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They were deep in the forest now. Fred drew Carrie closer to him. His fingers curled in her hair. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
"Are you awake?" he asked her, kissing her cheek.
"No," she said, grinning, and opened one eye.
"Neither am I."
He found her lips, warm and ready for him. They kissed her tenderly at first, before he unleashed his heat upon her. He had much making up to do. He had spent days without being able to kiss her while he was in jail. His hand slid over her back, beneath their blanket, touching the top of her thigh. She cooed, her eyes smiling devilishly back at him.
Her own hand moved to his tailbone, resting gently against it, still learning the feel of him. They had been married less than a fortnight, yet more had happened in that time than in most people's lifetime. He traced the length of her spine with his fingertips, making her giggle. She giggled quite frequently, he had come to realize. He pushed his mouth hard against hers, forcing the giggle away.
A sudden running of feet sounded from outside their teepee. "They're coming!" Akhila shouted, knocking at the flap of their tepee. "Hurry! They're coming!"
Fred rolled began to roll over, regretting that he had to let Carrie go. He dressed quickly, watching Carrie as she pulled one of the tan deerskin dresses over her head. It fell to just past her knees.
"Do you think it's safe?" Carrie asked him. Her wide eyes searched his, looking for an answer he could not give.
"I don't know," he told her honestly. "But I'll protect you, whether it's safe or not."
The calls from outside grew louder. They were speaking in their native tongue, but it was not difficult to understand the sentiment. Excitement. Worry.
"Wait, Carrie said, pulling him back to her. She nestled her head against his chest. Fred inhaled deeply of her hair. The scent of roses. Even now, the scent of roses.
She began to sing. Softly, slowly, just for him.
"My day moves slowly,
My heart does break,
My home is gone,
My feet still ache,
But love awaits,
But love awaits."
She hugged him tightly. He felt the tears on her eyes as they fell against his skin.
"It will be all right," he told her. "We shall always have each other." She nodded against his chest and took a deep breath.
They exited the teepee together.
The sun was bright. The smells of breakfast hung in the air. The autumn months were nearly here. Fred could feel a change in the temperature. The heat was leaving, cold would soon take its place. It worried him. What would they do when the frosts came? Perhaps they should head west. He watched Carrie's neck as the sunlight hit it, her golden hair like a treasure to him.
The Crows moved quickly around the camp he and Carrie had called home for the last week. They were out of Bethel Forest, closer to Shannon Forest now. Or so the men had told him. A surprising number of the Indians could speak English. Those who did spoke to him frequently, eager for practice. Those who did not tended to glower at him.
Carrie had an easier time fitting in. Bia was a great help. She had introduced Carrie to all the women, and Carrie had been eager to learn. To please them. She wanted to do her share. Fred was surprised the women had not woken them earlier. Normally, Carrie would be helping to prepare breakfast by now. Perhaps they sensed bad news.
A robin nested overhead. Fred watched it, trying to collect his thoughts. His eyes drifted to the Indian men riding toward camp. Their horses moved swiftly, but slowed as they drew nearer. Bessie was with the other horses, grazing in the meadow. She liked it here, he could tell.
Bodhi waved to Fred as he approached. Fred waved back. He could feel Carrie shaking beside him.
Bia came up next to them. "My brother likes you both."
Carrie smiled, but Fred could only turn up one corner of his cheek.
"Which one?" he asked, looking at Mochni and Kachada.
Bia looked at him. "All my brothers like you." Her mouth frowned slightly at the corners. "They do not always show it well."
Fred tried to still his heart from beating so fast. The one thing the Crow did not forgive was cowardice. You could be afraid; you just couldn't show it.
Bodhi's eyes looked dark as he approached. Despite the friendliness of the wave, Fred was afraid Bodhi brought bad news.
"Greetings, brothers," Bia said, stepping forward. "What news have you brought us?"
Fred groaned inwardly. Bia had a way of jumping straight to a point that Fred both admired and hated. Sometimes, as now, it did more harm than good. He had wanted to give Carrie a minute to relax. He knew it was foolish, but he hoped that she would be able to calm down when she saw that they had returned unharmed.
