4 August
Uncas woke to the sound of approaching footsteps in the early morning hours well before dawn. He cracked his eyes open to see his brother's proffered hand. Accepting it, he snatched up his rifle with his other hand as he was hoisted to his feet.
Nathaniel slapped him on the back and grinned. Uncas followed his line of sight to the pink huddle on the ground. Alice was curled up in a tight ball, brows slightly pinched in sleep.
Uncas cast an annoyed look at Nathaniel and nodded meaningfully in Cora's direction. The other Munro girl was still sleeping where she had lain next to Nathaniel earlier in the night. His brother simply shrugged, smile becoming roguish as he walked around the Major to resume his place next to her.
Looking back down at Alice, Uncas hesitated. With her arms held tightly to her chest, she seemed so lonely. He thought of how she looked up at the sky last night after they settled down, her head tilted up just enough so he could see the stars reflected beneath her lashes. He had only opened his eyes long enough to capture the moment, knowing his father watched over them. He held it in his mind until he drifted into sleep.
At the sound of a rustle Uncas's head snapped up, but it was only the Major. He was staring daggers at Nathaniel as he roused himself for another confrontation. Uncas quickly intercepted him. He held a hand up in appeasement then gestured to the mass of cotton that was the younger Munro girl.
The Major's eyes softened. Defeated, he nodded curtly and approached Alice, removing his red coat to drape over her body. She stirred and murmured what was probably a thanks as the man sat down beside her, where Uncas had been moments before. As the Major leaned back against the fallen tree, Alice propped her own back against his side. She rested her head on his arm as it enveloped her.
Uncas felt Duncan's intentions were honorable, brotherly even, but the sight still sent a pang in his chest. Wildly, he wished he could be there in his stead, to comfort her and keep her warm. To take care of her.
Shaking off his thoughts, he stepped away from the others to take over the night's watch. He stationed himself against a tree as his father did earlier.
He couldn't think of a Yengeese girl that way, especially a Colonel's daughter. Sure, she was pretty, but a lot of girls were… even if they didn't have those luminous eyes—ones that took in as much of the world around them as they expressed.
It would all be easier to ignore if he hadn't held her the night before. If he didn't feel her soften under him once the danger had passed—a physical reminder that there was a woman's body under all that fabric. If she hadn't shyly looked away only for him to sense the full force of her gaze as he lay next to her.
He thought of the hint of perfume that had lingered on her warm neck. Wondered what the floral scent was.
Stifling a groan, he thunked the back of his head against the tree and forced himself to think of the war party still out there. The one that slaughtered the Cameron family and hunted them in the night. There were certainly others too, eager take a group of Yengeese and Mohicans by surprise.
Ice crept down his spine. Yes. That worked very well.
Alice woke with a start, blocked from her attempt to rise by a weight on her shoulder. She blinked up at Duncan, who awkwardly patted her arm as he extricated himself from her.
"Oh," she glanced down at the coat and handed it back to him. "Thank you, Duncan. Most kind of you."
He nodded wearily and climbed to his feet. Alice suspected that he had even less sleep than she the night before. At least she felt no embarrassment from waking up against him. She was cold; he was there. Duncan was simply being a gentleman, and practical at that.
So why did she feel so flustered when she thought about being held by another?
In the early morning light, the events of the night before seemed like a dream. Birds were singing in the trees where once there had been whispers.
Allons-y là-bas.
Alice shivered at the memory and looked around for Uncas. She was not sure if she was grateful or disappointed to not find him. Instead, only Cora and Nathaniel were nearby.
Alice approached, and her sister embraced her.
"How are you feeling?"
"Will you help me adjust my pins?" Alice touched the back of her head, wincing. She silently vowed never to sleep with her hair up again.
"Of course." Cora led her away from the camp, into a clump of vegetation that would afford them the most privacy. "We should loosen our stays too."
Alice nodded, wishing she had thought to do so the night before. Aside from sleeping easier, perhaps she wouldn't have nearly given away their position from her wretched gasping.
She shrugged out of her jacket and Cora tugged up her shirt. Her sister's fingers efficiently worked at loosening the laces on her back while Alice thought of what to say.
"Mr. Poe seems to be in a more congenial mood today."
Cora made a noncommittal "mmm" as she tucked her sister's shirt back in, then presented her back so she could repay the favor. Alice did so in silence for a moment.
