GRACE BRADLEY handed Rebecca Boone a small bundle, and smiling said, "I can't believe it. Matthew would never let me go along with him."

"That's because you aren't as good a shot as Rebecca, love." Her husband said shaking his head and stepping out the front gates of the fort beside Daniel. "Plus," He added softly. "I've never known her to be quiet long enough for prey to get close."

"I can hear every word, Matthew Bradley!" Grace called out sharply. She turned to Rebecca just at the gate of the fort. "Don't worry about one thing. I'll treat them as if they were my very own children." She said pulling her best friend close for a hug.

"I should apologize right now for all the things that Israel's going to break." Rebecca said laughing into Grace's shoulder. "He never means to break things but . . ."

"Don't fret." Grace laughed.

"It should only be three weeks." Rebecca said.

"That is what I always say to you, darlin'!" Daniel said, lifting a pack onto his back. "We best get going, ah grah. Wanna make the river before nightfall."

"It really should only be three weeks." Rebecca told Grace. "I'm going along this time, so it should keep the drama to a minimum." She glanced over her shoulder at her husband, giving him a wink.

"Don't fret." Grace held onto Rebecca's hands, and kissed her cheek. "And enjoy yourself! Lord knows, you've earned the right a hundred times over!" They hugged one last time and then Rebecca fell into step beside Matthew and Daniel.

"I'll keep an eye on your cabin." Matthew said, reaching out to shake Daniel's hand. "We will manage things here for you folks. You take care of yourself."

"Thank you, Matt." Daniel shook his hand. "We appreciate all the help."

"Well, I ought not to help. Gracie is gonna be begging me to take her out hunting for years to come. You've set a terrible precedent, Daniel."

"I recognize that." Daniel agreed, but wrapping a long arm around his wife's shoulders, he shrugged, "But Lord, Matt, have you ever really looked into Rebecca's eyes. A man is hard-pressed to disappoint someone that beautiful."

"This is not helpful." Matt said with a hand outstretched toward Rebecca, who blushed and glanced behind him at his own wife, who was saying, "Aww . . ." a hand over her mouth.

"I'm not trying to make you happy, Matt." Daniel pointed out. "Still, I am grateful you are such a good friend." He turned and pulling Rebecca by the hand made his way away from the fort.

"I'm rethinking everything." Matt called after him.

"Bye and thank you!" Rebecca called out, waving to her friends.

***DB***

She waited until they were a good few miles from the fort to switch out of her dress and into the breeches.

"I don't know why you went to all that trouble." Daniel pointed out. "Now you've still got to haul that heavy dress around with you."

"No, I won't." Rebecca said straightening her shirt, and folding up the dress and petticoats. She took the folded up bundle and tucked into a hollowed out tree stump. Grace is going to fetch it for me. She grinned at her husband.

"Hmm. . ." Daniel considered this thoughtfully. "I wouldn't have thought of that." He followed Rebecca who had picked up her pack and started out again, placing a tri-cornered hat on her head.

"That's because you've never had to drag a dress and two petticoats around before." She said over her shoulder. "Believe me, once you had, you'd be plotting night and day to get rid of them.

"Oh, well, I am usually plotting night and day to get rid of your dress, darlin'." He teased, causing her to pause and stare at him in shock.

"Daniel Boone!" She blushed crimson.

"Rebecca." He countered, pausing to kiss her cheek as he walked out ahead of her. "Where'd you get that old hat, anyway?"

"Cincinnatus." She said. "Does it look ridiculous?"

He paused, looking back and considering her thoughtfully. "No, ma'am. You look right pretty." He held out his hand. "But stop distracting me sweetheart. We will never even get out of Boonesborough at this rate."

***DB***

They made it to the river by early afternoon, and climbing into a hollowed out canoe that was always kept there, they made their way down river. They pulled ashore in the late afternoon sunshine, and hiked another mile or two before stopping to make camp. They'd no need to hunt for super - Rebecca had packed some food, but had also spotted a rabbit almost as soon as her foot touched the riverbank, and she easily lifted the rifle she'd worn strapped across her back, and shot it in one quick shot.

"A feast for us!" Daniel said, lifting the rabbit up for her to see.

"I should've let it go." She considered quietly. "We have food enough to eat."

"You got too tender a heart to be a long hunter." He told her.

"That may well be true." She agreed. "Where should we set up?" She turned scanning the horizon.

"There's a nice level place thataway." Daniel said pointing. "It's got a nice little brace of trees so it's well-hidden. He led her through some rough terrain but she neither complained nor flagged in her steps.

