Uncas awoke with Alice in his arms, still asleep. His father was already up, apparently started on the morning chores. Normally, he would have woken Uncas up if he had not woken up on his own, so Uncas assumed his father was giving him a break to bask in the joy of his new marriage. Marriage. Alice was his wife. The weight of that word had never felt so heavy in meaning and real for him. He had never been humbled by it before.

Alice stirred, and he pulled a strand of hair back to the side of her face. He let one hand roam down her body and then began to rub circles around her belly. He got from this a kick and then another. Did that mean the baby liked this or did not? The kicking finally brought Alice out of her slumber and she realized immediately that she was still in the arms of the man she had chosen to be with for life. His body was warm against hers, and his hand on her belly was relaxing. She was now a wife and he was her husband. She would sleep with him like this every night and wake up like this every day. She turned her head up to see that Uncas was staring down at her from behind.

"Good morning, my wife," he gently whispered.

"Good morning husband," she quietly stated with complete content.

He leaned down to kiss her.

"Uncas, I don't know if you want to do that," she said in sudden distress.

"Alice I do not care if you have not rinsed your mouth or cleaned your teeth this morning. I just want to kiss my wife good morning."

She hesitated, but realized she did not care about that either. He gently pressed his lips to hers and held them still there for as long as she would let him. A longing slowly built in her and she turned onto her back.

"Are we allowed to make love in the morning?"

"There are no rules when you are married. We make love when we want to make love."

"Will your father come in?"

"Would you like him to?"

"Do not tease me or I shall have to punish you," she said playfully.

"I would like to see what you would have in mind for that."

"I'm serious, will he?"

"No. He is busy, and if we don't come out right away, I think he will know not to come in. Tell me how you want it."

Alice had gotten better and better at explaining what she wanted.

"I think I will need a pillow under my back."

Uncas knew exactly what that meant, and what Alice wanted Alice got, at least where Uncas was concerned.

"Can it be like this every morning?" she asked as he positioned himself.

He thought to himself how lucky he was to have a wife who enjoyed being with him so frequently, and hoped this would not change as she grew farther along or after the baby was born.

"If this is how you want every morning to be, then yes. As long as I am up in time for chores in the future."

Alice and Uncas entered the cabin together to find an already prepared breakfast, and everyone had just sat down.

"Sit down for breakfast. The chores are done," said Chingachgook.

Alice no longer bothered to tie her dress loose, so it fit tightly against her belly and revealed how far along she truly was. Uncas held her hand for balance as she took her place at the table, and then sat beside her, one arm around her lower back. No more pretending. They felt so free. No one commented on the lateness of their arrival, and they both quietly appreciated their newfound ability to start the day out by expressing their love for one another.

Alice saw that Cora had managed to prepare porridge herself, as she had recently achieved the feat of boiling water on her own. Cora had been quite proud of herself. In addition, there was leftover bread and cheese, as well as dried cherries. It was a meager meal her sister could manage on her own, but Alice appreciated that she had done so willingly, and she knew the porridge would be hearty enough to get the men through the morning.

With this thought, Uncas suddenly spat a mouthful of porridge out of his mouth and back into his bowl.

"Uncas!" Alice reprimanded.

Nathaniel and Chingachgook quickly did the same.

Alice looked at them in confusion, then thought she would try it herself to discern the problem. She quickly came to realize that Cora had mixed up the salt with the sugar.

"Oh dear," Alice said, failing miserably at stifling a laugh.

Cora looked on in unease.

"What is the problem?" she asked defiantly.

No one had the heart to tell her.

"Try it for yourself," Alice suggested.

Cora did so with trepidation given the unfavorable reactions of everyone else, and quickly realized her mistake. They looked on in anticipation of her response, as they tried not to offend her by their reactions to the repulsive porridge.

Cora bursted into tears and Alice rushed to her side to comfort her. The men, uncomfortable with her emotional display, suddenly found a great deal of work needed to be done outside. Alice was better suited to handling this.

"I've got to nail done that section of fence," said Nathaniel.

"yeah, and, uh, some boards need replacing on the barn," said Uncas.

"I will pretend that you both need help," said Chingachgook.

They were outside in record time.

"Cora, it was a simple mistake. You must not be so disheartened," Alice encouraged.

"Alice, you have taken to life here so naturally, and I feel as though I am a failure at everything. Perhaps, I should have sent myself back to England instead of you."

