He could almost believe that the ordeal of having their horses stolen and fighting to recover them had made these two especially reserved and uneager to help strangers. But his instincts told him otherwise, and he’d learned never to ignore a feeling like this one.
Fourteen
Juniper’s head ached as they rode back past their campsite from the night before. Riley had just finished relaying the full conversation between him and the two Peigan men. She and Rosie had listened to Riley’s side already but hadn’t known what the others were saying. And of course, Lorelei and Faith had heard none of it.
The tension that had grown thick in the air the longer the men talked had made her entire body tighten up, which was why her skull pounded now. That, and the little bit of sleep she’d gotten last night in between the coyote pup’s whimpering.
“So what do we do now?” Lorelei asked the question Juniper hadn’t yet voiced.
Before Riley could respond, Rosemary spoke up. “If you think they were hiding something, should we stay here and watch their camp? We may not be able to recognize Steps Right, but we could at least see if anyone rides in or out. Then we could find out for sure if they’re packing up to leave today. That will help us know if they’re telling the truth.”
Riley’s eyes lifted to the sky before he answered. “I’m notsure that would tell us anything we don’t know. I already don’t think they were telling the truth, at least not entirely. And I need to get back to the rendezvous. A year’s worth of supplies is sitting in my lodge unguarded.”
He spoke the words casually enough, but they pressed the air from her lungs. “Oh, Riley. We didn’t realize....” Had he risked so much to bring them here?
Of course he had. She’d thought about how he’d set aside his normal work to help them, but she’d not thought about what that work might be. She knew he’d just traded, though. No wonder he’d been hesitant to come north to find this camp instead of returning to the rendezvous after meeting with the Gros Ventre. Given what he was risking, he’d been remarkably easygoing about their insistence.
He shook his head, as if flicking away her worries. “I asked Dragoon and the others to watch my things while I’m gone. I’d just rather not be away a second night.” It would take them the rest of the day at least to reach the main camp.
“Let’s start back, then.” Rosemary’s tone held a tinge of frustration, but hopefully Riley didn’t know her well enough to catch it.
He motioned for them to start riding, and since the path downhill was wide, they rode two and three abreast for most of the slope. As they reached the bottom, Juniper’s mare pricked her ears toward a group of cedars ahead. Beside her, Riley’s hand tightened on the stock of the rifle he kept laying across his lap.
She studied the trees for any sign of movement. There must be something there that both Riley and the horses heard, but several pounding heartbeats passed before a horse emerged around the cluster. Its rider was an Indian,with a long black braid over one of his broad shoulders. A second horse and rider came behind, and the two continued their steady progression toward Juniper and the others.
She rode with Rosie on her right and Riley on her left in their usual positions, and she lifted her voice just loud enough for him to hear. “Who are they? Are they dangerous?”
He hadn’t lifted his gun, and neither of the natives held weapons poised, though it seemed very likely they had them ready.
“I don’t know.” He responded in the same quiet tone. “They look like they’ve been out hunting.”
Large bundles were secured behind both riders. That must be the meat they brought in.
Riley halted them when the strangers stopped a half-dozen strides away. The second rider remained a little behind the first, but as he peered around his companion, realization swept through Juniper.
A woman.
Were they husband and wife, gone on a hunting trip together? Was that done among these people? She’d supposed the men handled such details, and women stayed behind to cook and keep house and care for the children. But maybe that was only a white custom.
Riley was the first to greet them, and he spoke English while he signed, as he had all the other times they met with the villages. He probably did this so she and her sisters would be able to follow along with the conversation somewhat. His thoughtfulness continued to surprise her, not always obvious, but there in the smaller details that were so easy to take for granted. But without these little acts ofkindness, she and her sisters would have been frustrated, lost, and maybe even in danger.
After Riley greeted the pair, he gave them his name and introduced the four of them as “the Collins sisters.”
The brave in the lead responded with the sign she’d come to realize meanthello, or some similar greeting. Then he pointed to himself and spoke English, though broken and heavily accented. “White Horse.” He motioned to the woman behind him. “Singing Water.” He frowned as he seemed to struggle for words, then he formed a sign.
“She is his cousin.” Riley spoke quietly to interpret for them, but loud enough the strangers could hear him.
White Horse nodded. “Cousin. The daughter of my . . .” Again he struggled for a word. “Uncle.” His face seemed to question whether he’d found the correct term.
When Riley nodded, White Horse’s expression relaxed. The man seemed amiable, especially compared to those they’d just left.
“You have come from the trading wagons?” Riley nodded toward the bundle behind White Horse.
The man shook his head. “Hunt buffalo.”
Riley dipped his chin in understanding. He still signed as he spoke. “We are looking for someone. A woman who helped the father of these sisters. They wish to repay her kindness. Have you heard of a woman from the Peigan tribe who is called Steps Right?”
Something in the stranger’s demeanor seemed to shift a tiny bit. In fact, Juniper might have imagined it. But his expression had seemed open and friendly at first, and now his bearing reminded her a little more of the Peigan camp they’d visited that morning.