"Through here." He said at last, leading her through an area thick with pines. They both had to stoop low, and it was nearly dark as evening time, but then she passed through to the other side, and stood stock still, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Oh! But this is beautiful!" She exclaimed. True enough, the trees formed a small ring, creating a small protected circle. The ground was even and covered in bright, soft grass that was spattered here and there with beautiful wildflowers.

"I thought you'd like it." Daniel said sheepishly, clearly pleased at the sight of her smile. He study her a long moment, and then turning set his pack on the ground. "I'll get a nice fire going for you darling, and skin this rabbit. You go ahead and see if you can't get us all settled. You need anything else?"

"No." She said softly. "No, this is perfect."

***DB***

Daniel lay awake, his arms tucked behind his head, looking up at the bright stars. Rebecca was nearly asleep, her head resting on his arm. He was perfectly content - his stomach full, satisfied completely.

"There don't seem to be no end to the sky." He told her softly.

"You think people in other places can see the same stars we do?" She asked him quietly.

"I dunno. I never thought much about it." He considered this for a moment. "I like to think of the stars as being part of heaven - so maybe it's the folks we love shinning down on us."

"I like that." She said softly. "James would be the brightest star out there."

"The fastest moving one." He chuckled. "That boy weren't never still."

"That's the truth." She agreed. The watched the sky in silence for such a long time that she assumed he'd drifted off to sleep. Her eyes had just become heavy when he spoke again.

"He was such a fine boy." His voice was nearly a whisper.

"Daniel . . ." She turned to him, concern for him etched on her face.

"It's fine, love." He said, meeting her eyes. "I most always think of him under a bright sky like this. I'm just not accustomed to be snuggled up to someone who understands it."

"'Not accustomed to being snuggled up to someone who understands?'" She sat up on her elbow, glaring down at him. "Just exactly who are you snuggled up to, Daniel Boone?"

He laughed out loud, pulling her down into his arms. "Ah, grah! Only you, ma chroi! Only you!" He kissed her and then added, "Although on a bitter winter night - snuggling up to a bear is a real possibility."

***DB***

The rocks cut into her feet, despite the soft moccasins that Mingo had loaned her. It wasn't that she didn't feel the rocks when she wore them, but rather that their impact was softened by the soft fur lining. She paused at the top a small rise, lifting a skin full of water to her lips. Scanning the horizon, she turned back to Daniel and said, "It's coming up on noon. Are you hungry?"

"Always." He said, striding up to her on his long legs. "There is a nice level spot not to far from here." He indicated ahead of himself. "How are you? The ground is pretty rugged along this way. I should've took you around that hill back there. I forget sometimes - you are such a steady companion. You should speak up if it is too much, love."

"I will if it comes to that." She grinned at him. "I'm not some city girl, Daniel. I'll race you to that bend in the path." She said, but didn't wait for his answer, striding away on long legs and ignoring his shouts about her cheating.

She rounded the bend which did indeed lead to an even clearing. It was not, however, unoccupied. A group of five or six men looked up from their camp, a few of them lifting their rifles at her.

She lifted up her arms in shock. One of the men approached her, his rifle still in his hands.

"Just what are you running from, fella?" He asked, but stepping closer said, "What the blazes?" He turned around to face the rest of the men. "She's a girl!" This caused all of them to walk toward her to see for themselves.

"It ain't fittin' for a lady to wear breeches," One of them said, reaching out to lift her long braid off her shoulder. "What kind of a lady is out here all alone dressed like a man?"

"My wife." Daniel said startling them all. He stood, his face dark with anger, his rifle raised at them. "And I'd appreciate you taking a long step back and away from her."

"Daniel . . ." She began.

The man closest to her dropped his hand, taking a step a back. "Sorry, mister. No harm done."

"I'd be the judge of that not you." Daniel said. "All of you, move back."

Rebecca shook her head, and moved away, going to stand beside Daniel. "Why don't we all settle down." She put a soft hand on Daniel's forearm. "I ran into their camp, and startled them. That's all."

"I appreciate that, darlin' but I don't appreciate their greeting to you all the same."

"It was just a misunderstanding, mister." One of them men said. "I apologize, and to you too, Missus." He tipped his hat at her, and held a hand outstretched toward Daniel, "I'm Augustus Grey. We are just surprised to see her, is all."

Lowering his rifle very slowly, Daniel took the hand. "I'm Daniel Boone, and this is my wife Rebecca."

"Daniel Boone?" One of the men said. "Peter! He's the one that leads folks through the Cumberland! We read that notice in the paper. Remember?"

