The two men approach the family.
"It's better for you to leave the shop now!" Sarah exclaims angrily "I told you many times that I don't want you here"
Ignoring her, they turn to Uncas "We thought you had moved away at last. We haven't see you for weeks"
Uncas clenches his jaw, trying to restrain himself, to prevent the situation from getting worse.
One of the men approaches Alice, who is avoiding his gaze, with Susan behind her.
"Your are a lucky indian, having such a beauty in your bed everynight" he says in a lustful tone, caressing her cheek with a finger.
"Don't touch her" Uncas says in a menacing tone. He can endure the insults adressed to him but he won't let any of them put their hands on Alice, no matter how dangerous they are.
Ignoring Uncas, the young man notices Susan who seems scared, clutching her mother's skirt.
"Oh look at this little girl" he says with a smirk "Do you let me play with your doll?"
He takes the doll roughly from Susan's hand, lifting her over her head while the child tries to catch her, crying.
Seeing his daughter suffering, Uncas can't take it anymore. With a quick movement he retrieves the doll and gives her back to Susan. Then, he punches the man in the face. The two men get shocked for a moment because it's the first time the Mohican reacts to a provocation. The one who has been punched touches his nose which is bleeding and then he lunges himself towards Uncas, along with his friend.
Alice picks Susan up as she watches terrified as Uncas fights the two bastards. She wants to help him somehow, but she has to protect her daughter who is crying inconsolably. Sarah gives her a desperate look, not knowing what to do either.
Suddenly, the door opens.
"What is happening here?" The fight stops and everybody turns around.
There is a man at the door. He might be in his thirties and he wears the uniform of an English officer. He is tall and broad with blond hair and blue eyes.
He is one of the soldiers who live in the town now. They are responsible for watching the settlers, preventing any revolt against the English crown and, from the quarters, they also develop new war tactics against the French.
Any of those soldiers was at Fort William Henry, so they can't recognize Alice as Colonel Munro's daughter. In fact, they probably didn't even meet her father in person. This way, she can pretend she is a common frontier woman without problems.
"I have posed a question" the officer insists, observing the scene.
One of the men reacts quickly "The indian attacked us. We were trying to buy supplies and he lunged towards us without reason. We were only trying to defend ourselves"
Alice's body fills with rage when she hears that. She is not going to tolerate that they put the blame in Uncas after what they have done.
"That's not true!" she exclaims approaching the officer "My husband was protecting us. These men insulted us and they even disturbed our daughter"
The men give her a hateful look.
"Sir, I can assure you that what this woman says is totally true" Sarah adds trying to help them.
The officer turns to the two men. "I've heard about you. You are always drinking around and causing problems. And know you even disturb a family"
They can't believe what they are hearing. It's impossible for an English officer to approve a union between and indian and a white woman, let alone defend them.
"It's better for you to leave the shop now if you don't want to get into trouble" the officer adds.
The men run to the street really shocked.
Inside, Uncas has taken Susan from Alice's arms and he is comforting her.
"Shhh Susan, papa is here" he whispers sofly and the child seems to calm down, embracing her father.
"Is the child alright?" the officer asks, looking at Uncas.
"Yes Sir, only a bit scared" Uncas answers, patting Susan's back in a slow motion. "Thank you very much for your help"
"It's my duty to help local people" he simply answers.
Alice smiles warmly at him. "Even so, we have to thank you. We are not used to be treated well by people"
"I'm Captain Edward Jones, Madam. If you or your family have problems here, talk to me and I will glad to help you" he informs, before nodding politely and leaving the shop.
"It's strange that he approves our marriage. The rest of the officers are always disrespectful with us, that's why we try to avoid them" Alice says.
"Oh Captain Jones is truly a gentleman, always helping people in need. I know all the officers who are in the town and I can assure you he is the most polite" Sarah informs.
"Is she already sleeping?" Uncas asks Alice as she enters their bedroom.
"Yes at last. She was still a bit scared about today" Alice answers, lying beside him in the bed.
"I can bear people insulting me, but I won't never let anyone hurt you or Susan" Uncas says with a serious expression.
Alice studies him. Because of the fight, he has a black eye and a broken lip she has tended before. I love how he protects Susan and me she thinks remembering how brave he was, fighting the two men despite being outnumbered, and at the end, their faces were worse than his.
She caresses his cheek sofly before kissing him carefully because of his wound.
"It was a mistake to live here" Uncas says feeling guilty. It was his idea after all. "I thought it would be easy for you to adapt but it's clear people won't leave us alone. And now they even dare to disturb Susan"
"She is strong. And she has a wonderful father who loves her and protects her" Alice says smiling warmly at him.
"And the perfect mother" he smiles back at her. Then he remembers that bastard touching her cheek and his repulsive comment.
"Are you alright about today?" he asks, taking her hand between his.
"Yes. I'm used to that kind of comments" then she adds "I don't care what people say about me as long as I'm with you and Susan"
They look intensely at each other, before sharing a kiss more passionate than the previous one. Alice takes his shirt off, eager to admire his broad chest once again. As she explores every inch of it with her hands, her eyes stop in the scar of his shoulder, a memory of his battle on the cliffs, when he saved her from Magua. She kisses it sofly, trying to erase the moment he almost died. Enjoying the feeling of her wife's lips on his scar, Uncas tangles his fingers in the blond mane that he so adores. "You are so beautiful Alice" he whispers in her ear, sliding her nightgown slightly to expose her shoulders. She caresses his arms, marveling at how muscular they are, in contrast with her thin and delicate ones. Uncas continues sliding her nightgown while he kisses her neck and the passion begins...
After their love making, Uncas is already sleeping with Alice leaning on his chest. She can't sleep, thinking about what happened in the town. How much more will we have to endure? We love each other, why don't they see that? she embraces Uncas seeking comfort. Maybe it's my fault. If he had married a Delaware woman, everybody would treat him with respect she thinks sadly. After all, the ownkeepers are used to trade with indians. The problem is when one of those indians marry a white woman. That's when racism is no longer hidden. Alice looks at him in his sleep and she can't avoid a sweet smile coming to her lips. "But I can't imagine him with other woman. I can't bear the thought of other lips kissing him or other hands running down his body. She kisses his chest sofly before closing her eyes We're strong. We'll take care of each other and our little girl and we'll find our place in the world. Finnaly, Alice succumbs to sleep in her husband's arms.
