"What?"

Julian, absent in his mind as well as his surroundings, hadn't payed attention to anything since he told Wasula to follow him. Something troubled him, something that he clearly had to carry with a heavy heart and mind, as the unlikely duo of Cowboy and Indian walked…somewhere. It wasn't the fear of the coming chase for the horses; it wasn't the ridicule or frowns of the townsfolk once they'd all hear about this; it wasn't his fear that Wasula might abandon him somewhere out on the prairie for him to die, or worse, stab him in the back. No, it was his father's words, and his mother's look. It was his brother. 

The young cowboy gave a blank look at Wasula when she quickened her pace, coming up beside him and taking the lead. It was as if he hadn't heard her question, though he had. It just took a while for the absent-minded cowboy to realize what he questions was. His absent eyes focused on Wasula, his back straightening back up and his stride regaining a sense of purpose, as he looked at his Indian friend. Friend?

"Oh yes, my brother…It was a long time ago, when I was just a kid. He went out one night, determined to find some outlaws stealing our cattle. Chris…Christopher never returned. That's why my father and mother reacted like that, not because of you. I don't think you're a 'savage'…" Julian's words were loaded with emotion, a sense of sadness and remorse filling his tounge as the words escaped, yet precise in their statement. To people unfamiliar with Julian, they'd probably find pity in his brother's fate and move on. But to those that knew him, maybe they could sense something else; perhaps an rehearsed line and untold facts? 

Who knew what Wasula would think of them? 

Julian turned his gaze away from Wasula, realizing he was letting his eyes wander over her slender body in ways he barely had done to other girls…women. Even for his saddened words, he found some comfort in simply looking at her, like at least she was something good in that God-forsaken spot of land. But he didn't tell her, that would be wrong. Instead he looked forward, into the distant horizon. "Where to? I'm following you it would seem."