The River

Jack is angry at the circumstances, realizing that they’ve lost the offensive posture against Pierre and now must devise a strategy to defend against another, far more likely ambush. While Wynn sleeps, Jack holds watch throughout the night. He’s careful to provide care to Maia, who appears stable. Jack recalls how his mother’s horse slipped, sending both her and the horse into the whitewater. When Jack visited the scene, the river was only a trickle, and his horse crossed it easily. He thinks about Wynn’s temperament and notes that he’s the kind of person who sees the good in things even when situations call for skepticism and distrust. Jack remembers the time he visited Wynn at his home and met his family. Wynn’s sister, Jess, especially impressed Jack because of her sheer joy for living and her adamance to follow in her older brother’s footsteps. As the time nears 2:30 a.m., Jack sees the northern lights and ponders how Indigenous tribes considered them signs from ancestors. He begins to get sleepy but makes himself stay awake past four o’ clock in the morning because that’s the notorious hour for ambushes, when a person is most likely to be separated from themselves in spirit.