Chapter 58

“Messengers, most likely.” I interrupted the flow of his dialogue.

“They were not yet out of sight when someone fired at them. The Blue Coats leaned over their saddles and got out of there without looking back.”

“Neither was hit?”

“No, but I saw leaves cut from the tree above one rider’s head.”

“Who was downriver of you?”

“Several. One was Lodge Pole.”

“But why would he do something chuckleheaded like that?” I demanded.

“To make trouble for me. I was the only one in plain sight.”

“He cannot be stupid enough to believe the soldiers can identify a lone Indian from across the river.”

“Perhaps not, but our trail will lead right back to this camp.”

“Could it have been the Sioux? Stone Knife’s people?”

“They were well ahead of us. I sent Bear Paw to warn them what happened.”

“So the soldiers could be on the move already.”

“Perhaps we should pack up and start north,” my lover said without conviction in his voice.

“A fleeing man is assumed to be guilty.”