After a while, she asked, "Did you pray?"
"I did." He didn't elaborate.
"And?" she asked.
"Sun, the Creator, did not answer my question about your accompanying me to the fort."
"Oh. But, He did not forbid you from taking me?"
Gray Falcon didn't answer. He simply inhaled deeply.
Tentatively, Amelia asked, "Well, if He didn't forbid it, couldn't it mean I could go with you?"
He frowned at her. "Saa,it simply says this to me: I must decide on the matter."
"Oh."
As he came up onto his knees and scooted toward her, he said, "I have delayed leaving here too long. The sun will soon be coming up on the eastern horizon. I will have to make other plans to leave because Strikes Fast and I should not start out for the fort in the light of day. So, for the rest of the night, let me hold you in my arms."
Quickly, he divested himself of his bow and quiver, as well the sash holding his ammunition. Even the flintlocks found their way onto the ground.
Opening his arms, he said, "Come here."
And, she didn't hesitate to do as he ordered…this time.
****
What was wrong with her hands?
She rolled over onto her side, placing her head on her arm which was overhead. Overhead? Something was wrong. Why wouldn't her other arm come down to her side?
Opening one eye, she looked around her cozy, but tiny dwelling, noting there was sun coming in through the branches of their hut. Gray Falcon was nowhere to be seen, nor were his weapons cluttering the floor as they had been last night, and…her hands were tied. This was what was wrong. She groaned.
He had done it. He had tied her.
This meant he had left. For a moment, Amelia shut her eyes as she considered crying out. But, then she realized she could just as easily come up onto her knees and crawl out of the lodge. Someone—probably Eagle Heart—would know how to untie the knots. However, if he didn't, someone else was sure to have a knife and could simply slice through the buckskin ties.
She attempted to come up onto her knees. She couldn't. Now, what was wrong?
Glancing down, she saw the ties around her ankles.
He had certainly thought of everything to keep her from following him…except he hadn't gagged her. She was glad of that.
Scooting and wiggling wormlike toward the entrance flap, she was gradually able to come out of the lodge, feet first.Ouch!She bumped her head on the ground as she came fully out of the wickiup.
No one was about. She wasn't displeased about this, however. It gave her the opportunity to squirm and jiggle her way up onto her feet. It took quite a bit of effort and time to accomplish it. But, at last it was done.
Then, once she was upright, she hopped forward—and fell over. Twisting and turning, she fought her way up to her feet once more and took little hops this time—being careful not to fall headfirst—to the closest lodge next to hers.
Once there, she called out, "Excuse me."
No one answered from within. "Excuse me, please," Amelia said again. "Ah…I need some help. Is someone there who could come out?"
"Yes, yes, give me a moment," came Sharon's voice from within.
"What is it?" asked Itsiiy-Aakíí in Blackfeet.
"I…I seem to have a problem this morning, and I'm hoping someone within there could help me."
