Chapter 43

Lance had struggled to his feet after being shot and staggered to the cavern. He found the women dead, killed with their cooking pots in hand. The other men had come running—just as he had—and were slain as they arrived. He must have been the only one to raise a rifle to the killers. When one of their own had been hit, the raiders didn’t bother to look for Lance. They merely took all the horses, leaving him to die alone on the frozen prairie.

“Can you identify any of them?”

“Nay. All white men look alike to me save those who’ve been scalped.”

“Bald, you mean?”

“Aye, the hairless-headed men.”

“Well, you’re safe for the moment. I have some stew at the back of the stove. You must eat some fat to replace the blood you lost.”

“This is the Yellow Leaf Officer’s house?”

“Yes, but don’t let that concern you. He won’t be back here for two moons or more.”

“Won’t he lead a column to track me and make sure I’m dead?”