He remembered.
Alice arched her neck to return his kiss, her lips moving over his feverishly. She could not see him at all in the darkness but let instinct guide her. One of her hands dropped from the blanket and clung to the front of his shirt. Her upper body was half-twisted towards him. She was kissing Uncas, in the middle of nowhere, atop a trotting horse. She could fall. But she did give a whit.
He was insane.
Uncas tried to rear back to break the kiss but Alice yanked him forward impatiently with a fistful of his shirt and sought his mouth, her tongue slipping deeper within. Fiery desire licked his veins. He was going to lose control of himself if they did not stop soon.
She was insane, too. Uncas concluded with a tinge of desperation.
He tried to lift his mouth from hers again but this time, Alice grabbed his shirt with two hands, completely letting go of her grip on the reins and blanket. She pressed herself closer to him and whispered sweetly, "No." She swayed precariously towards one side, off-balance by her position.
They were both insane.
Uncas growled lowly and in one smooth, swift motion, he easily lifted her up and whirled her around so that she sat facing him. They never stopped kissing throughout.
Alice snaked her arms around Uncas' neck as his arms coiled tightly around her waist. Uncas pulled his mouth away from hers and trailed his lips hotly across her ear, her jaw, then her neck. Alice whimpered sensually and Uncas clamped his hand across her mouth. Cora may not hear them but Ichante would. He kept his palm over his mouth even as his lips resumed its sensuous path, his tongue swirling in the hollow of her neck down to her delicate collarbone, and travelled back up to her mouth. He slanted his jaw over hers and plunged his tongue between her mouth so deeply that she shuddered, her tongue curling around his with gentle possession. Alice blindly fumbled with the open vee of his shirt, caressing his taut, warm skin. Uncas' hand unconsciously skated her side to the bodice of her blouse, his fingers skittering temptingly along the edge...
He was two seconds away from making love to Alice on top of a damned horse in the dark night of the wilderness.
But she was not the Alice of eight years ago. She was Countess Craven, the widow of one of the richest men in England - and she was currently wearing her mourning gown. Their son was mere metres ahead of them, so was her sister, his sister-in-law. And not forgetting little Mikayla.
Reality crashed over Uncas and he abruptly yanked his mouth away hers. Breathing heavily, he husked, "We can't. Cora, Ichante, Mikayla..." Uncas was surprised he could actually form words in his muddled state.
Alice understood immediately and nodded acquiescently. Uncas gripped her waist to revert her to her original position, but she stayed his movement, clutching one of his wrists, "No. Let me be. Just let me be..." Uncas acceded wordlessly as her arms circled his waist, hooking at the small of his back. Uncas gathered up the reins again and nudged the horse faster.
It was another hour before the group stopped for the night. By then, Alice had fallen asleep against Uncas' chest, her face drawn with exhaustion. She was not used to such treacherous journeys. Cora, who had over the years adapted to the harshness of the frontier life, was fine. Mikayla too had fallen asleep in front of her. Ichante, trained by his father, uncle and grandfather for such situations, remained alert and watchful. Uncas leapt off his horse, Alice cradled in his arms, careful not to wake her. Cora spread a blanket on the ground, and Uncas deposited Alice on it. Ichante, who was holding Mikayla, laid her down beside her mother.
Cora gazed her at her sister and niece fondly, "I'm so glad they are here. They have no one in England." She stroked both Alice's and Mikayla's cheeks and with a huge sigh, she flopped down alongside them and promptly fell asleep.
Uncas unfolded another blanket and gestured at Ichante, "I'll take the first watch." Ichante obediently curled up on the blanket and closed his eyes. Uncas scrambled up a rocky ledge and began his watch.
Eight years ago
Alice wandered around the common area of the fort, which was buzzing with people chatting and dancing. Music filled the air - someone was playing a jaunty tune with the violin, with a flute accompanying it. Alice could not help but smile. Music of any kind never failed to lift her spirits. Just then, she spotted a harp shoved in one corner of the room. It looked old, creaky and dusty. It obviously had not been played in a long time. Alice was surprised even to find such an instrument here. It was not as grand as the one she had back in England but it looked as it could be played.
