Comforted by Lee’s solid grip on her hand, Phoebe stepped forward. Under cover of darkness they passed the remaining houses and went into the swamp. They traveled silently with the water barely making a ripple. A dog barked in the distance, and she feared the hounds would be sent after them. Mud seeped round her feet, slowing her down. She slipped, fanned her free arm to remain upright, but lost her balance and fell into the mire.
Lee lifted her from the muck. For so long, she had wanted to see and touch him again. He hesitated a moment as if sensing her thoughts, then hurried her to get moving again. Wet all over, she shivered. His arm went round her, lending her some warmth, ’til they arrived at the river.
Nestled in amongst the trees rested a boat. Christopher and Lee removed the ferns and branches that would have concealed it from roving eyes during daylight. Lee helped her in. After the men climbed in, they cast off. Phoebe rowed alongside them. Soon, they left the Back River and turned into the bay.
Christopher was familiar with the way as much as any of the Paspahegh she had known as a lass. Once on the James River, the current intensified. Not only was the river stronger, but they rowed against the flow. Thankful there was a half-moon to lend some light to see by, she continued to row. Christopher hugged the bank as closely as possible without running aground.
Years had passed since she had last rowed a boat. She gasped slightly. ’Twas when Henry had saved her from gaol after being tried as a witch the first time. Henry. Now was not the time to grieve. So much history kept repeating. Still, if Heather wasn’t missing, she would rejoice at having been reunited with Lee. She silenced her worries by concentrating on the task at hand. Soon, her arms ached. By early morn, they arrived at the homestead.
Elenor and Bess greeted her with hugs and tears. They made their way to the house, and Meg stood in the doorframe. She blinked in disbelief. “Meg?”
“Phoebe. Thank God you’re safe.” They embraced.
Phoebe stepped back. “How did you come to be here?”
“Apparently Tiffany and I got caught in your wave.” Meg glanced around. “Where’s Heather?”
Afore she could respond, Lee interrupted, “I hate to spoil the reunion, but we can’t stay here. Not until the danger has passed. This is the first place they’ll look for you.”
Phoebe stepped back from Meg and gave a weak nod. He was right, but when did the running end? With a flurry of activity, the men started preparations whilst Elenor pulled her inside. “Momma, I’ll make certain you have supplies for your journey. We’ll send a messenger when they’ve stopped looking for you.”
Yet again she was faced with leaving her family behind—not one but two daughters. “I can’t go through with it.”
Elenor grasped Phoebe’s hands into her own. “You must. Lee and Charging Bear will keep you safe.”
“The last time I left, I failed to return ’til my daughter was grown. I missed most of your childhood, Elenor.”
“Had you refused to leave the time afore, you would have ne’er returned to me alive. I want the chance to know my momma and sister.”
Meg stepped closer. “Phoebe, please—we’ve come too far to give up now. And I’d like to come with you.”
Their arguments swayed her. “I shall heed your warnings, but nay, Meg. ’Tis too dangerous now. When we’ve reached safety, Charging Bear will collect you.”
With a frown, Meg agreed. Whilst Elenor set about to gathering food supplies, Phoebe took a few moments to cleanse herself from the washbasin. No matter how hard she scrubbed she was unable to rid herself of the grime and stink of the gaol. Proper bathing must wait ’til later. As swiftly as she had arrived, she was leaving. She hugged Elenor, Bess, and Meg goodbye. Outside, the men gave each other parting handshakes. Lee had changed from his colonial attire to a woolen shirt, deer-hide breechclout, and leggings. He moved toward her. “We’re ready to go. Charging Bear is taking us to the Appamattuck. They’re the closest refuge.”
After final farewells, they followed the trail to the riverbank. A dugout was hidden amongst the shrubs. The men shoved the dugout away from the bank, and once again, Phoebe rowed. Each stroke carried her further from her daughter. Lee sent her reassuring glances, but she spotted vexation in his eyes. He had been amongst his people long enough that he no longer felt the need to make idle chatter. When they were alone, she would relay the details of her ordeal. ’Til then, she remained silent and concentrated on the task at hand.
At midday, they came ashore and shared the rations Elenor had provided for them. Sparing little time to rest, they rowed upriver again. After another mile, Charging Bear pointed across the river at a colonial shallop. In an attempt to avoid danger, they guided the dugout toward shore and hid amongst an overhanging branch. The boat sailed past, and they resumed their journey.
By nightfall, Phoebe was exhausted—both mentally and physically. After eating some dried pork and cornbread, she fell asleep in a wasted heap. In the middle of the night she roused slightly, stretched, and snuggled into the arms that held her. The sound of Lee’s heartbeat next to her brought solace, and she nestled closer.
Without saying a word he traced his fingertips across her lips, but his touch vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The tension in his muscles warned her that he was restraining his true feelings. Whether his reason was due to all that had happened or the fact that Charging Bear slept a few feet away, Phoebe was uncertain. In the twenty-first century she had learned a sense of privacy. Afore that time, she had almost ne’er been alone. As a child, she recalled the grunts and groans of her momma and adopted father coupling. From the beginning, she had been taught ’twas impolite to watch. Lee, on the other hand, had always known seclusion—’til the past few months. But right now she needed him. She trembled with fear and clung to him.
He clenched her tighter.
Overwhelmed by the passage of events, she sought his mouth and kissed him. No longer holding back, he reciprocated with a kiss full on her mouth. She reached a hand under his shirt and explored the length of his body. As she had guessed, he was ready for her.