"Cora?"
"Yes, dear."
"It's just that I'm worried about Duncan."
"What ever for?"
"Losing the company yesterday—I know it wasn't his command, but he tried so hard to protect us, and… well, he couldn't. And last night… he is ever so worried about us both, don't you see?" Alice struggled to find the words to tactfully express her concerns without making Cora uncomfortable. She could hardly warn Cora off from Nathaniel—that would only ensure an attachment.
"Duncan is quite capable. This is not his first tour—he can take care of himself."
Alice sighed.
Cora turned, frowning in concern. "Alice, is this… have you been thinking about the river?"
Alice widened her eyes. There was no doubt what incident Cora was referring to, but her family had learned never to speak of it to her. "What? No, I…" But at the memory of that day, she felt a lump in her throat and could not continue.
"I know this is frightening. But we made it through yesterday, just as you did then. And tonight we will be safe at the fort with Papa."
Alice could only nod as Cora embraced her once more. She wanted more than ever to see her father, and have things go back to normal. For everyone to be happy again—or as much as they could be.
"Besides, Mr. Poe and his family are here to protect you too. As am I."
Alice smiled weakly.
Cora cleared her throat and brushed a hand across her eyes. "My goodness, we are in a state."
When she deemed they were as presentable as they could be, they returned to join the men. Alice trailed behind Cora, lost in her thoughts. She glanced around quickly to see that everyone had gathered in a circle, but she did not meet anyone's eyes. Especially his.
She sat down beside Cora and looked into the trees. Was the war party last night hunting them in particular, or just out for reckless murder? Was Magua looking for them, or had he given up?
Alice had a terrible notion he wouldn't. If he was determined enough to ambush an entire company to get to Cora, he would continue.
Nathaniel had said something about blood vengeance yesterday. Duncan had dismissed it at the time, as did she. Because how could Cora have insulted anyone in America, let alone a mad Huron masquerading as a Mohawk? Not that she knew what that meant. The only differences she knew about the tribes were their alliegences, but Nathaniel had thought the distinction obvious.
She recalled the way Magua stared at her sister, then at herself. She could not deny it—if he wanted to kill Cora, then he wanted to kill her too. And the only blood that tied them together was waiting for them at Fort William Henry. So then there was this: what could her father have done to enact such retribution?
Nathaniel appeared in front of her then, offering her a chunk of hard red meat. It was apparently edible. She looked up at him, wanting to ask more about the practice of blood vengeance. She sensed that it wouldn't be appropriate conversation over breakfast this morning, and thanked him instead. Such questions could better be answered at the Fort. They just needed to make it there.
Alice looked to see how the others were tackling their food, and took a cautious nibble. It wouldn't do. Frowning, she simply tore off a hunk, stuck it into her mouth, and chewed.
And chewed.
Then noticed everyone staring at her.
Quiet laughter broke out from the group, Nathaniel louder than the others. Even Chingachgook cracked a smile. Feeling her face heat up, Alice covered her mouth with her hand until she managed to swallow.
Uncas got to his feet. "We have plums too."
Apparently he had been out foraging that morning. He distributed handfuls of the small wild fruits to each of them, which she accepted bashfully and arranged in her lap.
Cora popped one into her mouth and froze.
Nathaniel laughed. "You have to spit out the pit."
Unamused, Cora turned away from the group to do so. "You brothers are incorrigible."
To Alice's amazement, Chingachgook chuckled. Perhaps he wasn't so foreboding after all. She looked to Uncas then, and found him smiling at her. He seemed to know what she was thinking.
Duncan frowned. "Brothers? How can you be brothers?"
Nathaniel leveled a stare at him that made Alice unsure whether to expect anger or laughter. Instead, he simply answered in his sardonic fashion. "Had Yengeese folks. Died. Chingachgook took me in."
"I thought you were half-brothers."
The others looked to Alice in surprise. Whether it was because of her broken silence or the choice of her words, she was not certain.
"Alice, what a thing to say!"
She bristled at Duncan's rebuke. "Well, one mother could be white, and the other Indian." It was not so outlandish. Still, she was embarrassed for being chastised by him like an ill-mannered child.
