CHAPTER EIGHTEEN #3
Then Weasel Plume said, "These last few days, I have watched you working with the other women.
I have seen the joy you share with them, and I have witnessed the pride you take in doing good work.
My former counsel to my son to not take you as his wife was based on the actions of the Blue Coats, as we Pikuni call them, those men who attacked the Pikuni village where my sister and her family were encamped.
In my pride, I believed because you are white that you were more like those men than our people, the Pikuni.
I was wrong. I see now that you are not at all like those men, and also I see that the most you share with them is the color of your skin.
I tell it to you now because I have seen you are not like those murderous white men, and I know now in my heart that you are not to blame for what they did.
Nittá'p, I have seen your heart is with our people.
I welcome you now to our family. Know this, too: I am honored to have you as my almost-daughter. "
Much as Briella didn't wish to openly cry, she couldn't help herself.
And, though she wiped the tears from her eyes, her voice was shaking when she said, "Thank you, my almost father.
I am honored and humbled by your faith in me.
I will endeavor to be the best woman I can be for your son, this man whom I love with all my heart. "
"I know you will be this and more," said Weasel Plume.
Softly and with a trembling voice, Red Fox said, "We must go now.
There is trouble at the ranch of my woman's father.
If it weren't for this, we would stay here for the remaining day of the ceremony.
But, we must hurry there at once. I cannot explain now why this is so.
But, our future life together depends upon this. "
Weasel Plume nodded. "Then, ride fast; keep alert. Remember night is the time when war parties thrive."
"I will do all you say," said Red Fox. "I promise."
****
They three—he, his woman and his wolf—set out at once. They traveled lightly for speed, bringing no packhorse with them.
They journeyed within the coulees whenever possible.
But, soon Red Fox became aware someone was following them.
Reacting quickly, he guided them into a glade within the pines and hardwoods that graced the shoreline of a stream.
He and Poka'aki left their horses hobbled there, the wolf guarding them, and then he and Poka'aki backtracked on foot to discover if the one following them were friend or foe.
They hadn't gone far before they saw it was a lone rider following their trail, and it soon became apparent this was a rider they both knew quite well: George.
Rising up to his full height amidst the bushes and shrubs where both he and Poka'aki had taken shelter, Red Fox raised his blanket over his head and waved at his partner. In a loud voice, he said, "Oki, my friend. You have found us."
Red Fox heard George's startled laughter before George dismounted and walked toward them, leading his pony. He asked, "Why did you not tell me you were leaving so quickly?"
Red Fox answered the question with one of his own, inquiring, "And, how did you discover we had left?"
"Your father came to me shortly after you had left camp. He seemed to think I was needed with you more than I was required to be in camp."
"áa, and so it is, indeed. Come, we are in a hurry and we do not wish to encounter a war party by the sound of our speech. Follow me."
George simply nodded and took up his position at the rear of their party. Coming back to their horses and the wolf, they all mounted and set out quickly.
They had not gone far when a cloud obscuring the moon drifted away from it, and, at once, the moon, which was three-quarters, shone its light upon the earth. Red Fox shivered, wishing the moon were not so bright as to make the three of them clearly visible.
This was especially so because this was the hour of the day when war parties moved out over the prairie, seeking horses and coups. He didn't like it. In truth, his medicine was clearly telling him enemies were about. But, where were they?
All at once, three elk burst out from a timber of cottonwoods a little distance away, out of shooting range. Red Fox stopped at once and pointed.
With a lowered voice, Red Fox said, “Look there. Something has startled the game.”
Both Poka'aki and George drew their horses level with his. Neither spoke. In sign, Red Fox said, "Let us make no moves until we discover if it be a war party, a grizzly or some other creature that has caused the elk to startle."
Then a few white-tailed deer ran out of the same timber, one of them falling behind the others, and soon it dropped to the ground and ceased moving. There had been no sound, though the animal was clearly dead. Alas, Red Fox knew its death had been caused by an arrow.
Looking around, he could see they would be camouflaged from this enemy because their path was next to the walls of the canyon they were following.
To their right was a cottonwood grove skirting the stream running through the coulee, and Red Fox, Poka'aki and George entered into its shelter.
No sooner had they disappeared into the cottonwoods than they saw a lone Indian man rush out from the timber ahead of them, coming to the felled deer.
He was soon followed by about ten other men. All were afoot.
George signed, "It is obviously a horse-stealing party, and they look to be on their way to our people's camp. We must go back and warn the chiefs."
"I cannot," signed Red Fox. "The Black Robe has come to your father's homestead. He has been summoned there to put his mark on a paper containing a lie. It is by this lie the man Maximillian hopes to tie your sister to him; it will also harm your father, and perhaps, you, too."
"But, my family is in the Blackfeet camp," George argued.
"As is mine," signed Red Fox. "But, I cannot allow this man to ruin the lives of my woman and the rest of her family, which includes you. Perhaps you might go back to the chiefs and warn them. Stay there if you must to protect them. I, however, have to go on.
"But," Red Fox continued, speaking still in sign, "before you go, I have a plan, and it might cause the enemy to turn back, or it might at least slow them down, giving our people a chance to prepare."
"Oh?" asked George. "You have a plan? What is it?"
Red Fox grinned.