Page 78 of Red Hawk's Woman

But adoration seemed to come wrapped in many different layers. What had once appeared as a mild infatuation was in reality as hot and wild as an exploding volcano. She loved him. Nothing, not even this all-consuming dig, was more important than he was.

Meanwhile, Red Hawk’s pony had come to her feet and had drifted back to the shore. Red Hawk, however, appeared to be unconscious.

“Red Hawk!” she cried out his name, then in a little softer voice, “Red Hawk.”

No answer.

“Henry,” she said, “in your wagon is a medicine kit. Go fetch it for me, please.”

Immediately, he did as bid. Meanwhile, Effie smoothed her hands over every part of Red Hawk’s body, seeking evidence of an injury. She found none.

But his eyes were closed, and he wasn’t uttering a word. Was he merely unconscious?

Or was it worse?

Frantically, she unfastened his blue and white choker, pushing it out of the way, as she pressed her hands against his neck. The pulse was weak, causing her uncertainty if it was even there. She tore off his shirt, feeling for a heartbeat, her fingers entangling with the necklace she had once given him. She pushed the necklace to the side and fumbled over his chest, hunting for a heartbeat.

At last, she found it. She exhaled deeply.

Next, she rubbed her hands over his head, her fingers searching for an injury. In falling had his head hit something? A rock? Wouldn’t the water have cushioned the fall enough to render him little harm?

“Red Hawk, can you hear me?” She picked up his hand, holding it in both of hers. “Don’t you dare frighten me so. And don’t you dare leave me.”

There was no response.

She had to determine if he had hit his head, and as gently as possible, she felt behind and discovered a rather large lump, there on the back side. But it wasn’t from the fall. Something had grazed him, had come dangerously close to killing him.

What was she to do? He continued to be unresponsive to her.

Still holding his hand, she said, “Red Hawk, if you can hear me, do something to show me you can hear me.”

For several moments, nothing happened, but then she felt a light pressure from his fingers.

He groaned, and Effie almost cried. It wasn’t long before he opened his eyes. Looking straight up at her, he took a deep breath, and said, “Are you all right?”

What a question. She almost laughed. “I’m fine,” she said, half crying. “But I fear that you have fallen from your horse.”

“Aa, I think I am aware of having done so.”

Tentatively, she asked, “Can you move your legs?”

He lifted his feet, then he bent his knees. “I can.”

“And how about your arms? Can you lift both of them?”

He held up first one, and then the other, bringing her hands right along with him. “I can do that also. Should I try to sit up?”

She didn’t answer because he did so at once, though he did grab hold of his head in the process.

“Did someone hit me?” he asked. “It feels like I have been in a battle.”

“Apparently, something grazed you a little too closely.” She indicated the spot without touching it. “I will need to clean the wound. Look at me, for I must stare deeply into your pupils. Oh, dear,” she complained, after a moment, “I’m afraid it’s almost impossible to see the pupils of your eyes, the iris is so dark.”

At that moment, the sky rumbled, and looking up, she was amazed to discover that clouds had gathered above them. Where had those storm clouds come from? And so quickly?

Gradually, Red Hawk rose to his feet, and as Henry rushed to her with the medicine kit, Red Hawk asked, “Where is my pony?”

Spying the animal, she pointed and said, “She is over there, grazing.”