Bob shot to his feet, fully alert. “Attacked! Who is it? French or Indians?”
“Can’t tell.”
Both men grabbed their moccasins and fur robes in one hand and their weapons with the other. Crouching low in the darkness, they bolted from their wigwam to the one housing the girls.
“Don’t make a sound,” Nate cautioned under his breath as he slipped inside.
A step behind him, Bob went immediately to Shining Star’s pallet and murmured quiet words to wake her.
Nate knelt by Rose and gently shook her shoulder.
“What?” came her groggy voice.
“Shh. Get up!” he whispered. “Grab your shoes an’ cloak. We gotta get out of here. Now.” Stuffing his hatchet and knife in his belt, he gingerly lifted the sleeping baby and her coverings.
“But we’re not dressed,” Rose protested softly.
Nate tried not to lose patience. “Shoes, cloak, an’ follow me. Now!”
Peering out the opening while the women grabbed what they could, he saw that the invaders onshore were waiting for the other canoes. He was thankful that the trading post’s location, near the edge of the forest a good hundred yards from the beach, gave them the precious time needed to slip into the woods.
There was no moon to give away their presence, but that meant there was no light to guide their way either. Still in his bare feet, Nate handed the baby to Rose and tugged her along by the shoulder. “Keep low,” he whispered, leading her behind the wigwam.
Hastening after him, Rose emitted a grunt of pain, and Nate regretted none of them had shoes on as yet. The ground was bitterly cold and damp from recent snow flurries, not the best for undetected flight.
They passed the chicken pen and skirted the corral.
Rose stopped. “Are we not taking horses?” she hissed.
“No. No time. Come on.”
“But—we could go faster.”
“And noisier. Anyway, they’ll serve a better purpose right now.”
He nodded to Bob and his friend opened the gate of the corral, shooing the horses out so they’d scatter and cover any trail they left behind. Feeling his way through the snagging brush and trees, Nate wished he had the luxury of a torch to light their way, but that was out of the question until they were sure they weren’t being followed.
In back of him a twig snapped. “Try to step softly,” he muttered to Rose without bothering to slow down.
From off in the distance they heard triumphant shouts and bloodcurdling Indian yips.
Nate raised an arm to stop his small group. “Don’t make a sound.” As they halted, he craned his ears to the ominous melee echoing from their camp. The glow from several fires began to flicker through the forest growth.
“Our wigwams,” Bob muttered. “Just ours, from the look of it. Has to be the French an’ some of their Seneca buddies.”
“Aye. And wasn’t it nice of ’em to send us a beacon to keep us goin’ straight,” Nate grumbled bitterly.
“Well, let’s get our shoes on whilst they’re busy an’ lace the baby in the cradleboard,” Bob suggested.
“You brung the cradleboard?”
“Shining Star thought to grab it. That an’ some extra blankets.”
“Bless her,” Rose said on a breathless whisper. “Someone take Jenny while I put on my shoes. Then Star can strap the carrier onto me.”
Nate took the baby and hugged the sweet darling close. “I can’t believe how quiet she’s bein’.”
“She’s always been a sound sleeper. But somehow,” Rose mused, “I think she knows our lives depend on her silence.”
In the gradual lightening of a misty predawn, Rose could see the ground in front of her a bit easier as she followed Nate. And having her stockings and shoes on did much to save her feet from further stubbed toes, scratches, and bruised heels. They’d crossed a couple of streams that were mostly frozen over, but enough water had gotten through the soft leather to keep her feet icy cold. Her toes felt numb and her shoulders ached from the unfamiliar weight of the cradleboard straps, but no one else had voiced a complaint, and she refused to be the first. The Lord and Nate were seeing them to safety. They hadn’t detected sounds of anyone following…so far.
Fatigue was quickly overtaking her. Rose took a deep breath. How much farther must they go before Nate considered it safe for a few moments’ rest?
As if reading her mind, the frontiersman stopped. He turned around and peered over her head at Robert. “There’s a good-size stream up ahead. It’s mostly frozen, but out in the center the ice looks thin. I’m goin’ upstream a little ways. There’s bound to be some boulders or a fallen log we can use to get across. Stay with the women. I won’t be long.”
Watching him go, Rose unhooked the straps from her shoulders and brought the baby around to face her.
Jenny Ann showed all four of her little white teeth in a big smile. Apparently the little imp was enjoying the ride. “Thank You, Lord,” Rose said in a bright voice to the baby, “for bringing us this cradleboard yesterday.” Yesterday! The Lord provided the item exactly when He knew I’d need it. The amazing thought awed her.
