He fell on his knees in the dirt, and sighed.
Hawk worried about Matthew he was very tired and he could let his guard down. "It is nearly dawn now, you must climb a tree, a big one, and find a comfortable spot and you can go to sleep. But tie yourself to the tree first, in case you start to fall. Understand?"
Matthew nodded.
Hawk gave him some rope. "I'll be back with your mother and sister, wait for us."
Matthew nodded, yawning and checking out which tree might be more comfortable. Once he spotted a tree with good heavy branches, he started climbing and waved to Hawk.
Hawk smiled and put the deer around his neck, and the other things he tied to his back.
By the time he walked into the village people were stirring and the chief was waiting.
"I have brought the supplies for you." Hawk told him as he laid the deer at his feet.
"How many blankets?" The old chief asked.
"Five…" Hawk said.
"What food have you brought?"
"Corn, potatoes, ham and milk from a can…" He told him.
The old chief nodded. "You have done well."
"The woman and child are unharmed?" Hawk eyed him closely now.
"Yes, take them and go." The chief told him.
"Thank you!" All of it was in sign language except the last and Hawk shook hands with the chief.
One of the women took him to the tipi where Eve and her child were.
When he opened the flap and went in, she was feeding the baby.
It was an awkward moment. He could tell by her expression that she was confused and embarrassed.
"We must go now…" Hawk told her.
She whirled around to look into his eyes. "Oh…yes…yes…" She nodded, looking away quickly.
"Matthew is waiting on the trail for us…" He told her.
"He's all right?" She swallowed hard.
"Yes…come…" He directed her out of the tent. She carried Jane Ann on her hip even though Sootka had given her some small moccasins for her feet.
Sootka nodded to her as they left, Eve smiled at her. She held her head up as she walked behind Hawk.
They walked for a short while then Hawk stopped, they were well out of sight from the Comanche now.
"What are we stopping for?" She asked.
"Matthew…" he called to the trees.
No one answered. Hawk began to search the trees. "Matthew?"
This time a tree rustled and Matthew soon jumped down from the tree. "Ma…"