Approaching the harp furtively, she lowered herself next to it and glanced around. No one would notice the extra strumming in this loud crowd. Running her fingers across the strings delicately, she decided to play her one of her favourite pieces.
Uncas sauntered into the common room, searching for his brother. Where was he? Was he with Cora again? Uncas cursed under his breath at his brother's brashness. Colonel Munro would rip Nathaniel's scalp if he chanced upon his elder daughter with the Mohican. He was about to leave the room when his ears pricked at a strange, wistful melody with a rich, mellow tone. His eyes travelled to the source of the unusual sounding music and was stunned to see Alice embracing a huge, standing string instrument, her fingers masterfully plucking the strings. Reverend Wheelock had one of those in his church in Albany. What was it called? Ah, it was known as a "harp". Uncas had seen it before but have never heard it played.
Alice's eyes were closed and her head swayed gracefully to an invisible rhythm, a winsome smile played at her lips. Uncas was spellbound, his gaze locked on beautiful face.
Alice strummed the last note of the piece with gusto and opened her eyes with satisfaction. It felt wonderful playing the harp after so many months. She would need to practise doubly hard when she returned to England if she wanted to be fulfil her dream as a professional harpist. She gingerly got to her feet and dusted her hands. She raised her eyes and her breath caught in her throat when her gaze clashed with a pair of intense brown eyes. Uncas. He had heard her play. He flashed her an appreciative grin and gave a brief nod. Alice blushed but held his gaze as she felt herself melting under the warmth and admiration effusing from those deep-set eyes that saw through to her soul...
Present
Alice stirred from slumber with a smile on her face. She loved the way Uncas looked at her…. Her eyes flew open and she blinked at the dark canopy of trees above her. She was not at the fort. She was not an eighteen-year-old playing the harp. She sat up and observed her surroundings, disconcerted. She could make out Mikayla and Cora next to her, and spied Ichante sprawled on his back a couple of steps away.
Uncas. Her last memory before she had fallen asleep was them kissing passionately on top of the horse before he had reluctantly pulled away, saying that they could not continue with her sister and children within hearing and sight. She had fallen asleep in his arms – something she had not done since that night in the cave under the falls.
What if they had continued… Alice gave her head a vicious shake. But her traitorous heart reckoned, "Would they continue at another time, another place?" Where was he? Alice squinted upwards, figuring he was standing guard in the vicinity. There was at least a couple more hours till dawn. Alice was wide awake and restless. Grabbing a canteen of water and some bread from the supplies, she got to her feet.
Uncas heard a twig snap and swung his head around sharply, his hand reaching for his dagger. Then the scent of lilies wafted across his nostrils. Alice. She was awake and seeking him. Worried that she would wander away from the campsite, he jumped down the ledge and soundlessly approached her from the side. He snagged her wrist and uttered brusquely, "I'm here."
Alice nearly jumped out of her skin at Uncas' voice, belatedly discovering he held her wrist, too. She stumbled after him as he led her through the dark, and easily lifted her on a rocky ledge. He joined her and they sat for a few minutes in silence. "Slept well?" Uncas inquired courteously. Alice replied softly, "Very well, thank you." She peered at him in the darkness, "Have you not slept?" He shrugged unperturbedly, "I'll sleep at the cabin later." Alice bit her lip, wondering whether she should bring up what happened earlier. They could not simply ignore what happened, could they?
"Every time I'm with you..." Uncas spoke up detachedly. Alice eyed him nervously. " Can't control myself," he concluded resignedly. "Me, too, " Alice confessed, hanging her head. Uncas sighed heavily in response. Suddenly, Alice just had to ask, "Why did you send me back eight years ago?" Uncas returned calmly, "What reason did you have to stay eight years ago? Did you plan to marry me, have my children, be a wife of an Indian, live the rest of your life on the frontier?" Alice swallowed uncomfortably. She had not plan all that eight years ago - she had not thought that far into the future then. "All I wanted then was to be with you - was that not reason enough?" she answered wistfully. Uncas stared hardly at Alice, his throat working.