"Cora, I only know how to cook because I nagged the cook and anyone else in the kitchen who would allow it for years. And there is still much for me to learn. You have had very little time to learn, and I blame myself for thinking you would learn simply from watching. I should have been explaining everything to you all this time."

"Alice, this was my second attempt at the porridge. I burnt the water on the first," Cora cried in shame.

"Cora, it is not possible to burn water."

"But, look," Cora cried, "Here is the evidence!" she declared as she showed Alice a pot with black residue crusting the inside.

"Cora," you simply boiled the water until it evaporated and then the minerals in the water burnt," Alice explained. "Next time, you need to just boil the water more gently, and add water if it is becoming low. That is all."

"But, the second batch turned out no better."

"Just do not mistake the salt for sugar next time. You will soon be an expert on preparing porridge, and I will teach you the rest, as well. Your husband will be so proud."

"I fear I do not make him proud for anything."

"What do you mean?"

"It is nothing. It is a conversation that I should have meant to have with you prior to your marriage, should you have married properly."

Alice tried not to take offense to this, as she considered her marriage to Uncas no less proper than one with a ceremony.

"What do you mean by that? You can tell me anything."

Cora shuttered at the thought of this conversation of impropriety, but was desperate to make her husband happy. She did not want him to regret his choice.

"Alice, when I walked in on you and Uncas last night, you were most unladylike. But, he seemed to enjoy it. I have never seen Nathaniel react so strongly to me."

"Unladylike, how?"

"Well, when cousin Eugenie thought Duncan would propose as early as last winter, she counselled me on the importance of decorum in the bedroom. Ladies should not make a sound."

"Oh, what foolishness!" Alice exclaimed in horror. "You would take your advice from her? Uncas has assured me that men appreciate some vocalization. Most men, actually. It helps them to know if they are pleasing their women. That is equally important to them. I do not think your husband to be disappointed, but unsure of himself."

Cora looked at her thoughtfully.

"I suppose that makes sense," she stated while looking down at her hands. She could not believe she was having this conversation with her younger sister, but she had become desperate for solace.

"Come, now," stated Alice. The men must be starving, as I know I am. We shall prepare something quick."

Alice explained how cracking an egg over higher heat would ensure it maintained more of its shape, and breaking the yolk would help it to cook through once flipped.

"You do not break the yolk, if you want it to be runny for dipping toast," Alice explained. She had Cora get ham from the smokehouse, and since the men were already hard at work improving on the crudely built fences and barn, she thought it would make sense to place the ham, eggs, and cheese in between slices of buttered bread, so they could work and eat simultaneously. This was not something they were accustomed to, but they rather enjoyed the combination of flavors, and appreciated the ability to have their meal without stopping the work to be done. Uncas was confidant that Alice was behind this new innovation.

Of the many chores Alice had planned for the day, she intended to replenish their dwindling supply of pickled eggs. How Uncas could eat those foul smelling creations, she did not know, but he went through many every week. They had a great deal of fresh eggs from the past several days, and there would be more once she gathered this morning's. She thought it would be a quick task, so just wrapped up with a light shawl and then made her way outside. As she worked her way past each chicken to see if it had an offering for her today, she began to feel dizzy. A buzzing sound started in her ears and she saw flashes of light. Then, she was laying on the snow-covered ground, a basket of mostly unbroken eggs laying beside her unconscious body.

Uncas had seen his wife walk out the door toward the chickens, basket in hand. He did not hide his stare, as he admired her beautiful figure, which he treasured more each day the child within her grew. He looked up again, addicted to the sight of her, but this time he could not find her. There was no way she had finished gathering the eggs so quickly. He walked the length of the fence they were fortifying, and peered into the coops. There, her peaceful form was laying.

"Alice!" he shouted and ran to her. He tried to shake her awake and her eyelids slowly fluttered open. Nathaniel, hearing Uncas's shout, appeared as well.

"What happened?"

"I do not know. One minute she was gathering eggs and the next she was passed out."

Uncas picked her up and brought her inside, laying her on the bed she had so recently given up. He realized she was a bit heavier than the last time he carried her.

"Have you been feeling unwell?" he asked her in great concern as she slowly came to.

"No, I have felt fine. I do not even remember what happened. One minute I was gathering eggs, and the next I was waking up to your voice."

Uncas turned to Nathaniel, who had followed in case his assistance was needed.

"We have been planning to see Jack's sister, but I cannot take her on my own. I do not want to wait any longer."

"I will go with you, of course," said Nathaniel. "Does Jack's sister know about this?"

