She held out her hand and he closed his fingers into hers. More than anything, she believed in this.  He ran his other hand easily along her thigh.  She slid down beside him and pressed both their hands to her heart.  Then she turned her face up to meet his mouth, surrendering to the warmth of his kisses.  His arms went tightly around her then and they kissed as if it were the end of the world, as if the thrill of fingers touching and a mouth tasting warm scented flesh had become everything there was.  She gave herself to him gladly and he took her not knowing anymore what he was doing, oblivious to the future, the past, wanting just this, to be with her, to not think about ever having to let go.

23

They crossed the creek where the banks opened out and sloped more gently.  A path led down through the cottonwoods.  Chace took the reins.  The rocky creek bottom caused the wagon to pitch sickeningly.  The mare stepped carefully along behind, seeking sure footing, and Charlotte prayed, only breathing again when they had reached the safety of the other side.  They switched, with Chace keeping the reins in the morning, disappearing on the gray at noon.  He gave no reason, but she knew the reason.  Their journey was almost at an end.  She could sense it.

Early in the afternoon, when they had come off the flat plains and into wooded hills, Chace stopped.

“How far?”

“Tomorrow we’ll be due south of the fort, but some distance still.”

“There’s no escaping it then.”

“There never was.”  He sat for a minute on the gray.  “This is where I wanted to take you.  Pull the wagon over into the trees.  I’ll saddle the mare.”

She did what he asked.  “Should I loosen the traces on the team?”

“No, we won’t be long.”

She rode with him up over the hills on a narrow path and then along the ridge toward a broad sheltered valley.  The creek running through it was almost dry.  The land spread out below them was green and peaceful.

Chace stopped at the top of the valley, his eyes following the line of the creek.  She sat on the mare beside him.

“My people were here,” he said, “preparing to come into the fort for the winter.  The warriors were on the last buffalo hunt but there were no buffalo for half a day’s ride.  I was in Washington with Grandfather making another treaty that didn’t turn out to be one.  Ellis had gone east scouting land for a new fort for the army.  The agent said the government wanted to end the wars and stop the killing.  The major at the fort promised protection and food to my people, but only if they would come in.