“I’m still waiting then,” Samuel said.

“Chace.”

“Yes?”

“Chace Bridger.”

“And who is this Chace Bridger?”

“Chace Bridger Yellow Cloud who is everything to me.”  It was done.  Let Samuel pass out in the grass or consult his conscience, his Believers, his Others, whatever he felt he had to do.

“Tobias said this person wasn’t here.”

“He is now.”

“I see,” he said.  He spent some time brushing off the front of his coat until he could collect his thoughts.  When he spoke, his voice was steady.  “I believe I’ll go now to find my belongings, but I’ll be there.  For dinner.”  He got to his feet.

“Will it be you who comes, Father, or the First Elder?” Charlotte said.  “It would just be useful to know ahead of time.”

“I’m both,” he said, “and that can’t be helped.”

<>

All they could do was wait.  The bread was warm out of the oven.  An aromatic haunch of venison lay sliced on a platter.  The oil lamps created a soft glow.  Everyone had washed up at least to some degree.

Charlotte noted that Chace had gone watchful, become unreadable.  Miller was fretful.  Ellis couldn’t sit down.  He paced around in the tight quarters where there really was no room to pace.

“Maybe he won’t come,” Ellis said.

“And where do you think he’d go instead?”

“To Colonel Hutchinson’s for brandy and cigars.”

“Which is where you’d like to be?”

“Only without Colonel Hutchinson.”

“Should you go and have a glass of whiskey?”

“I already did.”

“When we were waiting for the bounty hunters to show,” Chace said, “we sat on that hill for five days.”

“That’s what this is like?” Ellis said.

“You get through it is what I mean.”

“I remember how that went.  Sometimes you don’t.”

“The waiting I mean.”

“You’re not seeing how bad this could be.”

Then Samuel was there in the doorway.  His boots shone as if from a recent polishing.  He wore a long jacket, waistcoat and cravat.  He looked distinguished but fatigued as he entered the room.

“Father,” Charlotte said and went to him.

“So this is everyone,” he said, taking in the faces among the candlelight.

“This is my father, Samuel Duchesne,” she said.  “You’ve met Grace.”  Charlotte moved to the table.  “Jeremy,” she said, laying a hand on his head.  “Ada.  Brewster.”

Samuel held up his hand in greeting.  “Ada?  I don’t mind being called Grandfather.  In fact, once I got used to it, I think it would give me great pleasure.”

Charlotte felt herself relax just slightly.  Although the worst was yet to come, it seemed the First Elder was being quiet.

She moved down the table. “Miller Dawson.  The pilot I told you about.”  Charlotte put a hand on Ellis’s arm.  “Ellis Gray.”

“We’ve met,” Samuel said, reaching out to shake hands.