REBECCA BOONE COULD see the glittering eyes shimmering in the darkness just to her left. They had stood close together, kissing, and neither too intent on what was happening around them. She squeezed his shoulder tightly and whispered into his ear, "Dan, there is . . ."
"I see it." He replied softly. "Ready?"
"Ready." She squeezed his shoulder once more.
"Drop." He shouted and she did just that; diving to the ground as somehow, despite his broken rib, he turned and lifted Tick'Licker. She couldn't remember everything later. Part of it was that as she ducked and rolled out of the way, the butt end of Tick'Licker struck her forehead, leaving her dazed briefly and part of it was that she couldn't see because she was ducking and rolling. She only knew that, the impact of the barrel of the riffle on her forehead, threw Daniel's aim off, and caused him a few extra seconds of recovery, which made it possible for the pair of panthers to leap out, the largest one landing on Daniel.
She was up instantly, her rifle raised, but it was impossible to fire the gun, as Daniel struggled to get free of the large animal. She turned and fired striking the smaller of the panthers just as it was about to leap forward and join the fight. The sound momentarily stunned the larger cat, and it gave Daniel the opportunity he need to wrangle himself free. In the end, it was impossible to tell which of them felled the great beast, as they both fired the second he was clear of the panther.
When everything was silent again, she fell backwards landing on her backside, exhausted beyond words. She remained as she was dazed and shaking with the residual adrenaline and fear. But she was up again, lightning fast, as she realized Daniel hadn't risen. She half crawled and half ran to him.
"Dan!" She cried, as she leaned over him.
"I am sorry, 'Becca!" Were the first words he spoke when his eyes fluttered open. "I hit you! I didn't . . ." But she kissed him before he could say anything else.
"It's fine. It was an accident! How bad is it? Let me see." She was already pulling back his shirt and inspecting his chest which was bloody with horrible scratch marks.
"Wait, Becky. We've got to get somewhere's hidden. We are too out in the open. Let's see if we can't find a . . ." He tried to sit up but fell back again, dizzy with pain and blood loss.
"No. Lie still." She said firmly. Everything else fell away, and she focused entirely on him. She ripped the blanket into strips and wrapped his battered chest, trying to staunch the flow of blood. It was only now she missed her dresses, for her petticoats were a never-ending source of bandages, and far easier to rip into strips. Later, she couldn't imagine how she'd been able to tear apart the blanket. She only knew that in her moment of fear and terror, anything was possible if it meant saving Dan.
"Just stay still." She said again, her hand resting on the hollow space just below his left shoulder, the one spot on him that seemed unharmed. "We can wait a few minutes at least, and then we will see what is next."
"You got a bruise, darlin'. Lord, I am sorry! It must throb something terrible."
She lifted a hand to her head, and couldn't help but grimace. She could feel the lump there which was tender under fingers. It as strange that although she could remember the moment of impact, she had no memory of the pain, and even now it was just a dull ache hovering somewhere in the background.
"Ah, grah," She whispered leaned close to his face. "You didn't mean for it to happen, and I'm no glass doll. I don't feel the sting of it. Are you hurt anywhere else? This is no time for secrets. What else?
"Nothing hurts 'cept these scratches and my ribs. I imagine there is more beside but nothing I can feel. I don't even notice my ankle anymore, so either it is better or everything else is too bad to notice it."
"I'm beginning to understand what you mean when you come home from a trip and tell me I don't need to know every little detail." She shook her head. She sat beside him, and he held tightly to her hand. She could feel tears running down her face, but had no really connect to them. It was almost as if the endless stress of the last few hours simply poured out of her body like rain. She brushed her hand over her eyes, willing herself back into control.
"That's alright, love. I'm feeling better already. I'm not fit for any feats of strength just now, but I reckon I'll be able to stand in a few more minutes. If I remember correctly, which may not be the case at this point, there's a small cave not too far from here. We could hole up at least 'til dawn. I don't like you sitting out unprotected." He told her, his thumb rubbing circles over her hand.
"I'm not unprotected." She told him. "Maybe they have left." She said thoughtfully, knowing it was what was worrying him so much. "Maybe it was just the two of them, and they had left the rest of the group."
"Maybe." But she knew he was just allowing her to humor herself.
***DB***
It was under a midnight sky that they finally continued their journey. She had wanted to wait until at least dawn. Daniel had drifted to sleep, weakened by pain. She had sat beside him, a rifle across her knees; vigilant. When he woke hours later, he was furious that she had let him sleep. His storminess gave him the power and energy he needed to rise and move forward on slow and halting feet. They staggered under a starlit sky, and she never located the cave he spoke of, but instead found a secluded area behind some large rocks. She helped him lower himself to the ground, even as he continued to mutter at her angrily.
