Never one to mope, Uncas dragged himself from bed early the next morning for chores. When he brought Alice the morning's milk, she could not ignore the split lip and bruises that had not been tended to the night before. As Cora was outside collecting eggs, she took advantage of the opportunity to dab his wounds with warm water. When she finished, she asked, "Will you take me from here this morning, even for just a little while?"

"I will find a way," he promised.

Jack made his way uphill toward the gap between two mountain sides, which was the fastest way to get to his friends' homestead. Just past it was the waterfall, and he wished it was not still too cold to go for a swim. It was just yesterday that Nathaniel and Cora had visited and confirmed their happy news with his sister, and when he inquired about the rest of the family, Nathaniel had invited him over for the afternoon. In truth, Jack was setting about his plan to see about courting Alice, as he had intended to eventually do. When he made his way to the top of the hill in the gap, he looked down to see two people in the distance, sharing a rather intimate moment in the cove. He could not make out their faces due to distance, but it was clear that one was a white woman and the other an Indian man. He knew better than to approach, as if they knew he saw them, they would surely see him as a threat. What girl could this be from the many farms surrounding him, he wondered? The man could be from any number of villages. He sat down on the other side of the hill and waited for them to complete what seemed to be a rather intimate exploration of one another, impressed that they managed to keep their clothes on for some of the things he saw them do.

He occasionally peeked his head around the corner to see if they had parted ways yet, and started to think seriously about taking another route. No. Climbing either mountain top or traversing around either rim would take hours. Finally, he peered around again to find the amorous couple had moved on. With great relief and a grumbling stomach, he descended the hill and trekked the final path with hopes that Alice's new reputation for being a superb cook would reward his patience with a meal worthy of feasting on. As luck would have it, all were about to sit down for the afternoon meal, and when Jack knocked on the door, Nathaniel rushed to it knowing it was Jack he would greet.

Nathaniel welcomed Jack with a brotherly hug.

"Cora, Jack has made it in time to eat with us. Would, you please set another place at the table?"

Jack's gaze circled the room until his eyes settled on Alice, sitting on the other side of the table. Uncas sat across from her. It quickly occurred to him that they both seemed to be dressed similarly to the couple he had seen outside, though with no winter cloak or furs for the outdoors. Could it have been them?

He then realized that Uncas and Nathaniel were covered in bruises and black eyes on their faces.

"What happened to the two of you?" he asked in surprise.

"A brotherly scuffle," was Nathaniel's dismissive reply, which suggested he wished not to discuss it further.

Cora set a space next to Alice, who promptly sat up and began to serve Jack before he had even sat down. He looked at the spread of food before him and realized Alice was every bit the cook Nathaniel had described. Roasted goose, venison stew, baked squash, cornbread, creamed spinach, a platter of cheese, and rice pudding with raisins. He hoped it was as good as it looked. He noticed as Alice handed Uncas his plate, his cornbread slathered with butter.

"You're not going to butter my bread?" he asked jokingly as he sat down to eat.

"Oh!" Alice startled in alarm and stood up suddenly to reach for the butter. "Of course, I'm so sorry... I just know that's how he likes his."

"No," Jack said laughing, "I was just kidding. I can butter my own bread."

Jack noticed that Alice had to carefully ease herself back onto the bench, with a posture that looked rather familiar. He had seen his sister sit up and down this way many times in the past. He also thought she looked a bit more...plump... than when he last saw her, though every bit as beautiful. He watched her repeatedly get up and down carefully throughout the meal to serve second helpings to others, but also noticed Uncas consistently rejected her offers, always getting up himself for seconds. And thirds.

Uncas barely spoke as they all ate and talked of their mostly uneventful winters. Jack enjoyed Alice's cooking immensely, but was starting to think Alice might not be available any longer.

"Uncas, Nathaniel tells me you were almost killed by a wolf."

"Alice dropped her mug at this comment and began frantically cleaning it up with napkins. Uncas jumped up to get a towel and help.

"Uh, yeah, it was a close call, but he just got my shoulder."

Jack watched the two closely throughout the rest of the meal, realizing that Uncas stole glances of Alice frequently, and she stared at her plate intently as if trying not to look elsewhere. It was all starting to become clear. By the end of the meal, which Jack thought to be one of the best he had ever had, he had come to two conclusions: The first was that Alice and Uncas were lovers with a baby on the way. The second was that Uncas was a very lucky man indeed, and he would have to reconcile himself with the fact that Alice was not available to court.