The others in camp gathered round. He felt Carrie stiffen. Her shoulders were almost touching her ears she held them so high. He knew she was frightened and wished she might just believe him when he told her there was nothing to be frightened of. He would protect her. From the elements. From Judge Foster. From anyone who might try to hurt her.
Bodhi, being the eldest, advanced toward them first after dropping from his horse. "It is bad," he said. Carrie moaned softly beside him. Bodhi suffered from the same habit of getting straight to the point as his sister did.
"The white men seek you both."
Carrie's breath caught in her chest. Fred placed his hand on the small of her back and massaged it gently. Her shoulders dropped slightly, but she continued to hold her breath.
"Do they know where we are?" Fred asked.
Bodhi turned to Kachada. He stepped forward, the same dark hair and eyes as his brother, though Kachada's eyes were a touch lighter, and his smile a bit warmer.
"They do not know where you reside," Kachada said. Carrie let out the breath she'd been holding. "Yet."
Mochni's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward without being asked. Bodhi shot him an irritated frown. "They search for you with hunting parties. A great many number of the white men seek you. They say you both should stand trial for your crimes. They know of your marriage. Though others say you took this white woman against her will."
Carrie's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's ridiculous!" she cried. "I'm Fred's wife. I want to be with him."
"My brother forgets his place," Bodhi said, laying a hand on his shoulder. He said something in their native tongue. Mochni let out a frustrated grunt and walked away from them.
"What's the matter?" Carrie asked.
"Nothing," Bia said. "He does not trust you, that is all."
"Oh, that's all," said Carrie. "I'm glad to hear it." Fred knew her sarcastic tone when he heard it, but Bia missed it completely.
"Yes," Bia said reassuringly. "That is all. You see, my brothers bring good news, as I told you they would."
"Good news?" Carrie cried. She looked at those who'd gathered round them. The entire tribe, minus Mochni, seemed to be watching them. "How is this good news?"
"They do not know where you live. They do not know how to find you. How is this bad?" Bia looked at her, curious, waiting for an answer.
Carrie's face flushed. "Well," she muttered, "when you put it like that... I suppose it sounds good."
Fred squeezed her hand tightly.
"It is very good news," he said. "Did you happen to catch word of my mother?" He felt as though he had failed her. He had married a woman who could not stay with him, not after what she'd done to help him.
"She is well," said Bodhi. "Though for how long I cannot say." Bodhi shifted his gaze to Carrie. "Your sister sends her love. She wishes to meet with you both."
"Meet us where?" Carrie gasped, surprised.
"A few weeks from today, outside her home."
"Impossible," Fred said. "It's not safe."
Bodhi looked at Kachada, who began to speak. "The white men searching for you go south. They will not expect us to return to Helena. You will be safe."
There were several murmurs amongst the group watching them. Fred could not understand most of them, except for a few that chose to make their voices heard in English.
"They cannot stay with us any longer!"
"It's too dangerous, they must go!"
"Send the white man and his woman away!"
Chief Iiniwa stepped forward, his hands raised in the air. The group quieted immediately.
"I have conferred with the spirits in the sky. Those of our grandfathers, and those of our animal guides. They say we should not be frightened. Who here dares to contradict them?"
No one spoke.
Suddenly, Mochni came from out of nowhere. "I speak," he said, thumping his chest. Bodhi hissed. "I do not wish these white people in our camp."
"You think you know better than our grandfathers?" Iiniwa chuckled. The other Crow laughed with him. Mochni's face turned red.
"Take your anger out into the forest," said Chief Iiniwa. "Bear it to the birds and trees, speak it not here."
Mochni hurried away before his face could turn any redder.
Iiniwa turned to Fred and Carrie. "You may stay as long as you wish. You saved the life of my brother's daughter. I repay you now by offering you continued shelter and protection."
Fred looked at Carrie questioningly. "As long as we're together, I don't care where we live. All I wanted was you, and now I have you." she said.
"Thank you, Chief," Fred said, his hand tight around Carrie's. "We accept."
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