"Such an unnatural union—"
Heart sinking, Alice supposed she should have expected a response like this from Duncan. He had spent the early years of his childhood in Georgia colony before his family returned to Scotland to head his late grandfather's estate. Growing up on a slave-owning plantation, he would have certain convictions ingrained in him regarding racial purity that weren't as strong in Britain. Back home, there would have been little opportunity to question his prejudice. Until now.
She shook her head at Duncan vigorously, but too late.
"And what is so wrong with that?" Cora stood with outrage. "Am I a product of an 'unnatural union'?" She spat the words out at him. Before he could answer, she thrust her food onto Alice's lap and stalked off into the trees.
Duncan sighed and threw his hands up. "What did I say now?"
Alice shifted uncomfortably. "Did you not know? Cora's mother was from the West Indies. She was of mixed blood herself."
Duncan stood and followed after Cora, dumping his own food onto her lap. She struggled to contain it all in her skirt as he tried to appease her sister.
"That's different! I did not mean you, of course."
Alice sighed and looked beseechingly up at the sky. As Nathaniel made to follow them, she shook her head. If he stepped in now, he and Duncan would truly be at fisticuffs.
"No—don't. You'll only make it worse."
Nathaniel laughed in surprise but his eyes glinted dangerously. It alarmed her.
He hadn't yet spoken directly to Alice. Perhaps he deemed her too uninteresting, or not strong enough to banter with him. It seemed now that she had challenged him, she had proven herself to be fair game.
Before he had the chance, Uncas cut him off in their own language. He was frowning at his brother. As they exchanged words, she had the uncomfortable feeling that she was the topic of conversation. Nathaniel huffed out the final word with another laugh and eyed her speculatively.
She resolved to find out what "nushètu" meant later.
As Chingachgook got to his feet and announced it was time to go, Uncas went to his pack. Alice felt the moment slipping from her hands.
"He's a good man."
Nathaniel scoffed. "Some evidence to the contrary, Miss Munro."
Alice hesitated yet pressed on. She had to forge a little respect between the men if they were going to last the day.
"Circumstances have not brought out the best in any of us, and I apologize for that. But Duncan has always looked out for Cora and I. He would have given his life to protect us yesterday. He…." She wanted to say more, but the memory brought so much guilt and shame, she couldn't even speak of it amongst family, let alone these men. Blinking away the stinging behind her eyes, she simply repeated, "He's a good man."
Alice looked pleadingly at Nathaniel and Chingachgook. The latter simply grunted as they began to cover the signs of their being at the burial ground.
Uncas knelt in front of her, holding out a handkerchief so she could place the plums and dried meat into it. He finished tying it into a bundle and lingered until she looked up into his face. It was hard to meet his gaze today, but when she did, she realized there was nothing to fear.
"Please…"
He held up a hand to stop her.
"I trust your judgment."
She blinked, recalling the words she had spoken to him last night. Her chest fluttered alarmingly. He stood, reached down to pull her to her feet, and placed the bundle in her hands.
"Will be a long day. Eat."
Looking down at it, she managed a nod before going to fetch the others. Duncan looked chagrined and Cora was still upset, but at least they weren't fighting anymore.
They set out into the beautiful, terrible woods once more. She exchanged a somber look with Uncas as she walked by. It was a comfort beyond words, having him behind her.
She wrapped herself in her thoughts, using them as protection from the threats that lingered beyond her line of vision. Every shadow, every sound reminded her of the dead, and the killers that hunted them. She thought of the Mohican at her back that watched out for them. For her.
Alice didn't fully understand the pull Uncas had on her. She had felt infatuation before: the thrill, the pleasure, the terror of it. What she felt now what something different, simple yet boundless.
He felt like survival—mind, body, and soul. And she wanted to live.
"Son. What are you doing with the Yengeese girl?"
He had been waiting for this, but there was no need for his father's concern.
"Taking her to the fort, father."
Chingachgook grunted but still seemed unhappy.
Uncas wasn't trying to evade the question. With the dawn had come clarity. He held some interest for this girl, yes, but it didn't mean anything. Couldn't. She was beyond his reach, and would be out of his life within a day.
Still, he had become unusually drawn to her. He also couldn't help but notice the blasé way she spoke of the idea of an Indian and white woman together—as if it were not only possible, but acceptable. But no—as long as he did nothing to frighten her off, he would simply get to enjoy being near her for the day.
He watched her as they set out. He couldn't help himself.