"You have to think of protecting yourself!" He kept saying to her. "You just let me sleep when anything could have . . ."
"Enough!" She finally burst out. "You aren't angry with me! Stop it!"
He was quiet for so long, she thought that he had fallen asleep again or passed out from the pain.
"I just . . .I can't believe I was so selfish as to bring you out here. It isn't safe. I just couldn't bear to be away from you again and . . ."
"Daniel," Her voice was soft, now. "I'm not sorry I came. I'm glad I am here! If you were alone, who would've shot that panther?"
"I shot the panther!" He protested.
"Of course." She said patiently. "You were bleeding and half-lying on the ground, I am confident your shot was truer than mine."
He shook his head at this, "Woman, I love thee with every bit of my heart, but you are so difficult sometimes."
"I truly am." She agreed. "Now, be quiet and sleep. I am trying to listen and keep watch."
"I should . . ."
"Daniel, hush!" She bristled at him, knowing that neither of them could manage any more softness.
He slept again until just before dawn, and exhausted as she was, she stayed awake. She kept checking his bandages, relieved to see that the flow of blood had stopped. Her eyes surveyed the landscape again and again during that long night, always searching for danger. The light of dawn brought her little comfort, though. It brought the clear revelation that he was badly hurt.
"It probably looks much worse than it actually is, Becky." He told her.
"I didn't know you were awake." She said, surprised to hear his voice.
"Truer words never been spoke. If you knew I was awake, you'd of hid that worried look."
"Who said anything about being worried?" She countered.
"Fair point. We are far from home, in the midst of danger, and you've got a companion who is a mile from being helpful." He told her. "No reason for worry at all."
"None." She smiled at him, and was relieved to his familiar lopsided grin. "Are you hungry?"
"None of that." He told her. "You've been awake all night. Close your eyes, and I'll keep watch. I can reach for that rifle. You need to rest."
"We need to put some distance between those men and us." She told him rising. "You've got that hardtack still? I don't want to leave you to hunt just now."
"Rebecca . . ."
"Daniel." She put a hand on her hip, feeling the bruise he'd told her of the night before as she did. It did hurt, but she kept her features relaxed and even. "Food first, or are you ready to test your legs?"
"Food." He said resignedly.
***DB***
They made some distance by the time the sun was high in the sky. It was fortunately warm, and for the first time since she'd swam in the lake, she actually felt warm all through. They were quiet on the trail, Daniel's face grey with exhaustion and pain, but he never paused or complained. They kept a slow steady pace, and she wanted nothing more to be back at the river and headed to Boonesborough.
The steady monotony of putting one foot in front of the other, calmed her nerves. She found it impossible to maintain a constant level of panic, and so she found herself relaxing. Maybe they were free of troubles now. Maybe they'd only dreamed that band of dangerous men. Maybe the worst was over.
"We could make the river the day after tomorrow." He told her, breaking the silence.
"No." She shook her head. "That climb will be difficult." She indicated the mountains before them. "You won't be able to move that quickly."
"Some folks say, I tamed lightning itself." He pointed out to her.
"Not some folks. One reporter, who never even met you. That's just a story, Dan." She chuckled. He loved to remind her of the stories people spoke of him. "And don't forget the stories they tell of me!"
The stories about her were less flattering than his. Some claimed that her temper could fell a forest with one blow, and others claimed that she held some dark magic within her - something brought over from the old world; dark and mysterious.
"Those are the stories that aren't true!" He told her. "You are the sweetest girl since Eve was in the garden."
"That story didn't end too well." She pointed out. "They got thrown out."
"Together." He added. "Seems like a fine ending to me - if they are together."
They had stopped to rest in the shade of some pine trees. He sat stiffly, propped up by some large rocks and she, sitting on an old tree stump. The blood on his bandages was dried through. A fact that relieved her greatly. He was still in tremendous pain, though he tried to hide it and they were both exhausted beyond all measure. She tried to keep her exhausted brain focused on the road ahead of them.
"Shawneetown is that way?" She pointed out beyond them.
"No, more to the left." He told her. "You thinkin you gonna have to find your way home with me, darlin'?" He asked her.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic, Daniel." She said rising and turning to go where she had set her rifle down, ready to suggest they start walking again. "I plan to behave like any good wife, and die at your side."
"That's a plan, I approve of." A voice spoke and she found herself staring directly into the eyes of Augustus Gray."
