This morning began as couple last ones; Smith was working in living room, Pepsicanough was with other kids from the fort, and Pocahontas with Juliet were cleaning after breakfast. During that the two was laughing and telling stories from each other's childhood. But suddenly they heard knocking to the door. Pocahontas went to open it.
"Nakoma, how are you?" She said as she saw her best friend. "Come in."
"La-tee-nah. Actually I just came to say good-bye. We're leaving tomorrow, at daybreak."
"So soon? I thought it'll be next week or so..."
"Well, the nights are really chilly now, and deers begin to move towards the mountains. Kekata says that the spirits told him that winter will come within two weeks."
Pocahontas looked at her friend.
"You really believe him? You know, sometimes I'm wondering if he actually can talk with the spirits... If anyone does..."
"Maybe we'll go for a walk?" Proposed the guest.
"If I'm not needed here for a while..."
"Sure, go. We'll be alright." Said Juliet.
"Don't worry 'bout us." Added Smith.
"That's my family." Pocahontas said proudly. "They're always easygoing. You even don't know how wonderful it is to be with them..."
"I guess so." Said Nakoma sadly.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Asked Pocahontas when the two of them were already outside the fort. And suddenly she realized what was the reason of her friend's sadness. "Nakoma, I know you miss Secotin, but it's not your fault that he left. Look, I waited for John to come here for almost eight years. Maybe he will come back too? Where did my father send him, to Potomac? A year ago?"
"No, it's already three years! And he was sent to Mannahoacks. I'm afraid that Secotin's or dead or he had found a better wife than I was..."
"Well, I know my step-brother and he wouldn't marry no one but you. You are his wife, and I'm sure that he remembers that. I don't remember what mission he got from our father, but I know it was something serious... What was that...? All I can think of now is going on north... Don't worry, he'll be back soon." The woman looked at the gray cloudy sky. "You're right, the winter is about to come. If the snow won't fall too soon I'll come to the village in couple days. I need to speak with my father."
"About you and John Smith?"
"How did you know?!"
But Nakoma didn't say anything more. Pocahontas just looked at her friend, and smiled.
"Sorry that I hurt you. I didn't think that What I said could make you sad. I understand you very well, Nakoma. I had to live without John longer than I thought I could bear. Remember, when John Smith left you were the one to cheer me up. You told me that as long as I love him, he is still here with me. Now I'm telling you the same about Secotin."
"Thanks." Said the friend and began to walk towards her village. "Oh, by the way, I brought Percy here, but... he's gone. I don't know where he left me... Sorry for that."
Pocahontas began to laugh.
"Don't worry, he'll be alright. Probably he'll be here before dark."
"Hope so. If he would get hurt I would never forgive it myself."
"Oh, don't be kidding. It's a dog, he can take care of himself." Said the woman with longer hair.
"Okay, if so... I'd go now. I have much to do before moving to winter village. If we wouldn't meet each other during your visit, see you at the beginning of the spring."
"Take care, and don't worry. I have a strange feeling that Secotin will be back sooner than you can imagine." Smiled Pocahontas and went back to the settlement.
The whole day had passed on preparing house for the winter. John was storing the wood and trying to catch some fish, however this second activity ended badly for him, since he slipped on a stone and dove in icy water. He was walking towards the house to change wet clothes when Pocahontas was just going to find him.
"Oh my! What had happened? Why you're so wet?" She asked with a laughter.
"Well, fishing isn't my best profession. I just slipped on a stone trying to catch a fish." He chuckled. "How your people do this that they don't get so wet, eh?"
"See those baskets near the river?"
He nodded.
"You have to put them into the water, and wait. That's all."
"Okay, if it is so simple... show it, Little Mischief."
"Alright, but at first you should change, it's getting really freeze." She smiled. "I don't want you to be sick."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." He lanced his lips on her cheek. "You even don't know how important for me are words you said to Nakoma in the morning. It means a lot not only for me, but also for my sister."
she didn't pay any attention to the fact that John's clothes are completely bedraggled and threw her arms around his neck.
"Hey! Watch out, you'll get wet!" Laughed the captain.
"I don't care. Today I fully realized how happy I am to be with you." She said.
"Right, it's a miracle that we're actually together again. And to think that everything thanks to our son..." With that said Smith kissed Pocahontas and they went towards their house.
Later on they went to the river for a walk.
"John, may I have a request?" Asked Pocahontas.
"Sure, go ahead, dear." Smiled the captain.
"In the morning my father and tribe are going to our winter village, but I have something important to talk with my father... Could you go with me to this village?"
"Of course. When you wanna leave?"
"In a week, maybe? I don't know. We can go only if there won't be snowing, the way isn't easy. For winter we live in the mountains."
"Alright." He smiled. "And probably you want to tell your father when you will marry me?"
"I'd like to, but, I don't want to force you to this marriage. For me important is that I can be close to you, that every day I can spent by your side."
Smith smiled and put his arm around her shoulders.
"I'm happy to hear it, but you're right, we should decide when we'll get married. I know that it can't be a traditional wedding, the priest won't give us the marriage."
"Is it because I'm a pagan?"
The captain didn't answer.
"John?"
"Am I to answer?" He asked sadly. "You know that I don't care, but Hunt is a traditionalist and... Well, whatever, I'll try to convince him, no matter what."
"Last night I was thinking about us." She said. "What if I wouldn't...?"
"Wouldn't what, Pocahontas?" He smiled.
"A pagan can't get married with Catholic, right? But what if only one of us would make the vow? I heard about such situation in England. I overheard it from Ben and some settler's talking."
"Maybe it is a solution... But, I'm not sure what Hunt would say. Okay, tomorrow I will go to his and talk about this idea. And, what about Pepsicanough? It has to be also your decision, even though we allowed him to chose, both of us must have the same opinion. So, what do you think?"
"I agree, I have nothing against it. He is half English, and he should be brought up also in your culture, not only one, like he was for last eight years."
Now the two narrowed back to Jamestown, since it began to getting really cold and windy. As they reached the fort, one of the boys came to them and asked about Pepsicanough.
"We thought he was playing with you all day long." Said John.
"No, sir. He did only in the morning, later on he said that he's going to find... I don't remember the name, but I think it is some animal. Oh, a raccoon, sir." Answered the kid.
"Well, thanks." The man smiled. "If you would see him, tell him that he have to go home immediately."
"Ay, sir."
