The next morning started out cool and a little damp, with an overcast sky, but Nathaniel didn't mind such weather, as it was more pleasant to tramp through the forest on such a day than it was a sunny one.
They were making decent progress, at least on this first day, though he didn't doubt that they would be slowing down before the end of the week. Uncas was leading them, his path confident and sure, as they were very familiar with all the surrounding forest in every direction for days. Nathaniel noticed that as much as possible, where it didn't take them too far out of their way, Uncas tried to go around the more arduous sections of their environment, for the benefit of the women.
In the afternoon, they walked along the base of a mountain ridge, and crossed over it at one of its lower points. Nathaniel was bringing up the lead, with Cora in front of him, and Alice behind Uncas. Alice often stumbled--probably due less to incompetence or clumsiness than her footwear and clothing--but Uncas was quick to stop and help her, never showing impatience when they were slowed down. Cora made her own way well enough, Nathaniel had to admit, for a woman who had only been in this unfamiliar terrain and territory a short time. He offered her a hand when they had to climb, but she did not often accept his assistance. Very well, she wanted to be independent, he could respect that, although he didn't think it was necessary.
He watched the motion of her skirts now as she moved in front of him. They were proceeding up a shallow slope that was peppered with boulders, many of which had to be climbed over. He could tell by her breathing that she was tired. "Miss Munro."
Cora glanced over her shoulder, pausing. Uncas and Alice had gotten a little bit further ahead of them on the rocks. "Yes."
"Shouldn't you like to rest soon?"
Cora hesitated, putting two fists in the small of her back for a moment. "I suppose...I could use some water."
He took her elbow, feeling her tense but ignoring it. "Let me help you."
Further up, Uncas had just taken Alice's hand and guided her around a section of slippery shale. Nathaniel met his brother's gaze and, though he didn't know if he was too far away for him to see it, rolled his eyes.
"Thank you," Cora said tightly, after he had assisted her. "I know we are slowing you down."
"Yes." If she wanted to speak the truth, that was fine with him. "But you don't need to be afraid to ask for help."
"I am not afraid. Thank you again."
"You're very touchy, Miss Munro. If you don't mind me making such a personal comment."
She glanced at him, her eyes flashing, and just as she took her gaze off the ground in front of her, her shoe slipped on the deceptively loose layers of stone, causing her to lose her balance and lurch into him. Nathaniel braced himself automatically, not wanting either of them to tumble down the side of the slope they'd just come up. Cora's hand fumbled at his shirt for balance. She straightened herself, cheeks flushed. "I'm sorry."
"Quite all right," Nathaniel said. They made their way, silent now, up to where Uncas and Alice were waiting, at the top of the slope. Uncas, cradling his rifle in one arm, gave Nathaniel a quizzical look, noting Cora's sudden dishevelment and the odd air of tension between the two.
"My shoes," Cora said loudly. "They're scarcely made for mountain climbing. May we rest?"
At the top of the slope was a wooded area, windy but sheltered by trees, and the men waited as she and Alice sat down and took a few moments to regain their breath. Uncas gave the girls his water flask so they could drink. Normally he and Nathaniel just knelt down and drank from the nearest stream whenever thirst came upon them, but neither of them could imagine the women doing so, and so they'd brought along a flask to be re-filled whenever water sources became available.
"How's it going?" his younger brother murmured, as they stood to the side and surveyed the path they'd just come up.
Nathaniel uttered the Mohegan grunt that had a different meaning depending on context. "How's it with Alice?"
"She's fine. Doesn't say much. Still scared of me, I think."
"Scared of your manners, more than likely." Nathaniel couldn't resist the urge to make another jab in reference to their first dinner. Uncas just smiled, unoffended.
After a few more minutes, they turned back to the girls. "Let's move on," Nathaniel said. "We can get a few more leagues in before night."
***
Just when Alice was starting to feel as though she would scream if she had to take another step that day, the men found a place for them to stop and spend the night. She almost collapsed in relief.
The location they settled on was a sheltered, mossy little glade, with wildflowers scattered here and there and a lot of dead fallen trees, that would provide good protection for them to sleep near. Uncas departed in search of fresh water, while Nathaniel watched them make camp.
"Will we have a fire?" Cora asked Nathaniel. Alice looked eagerly at the oldest member of their group, hoping his answer would be yes. She was not cold, and it was but early evening, but she still dreaded the moment when dark night would fall over them and they would have to spend the long hours until morning without being able to see.
But the tall American shook his head. "Not safe."
"Here, Alice." Cora began to untie the blanket she'd kept rolled and strapped to her back. Alice had urged her to bring it after realizing that while the men had their own basic survival supplies, she'd seen them pack nothing in the way of cloaks or fabrics. Cora took a few moments to clear away as many of the pebbles and branches on the ground as possible, then spread the blanket out. They were situated right at the intersection of where two large oaks had fallen, and it provided a kind of wall from the rest of the forest, which was intellectually comforting. Alice sat down on the blanket and took off her shoes, making sure to keep her stockinged feet decently under her dress. Her feet and back ached. However hard the ground was, it was wonderful to be sitting down.