When the meal ended, Alice and Cora began to clear the table, while Jack put his arm over Uncas's shoulder and suggested they go outside to catch up further. Uncas followed without questioning.

"So," said Jack, "Anything new going on in your life?"

"No, not really," Uncas replied casually.

"Uncas, this is me you're talking to. We've all been best friends since we were kids."

Uncas looked at him blankly.

"Uncas I saw the two of you in the cove. And she is clearly with child."

Uncas went pale at the thought they had been seen together.

"Is the child yours?"

"I don't know what you think you saw, but-"

"Uncas, I know what I saw. And if I'm right about her condition, you are both going to need good friends behind you. At the very least, you will need a midwife."

Uncas stood quietly and considered Jack's words.

"Is the baby yours, Uncas?"

He hesitated.

"Yes. It is mine. Six months."

"Six months?" Jack questioned in astonishment. "Fort William Henry?"

Uncas nodded.

"You didn't waste any time."

"No," Uncas said with a quiet laugh.

"Do you love her?"

"I do. We wish to marry."

"And do the others know?"

"No. We planned to tell them last night, but then Nathaniel and Cora returned with their news."

"Uncas, you have to tell them soon. I knew almost as soon as I saw her. Surely it is different when you see her everyday, but it will not be long now."

"We know... we just... don't know how they will react."

"Well, just know that I support you and whatever you decide to do to make a life together."

"Thanks, Jack."

"Should I bring my sister around?"

"No, we can come to her when we are ready."

"Uncas?"

"Yeah?"

Jack looked back toward the cabin where Alice was at work inside.

"You are one lucky man."

Uncas smiled humbly.

"I know."

The day after Jack's visit, it was time to go on their monthly trip to the German farm for hay. Nathaniel had done this three times now with Alice's help, and felt confident that the arrangement was well enough understood that he no longer needed Alice to accompany him. Today, Cora would go. Chingachgook wished to go as well and visit a village beyond that to make some trades and visit friends. It would be a day-long trip.

"Alice, you can not be left here alone, so you will have to come with," Cora insisted.

Alice thought of the belly she barely contained within her dress and the back pain she would suffer after an entire day riding in the wagon.

"She will not be alone," Uncas replied dryly. "I will be here. I'll be reading in the wigwam if she needs anything."

Cora looked at him with great doubt. She was aware of his feelings for Alice and she feared what might happen if he were given the opportunity to be alone with her. She did not think him a bad person, but she knew men sometimes could not control themselves.

"Cora, I am not feeling well. I do not want to go. Can I stay if I just keep to my bed?"

Cora hesitated.

"It will be fine," Nathaniel urged his wife. "She is in good hands with Uncas."

Cora relented.

"Alright, but if you are truly unwell I want you to stay to your bed and get some rest."

It took a great deal of effort for Alice to hide her enthusiasm over being left alone with Uncas all day.

"Of course, I will stay to my bed," Alice agreed, thinking this was not far from the truth.

Nathaniel, Cora and Chingachgook went to the village first and then got the hay on the way back. They were greeted by the Plamanns as if old friends. Few words were needed, though Alice had taught Nathaniel some German words that would always serve useful. They received their usual lot of hay, along with their usual strings of sausages, baskets of breads, and pots of hot German dishes. Nathaniel peeked inside to see with satisfaction that the very German dish of schnitzel with mushroom gravy was among them this time.

Alice had read in her book on American colonial cuisine that "schnitzel" was simply a word for meat that is pounded, dredged, and fried, and that it had been ubiquitous throughout all of Europe since the first century. Settlers from throughout Europe brought their own versions of schnitzel to the colonies, but the mushroom gravy made it truly German. She also read about how the second an immigrant set foot on the new continent, their food traditions began to evolve, both in content and preparation methods, as they were exposed to the food traditions of people from other parts of their own country, as well as those from completely different countries. European food in the colonies was not the same as European food in its original setting.

As the wagon continued further toward the homestead, Cora wondered how Alice was doing.

"Nathaniel, have you noticed that Alice has put on some weight?"