Alice kept looking into the trees as if something was about to leap out at her. Each time she heard a sound she couldn't identify, she looked ahead to either Nathaniel or Chingachgook to see their reaction. After a squirrel moving in the trees made her nearly jump out of her skin, he caught up to her.
"Do you hear that?"
She held her breath, listening for a moment, before frowning and shaking her head. "Only birds."
"Yes. Many. Wouldn't be singing if others were around."
She looked behind them as a previously silent finch joined in with the rest of its flock, then sighed. "I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "Good to be alert. But that's my duty. If there is danger, you will know."
Alice searched his face, nodded, and they continued in silence.
As day wore on, his thoughts spiraled back to the Camerons. Days ago their little girl had climbed into his lap, fallen asleep. She was mostly ash now. John had stayed behind when other settlers joined the militia to protect his family. Would it have been better if he left? If one of them was still alive? He thought of how Alexandra lay there, eyes open but empty, like when his own mother—but no, that was too much.
The moment he locked eyes with Alice, Uncas realized that he'd been doing it again. Losing focus. He needed to do better, to be better. It was what she deserved.
The others were just ahead, beyond the next rise. She was retracing her steps back to him. Alice reached out as she had done the day before, hand outstretched to clasp his own. Her beautiful doe eyes once more gazing up at him in concern. He wondered how a person could have this much sympathy for he who had been a stranger only yesterday, and for the people she hadn't even known in life.
"The Camerons. John and Alexandra. They were good friends. Good people. James and Amelia. Good kids."
He was beyond grateful for her solicitude, yet he craved more. It was not his right. She must have sensed it though, because she reached up, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and leaned against his chest.
It shook him. He let out an unsteady breath and returned the embrace, one arm on her back, the other clutching his rifle as he held her close. She spoke.
"They are together."
A small comfort, but the only other one she could give. He nodded. When he was able to manage it, he whispered: "Thank you."
They carefully pulled apart, though it seemed far too sudden to Uncas. Not my right, he reminded himself. Her hand brushed against his as she stepped back. Without thinking, he took it and led her onward, only releasing her just before they caught up to the others at a small stream.
Nathaniel assisted Cora across, holding on to her arm longer than necessary. Duncan looked apoplectic. Seeing this, Nathaniel shouldered his rifle and placed his other hand on Cora's waist as she hopped to the other side.
Uncas shared an exasperated glance with Alice. He saw the plea in her eyes and shrugged apologetically; he had little power over his brother's actions. Alice nodded with reluctant understanding even as the argument broke out. With Cora as a sister, she could probably empathize.
"Mr. Poe—"
"Yes, Major?"
"Duncan!" Alice called out, hurrying towards him. "Do you mind?"
She reached for his arm and leaned against him, forcing his assistance across the water. As he released her and opened his mouth once more, Alice cut in.
"What do you think Papa's doing? I do hope he's not too worried."
"He has a bloody well right to be."
Alice's face fell. "Still, I hope he thinks we've just been delayed."
"Then he'd be quite correct."
Alice's posture began to wilt. It made Uncas want to strangle the Major. As the man finally caught on to Alice's dejection, he sighed.
"I'm sure that's the way of it, Alice. And he's probably waiting with cases of champagne and armful of lemon ice."
"They built an ice house at the fort, did they?" Her tone was teasing.
"Just for you, my dear."
Alice smiled up at the Major. Uncas's urge to throttle him did not go away.
Alice collapsed against a boulder in a heap of skirts, trying to catch her breath. The others gathered around her.
"I'm… sorry. Just… moment."
Cora knelt in front of her, face flushed from exertion but otherwise fine. "It's all right. We'll wait."
As they did so, Alice's breathing slowly returned to normal. She looked up the ridge. They didn't even appear to be halfway up.
"Why don't you all just go on. I'll catch up."
"Nonsense."
"Holding you back. Please, just—"
"If you don't come along the men will just have to carry you."
She sighed. When Cora raised her eyebrows, Alice looked to the others in apprehension.
"I don't know, you're a couple stone more than you were as a child."
Alice knew when Duncan was ribbing. She allowed herself to give in to the weak attempt at humor. "You've some cheek. I suppose I'll just have to live in the woods from now on."
Uncas shrugged. "Can carry a buck out of here on my back. You're just a doe."
