When Redbird and White Bear returned to their wickiup, the crescent moon had reached the high point of its trail across the sky. Within the simple shelter he and Redbird had built, it was too dark to see anyone.
His mother's voice whispered, "Eagle Feather and Yellow Hair are sleeping. She is terribly frightened, but she has been through so much she is exhausted."
"I thank you for helping her," White Bear whispered. "In the morning I must tell her that Black Hawk will not let her go."
"That makes me sad for her," said Sun Woman. "She is in such misery. I sense a strength in her, but this is a very bad time for her. You must not stop being kind to her, not even for a moment."
Sun Woman ducked out through the doorway of the wickiup.
Nancy was sleeping in Redbird's bed. Redbird and White Bear lay down together on his pallet of reeds and blankets, her back against his chest, and slept.
When White Bear's eyes opened, the faint light filtering through the layer of bark overhead let him see a figure sitting up across from him. Outside, he heard the sounds of the camp stirring, men and women calling to one another, horses stamping.
He felt a rush of pity as he recognized Nancy. What she must be feeling at this moment!
"Oh my God," he heard her say. "Lord Jesus, help me." It must have taken her a moment to realize where she was.