"No," he said blankly. "Her appetite seems to have improved greatly, though. Perhaps she is enjoying her own cooking a bit too much," he joked.

As the three returned to their land earlier than expected and emerged from the trees in the wagon, they suddenly heard Alice shout from within the wigwam.

"Uncas!"

Cora looked up suddenly in alarm.

"What is he doing to her?"

Nathaniel and Chingachgook, recognizing that sound unmistakably as having nothing to do with pain or fear, got out of the wagon, but remained where they were. Nathaniel did not know how to tell Cora, and he thought it might be easier to let her find out on her own.

She jumped from the wagon and began to run toward the wigwam. She reached it and briskly ducked through the opening, only to find a very naked Uncas on top of an equally naked Alice. A blanket had slid off of them and rested at Alice's side, effectively hiding her swollen belly. Uncas was kneeling and propping himself up with his arms over her sister, but Alice's legs were wrapped firmly around his waist, and she was clearly not trying to fight him off of her.

Cora opened her mouth to yell at them, but no words came out, as she saw in horror that Uncas was thrusting his hips back and forth between Alices legs, their mouths pressed against each other as one, and the two suddenly shook violently and moaned into each other's mouths simultaneously.

Cora finally found her voice and screamed in that raspy voice of hers "Alice Munro!"

Alice looked up in shock and grabbed the blanket to cover themselves up.

"Get off of my sister!" she screamed at Uncas.

Uncas, still in recovery from his climax, dutifully rolled off of Alice. He still breathed quickly and deeply as a result of his recent efforts, but he showed no emotion or care that they had just been caught in the act. He was unshy by his nakedness, but covered himself up out of respect. He made sure Alice was adequately covered, as she was far more distressed by this sudden interruption. He was also unembarrassed by what they had just been caught in the middle of, but he calmly put a reassuring arm around Alice, who was visibly distraught and humiliated. Alice curled her body into Uncas's embrace, as Cora unleashed a temper he had not yet seen in her.

"How dare you take advantage of my sister in this way? To use her for your own pleasure! How long did it take for her to yield to your force?"

"Cora, he did not force me."

Cora looked at Alice in astonishment.

"What are you saying?"

"I came to him willingly. And it is not the first time."

"I want you dressed and outside immediately! You have a great deal of explaining to do!"

"Cora, get out!" Alice begged in her vulnerable state.

"Dressed and outside immediately!" Cora repeated. "I knew keeping you here was a mistake!"

"Okay, Cora, we will dress, but will you get out first?" Alice pleaded.

Cora stomped out to wait for Alice and Uncas to emerge from the dwelling.

"Do you know what your brother was doing to my sister in there?" Cora asked her husband in anger and shock.

"I have a pretty good idea," he said calmly.

"Why are you not upset?"

"I am just not surprised."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we always knew how Uncas still felt. We just weren't sure about Alice."

"But she is unwed! Surely she would never-"

"He would never force her. If they were together, it was by choice for both of them," Nathaniel insisted.

"But we've already agreed that the two of them cannot be together."

"We agreed it would be better for them. But if they choose to be together..."

"Alice is not old enough to make that choice! I will not allow it!"

Alice trembled inside as she tried to put on her clothes, while Uncas stoically did the same. He helped her with hers when he was done with his own, and then helped her to her feet.

"Uncas, what are we going to do? She is so angry."

"We are going to tell them everything he said coolly. It is time they know. You are starting to have trouble hiding behind that dress anyway."

He kissed her on the forehead reassuringly.

"Do not be afraid, my love. Cora's anger cannot harm you, and she does not have the choice any longer to send you away. You are too far along. Besides, that is my child in there, and I will not let anybody do anything to hurt you or our baby. You will not be taken from me."

Alice and Uncas walked out hand in hand, Uncas's body language undeniably protective of Alice. They walked toward Cora and Chingachgook. Nathaniel had been waiting just outside so he could quickly go in and retrieve an extra blanket for Cora. He came out coughing in an exaggerated manner.

"Good Lord, brother," he said quietly into Uncas's ear as they walked. "Did you consider burning some incense? It reeks of sex in there."

"Does it?"

"How long have you been at it?"

"Most of the day," Uncas said under his breath and sighed in annoyance at the disruption.

"You wasted no time in taking advantage of our absence."

"Well, it beats doing it in the woods all the time."

