Page 48 of Red Hawk's Woman

“All things are alive, even the air we breathe.”

Effie gave him a wide-eyed gawk. He ignored the look and went on to explain, “Does the air not nourish us? Can we live without it? Does it not impart life to us?”

“But it’s not…really…alive. I can’t talk to it, and it certainly can’t speak back⁠—”

“Because you do not know how to listen. It is in contact with you every day. ’Tis all a matter of perception. Haiya, all things are alive, or were once alive, and all living creatures are a part of life’s circle and are able to receive and give communication.”

She frowned at him. “You are speaking of matters which I do not believe, and I⁠—”

“Just as you have intuition, so, too, can every living creature sense whether or not another intends harm or good.”

“Maybe, but⁠—”

“As an example, it has been told to me by my elders that there was once a tree that saved the lives of seven helpless people.”

“But could that not be a myth? We have many such tales in my culture as well, but they are stories we relate to the very young in order to entertain them.”

“Are you certain this is all there is to it?” he countered. “Do not discount these stories merely because you have not yet experienced them. Many myths are based on fact.”

“That’s probably true,” she conceded.

“Aa, I do think that our Mother, the Earth, is your best protection. In the open spaces, whoever this is will have to show himself or herself.”

“Herself?” Effie became immediately distracted, and said further, “Do you think the guilty party might be one of the women…perhaps Lesley?”

Red Hawk shrugged. “I do not know. But it is important to remember that no matter where you go, I fear your attacker will follow you.”

Effie nodded. After a few minutes, she said, “I will consider all you have said, and I thank you for your advice. But now, since it is late, and before it gets any later, perhaps we should discuss the sheriff and what you discovered today. Why would he break into my room? And why would he rummage through my possessions?”

Red Hawk breathed out deeply. “All of the men in this town are loco, I believe. These men talk of nothing but gold and silver. They argue amongst themselves over who owns what piece of ground, and they work endlessly, digging into our Mother, the Earth, scarring her. They ignore her cries, because they have no ears with which to hear and because their machines drown out her voice.”

“But they are miners and seek their fortune. That is what miners do.”

“So I have been told. But there is more. Have you observed that there are few women here?”

“There are some.”

“But they are not the kind of women a man will most often marry.”

Effie lifted her brow.

“Therefore,” he said, “one can only wonder what purpose these men serve. How can a man build a town without women? Do they forget that without a woman, there is little happiness?”

“An excellent point, but what does this have to do with the sheriff?”

“’Tis simple, I think. The only conclusion I can draw from the manner of madness I see all around me is that these men hope to easily obtain something that does not belong to them, but rather belongs to our Mother, the Earth. Gold and silver hold these men’s hearts for ransom, and perhaps the sheriff suffers the same ailment as the rest and hopes to attain something easily, even though it does not belong to him. Perhaps this is all there is to it. I do not know. All I can tell you is that the man came to your room, he searched it and left. He did not return here, but spent the remainder of the day over the hills where the young men are digging.”

Effie nodded. “It is curious, Mr. Hawk. Very curious. But maybe you are right and he was hoping to obtain something more easily than the rest.” She yawned.

Red Hawk watched her for the space of a moment. “Are you going to tell me or show me what this treasure is? So many people are searching for it…your life is in danger because of it. Do you not think I should see it?”

“No,” she said flatly, no explanation given. “Now if you will excuse me, I believe it is time for me to get some sleep.”

He ignored her words. “I could readily find out what this is if I were to question the others. You realize this, don’t you?”

She didn’t utter a word. Instead, she looked away from him.

Without taking his gaze from her, he said, “I would rather you show it to me.”