He lifted her skirt, parted her drawers, and caressed the spot betwixt her legs sending a wave of pleasure coursing through her body. In the darkness, his presence seemed like naught more than a figment of the dreaming again. Yet his warmth radiating against her, reminded her it was reality. After so much sorrow, their bodies pressed together. She spread her legs wider for him, and he penetrated her. Meanwhile, she rejoiced in his presence. He plunged inside her harder and faster, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. With a shudder, she peaked. She could no longer hold back. She cried silent tears.
Lee held her and whispered comforting words in a mixture of English and Algonquian in her ear. With his words, she realized how much he had blended the cultures—past, present, Paspahegh, and colonial. They were home, and together. Stronger united, they would overcome the shadows hanging over them.
She brushed away her tears. Her body molded to his in the comfort of his arms and she finally slept. When she opened her eyes, the sun had risen and a robin trilled from a nearby tree. But Lee was gone. The skeleton that had been uncovered those many months ago entered her thoughts. Suddenly wide awake and frantic, she sat up, looking in every direction. “Lee!”
“Relax, I’m here.”
He bent down to her, and she touched his countenance to make certain he was real. “When I thought you were gone, I envisioned the skeleton.”
He reassured her that he was fine. “We’re not anywhere near the area we found the skeleton, and we’ll be safely with the Appamattuck by nightfall.”
His words brought relief, but the feeling had been incredibly strong. Lee distracted her by handing her some of Elenor’s cornbread. Charging Bear stood off to the side to avoid intruding, but her brother’s eyes reflected concern. She nibbled on the cornbread and stood. “I’m fine now.”
Lee frowned. They still hadn’t found Heather. As if reading her thoughts, he said, “We’ll get her back.”
“Aye,” Phoebe agreed. ’Til then, she would remain in sorrow.
Charging Bear finally spoke up. “We should be making haste.”
All in agreement, they made their way to the river bank. Once again, Phoebe paddled the dugout upriver. In shallow areas, they disembarked and tied lines to the boat, leading it through the water. As the day passed, Phoebe looked forward to the opportunity to finally rest. Afore they crossed the James River to the Appomattox River, a colonial shallop appeared on the opposite side.
Charging Bear hugged the dugout near the bank. Instead of passing, the men in the shallop rowed toward them.
“It might be best if we observe from a greater distance,” Lee suggested.
Charging Bear agreed. They brought the dugout onto the bank and watched the boat. The shallop continued in their direction.
“They’ve seen us,” Lee said. “I count five.”
Charging Bear gathered his bow and arrows from the dugout. “Follow me.”
Lee grasped Phoebe’s elbow and led her further from the bank. ’Twasn’t long afore men’s voices trailed after them. If it hadn’t been for Lee’s grip, she would have bolted. They quickened their pace through the tangled woods. The voices faded. The colonists likely continued on their trail, but Phoebe breathed a momentary sigh of relief. After a couple of miles, she grew footsore and weary. Her brother pressed on and only halted after another mile had passed. “You watch over Walks Through Mist,” Charging Bear said to Lee, “and I’ll double back.”
“Be careful,” Lee said.
With a nod, Charging Bear retraced his steps in the direction they had come. Dizzy from the rapid hike, Phoebe sat neath an oak tree. Lee moved in aside her and held her hand. “This isn’t exactly the reunion I had envisioned,” he said.
“Aye. I had hoped—”
“I know. It will all work out.”
Now that she could see him in the light of day, Phoebe studied his countenance. The day afore had passed in a blur, and she couldn’t let their moment alone vanish without treasuring it. In the months of their separation, his black hair had grown to nearly shoulder length, and his dark brown eyes held a sadness. She reached out and stroked the side of his face. “For better or worse, we are home, Wind Talker.”
“Indeed, we are. How are you holding up? I have a hard enough time keeping up with Charging Bear. I can’t imagine after what you’ve been through...”
The need to talk overpowered her. She told him about her venture through the vortex. She spoke of the gaol, the body searches, the ducking, but she left out the harassment from the gaoler.
Lee quickly picked up on the omission. “If I did anything to hurt you further...”
“Nay, you would ne’er hurt me, and you can set your mind to rest. He did not ravish me.”
“I had to refrain from beating him to a bloody pulp,” he admitted, breathing out in relief.
Afore Phoebe could respond, Charging Bear returned at a full sprint. “They’re half a mile behind.”
Lee got to his feet. “Damn.”
Charging Bear led the way through the forest, guiding them along barely discernible trails, whilst Lee brought up the rear. Phoebe struggled to keep pace with her brother and stumbled over a tree root. Lee caught her in his arms, but Charging Bear barely broke stride. As the day wore on, the sun sank in the sky. In spite of the fading daylight, Charging Bear pressed on. Barely able to see the path ahead of her, Phoebe gripped his shirt. ’Twas well into the night afore they stopped. Thankful for a chance to rest, she sank to the ground and drifted into a fitful sleep.
A gentle shake on her shoulder woke her. “We need to be moving,” Lee said in a low voice.
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Torches alighted the path in the distance. ’Twas like the time she had escaped gaol afore, only this time she wasn’t alone. She scrambled to her feet and held Lee’s hand as they pushed deeper into the forest. The advantage was theirs. Colonials did not know the woods like Charging Bear. Nor had they been taught to move swiftly and silently.
After several more miles, the torches had fallen behind. Once again, they rested. With her back against a tree, Phoebe tucked her knees to her body. Exhausted, she drifted ’til she woke with a start to the baying of hounds.