“Aye,” Robert added, “an’ thanks for Nate’s keen ears last night.”
Rose sank down on a decaying log then looked up at Star and patted the spot beside her. As the girl took a seat, Rose turned her gaze toward Robert and saw him retracing their footsteps.
Several feet into the brush, he went still, musket in hand, and swiveled around to check the rear, like the intrepid frontiersmen she’d heard stories about all the way back in England.
“Surely not even Indians could follow our trail in the dark,” she ventured. “I could barely see my hand before my face.”
“No, they couldn’t,” he answered over his shoulder. “Not without a torch. The horses probably did much to obliterate our footprints—at least in the beginning. But now that it’s gettin’ light, they’ll pick up our trail soon enough. Then they’ll track us. That’s why we gotta keep movin’.” He glanced in the direction his partner had taken.
His answer puzzled Rose, and she couldn’t keep her emotion from creeping into her voice. “But why would they follow us? They’ve got the store. Is that not enough?”
He came back to join her and Star. “True, they have the store. But they ain’t fixin’ on lettin’ us go tattle to the English. Leastways not till they finish sewin’ up the rest of the Ohio Valley.”
Shining Star made a comment to Robert and unhooked a bag from her belt that Rose hadn’t noticed before.
Robert strode over to the girl with a smile and lifted her to her feet. He gave her a long hug—the kind Rose wished she’d get from Nate about now. But she knew better than to expect one after the way she’d offended him and the way he’d avoided her all yester’s eve.
Releasing Star at last, Bob took the sack and handed it to Rose. “She brought along a bag of cornmeal.”
Tears Rose had managed to keep banked throughout the hard night sprang into her eyes, and she gave Shining Star a grateful smile. “Thank you, thank you. Oui-saw.” When it came to surviving in the wild, the lass knew ever so much more than she. “We’ll be able to feed Jenny a bit of mush, albeit very cold mush.”
Leaning the cradleboard against the log, she stood to search around. “What can I use to mix it in?”
“Here.” Bob opened the flap of a pack he had strapped across his chest and pulled out a gourd cup.
Deeply appreciative, Rose felt even more inadequate as she took hold of the rustic handle. All of the others had possessed the foresight to bring necessities along, while she’d been so frightened when they’d fled the wigwam, she’d been grateful to discover she’d left her stockings from yesterday stuffed in her shoes.
Nate trotted back downstream along an animal trace shortly after leaving the others. Spotting them up ahead, a rush of relief shot through him to see they were still there and still safe. He slowed to a walk. Unwonted tenderness for Rose crimped his chest as he watched her feeding the baby from a gourd. Drawing closer, he saw mush smeared over half of Jenny’s face. Thank goodness someone had thought to bring food for her.
Bob swung from guarding the rear as Nate approached, his expression easing noticeably. “Ain’t heard nothin’ so far.”
All three girls turned their heads toward Nate, and the baby gave him a big smile. Rose and Star sprang to their feet.
“Finish feedin’ the little one. I found a crossin’ not too far from here.” He motioned with his head for Bob to follow him a few feet away from the females, where he spoke in low tones. “How long do you think it’ll take them boys to catch up to us?” He eyed the path they’d trodden through the woods…more than obvious in the moist ground.
Bob tipped his head. “Three, four hours at most.”
“That’s what I reckon. When we get up to the log I found, I don’t think we’ll be able to fool ’em no matter what we do. We can’t keep from breakin’ up the ice shroudin’ it. They’ll know we crossed there.”
“Then we gotta get these women movin’ a whole lot faster.” Bob tossed a glance back at them.
“I think our best chance is to make it down to the Ohio as soon as we can.”
“Aye. Once we’re across, we can do some backtrackin’, try to fool ’em then.”
“In the meantime, keep on prayin’ to that God of yours that we do.”
“You, too.”
Nate smirked. “I reckon your prayers’ll carry a lot more weight than mine.”
Bob shrugged. “Do it anyway.”
Grunting his doubt, Nate shifted his attention to the women. “Let’s go. They’re up an’ waitin’.”
Knowing they had to get to the other side of the stream and down to the river before the trackers made it this far, he set a fast pace up the narrow trace. If You’re listenin’, Lord, please let us find a canoe or a raft waitin’ on the Ohio when we get there. Nate knew it wasn’t much of a prayer, but he meant every word.