"Is that you, mister?" Augustus asked.

"It is." Daniel said evenly. "I don't do that so much anymores. We got a settlement over in Kentuck."

"I'd heard that." The same man who'd recognized Daniel's name said. "I'm Coulter Robbins."

Daniel merely nodded his head, his hand still on his rifle, though he'd let it fall to his side.

"You folks traveling far?" Coulter asked.

"A ways." Daniel said before Rebecca answered quickly. "You found much game?"

"Not as much as we like." Peter said. "We were just settling in for some dinner. You are welcome to join us."

"Oh, well, that is very kind . . ." Rebecca began, but Daniel interrupted, taking hold of her arm.

"It is kind but unfortunately we need to meet up with the rest of our party. We best be going Rebecca."

She nodded her head. "It was nice meeting all of you." She said politely as Daniel led her away. "Good luck on your hunt." She had to double her pace to keep up with Daniel who was striding rapidly away. After a few minutes, she gave up trying to match his stride and fell back a little. He kept glancing back to make sure she was still with him, but he didn't pause or stop for another mile. She finally caught back up to him, as he was setting his pack on the ground near a small creek.

"That water is good and cool." He nodded at the river.

"Can you explain what that was all about?" She asked him.

"Ain't you thirsty? Your face is all pink." He moved closer, lifting her pack from her shoulders. "Drink some water and wet your face."

"Don't boss me, Daniel. Why did you light out of there like your feet were on fire?"

"Drink first." He led her to the stream. Frustrated, but seeing she would get nowhere until she complied, she knelt at the stream and drank the icy water. Daniel handed her, a handkerchief which he'd dipped in the water and she patted her face. It felt cool and clean, and she felt the knots in her shoulders loosening.

"This way," Daniel said, when she'd drunk her fill. He held a hand out to her, and led her back to where he'd set their packs leaning against a fallen tree. "Sit down, ah grah. Rest a minute."

It felt good to sit leaning against the log, in the cool grass. She looked up at Daniel who settled beside her on the log.

"I'm sorry to have pushed you so, but I wanted to put some distance between them and us."

"You didn't push me. I'm fine. It's cooling off already. You know how the heat gets to me sometimes. It wouldn't matter if I'm standing still. Why? Why did you rush off?"

"You never get a feeling when you are around someone - like maybe they shouldn't be trusted?" He asked her.

"Aye, I do."

"I felt that way. I'm not sure how things would've gone if I hadn't caught up to you just then. Anyways, I didn't like the way they were eyeballing you."

She laughed at this. "Eyeballing me? Have you seen the way I'm dressed?"

"I have." He glanced around. "If you think you can manage it, I'd like to press on a bit more. There's a nice spot up ahead where we can camp for the night. It's a little bit more secluded, and up high so you can see if someone is approaching."

She looked around. "You think they are following us? Daniel, I think maybe you . . ."

"How do you know when a stew is just right?" He interrupted.

"What?"

"When you cook a stew, you always seem to know the exact right moment to take it off the fire. How is that?"

"I don't . . . It is just . . ."

"It's your instinct, right? You are just naturally set to know it. Well, I'm the same way about trouble - I can feel it. Trust me, darlin' those men aren't hunting - leastways not game. You see any pelts? They are miles from nowhere and they didn't have one kill? Nah, I don't believe it." He looked up at her, as she rose to her feet. "What?"

"We better get going, then." She said, her hand outstretched toward him. Smiling up at her, he took her hand, and rose to stand beside her. "I trust you, Daniel. I believe every word you say, always. We better get moving."

"Get another drink of water first." He told her, squeezing her hand in his. When she returned from the stream, he was carrying not only his pack, but hers.

"I can . . ." She began, but he simply waved a hand at her.

"We got no time for bickering, Mrs. Boone. I'll carry it for now." And he turned from her to lead her up the path and into the darkness of the trees that surrounded them.

At the moment it had been such a small thing, and honestly she found the whole thing a little bit romantic - like a story in a book - a brave knight protecting a princess from evil trolls. She felt no fear with Daniel beside her, and even though the men had made her uneasy, she hadn't really felt fear. She knew that Daniel would keep her safe. It was only later that she really thought about what Daniel had said beside the stream; it was only later that she recognized the sound of fear in his voice, and saw the anxious movements of his eyes and hands. She had heard his words, and agreed with him, but she hadn't really, truly seen the threat. The one thing she didn't understand until later was that from that first moment, Daniel had been anxious and afraid; he knew trouble was coming - he could see it already.