“You have no idea how happy I am to see you both.” My heart pounded with relief. “Am I close to the camp?”

They both nodded. “It’s just a few miles south. When you get to the fork in the road, go left. We were headed back toward the Imperial encampment. We were going to find a way to rescue you, which clearly we no longer need.”

“There is a cottage with two women, north of here. They helped me escape. Please, make sure they are all right.”

“We will do what we can,” they said in near unison.

Night had fallen by the time I reached the rebels’ camp. As I rode through, the men crossed themselves, staring at me from their fires. Rossetti paused on his way to the main tent, a bundle of papers in his arms. He did a double take before throwing them to the ground. “Anita!” He ran up to me as I dismounted from my horse.

“May God be praised!” He wrapped me in a large hug. I was momentarily shocked. Physical affection of any kind was uncommon with Rossetti. “José has been inconsolable,” he whispered in my ear.

I followed Rossetti into the tent. The men were standing around a large table with maps. Rossetti coughed softly and they looked up. They froze when they realized I was there.

“Anita?” José whispered. His brow wrinkled as if he didn’t trust his eyesight.

“Hello,” I said.

He pushed everyone out of his way as he came to me. Grabbing the sides of my head, he kissed me. Pulling away, he began to examine me, his hands searching everywhere. “You’re all right?” he asked as he continued to inspect me.

“Yes,” I said, taking his hands in mine and kissing his knuckles.

“And the baby? I heard you fell.”

I put his hand to my stomach, where the child kicked. “We are fine. We just had a little adventure.”

He wrapped me in a massive hug. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again.”

“I make no promises.” I laughed into his shoulder. His grip tightened as he buried his face in my hair, the muffled sound of his breath sucking in in sharp bursts.

*  *  *

That night we lay face-to-face, holding on to each other. José gripped my waist as if I would disappear if he let go. Later, I awoke by myself. My momentary confusion passed when I heard the voices of José, Rossetti, and Canabarro talking outside our tent.

“We can’t continue this campaign,” Rossetti stated. “I know she thinks she is indestructible, but a woman in her condition has no business hiking around south Brazil, let alone fighting in a war.”

“I know, but I won’t be separated from her.” This time it was José talking. “I thought I lost her once. I won’t risk it again.”