"I'm a what?"
Uncas simply responded with a quirk of a smile. He wouldn't dare. Would he?
"Good heavens."
Feeling her face heat up, she scrambled to her feet as she tried to contain her own smile. Duncan hesitated as he saw Cora walk off with Nathaniel. But after looking between Uncas and Alice, he quickly took the latter's arm.
Alice was thoroughly vexed with Duncan. First, she had to seek him out in order to quell any infighting within the group. Now he seemed to take it upon himself to attend to her when he couldn't do so with Cora. She would have preferred the opportunity to be near Uncas again.
She thought of the way his eyes had clouded over with grief as they walked that morning. It had been like the time after the cabin. She wanted to draw him out, bring him back to her, knowing what it was like to get lost in one's own mind.
Holding him had been instinctive, natural. She didn't think, only felt what he needed, what she wanted to give. Had he not done as much the night before? It was what survival looked like in this new world. Maybe she could help him live through this too.
As Uncas had led her by the hand back to the others, she studied him. Took in the braid behind his ear, the long dark hair. She wanted to touch it, run her fingers through it. She wanted to touch him again. Maybe they could stop and—but they were back with the others, and Duncan was about to lose his head. Perhaps she had been too, in her own way.
Alice felt Uncas drift away behind her, going off into the trees once more. A surreptitious glance confirmed he did not disappear entirely.
She began to second guess herself. Had she been too forward? Was he avoiding her because she made him uncomfortable? She had been traipsing through the wilderness for two days, struggling all the way. Forgetting to breathe, practically announcing their presence at the burial ground. Though Uncas seemed none the worse for their physical exertions, she was weak and grimy. And she had thrown herself into his arms.
Of course. She repulsed him.
Her conversations with Duncan became increasingly ridiculous as they fought to distract themselves from both the danger and their personal affairs. They began to name luxuries that would be waiting for them at the Fort, the food they would eat, songs they would dance to.
The exhaustion was beginning to make Alice delirious. The closer they got, the more unlikely it seemed that they would ever make it. Her feet ached, legs burned, even her arms were weak from clutching at her skirts all day. She practically clung to Duncan in an effort to keep putting one foot in front of the other until they were out of these woods, away from the peril and her foolishness.
The sky darkened to match Uncas's mood.
He had drifted from the group a ways to keep a better lookout when Alice had become a distraction. He had found himself staring at her back as she clung to the Major—talking, smiling. At first he knew she was just trying to keep the peace. Yet it seemed the more the Major responded to her, the more she did in kind, leaving Uncas feeling entirely invisible. Unneeded.
He paused, scanned the trees around him. Something didn't feel right.
"Top of the next ridge. Fort's downhill of it."
Nathaniel's announcement livened the group, Alice in particular.
"Will we be able to bathe?"
Was that really all she was concerned about?
A deep boom in the distance gave them all pause.
"Thunder," Cora dismissed. Uncas did not think so. It was unnatural, and did not bode well. "Papa will arrange something."
Duncan offered an arm to Alice as they ascended the ridge. "The men of the regiment will fetch water from the lake, build fires and provide every comfort you desire, Alice."
She giggled—not for the first time that night. "Duncan, you are absolutely gallant. If Cora doesn't marry you, I shall."
Uncas tensed at the joke. Well, he hoped it was a joke. The Major had been awfully accommodating towards Alice, and she held no objections. He thought of the way she slept this morning—practically in his arms.
"Alice!" Cora hissed as the Major laughed.
At least now he knew what all the fuss was about. For all her bravery, Uncas wished Cora had the nerve to tell the Major he had no chance with her. It would save the rest of them a lot of grief. But then, if he were to pursue Alice….
Alice ignored her sister. "I cannot wait to see Papa."
With relief, Uncas realized it was the first genuine desire he had heard from her all day.
Cora smiled. "And you, Duncan? What are you looking forward to?"
"Posting to a different continent."
Finally, Uncas began to sympathize with the Major. He too was ready to leave this place far behind.
Alice let out a startled laugh, but Cora seemed put out. "I think it's very important and exciting."
It seemed she had discovered a newfound loyalty towards New York along with his brother.
As the group reached the top of the ridge, he saw the fort in all of its glory, illuminated by rockets and the heavy shelling of mortar bombs.
It was under siege.
