have been thrilled to see how expert both Henry and Carl have become on their watches—and in only a matter of days.”

“Aa, it is true. These men will be more able to mount a defense, if there is another attack in the making. And if this thing is human, we will stand a better chance of besting it.”

“What do you mean, if this thing is human?”