Alice could just barely see where she was running. Rain and wind were slapping back the branches she pushed out of her path. The faster she ran, the louder the thunder seemed to come. Mud splattered on her skirt, making it heavier with each step. Alice could no longer tell which drops on her face were tears, and which were rain. Not that it mattered much to her at all, it was all the same. Another crack of thunder sent her stumbling over a tree root and she slipped down the side of a muddy ravine wall. There was already a rushing stream of water at the bottom.
Good, she thought, maybe I'll drown. And then this nightmare will be over and I'll wake up.
Chasing after a frightened girl in the night would have been bad enough, but the storm made it worse. In good weather, even in the dark, Uncas could have followed her footprints. As it was, he had to rely on the intermittent lightning streaks to light the way. He saw her slip down the side of a shallow ravine, but did not see her come back up. Uncas ran faster. He knew in a storm like this, so rare this late in the summer, even small streams could flood dangersouly. He slid down the embankment easily. He found Alice at the bottom, simply kneeling in the swollen stream. It seemed as if she were waiting for the water to wash her away as it rushed over her knees and around her waist.
As another thunder clap sounded, further away now, and she looked up in terror. She stared at him, almost without seeing him. Alice let out another scream as she scrambled backwards. Uncas reached out for her, but she batted his arms away from her. It only caused her to stumble backwards, tripping over her sodden skirts. She landed hard on her side in the cold stream. He reached for her again, but she had reached out for a loose rock and swung it blindly. Uncas was able to dodge it easily. He reached out for her again and took her firmly by the shoulders.
"Alice! Stop! Alice!"
Somewhere in Alice's memory the voice calling her name made her stop. The hands on her shoulders were familiar. It seemed to knock the panic and fight out of her. Instead, she clutched at his shirt and seemed to collapse into his arms. She looked up into his eyes, and with cold wet fingers, felt along his jaw.
"You're real. You came for me. You're real," she said, barely above a whisper. Uncas had to strain to hear her above the distant thunder. Even then, much of his concentration was taken away by her eyes. Even in the dark, they were luminous. And, just as he had that night at the fort, he brushed hair away from her face.
"Of course. Always. I promised to come. I always will Alice. I want to have you near me even when I'm too old to see."
"Why? I don't...I don't know how to live this life. All I know is in England or in Boston."
Uncas took her hands and placed them over his chest where she could feel his heartbeat.
"Because this beats for you."
Alice stared at the broad chest where Uncas held her hands. If she agreed to stay, she would come to him with nothing but herself. He was offering her his whole world. If she didn't agree, she would always wonder. Either way, she knew in her heart that returning to London, or even Albany, wasn't a real option. She looked up into Uncas' questioning eyes. Slowly, she entwined her fingers with his. It seemed to her that they fit perfectly together.
"Then have me near you, even when you are too old to see."
Dawn broke late and golden the next day. After the storm the night before, the world smelled clean. Uncas unwillingly opened his eyes and stared up at the sky. After returning the night before with Alice, nothing had been decided. He knew that someone-Cora, Nathaniel, perhaps his own father-would bring up the subject of what to do going forward. And he dreaded it. Alice was still asleep, curled up beside her sister, who was already awake and quietly going through supplies with Chingachgook. Uncas slowly sat up, wincing at the mild pain in his arm. Nathaniel looked up from the small fire he had built to dry out what they could and to cook some small game for breakfast. He hesitated before speaking to his brother.
"I thought I told you not to make her any promises you can't keep. And I expect Cora told you the same thing."
"I didn't make any promises I can't keep. You know me better."
"I do," Nathaniel agreed. Then he grinned. "Still, if you can change her sister's mind, I wish you luck with that. Cora is formidable."
Uncas was relieved. Whatever reservations his brother had, they were only in his best interests. But Nathaniel was right. Uncas watched as Cora gently shook Alice awake. Cora was a force to be reckoned with and she wouldn't make anything easy.