He met Alice's gaze. She was finally seeing him again, though fear emanated from her eyes. He was seized by a mad desire to grab her hand and run back into the forest. They could sleep with the dead and forage by day—anything to leave the war far behind.
He looked to the fort again, then turned back. Ottawa. The war party was behind them; there would be no escape. The only chance they had was to run—directly into the siege.
His father took charge.
"To the shore—now!"
Duncan grabbed Alice's hand and pulled. She followed, blindly stumbling after him. She slipped several times but never let go. Uncas gripped his rifle in both hands, following after—down, down to the lake.
When they made it to the bottom, Alice's labored breaths from the run began to turn into gasps, but Duncan hurried her onward along the shore. Uncas turned up to see figures on the ledge they had just vacated. He didn't think they had been seen, but it would be a matter of moments.
Nathaniel spotted the partially hidden canoe first. At a word from him, they made for it. It was a mixed blessing. While the canoe would offer them a direct route to the Fort, it would also leave them exposed to the enemy.
It was their best chance. They uncovered it and pulled it into the lake.
"What's our plan?" Duncan demanded.
Nathaniel gestured over the lake to the Fort. "Push the girls across."
To his relief, Duncan nodded and quickly removed his coat as his family tossed their things into the canoe. The Munros were next. Cora reached for Alice's hand, pulling her forward.
"Will you be all right on the water, Alice?"
Alice nodded and cast a glance behind her shoulder, clearly more concerned of their pursuers than the lake. Why would she be afraid of the water?
"Duncan will keep you safe."
"Yes, of course," she breathed, looking back at the Major with complete trust as they climbed into the canoe. Did she not think that his family could protect her too? That he could? To his surprise, Duncan was nodding solemnly to Alice, as though his concern for her finally outweighed that of Cora.
Uncas clenched his teeth as he helped pull the canoe further into the water. He had to focus. Jealousy was not going to help them here.
"Stay low."
At Nathaniel's whispered command, Alice leaned forward at once. She gripped the sides of the canoe tight as they set out across the lake.
Ahead, the siege was in full swing, great booms and shouts echoing across the water. Behind them, a war party was in heavy pursuit. Beneath them, a great body of water waited to swallow her up and drag her by the skirts down to the lake floor.
She bent her head lower, staring her lap as she concentrated on her breaths. In, out, in, out.
A gun went off nearby and Alice flinched, gasping and losing all focus as she looked for the source. The flash of light from the muzzle had appeared on the shore ahead and to the left of them. She slowly realized they were not being fired at; the shooter was aiming at soldiers on the ramparts of the fort. More than one, as evidenced by a quick successive shot.
There was a soft scraping sound behind her. The Mohicans were getting their weapons. Uncas gestured something to Duncan, then disappeared beneath the water.
Duncan laid his hand on hers as it gripped the edge of the canoe.
"I've got you."
Looking into his face, she remembered the boy who pulled her from the river. Of her sister's overwhelming panic and relief.
She realized that Cora had never been seriously interested in Duncan. There was no desire there, only obligation. He was the grandchild of their Papa's close friend, Cora's childhood playmate, her little sister's rescuer. He would always be a dear friend, but it would never reconcile the fact that their very constitutions were like oil and water. It would never be enough for Cora.
Uncas resurfaced briefly on the other side of the canoe. There was no trace of the other Mohicans.
Alice stared down, struggling to remain calm amongst all the confusion. Where had they gone? How long could they hold their breath?
A thought struck her. It was absurd, but—she yanked the bottom of her jacket open, popping off three buttons into her lap. She silently dipped her hand into the lake and released them. Please, keep them safe.
Duncan was staring at the place the rifles had gone off. Alice followed his gaze and gaped.
Chingachgook was the first to rise from the water, silent as a wraith. He was directly behind the source of the gunfire with his war club held low. Nathaniel and Uncas rose, flanking their father, tomahawks in hand.
Alice could not tell how many men there were. She saw no French uniforms. There was at least one Indian, judging by the silhouette of a scalp lock.
The man whirled around only to be cut down by Nathaniel's thrown tomahawk. As he followed through with his knife, Chingachgook dispatched another by driving the bladed side of his club up beneath his ribs.
Ice crept down Alice's skin. Having buried her face against her sister during the attack on the George Road, she had not seen these men kill before.