Nathaniel didn't check to see if they were hungry, but provided them with pieces of the jerky that was to nourish them while they travelled.
The jerky, rough and peppery, was not to Alice's taste but she chewed it obediently, hoping to quell the unladylike rumblings in her stomach. Before she finished, Uncas was back with a newly-filled water flask. "The river's northeast of us," he reported to Nathaniel. Alice thought he had a surprisingly pleasant voice, deep and gentle. "Might have to cross tomorrow." He crouched down beside Alice and offered her the water gourd. His brown eyes were kind.
"Thank you," she murmured. His hand touched hers as she accepted it and she wondered with a rush of embarrassment if it had been on purpose. Quickly she sipped at the water, hoping to cool her cheeks. There was nothing about their current situation that was known to her, no aspect in which she had any competence, and she was started to feel confused and frustrated by that. She was not a baby, even though Cora kept treating her like one. And Nathaniel, he had barely spoken a word to her since they'd met. It was all to Cora that he spoke. Uncas? He had helped her as they walked, true, but wasn't that just further evidence that he thought her a child? She knew she was the youngest member of the group, but she didn't want to be the weakest, or the most useless. Privately she resolved that she was going to try harder tomorrow. She wanted to get to the fort, get to some kind of civilization, see her father, and if they were going more slowly because of her, she would just have to do better.
"Alice, you're drinking all the water," Cora chided, and reached over to take it from her. Alice felt slightly betrayed by this unsisterly reproach. She looked up at Uncas, whose mouth twitched just a little. Alice stared at her knees drawn up to her chest and tried to think of other things.
As the evening wore on, Uncas rose and went to his post to take the first shift of night watch, and Nathaniel and Cora talked quietly of inconsequential things--Nathaniel had asked Cora about something back home, and she was responding--Alice found herself getting drowsy with fatigue. She knew it was early, but the first stars had just begun to sparkle in the sky and sleep was calling her. She slid further and further down until her head was pillowed in Cora's lap and, despite her newfound determination not to be the baby, it was so comfortable that she curled up there and surrendered completely to sleep.
At some indeterminate point later, she woke, disoriented. The calls of evening birds that had lulled her earlier were silent. There was no noise in the forest, and it was dark except for the moon, which had gone behind some clouds so she could only see dimly. Her head was now resting on someone's supply bag--not nearly as comfortable as Cora's lap--and she had the sudden thought that she was absolutely alone. Deserted.
She opened her mouth to scream, not on purpose but instinctively. But before she had a chance to utter the sound, a warm hand clamped over her mouth.
"Ssh," Uncas said, or rather breathed, into her left ear. Alice felt her heart throb painfully in her chest. She wasn't sure what scared her more at that instant--the fact that she'd thought she was alone or the realization that he had been, or was now, right behind her. His arm, which was like a band of hot steel, was completely around her. Alice tried to breathe and not pass out.
After a few eternal moments, she was able to perceive Nathaniel's form, some distance away. He had been there all along, she supposed, keeping watch, but she could only just now make out the outline of his strong nose and rifle that was held aloft. Cora, she could not see.
She did not know what was happening, why he was holding her, beyond that it was obvious he wanted her quiet, but now the initial scream had died in her throat she didn't think she would be able to speak even if he did let her go. She whimpered soundlessly against Uncas's hand, stared up at the barely visible moon and prayed that this would pass quickly.
At last, she felt the arm around her soften, and his hand come away from her mouth. She heard him sigh, and saw Nathaniel gesturing by the tree, though the meaning of whatever gestures he was making was lost on her. "It's all right," Uncas murmured. "They're gone."
Who? she wanted to scream, but could only manage, "Cora...?"
A pale shape moved in the darkness at Nathaniel's feet, and as the moon slipped out from behind the clouds, she could see her sister's face. "I'm here," Cora whispered.
Alice sighed in relief and shivered at the same time, aware of the chill night air warning of fall coming. Uncas rose to his knees behind her and gathered up the blanket around her, his touch feather-light, almost as if it was a different person than the one who had been holding her immobile moments before. "Stay warm. It's still many hours to dawn."
She looked up at him, the blanket secure around her shoulders. The moonlight slanted down and highlighted his beautifully cut jaw. Alice stared, unable to reconcile the passing thought that he was handsome with the fact that he was, more importantly, an Indian. Until now it had never occurred to her that it was possible to be both. They were not like other men, after all. They were a different race. But Uncas was...different, too.
His eyes met with hers and his expression was unreadable for a few moments before he added, "You're safe now, miss."
The proper term of address startled her out of her thoughts and she meekly put her head back down on the improvised pillow. She wanted to call out to Cora, but did not quite dare. Cora seemed to be intent on keeping watch with Nathaniel or at least staying near him for the time being. Alice frowned into the rough fabric against her cheek. She was very aware of Uncas settling back down beside her, just inches away. Surely it was not proper for him to do so. Yet she dared not turn and question him. She doubted she could treat him like a white gentleman taking liberties, because after all, it was clear he was here for her protection, not for any nefarious or licentious reason. Still...
She tried very hard to go to sleep, but was not successful for a long time.