But, not one of the Pikuni men darted away. They remained. Some even smiled.
However, Gray Falcon paid scant attention to what the others were doing or saying. Instead, he said to his wife, "Get the black beard's gun."
A'sitápi turned to do his bidding, but, after grabbing hold of the weapon, she said, "Beware, my husband. There are two more of the bullies in the back room."
No sooner had his wife spoken these words than the evil one—moving quickly for one so scrawny—grabbed hold of her and pointed a gun at her head.
"I say you ain't her husband, and I'm takin' her."
The evil one, Maká'pato'si, had barely finished speaking when—Boom!Blast!—from above, lightning shot into the room, caving in the roof with an explosive charge so loud, it literally shook the room as debris fell down around them. The lightning hit the floor of the trading room directly in front of the evil one, barely missing him.
The little man screamed and let go of A'sitápi. Gray Falcon quickly signaled to his wife, instructing her to run toward him. She did, and he stepped in front of her, shielding her from the evil one.
Gray Falcon then stated to Maká'pato'si, "Shehas never been yours.Sheis mine. She will always be mine. The hold you think you have on her is from cheating her father and using the white man's papers to make more lies. I have other papers, and if you will sign them, you may leave this country alive. But, you will never be welcome in Pikuni country again. Ever."
"Why, you dirty, thievin'… Where'd all the learnin' come from, Injun? Never mind! I will sign nothing!" Maká'pato'si screamed the words at him. "And, we'll see who has the last say in this. I'll leave, but I'll be back, and I'll have the law on my side when I come back. I'll get her and all her daddy's property, too."
"You will not leave here," countered Gray Falcon. "Because if I win this game and you do not sign these papers, you will have to fight me. I promise: you will not survive it."
Gray Falcon watched as the two other bullies, who had been cowering in the back room, slowly snuck into the main trading room. Addressing these two, Gray Falcon said, "If you value your lives, you will leave Pikuni country now and never come back."
A shotgun appeared suddenly in one of the men's hands, but with little more than a pointed finger, Gray Falcon sent a lightning bolt against the man, whipping the gun out of his hands.
The man screamed and jumped back. Then he ran; his partner followed him. The black-bearded bully, having thrown off the blankets and robes that had fallen on him, jumped to his feet and also fled.
"Yes, go!" ordered Gray Falcon. "Leave this country. Never come back. We of the Pikuni Nation know who you are, and if we ever find you in our territory again, we will kill you."
Not one of the three men argued. Indeed, they were already gone.
The evil one flicked his eyes this way and that. But, there was no one left in the trading room to protect him. Even the guards had taken flight. Not one other white man remained.
Gray Falcon smiled, then said, "Shall we continue our game?"
