Redbird stood a moment looking down at the mound of earth, now covered with leaves, the strip of red blanket tied to the willow wand now faded. She rocked back and forth in the pale eyes shoes made of heavy leather that Yellow Hair had given her. She wailed softly in her sorrow for Floating Lily.
Then she turned to Yellow Hair, who stood under a nearby maple.
"You take White Bear here and show him."
Yellow Hair nodded.
They went back to Yellow Hair's carriage. The buggy was laden with food and blankets, and Redbird carried with her a heavy bag of gold coins given her by White Bear's grandfather. Used wisely, the gold would buy blankets and food, rifles and ammunition from the traders to help the Sauk get through the winter. Now they would not have to winter over at Fort Armstrong, but could cross over at once to join the rest of the tribe in Ioway.
The wound in Redbird's heart ached constantly, and she sat bent forward on the buggy seat, her hands gripping her knees. As they rattled down the road to Fort Armstrong she felt some small relief at leaving the place where she had lost so much. She tried to tell herself that she was on the way to a new life.
Yellow Hair said she didn't understand why White Bear was not with them. She wanted to know if he would follow Redbird when he got better.
She understands, but she does not dare believe he is going to stay with her. She thinks it is too much to hope for.
Redbird said, "He still your husband, Yellow Hair. You want him?"
Yellow Hair's lips quivered as she asked, would Redbird not come back to be with White Bear?