"Jack knows. I told him 2 days ago. He may have told her to be expecting a visit from us."

"Well at least we can be sure we have two people we can trust in them."

Uncas hitched the horses to the wagon with great haste and piled the back with furs so Alice would have whatever she needed to be comfortable for the two hour ride. He insisted she lay down and rest, and also insisted she let him carry her to the wagon. Yes, she was quite a bit heavier than before.

As he drove the horses out with Nathaniel by his side, he said, "So, just out of curiosity, does this mean Cora will be on her own cooking again this afternoon?"

He asked with an expression of dread. Nathaniel elbowed him, but could not help but laugh.

On a more serious note, he expressed "I fear her morale is not what it should be. The adjustment has been difficult for her."

Uncas lowered his voice and leaned over to speak in Nathaniel's ear.

"And your other dilemma?"

Nathaniel looked at him and nodded in frustration.

"Uncas?" came Alice's call from the back of the wagon. "I feel a bit like cargo right now. I'd like to sit up front with you. I'm feeling better, now."

Uncas gave Nathaniel a skeptical look, but Nathaniel good-naturedly hopped into the back and assisted Alice to the seat beside Uncas.

"Can I rest my head on your shoulder?"

"You know that you cannot. We are too far from our own land. It isn't as safe out here if someone sees us."

"That is why we have brought Nathaniel."

"Nathaniel isn't here to help me defend against someone. He is here because it would seem suspicious if you and I traveled alone."

He wished he could say yes. Alice suddenly resented the white man, even though her own father had been one. As had Duncan, who had been like an older brother to her since she was a child. She knew he had made some poor decisions in his last days, but his very last decision was to sacrifice his life so Cora and Nathaniel could both live and be together. She would love him forever for his selfless act. But, neither of them would have approved of her and Uncas. They surely would have had to run away together if either had lived. This gave Alice no measure of relief when she thought of their brutal ends.

She shuttered when she thought of Magua cutting her father's heart out. She saw it happen, but told no one. She recalled Duncan's screams of agony before Nathaniel's merciful gunshot to end his pain. She had been harboring these memories for some time now, but always pushed them to the back of her mind as they were too painful to acknowledge. Nobody knew that she had witnessed either occurrence. Not even Uncas.

Jack's sister was warm, welcoming, and did not indicate a hint of judgement toward Alice and Uncas. Uncas knew this would be the case, as he had known her since childhood.

"You make such a beautiful couple," she said graciously. "Uncas I could not be more happy for you."

She turned to Alice.

"And you have won the heart of one of the best men I know. Do not take him for granted."

Alice quickly decided she liked Jack's sister a great deal, and she knew she would feel comfortable in her care.

"Uncas, I will need some privacy," Alice tentatively told her clinging husband.

"Right, I will go see if Jack and Nathaniel need a hand with anything."

Alice could tell he was nervous to leave her side.

"So, you passed out," Mary said as she guided Alice into a private room. "Not uncommon if you've just completed your sixth month. You need to drink plenty of water to try to prevent that in the future.

"What else can I expect?"

"Leg cramps, back pain, frequent urination, abdominal cramps that feel as though labor may be beginning, but they are false."

Mary examined Alice and found her to be healthy. She was an appropriate size given the estimated time of conception, and she had every reason to expect the remainder of her pregnancy to go well. They chatted amicably as they left the room and went back outside to find Uncas and Nathaniel.

"Come back in a month and I will reexamine you. Come sooner if you have any concerns."

"Don't tell Uncas that. We will be here every day."

"Alice went to the wagon and pulled out an apple pie she had meant for the evening's meal, but then decided to bring it along to show her gratitude. Uncas had left some coins sitting on the kitchen table, knowing Jack and Mary would not accept payment from him.

Uncas urged Alice to drink from his flask frequently on the ride home. Alice feared his abundant attention was the beginning of a pattern.

By noon, they were home, and Cora was just beginning to fetch water to prepare the midday meal.

"Alice, quick, do something," Uncas urged her.

Alice gave him a loathsome look that he knew she did not mean.

Before she got down from the wagon, he openly pulled her into a departing kiss, then helped her down to the ground. She hastily went inside to guide her sister's efforts. Uncas looked on in pride as Alice walked toward the cabin she had taken to tending so well. He looked forward to the day when the two of them would become three.

Yes, our clever Alice invented the sandwich... as I'm sure many other people in the world did before the Earl of Sandwich was given official credit.