"And why did you leave your friends back there?"
"They weren't exactly friends." He explained. "One thing you learn fast. Outlaws don't really have friends. It's more like a partnership."
"Then why were you with them?"
"Because I needed money and I joined up with them to get it."
"But you refused their money when you left. Why?"
"It was a matter of principle. I chose to leave, sort of ended our bargain. I didn’t want them following, so I figured if I didn't take the money, they wouldn't bother following us." Matt was getting angry again. He wished he could talk to her and not be that way, but she didn't understand anything he did or said.
He shrugged when she said nothing.
"Maybe I got too much religion to stay with them. I figured if I didn't take their money, they would forget about tracking me down."
"Maybe you do…have too much of this religion." she agreed. "I have made you angry again, have I not?"
"No…well, it's just you don't understand. We are two very different people. I guess that's why we fight each other, we just don't understand."
"I would like to learn to understand. I have met many white men, none like you. We are not that different, we eat, we sleep, we work, it is the same. You saved me from that man back there, I respect you for that. Even though I don't understand why. I'm a squaw, what do you care?"
"It's called decency. It ain't right to rape a woman. If you'd have been willing, it would be different."
"You do not believe in it?"
"Of course, I don't. No decent man would."
She stared at him for a long moment. "I think you are a good man, Matt Younger."
"I'm sorry it happened, Snow Bird. But, how will you raise a half-white child?"
"As any other mother would. I had a knife when he finally attacked me. But he took it from me and took me. He was not gentle. He's the man Jake killed."
"So, you tried to defend yourself against him?" Matt asked.
"Yes. I always carry a knife, just in case."
"What about Jake, he was about to rape you!" Matt frowned. "And I frankly didn't see you getting out of that."
"You stopped him?"
"Well…of course I did."
"I knew you would." She said softly.
He stared with his mouth open. "How did you know that?"
A slight blush colored her cheeks now, and she didn't look at him. "I saw the way you frowned when he stared at me. I saw many things that told me you were not the same kind of man as him. I knew you would not let him. I am Indian, but I have been around the white people a while now and I know that there are good and bad in both Indian and whites. Mainly because of the trapper that taught me to read. You are a good white man like him."
"You know, if more people knew that, maybe we wouldn’t be warring against them. You know so much about me, do you?" He asked looking at her now.
"I know enough…it is not something I like to admit, but—I trust you, Matt Younger."
"I don't believe a man should have to rape a woman to get what he wants. And a man should be a man, and only take what is offered."
"An Indian would take a white woman, without asking. Too Tall took Naomi, when he first brought her to the camp. And after a time, she fell in love with him."
"She loves him?"