Page 88 of Red Hawk's Woman

“Really? I didn’t know that. But I should have guessed. You are so graceful.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you and Carl plan to have any children?”

“Oh, yes,” said Madeline, “though I don’t seem to be doing well in that particular regard. We have tried to have a baby, but so far we have not been successful.”

“That’s too bad,” sympathized Effie, “but what fun you two must be having in the meantime.”

For a moment Madeline looked startled by the comment. But then she smiled, as did Effie. Before long, the two of them were laughing, just as though they were grand old friends.

Chapter

Twenty

“You will come no farther!” shouted Red Hawk to the Thunder Being, as he stood his ground on the prairie, his lance lifted upward and his bow held ready. “I know that you stalk my wife. I know you are trying to keep her from being successful because she might help my people. But I will not let you near her. So long as I exist, I will keep you from her.”

Stepping forward, the Thunder Being laughed at him. “Each day you challenge me, little warrior. Each day you walk away. You talk big. You do little.”

“Stay away from her camp!”

“Or you’ll what? Walk away? Again? Yell at me?”

“Do not tempt me. Were it not for the love for my grandfather and for his people⁠—”

“I am tired of your words,” said the Thunder Being. “Let us begin this fight. Long have you sought your revenge. Now, come take it.” The Thunder Being beckoned Red Hawk forward.

Red Hawk stood his ground. “I cannot do it and save my people, and well you know it. So I will show you mercy, instead.” His lips spat out the word mercy as though it were a nasty sound.

The Thunder Being merely laughed, although he did retreat. Taking his black clouds and his lightning bolts with him, he set his path for somewhere besides Effie’s camp. At least for the time being. Tomorrow would be another day.

“Haiya!” Red Hawk used the word as though he were swearing. The Thunderer baited him. Though Red Hawk would stand his ground and show mercy, as he must, everything within him rebelled.

“Someday,” he said to the heavens. “We will battle. I swear it.”

It must have been around midnight by the time the sky finally darkened. However, this place was so far in the northern regions of the country that even when night finally fell over the land, it seemed no more dusky than a dim version of early evening.

At last, Effie blew out the light of her candle, and, setting down her pen, she stretched. There was still much to do, for this site abounded in artifacts, many of them quite old.

So far they had found several ancient arrowhead points, most of which were made from bone or flint. There were also various buffalo skulls and bones, some beads, some well-preserved hides, knives made of bone and flint, and yesterday, Madeline and her husband had found some awls fashioned of bone, as well as one buffalo-horn spoon.

The last had been quite a find, and Madeline had asked to clean it, which Effie had been only too glad to allow.

However, to date nothing had been found that resembled the artifacts she still carried on her person.

Effie was beginning to wonder if she and the others were on a wild-goose chase.

Amazingly enough, the heat of the day remained with them into the evening. It was an unusual circumstance here in the far reaches of the Montana Territory. Because the area wasn’t known for its humidity, once the sun retreated from the sky, the atmosphere and the land usually cooled.

Maybe she had become too accustomed to it doing so. Whatever was the case, Effie suddenly yearned for a midnight swim.

Ah, to feel the gentle rush of water over her heat-soaked body. She only wished Red Hawk were here. But he wasn’t, she reminded herself, and she wasn’t going to restrict herself because of his absence, either.

It would be a perfect chance to bathe, since at this time of night everyone else was usually asleep. Surely she’d be safe enough to allow herself a quick dip, and perhaps, if she were brave enough, a brisk bath in the nude.

Sighing, she rose from her desk, shuffling through her papers and placing the more important notes neatly inside folders, which she promptly stored away. After grabbing hold of her shawl, she left her tent.

Glancing up toward the sky, she looked for the Big Dipper in order to tell her not only direction, but the time. If she were right, it looked to be well after midnight. Perhaps, to another, midnight was not such a perfect time to swim. To some, the evening might hold shadows, phantoms and fears.