The rumors were swirling.

"I saw her. She's definitely in the family way. They say that Cherokee visits often."

"I saw him there last week."

Cincinnatus glared at the two women. "Are you buying or talking?"

"Don't act so high and mighty! You explain it, then."

"It's none of my business. And ain't yours neither. She's a respectable woman. I don't doubt her loyalty. She loved her husband."

"Well, that's good news! I've missed her something fierce and I would hate to think the feelings were one sided." Daniel Boone said striding into the tavern.

"Dan'l!" Cincinnatus staggered. "but you were kilt!"

"Nope. Nothing but lies. You know how it is with lies, don't you ladies? They spread like wildfire." The two ladies ran from the tavern shocked and ready to spread new gossip.

"It is good to see you!" Cincinnatus clapped him on the back.

"I was wondering if I could borrow that room upstairs? I'd like to clean up a bit. I plan on kissing Rebecca soon as I walk through the door but right now I look and smell like I've been living in a cave."

"Sure thing!"

"I ain't seen her since Christmas. I miss her. What's all the gossip about anyway?"

"Oh, Becky will explain it, I'm sure." Cincinnatus said rubbing his beard.

***DB***

"Pa! Are you home for good?" Israel asked.

"Yup! You all grew up some! Lord, but you got tall Israel!"

"But the British are mad at you." Katie said cautiously.

"They are Katie-Grace, but they also wanted some of their soldiers back, so they agreed to let things be. I'm alive and they got their soldiers. Everyone's happy. Where's your Ma?"

They looked at each other nervously.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Things have been kind of difficult lately." Israel said. "Ma's out by the river, picking berries, I think. Mostly, though, I think she wanted to get away. She's been so lonesome with you Pa and . . ."

"People have been unkind." Katie explained.

"Unkind? Who?" He was instantly angry.

"Go find, Ma." Katie said softly. "She can explain it to you."

***DB***

She was on the far side of the berry bushes.

"Rebecca!" He called as soon as he saw her. She had been bending low so that all he could see was the top of her head. She stood up at the sound of her name, her head just above the bushes in front of her.

"Dan!" She shouted and dropping her bucket of berries, she covered her face with her hands. He ran to her, but she stayed where she was. The berry bushes between them.

"What's wrong, girl?" He asked surprised she hadn't run to him. "Are you through with me then?"

"No!" She laughed. "It is just, well, there's been some developments . . ." She stepped out from behind the bushes and he fell backwards in surprise.

"Rebecca Ann!" He shouted laughing.

"Surprise!" She said grinning.

He put his arms around her, her bulging belly between them. He reached out and rubbed their unborn baby.

"Well, you are a girl for surprises! When this little one supposed to arrive?" He asked her.

"September." She said.

"Why didn't Mingo say anything? I've seen him three times since Christmas and I know he's been here at least twice!"

"You would have wanted to come home, and I couldn't have you recaptured. Things needed to be set right first, so we waited. Besides, you know how it goes with us. This little one might not have . . . I wanted to wait a bit." She rested her head against his shoulder suddenly tired beyond all words.

"Sit down, darlin'." They sat down in the shade of a tree holding hands. He turned to her with a grin and said, "Merry Christmas, then."

She laughed. "Merry Christmas indeed."

He leaned over and kissed her belly, and then looking up at her, he said, "Well, you got me so shocked I almost forgot!" Leaning over he kissed her.

"Welcome home." She said and then promptly burst into tears of joy.

***DB***

"Sit down! Everyone here has had plenty to eat. Honestly, Becky!" He sat on the bench on the front porch and she sighed sitting beside him. He put one long arm around her, and the other rested lightly on her stomach.

"Every time you disappear on this wife of yours, she rewards you with a surprise!" Matt said laughing.

"I guess I better stay at home then!" Daniel said.

"Speaking of home, it is late." Grace said. She gathered up their children and kissing Rebecca's cheek she said, "You better tell him all about it. Or I will."

"Tell me what?" Daniel said.

"'Night Becky. I love you!" Grace said with an evil grin.

"Grace!" Rebecca said half-angry. "I love you too!"

She stood on the porch watching the Bradley family disappear. Her back to her husband.

"Becky . . ." He said.

"Bedtime children!" She said ignoring him. "Come kiss your Pa, good-night!"

He rose to tuck them all in, but turning to her he said, "Just you wait, Becky!"

She was in the pantry putting away the last of the dishes when he returned.

"Alright," He said. "Starting talking, or I'll go wake up Grace."

"Oh, she fusses over nothing. She's overly protective. People were just . . . surprised . . . I was in the family way - you being dead and all." She left the pantry and walked back out onto the front porch.

He followed her out, and grabbing a hold of her elbow said, "What did they say?"

"Oh, nothing important and it doesn't matter. You are home now. Let's not talk about it right now. Don't you want to kiss me?"

"Rebecca, don't try and distract me." Although, he was distracted. She was always gloriously beautiful when carrying a baby. She sort of glowed, and he found it irresistible. "What did they say?"

"Oh, you know gossips. They were unkind. That's all. There was talk of sending me away from the settlement; that I was a bad example to the community." She sighed knowing he would be enraged.

"And you said nothing. You protected me." He sat down heavily. "Rebecca, I . . ."

"Oh, now, it wasn't as bad as all that. Mostly, I stayed out here. It was just in the last six weeks or so, that people knew. I couldn't hide it anymore. That's when the talking started. But it is all over now. You don't need to get upset."

"Don't need to get upset!" He rose and stormed across the porch. "Why those low down, no account, busy-body, judgemental . . . this is why I left the Friends. People always making decisions about you - thinking they know everything! Judging people!" The vein in his neck stood out, deep purple.

"Dan?" She said softly. "Calm down, please."

He looked at her. She had sat down on the bench and the moon-light and lamp-light made a hazy glow all around her. Her soft skin shone pearly in the moonlight.

"You can be mad at folks tomorrow, can't you?" She asked him, blinking her bright blue eyes at him.

He sat down beside her with a sigh. "I reckon so." He said softer.

"Good." She said and pulling him into her arms she kissed him. "I've missed you." She whispered. "I'm so glad you are home again. Things are never right with you gone."

He leaned back in her arms so that he could see her face. "'Becca, I'm so sorry about everything." She glanced down at her stomach. "Well, not everything." He said with a grin.

"Let's go to bed." She said and they disappeared into their cabin.