Yet none of it was as horrifying as the moment a third man thrust his bayonet at Uncas. Alice gasped, sure he had been stabbed. But Uncas gripped the rifle with his free hand and yanked, causing the villain to lurch forward. He brought down his tomahawk hard between the man's neck and shoulder, and it was finished.
The Mohicans waded back into the water to disappear once more. Fear had consumed Alice again, though it was not from the siege, or the enemy, or the water. None of those mattered. It was on behalf of the quiet Mohican who finally appeared beside her once more. He flicked his eyes to hers but just as quickly looked away, resuming their progress towards the shore.
She resigned herself to maintaining an agonizing silence until then.
When they finally made it to the shore by the fort, Uncas stood back and let the Major help Alice out of the canoe. He ignored the pain just as he avoided her haunted eyes. The sight made his gut twist, and not from the gash in his side. Now she knew him for what he was: a killer.
She broke away from the Major and gripped Uncas's arm hard as she stumbled into the shallows. He gave in and looked to find her staring down at the blood pouring onto his shirt.
"For Heaven's sake Uncas, are you all right?" She gasped, heedlessly dropping her skirts into the water as she reached out to him with her other hand. She snatched it away just as quickly, as if she was afraid to hurt him… or maybe she was just revolted.
"It's nothing." He should not have been so careless as to get wounded in the first place. "I'm sorry you had to see me do that."
He bent to retrieve his belongings from the canoe.
"He hurt you."
She spoke quietly, her voice raw with pain and anger. He paused, turned.
"He could have—you could have—oh, God—"
"I'm fine!" He reached for her, held her arms as he did on the George Road. This time, he did not let go. Softly, he repeated, "I'm fine."
She searched his eyes for a moment then nodded.
Noticing the state of her jacket, he stilled. "What happened?"
Alice glanced down as though surprised.
"Oh, nothing, I…" she trailed off and looked sheepishly across the water.
He realized there were three buttons missing: one for each Mohican. He smiled. "Miss Munro, did you buy us safe passage?"
"No." She shook her head emphatically, looking up into his eyes as her hand pressed against his chest. "You did."
He stepped closer as another great boom rent the air. Alice jumped. Recalling their surroundings, he took her arm and led her after Nathaniel and Cora.
"Come, let's get you to your father."
"Oh God, Papa!"
The reminder reenergized Alice, and they hurried after the others. Duncan made several attempts to take her other arm, ostensibly to pull her away from Uncas. To his gratification, she either did not notice or simply ignored him.
He released her to her sister when they got to the sally-port and stepped back to stand with Nathaniel.
They entered the fort into a new hell. Shouts were drowned out by the shelling. Terror permeated the air along with the smells of the sick and injured. He heard Jack Winthrop call out to Nathaniel and knew their friends in the militia had spotted them.
"Uncas!" He turned to see Ian approaching with a bloodied shirt and pronounced limp. Poor bastard had seen better days. Uncas put a supportive arm around him as they made their way to Col. Munro. "Thought you and Nathaniel weren't joinin' up."
"We didn't."
"Thought we'd see how you boys were doin'."
Uncas appreciated Nathaniel's humor, but he could not bring himself to laugh. "How long's the siege been?" They had seen each other only days ago, but now everything had changed.
"Got ugly yesterday. Took some shrapnel on the ramparts my bloody first watch. What's goin' on?"
Uncas watched Alice flinch away from a particularly close blast. Guilt pierced him. What had he led her into?
"War parties on the frontier. Tracked one, brought us to the Colonel's daughters."
"Blood and 'ounds."
Munro appeared and Alice threw herself into his arms. At least one thing had gone right.
"Alice! Cora! Why are you here? And where the hell are my reinforcements?!"
Uncas gritted his teeth. No, not right at all.
Notes:
- "Allons-y là-bas." - "Let's go there" in French. I'm 90% certain that's what they say in the movie but my French is terrible so who knows.
- "Nushètu" - "doe" in Lenape. Couldn't find the word in Mohican—it might be lost to time. But the languages are closely related so I figure it's good enough.
Duncan's racism was hinted at in the book when Col. Munro reveals Cora's mother's parentage, and makes an appearance here as well. This story is about an interracial romance set in the 18th century, so I didn't want to shy away from it.
Inspiration for the chapter: How You Survived the War by The Weepies