I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has read and commented on this story thus far. I never expected the reaction I got from it, but I am thrilled and grateful. Thanks so much and I look forward to hearing from future readers.

Chapter Ten: Home

The wagon made its way slowly over the caravan route. Uncas knew that he should have reached his father's house hours ago, but with his two babies finally sleeping, he did not want to disturb their rest. Alice, his wife, was also asleep having spent the last two nights taking care of the babies while Uncas slept so he could drive the wagon during the day.

His wife. His babies.

Uncas savored being able to use those words to describe the people he loved so much. He looked over at Alice fast asleep with her arms wrapped around their son and daughter and his heart warmed in a way that always surprised him. When she had left for London, he was convinced that he would never see her again. Her reappearance on the road that day in Delaware convinced him that fate decided to be kind and return his love to him.

Unfortunately, fate had not been kind to the people closest to him and Alice.

Nathaniel did meet his end toward the end of the French and Indian war. His raiding party went on one last raid on a French camp only to find themselves ambushed. Nathaniel fought heroically to save his men, but died at the hands of a Huron warrior who some whisper was the illegitimate son of Magua, the Huron leader killed by Chincachgook some years ago. Uncas mourned the death of his beloved brother and honored him by naming his son Nathaniel.

Elizabeth's fate was equally cruel. After losing Askwheteau a second time, she decided to go it alone and disappeared into the woods. Alice and Uncas begged her to make their home hers, but Elizabeth, who seemed to have found strength through loss, refused and one foggy morning, she left to meet her fate. At first, Elizabeth seemed to thrive. She found Askwheteau's tribe and joined them. Alice received word that Elizabeth was even considering accepting an offer of marriage. After several months of no news, Alice and Uncas became worried and Uncas traveled north to Askwheteau's tribe to see if he could find news about Elizabeth. What he found was a tribe decimated by disease—smallpox. Elizabeth was one of its unfortunate victims. As a tribute to her friend's memory, Alice named their daughter, Elizabeth.

Uncas thought upon the loss of so many with great sadness. He wondered why he had been favored when others had not. Alice always told him not to dwell too much on it, but Uncas never wanted to forget how lucky he was.

"Penny for your thoughts?" came a female voice from behind him.

Uncas grinned and turned to see his wife, his Alice smiling up at him.

"Just thinking that I'm the luckiest person in the world." replied her husband.

Alice grinned back at her husband. "I guess that makes two of us."

Alice sat up quietly and moved silently into the passenger's seat beside her husband. She looked back around and her babies were still asleep. Alice took her husband's hand and looked out on the horizon.

"Are we close?" she asked.

"I think so." replied Uncas. "Hopefully, we will get there before nightfall."

Alice smiled at her husband. "I have faith in you."

Uncas smiled back and the two rode in silence until the smoke from Chincachgook's chimney appeared.

Hearing his son's wagon approaching, Chincachgook was waiting for them to arrive. By this time, Nathaniel and Elizabeth were awake and waiting to jump into their grandfather's arms. Chincachgook grabbed his grandchildren down from the wagon and smothered them with kisses. He put them down and the kids ran into the warm, well-lit cabin. Then he turned to Alice and helped her down. The two embraced and Uncas was pleased to see his father and his wife had managed to turn their relationship around. Chincachgook smiled at his son and Uncas smiled back. Then Uncas took the wagon around the side of the cabin and fed and watered the horses. Before going in, he stood outside for a moment and listened to the sounds around him. He could hear his children laughing, his wife teasing his father and the wind whispering the words of spirits from his past. With a smile, Uncas decided to go in and join the warmth of his family. His happiness was not so far away this time. Now, he was home.