Hawk smiled for the first time and Matthew smiled back. "You are wise for one so young. A man that is not afraid is a fool."
"When my Pa died, I became the man of the house." Matthew announced proudly. "Sometimes it's hard to be brave."
"You are young to take such a place…" Hawk nodded. "Come, we must hurry now. The sun will go down soon and we must find a good campsite."
Matthew nodded.
"As we get closer, we must be very quiet so they do not know we are about." Hawk instructed.
"Why don't Indians wear many clothes?" Matthew asked, staring at Hawk.
Hawk turned to look at him. "When it is warm and we are hunting, we wear breechcloths, and sometimes leggings. When winter comes, we wear leggings and sometimes skins to keep us warm. We hunt, we run, we climb, we wear only what is needed to do so. We carry only enough food and water to fill us."
They trekked over rocks and hills and for what seemed like miles. Matthew didn't complain, although Hawk could see he was becoming tired.
"Can you use that bow and arrow?" Matthew asked curiously. He was beginning to wear down, but he couldn't complain. He wanted to find his mother and sister.
"Yes, can you use that shotgun?" Hawk glanced at the gun Matthew carried.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Now we must camp here, it is just enough space to sleep and tomorrow we will catch up to your mother and sister." Hawk assured him.
"What will they do to my Ma and sister?" Matthew prodded.
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sp; "Sometimes they are ransomed to the whites; sometimes they are treated as captive slaves. Often times a young girl is kept so long that when she grows up she marries a warrior and has children with them." Hawk answered as though he were talking to an adult.
Matthew blinked hard. "You mean my sister would have to marry an Indian?"
Hawk glanced at him, considering his tone of voice when he said Indian. However, he could not expect the child to understand everything. He would learn as time went by.
"No, that will not happen. We will rescue them, and leave…" Hawk told him. But he stared at him a long while.
"What will you do with us?"
"I do not know. I have not thought that far ahead yet. I can take you to Ft. Davis or Ft. Concho even to some town so you can go back east. If you want to. But you must not be left alone in this part of the country."
"Why not?"
"Comanche. They raid all up and down this land."
Matthew studied Hawk as he built a fire and he helped him gather wood.
"Is it safe to have a fire? I mean, won't they see it?"
"No, they are looking forward, not backward. They do not know we follow. It is safe for now. Nevertheless, tomorrow, you cannot have a fire, even when it gets dark. Will you be afraid?"
"No sir…I mean, not much."
"Put a rope around your bed and if wild animals come, climb a tree, and sleep there."
"Can the animals climb trees?"
Hawk smiled. "Some can, but usually the only company you will find in a tree is birds, and squirrels. A cat can climb, but you can usually hear a cat from a long ways off. Cougars climb rocks and sometimes-small trees; you must climb high if a cat comes. If you get to the tree before he sees you, he might not even try to climb. Bears are not around this area much. A wild boar can sneak up on you, but as I said, the safest place is up a tree. If it's a big enough tree, you can sleep in it. Caves are good too, if you can find one and if it isn't inhabited at the time."
"How come you know so much?"