"Ma'am, it ain't makin' no sense to stay here. They are dead, and they'll stay dead. You, on the other hand are alive."
"Nevertheless, it's our home. My children are buried there sir, I cannot just walk off and leave them. We will stay."
"A burnout home…"
"Yes, a burnout home." She smiled sadly.
"My names Tucker and this is Flint." The lean one said studying her closely. "I don't reckon you could spare us some food to take with us, could you?"
"Yes, I have ham and beans and canned peaches." She offered.
"Lord have mercy, we sure are hungry."
"I'm Eve Dawson, and these are my children, Matthew and Jane Ann." She smiled.
"You're a dern fool ma'am, but I reckon I understand the not leavin'. I had a couple of kids once too. I hope when we come back through that you are still alive and have your scalps." Tucker said.
"Where are you headed?"
"Goin' to Fort Concho. Gonna join Colonel Mackenzie's Raiders." They nodded. "They're getting' rid of a lot of this Indian trash that left the reservations. We're gonna stop all this killin' if we can."
"Oh…"
"Yeah, they are raiding the Indian camps along the way. We fig
ure by this time next year there will be nothing to fear." Flint said scratching his chin.
"Good luck to you." She packed them some grub in their saddle bags. They mounted up to left, tipping their hats to her. She nodded as they went on their way after refilling their canteens.
Hawk came back into camp. "I'm glad you didn't tell them we were there."
"Yes, it sounds like Mackenzie is declaring all out war on the rebel Indian tribes."
"Problem is, he doesn't see the difference in one from another." Hawk frowned.
"I'm sorry, this must be hard for you," She said coming closer.
"The whites and the Indians cannot live together." He stared at her. Then looking away he added. "It will be a long while yet."
She turned her head in question. She thought about that all evening. Her life had changed so drastically. Until he said that, she hadn't given the consequences of her actions and feelings a thought. Now it worried her.
If Hawk really thought that, then they had no future together. Perhaps they never did. Did she really ever think they had a chance at happiness? Perhaps he didn't really want her. Perhaps it was lust for him. Perhaps he was just being noble and trying to save her life. However, she needed to know for herself, because her feelings were all mixed up with her exposed emotions.
Late that night, after the children had gone to sleep, she walked to the edge of the cliff to stare down, she wanted to see what he saw for the last two years. This is where Hawk had stood watching her, protecting her.
Now was the time for her to sort through her true feelings for him, for the consequences weighed heavy on her mind. She had to separate fantasy from fact.
"Something bothering you?" He whispered as he came up behind her.
Inner tensions surfaced between them.
She barely turned to look at him. "I was just wondering if you will stay when the work is done."
"I hadn't thought that far ahead." He said.
"Please stay," she whispered for his ears alone. Her words conveyed so much more in that request.
He stared into her face. "I will stay!"