Moments later they came to the pine log he’d found that stretched across the stream. A few thin, broken-off branches stuck up here and there along its length. He leaped off the bank then turned to lift Rose and the baby down to it.
Instead of accepting his assistance, however, she backed up, bumping into Star. She stared at the fallen tree trunk, pointing at the thing in horror. “But—it’s covered with ice! Surely you don’t expect me to cross on that!”
Rose heard Nate’s exasperated huff as he scowled and motioned her forward. His demeanor hardened, and he spoke in a stern but even tone. “We got no choice. ‘Sides, it’s not as hard as it looks.”
She knew he was lying. The likelihood of slipping off the log and crashing through the ice into the dark water beneath sent chills of sheer terror through her. She glanced over her shoulder.
“Go on,” Robert urged as Shining Star nudged Rose’s shoulder. “We don’t have time to waste.”
Trembling from head to toe, Rose clenched her teeth and dropped down into Nate’s arms.
“I know you got on them slick, leather soles,” he said, still holding her. “But I’ll be crushin’ the ice in front of you. Just hang on to my belt.”
She still wasn’t convinced. “But—I’m afraid. Not just for me. It’s the baby. What if I fall?”
Robert spoke quickly to Star, and the Indian girl immediately unhooked the cradleboard from Rose’s back then swung the baby up behind herself with Robert’s help.
“Now come on.” Nate grabbed Rose’s hand and practically dragged her to the log, just past where the roots stuck out. “Stay right there.” Leaping onto it with the help of a root, he reached down to her. “Give me your hand, Rose. Now.”
Her panic continued to mount. “But…I cannot swim.”
“You won’t have to. You ain’t gonna fall. Give me your hand—unless you want me to sling you up over my shoulder an’ cart you across that way.”
The poor man had come to the limit of his patience. Rose raised her trembling hand. He closed his around it and in one swift haul, had her on top of the log.
One of her feet slipped off the slick tree trunk. She wobbled.
Nate pulled her close. “You can do this.”
She looked at him in a silent plea. Beneath her feet, she could tell the log was just as slippery with icy moss as she suspected it would be.
He exhaled a weary breath. “Look, sweetheart, I have my musket right here to help steady me. See?” His gaze softened to one of concern. “I won’t fall. All you need to do is hang on real tight an’ take one step at a time.”
Aware that every moment she held the group up meant their pursuers would get that much closer, Rose swallowed. It had been rather comforting that he’d called her sweetheart.…
“I’m turning forward now.” Nate let go of her hand.
“All right.” Quickly she clutched on to the back of his thick leather belt, the knuckles of her cold hand turning white as snow. “I’m ready.” Please help me, Lord. Keep us safe. All of us.
Nate slowly edged forward. And slippery as the going was, Rose amazed herself by managing to follow him as she carefully placed one foot in front of the other.
Nearing the halfway point, he stopped. “You’re gonna have to let go whilst I get around this here branch.”
Her heart stopped then pounded double time. Did she have good enough footing?
“Let go, Rose. It’ll just take a second, then I’ll help you around it.”
She knew Robert and trusting little Shining Star watched her from behind, and she felt like such a coward. Father in Heaven, I need Your help again. She forced her fingers to uncurl from Nate’s belt and stood there, holding her breath.
Using the broken-off branch for support, he stepped around it to the other side then balanced himself with his musket and reached for her.
Rose had to take a step forward on her own, over moss she knew was exceptionally slippery out here over the water. She was already bone tired, and now her whole body started to shake. Her legs felt rubbery.
He met her gaze straight on. “You can do it. Go for the branch. I’m here.”
Afraid to take a breath lest she lose her balance, Rose determined to take the terrifying step. Gingerly she put her foot down then shifted her weight, leaving the safety of the previous spot. She reached for the branch. Her foot slipped! She felt herself starting to fall!
“I’ve got you.” Nate caught her arm, pulling her back up. “Grab on to the branch.”
Shaking like a leaf in the wind, she grabbed hold with both hands.
His big hand covered hers, and he flashed an encouraging smile. “Soon as we get to the other side, I’m slicin’ some grooves in the bottom of them shoes of yours. That should keep ’em from slippin’ so much.”
He truly did know how difficult it was for her to keep her footing. He did care. The realization warmed her insides.
His voice brought her back to the moment. “Now, hang on to the branch with your left hand, an’ I’ll pull you around with your right. Don’t worry about losin’ your footing. I got you.”
And Rose knew he did have her. Not just her hand. He had her whole heart. If only…