However, then he saw the look Strikes Fast gave to the woman, Sharon. And, Gray Falcon noted his friend's gaze was not discreet, nor was it hidden, as was usually the way of a scout.
Did Strikes Fast's sulking have anything to do with the woman, Sharon? Maybe. At present, Gray Falcon only knew his friend appeared to be battling an inward struggle, and, because the Blackfeet know there is no happiness to be found without a woman, he supposed Strikes Fast's trouble might be centered upon the white woman.
Only time would tell.
****
Gray Falcon called a halt to their progress across the plains, which were at present drenched in the deep shadows of night, although a thin veil of moonlight silhouetted their small party of five. The stars overhead glistened as though they were small sparkling rocks, and set off as they were by the backdrop of a blackened sky, their beauty was unparalleled. A cool breeze filled the dark atmosphere like a caress, allowing Gray Falcon to clearly hear the voices that were being carried on the wind. Strikes Fast—who had taken the position of guarding their group from the rear—guided his own mount forward, and Gray Falcon listened to the distinct sound of the trot of his friend's stallion, differentiating it from the uneasy neighing of the other animals. Strikes Fast came forward and took his place next to Gray Falcon.
Turning toward his friend, Gray Falcon signed, "Something is amiss in the Pikuni camp. I am uncertain what it is."
Strikes Fast nodded.
"The gales this night bring the thoughts of my friend Eagle Heart to me. Distinctly, I heard him caution me to beware of enemies, particularly the white man. He pleads with me to not return to camp," signed Gray Falcon.
"I have also heard our friend's talk upon the wind," answered Strikes Fast.
"Soká'pii,good."
Although their small group was only a few days' ride away from Fort McKenzie and the Pikuni camp surrounding it, Gray Falcon would not go back there— not when he was being warned away.
But, he required more details about the danger and whether the threat was great or small. True, he would heed the warning from Eagle Heart, but it was also his duty to discover the reason for it.
Along with the realization that he required the kind of information only a scout could glean, came his awareness of how to obtain it: he would have to be the scout he needed. Only in this way might he discover exactly why his friend was cautioning him to stay away from the fort.
As he sat forward in his seat upon his black-spotted Appaloosa, he glanced around him. The brown, dry plains were now clearly visible beneath the glimmering moonbeams, and they stretched out westward to the mountains. To the north were the white-colored sand-and-clay cliffs and Fort McKenzie, though the fort was not visible to him, still being a few days' ride away.
He narrowed his eyes as he stretched his awareness out into the environment to include the natural world for several miles around him, which included the Pikuni camp. Frowning, he wondered if Eagle Heart's warning had anything to do with his wife. Was it possible the danger caused by the troublesome and onerous trader had come into Blackfoot territory earlier than he had expected?
This was possible. And, until he could eliminate the likelihood of his wife being the target of a thwarted, old man's anger, he and Strikes Fast would be required to stand guard over the women.
His first duty would be to find a safer position than the open prairie. Hopefully, such a place might be not only safe, but easy to defend, as well.
Looking north, he scanned the sand bluffs with a critical eye, realizing those cliffs might well provide the cover and safety the women needed. Plus, their high ledges would allow Strikes Fast to view the prairie from all directions, spotting an enemy before that same enemy could locate him.
Pointing toward the long line of the white rock faces, Gray Falcon signed, "We must find a safer location for our women. Perhaps one of these bluffs to the north of us will provide a good shelter. Since I do not know the reason for Eagle Heart warning me away from camp, it would serve us all well to proceed with caution. Therefore, I believe I should scout ahead while you remain with the women as their defender."
"Agreed," signed Strikes Fast.
Nodding, Gray Falcon turned his fine Appaloosa to face due north, and he set his pony into a walk toward the cliffs. The women followed while Strikes Fast returned to his position in the rear. Above Gray Falcon, though slightly to the east, the North Star gave him direction while the constellation of the Seven Brothers showed him there were still many more hours of the night to come.
Reaching the tall, craggy hills, Gray Falcon entered the forest of balsam, red cedar and juniper trees surrounding the bottom of the precipices. Immediately, the brisk scent of the forestry filled his lungs with the fragrance of spicy pine needles.
Slowly, allowing the horses to keep their footing, Gray Falcon led the way upward as they climbed toward the heights, and, passing closely by a narrow waterfall to their right, he could feel the droplets of the cold, glacier-fed water upon his skin. But, he didn't pause to indulge in a refreshing drink. There wasn't time. Instead, he kept his path bent ever upward.
At last, he came to a wide ledge positioned high above the prairie floor and close to the glacial waterfall, the water pounding upon the rocks with a drum-like resonance. Here, he paused.
Quickly he dismounted on the right side of his horse, and, holding his pony by its buckskin reins, he paced slowly around the ledge, inspecting its safety with scrutiny because he was looking for the best place to construct a temporary shelter for the women.
Facing north, he gazed up and considered climbing to the top of the cliffs jutting up so high. But, knowing the extreme top of a peak could be a dangerous place were there to be a sudden change in weather, he found, instead, a site beside the waterfall. Scrubby bushes grew there in profusion. It wasn't a perfect place for the women, but, by using the bushes and rocks sitting next to the waterfall, a good temporary shelter could be constructed well enough so it would fade into the environment.
Although he was aware his wife had followed him to this place, he was yet surprised when she spoke aloud from behind him, and she asked, "What do you think the trouble is?"
"I do not know," he whispered as he glanced over his shoulder at her. "For now, and until I understand more fully what the danger is, I caution you to speak only in sign."
She nodded.
Turning, he used gestures to say, "Strikes Fast and I will try to determine if the danger that keeps us away from the Pikuni encampment involves any of you, but until we know more about it, I wish you, my sister and your friend, Sharon, to make a good camp here on this ledge. If you look up, you will see the overhanging cliff will provide added protection against the weather. This spot is also close enough to the waterfall so you will have a good source of water to drink and to bathe in. I would like you to tell my sister and your friend this."