Eight years ago
Uncas scoured the camp in search of Alice. He had just gone trading and managed to buy her a pretty bracelet. She was not at her wigwam so he headed towards the river. He spotted she and Cora sitting among huge ferns, conversing animatedly. He crept towards them with a playful grin. He was going to announce his presence when Alice raised one hand and shuddered, "My skin just keeps peeling and bleeding. Is there no way to stop this?" Uncas' gaze flew to her fingers - she was right. The skin of her fingers and palms were torn, scraped and bleeding. "Stop washing clothes, washing pots and pans, stitching hides and fur, making arrows... and maybe your fingers will recover." Cora snorted as she spread salve over her sister's damaged hands. She resumed, "Maybe you should just return to England, Alice."
Uncas sucked in a breath at Cora's words. Nathaniel's soon-to-be wife looked absolutely serious. Alice blinked at her sister, askance," You are going to stay here. Why cannot I do the same? Besides, I - " "What are you going to do here, Alice? I am going to marry Nathaniel and start a new life here with him. But what about you?" Cora interjected, studying her sister quizzically. Alice stammered, "I am...I will...I think I shall..." "Marry Uncas? No marriage between the two of you can be legalised. Are you all right with that?" Cora queried bluntly. Alice's face fell as she stared at her work-roughened hands.
Cora sighed and picked up one of Alice's hands, "Your hands are made to play the harp, my dear. Not washing hides and mending furs. You are a genius with the instrument and if you return to England, you will be able to fulfil your childhood dream of being a harpist." Alice shook her head feebly, " I do not have to be a harpist..." Her voice trailed off, sounding unconvinced even to herself. She knew Cora was not fooled either. "Do you love Uncas?" Cora blurted out, her expression hesitant. Love. Did she know what love was? Did Uncas love her? Alice gazed into distance, her expression faraway.
Present
"Do you love Uncas?" Uncas heard Cora's long-ago question echo around his head as he gazed at Alice stoically. "It wouldn't have been enough. Not for long, " Uncas opined nonchalantly, as he threw a blanket over her shoulders. Alice tugged the blanket snugly around herself before handing the bread and canteen to him. He accepted the items, taking a swig of water from the canteen. Alice did not pursue the subject, sensing he did not want to talk about it just yet. But Alice abruptly felt she just had to say something to diffuse the uneasy tension between them. "It does not matter what happened eight years ago." Alice quipped lightly, "All that matters that I am here now." She held her breath, waiting for Uncas' response. He flicked her an unreadable glance but his tone was gently emphatic, "Here... with Ichante... with me." Alice's heart fluttered at his words. It was enough for her for now.
The group resumed their journey at dawn and finally reached the clearing of Uncas' cabin past noon. Uncas helped Cora unload supplies from her horse and Ichante dutifully carried them into the cabin. Mikayla ran around the clearing gleefully, happy to stretch her legs. Alice sat on her horse, waiting tiredly, refusing to get down until she reached Cora's cabin. It was such a hassle getting off and on a horse. When Uncas was done, he grabbed Mikayla and swung her back on Cora's horse. He then settled himself behind Alice again. Ichante stood at the steps of the cabin, his posture rigid.
Uncas was about to get the horse moving when Ichante's voice rang out in Mohican, "Can they stay with us?" Uncas eyed his son thoughtfully and answered in Mohican, "You want them to stay, you have to ask your mother." Ichante shifted his weight, looking back and forth between his father and his mother. Alice was oblivious to what was going on, her shoulders drooping in fatigue.
"Can you stay with us?" Ichante requested shyly in English, a deep flush staining his cheeks. Alice jerked her head up, not sure whether she heard Ichante right. He wanted she and Mikayla to stay with he and his father in their cabin? From the corner of her eye, she could see Cora grinning like a canary. Alice started, "I do not think we should -" When Ichante's eyes dulled with disappointment, Alice explained hastily, "Mikayla and I will be getting in your way and - "
"Stay." Uncas issued firmly over her protest.
Alice whipped around and eyed him in astonishment. It was the last thing she expected him to say in this situation.
He gripped her waist tightly with one hand, "Stay."
Alice sputtered, "But we...you...I..."
"Stay...with us."
Author's note
Thanks to one of the reviewers who brought up the point that a galloping horse in a forest at night would be unrealistic so I have tweaked my words a little. I let my imagination "galloped" too far...ha! Thanks again for the reviews. XXXOOOOO