"This has been going on for some time?"

Uncas gave his brother a look that confirmed this.

"I wouldn't have guessed. I always thought you to still harbor feelings, but Alice..."

"Alice hides it well. I don't know how she does it."

Uncas turned back to Alice and gave her a comforting kiss on the cheek, knowing Cora and his father would see this.

The five stood inside the cabin now, Chingachgook calm and unaffected by what he had long since come to terms with. Cora looked angrily toward Alice and Uncas, arms folded, and waited for an explanation. Nathaniel stood by his wife's side, but did not share in her anger.

Uncas continued to hold an arm around Alice protectively.

"How long has this been going on?" asked Cora, her voice more calm now.

Uncas decided to waste no time in coming out with everything. He placed his other hand on Alice's belly.

"Alice is with child, six months along, and we intend to be married."

"Six months," Cora repeated in quiet shock.

Her sister was going to have the child of an Indian man. Would she ever be safe? She realized she could not send her back to England now.

Chingachgook had not realized Alice to be in her current state and he looked up in surprise when he heard his son make this announcement. He was to have a grandchild of his own blood. He watched as Alice cradled her belly, for the first time in full view of everyone, and it became clear what her dress had been concealing.

He looked up at Uncas and asked with pride on his face, "When do I get to meet my grandchild?"

"We think middle of May."

"How can you think this will ever work?" asked Cora. "No minister will ever marry you."

"We will marry the way his people do," Alice replied. "We will simply live together."

"Where will you live?"

"She can stay with us in the wigwam until I have built our house."

"You're going to build us our own house?" Alice asked in surprise.

"Yes. I cut the wood for the frame months ago so it could dry, and I've been gathering stone every morning. I know how much you love that stone house you visit. You talk about it every time you return."

"That is what you had been doing every time you went away in the morning? Where will you build it?" she asked.

"He will build it here," replied Nathaniel. "The land is plenty and it is all of ours. The two of you will need family close by. You will face dangers given the nature of your relationship."

Uncas looked at him appreciatively. His resentment seemed to be cast away as soon as he spoke the truth of his relationship with Alice.

Nathaniel understood, now, why Uncas had been so cold to him over the Winter. He was keeping Uncas from his future wife and child without realizing it, while he enjoyed the ability to marry and live with his wife freely.

"Well if you are to marry, there is no sense in waiting any longer," Nathaniel offered. "You are welcome to share Alice's room with her or the two of you can stay in the wigwam with father. It is your choice."

Uncas knew Alice would prefer to stay in the cabin, but he did not want to leave his father. Alice could sense he struggled with the decision.

"I don't care where we live. I just want to be together."

Uncas looked at his father, hoping he would have an answer for which world he should decide to live in with his wife. Chingachgook gave him a look that said 'It is your decision.'

"You would not mind living in the wigwam?" he asked Alice.

"No," she stated without hesitation. "Can it be tonight? Must we wait any longer?"

He smiled to think that she would embrace his way of life, giving up her own, when she had already given up so much.

"It can."

Cora said nothing, knowing she no longer had a say in the matter. Alice would belong to Uncas, and she was certain he would no longer allow her to exert control over her sister.

Uncas lit some incense next to the fire, as his father waited outside for he and Alice to prepare for bed. They used the larger platform that Cora and Nathaniel had used before moving into the cabin. He tucked the blankets around her after she had undressed down to her shift, and curled his body around her from behind. They both faced the fire and stared at the glowing embers.

"You're sure your father is okay with us sleeping beside one another?"

"Yes. We are used to it. We used to sleep in longhouses where there were many couples. Besides, Cora and Nathaniel slept here before us."

"Are we married now, or will it not be until we have slept here for a night?"

Uncas looked down at Alice with love.

"We are now husband and wife as far as I am concerned."

He kissed her and felt her mouth curve into a smile. He could not help but do the same.

"We should tell your father to come in, now."

Uncas whistled for his father, a distinct whistle that Alice had come to recognize as his own. Alice closed her eyes, embarrassed to see the look on Chingachgook's face when he came in to see them laying together. Uncas looked down at her with love and pride. Chingachgook entered the wigwam to find his son laying down and holding his wife in his arms, a look of love and contentment that he had never seen on his face.

It was not a safe choice, but he realized now it was the only choice.