They fell asleep, there, in front of the fire, and Liliann discovered First Rider had spoken sooth. Sharing their body heat with one another had kept them warm all through the night.
Bright sunlight awakened them both. First Rider leaned in toward her, brought her farther into his arms and kissed her cheek, saying, "We…much work have to do. We go…build good shelter. Come, we see how much snow fall…during night."
"Aye, this we must do. And, good morning to thee," she murmured, and she smiled. "I was bein' warm all night."
He grinned at her. "I, too. Come, we go, build good wikiup in good place. We be here till birds come back."
"Until spring?"
He nodded. "If go down mountain in snow, we leave trail. Easy for enemies to find, follow. Mountain tribes hunt in…these mountains. They would find, would know we enemy from tracks. No good. We leave when snow melts."
"But, if we build a good refuge, couldn't they find it, too?"
"They might," he answered. "Chance that happen not good. We build so part of land. We safe…for now. They not usually come this far up mountain to hunt. They stay close to lodge and tribe. Come, we see how much snow fall. Could be over heads because we close to summit of mountain. We go down mountain little way…build shelter in good place."
"All right," she acknowledged. "Shall I fix us breakfast?"
First Rider shook his head. "Food stores low. We go, build shelter, then I hunt. Then we eat well."
And, though her stomach protested, she simply nodded and followed him to the edge of this ledge where they had beenso cozily protected. In an odd way, she thought she might miss their encampment, here on this high mountain shelf.
Having First Rider's arms around her all through the night was similar to holding a little bit of heaven to her breast. But, a more analytical part of her knew they couldn't stay here throughout the entire winter. This outcrop of the cliff, so high up, would be a hard place to access if they were having to carry loads up over the dangerous footholds of the cliff. And, from a certain angle, they were open to discovery from enemy eyes.
Still, regardless of the hazards they faced, she was with this man whom she loved so deeply, and he was so much a part of her, she wasn't certain how she could live without him. Sighing, she realized the future was not written in stone. Perhaps there would be a way to settle this without having to let him go. But, if there were such a way, what was it?
Tears again found their way into her eyes. What was she to do? Desert her beliefs and stay with him?
It must not be. What she believed was a part of her, and to throw away her ideas of what was right and wrong would harm her. She knew it would.
Still, she would love this this man for all eternity. It would not die.
****
The snow came up to and over her waist, requiring her to test her energy levels because of the constant need to climb through the wet white snow. Still, the exercise kept her warm…all, that is, except her feet, which were freezing.
Her boots had long ago given way to moccasins, but the soles of her moccasins were not holding together well. They needed repair. But, she would not complain; what was important was that the two of them were alive. For the time being, it was enough. Because the snow was still soft, she wasoccasionally able to wade through it instead of climbing through it, and she did so now, trying to catch up to First Rider.
Coming right up to him, she touched his shoulder, and he, glancing down at her, grinned, saying, "We almost there."
"Almost where?"
"Good place. You see."
Soon, she was to see he was right. Within a matter of minutes, they two had entered into a forest of tall cottonwood trees, although an occasional pine tree was to be seen growing here and there. The snow had not accumulated as much here as the birch and pine forest they'd had to wade through, if for no other reason than the snow was still caught in the high branches of the cottonwood trees.
She let out a sigh of relief, if only because the snow came only slightly up to and over her moccasins. Looking ahead, she saw First Rider had again outdistanced her, and she ran to catch up to him. It was at this moment when she saw them.
"Our ponies! Thou found them!"
"Of course I found them. It my duty to care for them. It their tracks led me here. Come, we set up camp here, sit out storm. Fresh water here, and…it close."
They set to work, finding the limbs, poles and branches of the cottonwood trees they would need to construct their shelter. And, no sooner had they set the logs on the ground than First Rider began arranging these long poles and branches into a triangular shape. As he worked, First Rider instructed her to find or break off several boughs from the fir and balsam trees and bring back as many of them as she could carry.
She did as he instructed, and when she returned to the location where First Rider was constructing the shelter, she discovered he had arranged several sticks together, interlocking them at the top of the triangular shape. Arranging many, manyof these sticks to touch each other became the main support of the wikiup, as well as the sturdy walls of the small lodge.
"Put fir boughs here." He pointed to a place well within reaching distance from him. And, she, dumping the boughs on the snow-laden ground next to the tiny lodge, took a moment to admire First Rider as he placed these sticks just so, one on top of the other until he had covered up any place where the cold air could get in.
As though he could feel her admiring gaze upon him, he turned to look at her, and, raising one eyebrow slightly, he grinned. But, he soon sent her on her way again to find a few more boughs, and when she returned, she discovered the dwelling—having gone up in little time—now housed a fire, which had been placed close to the open side of the shelter. Never could she recall when a little hut had looked so good to her.
But, First Rider was not yet finished. Picking up the remaining fir boughs, he set them into the shelter, positioning them one against the other, making them into a comfortable bed. This having been the last thing to be done, they both crawled into their little haven, and, at once, she could barely believe how comfortable she was.
First Rider had started a fire close to the opening of their tepee-like debris hut, and the warmth from the fire filled the inside of it with comfort. There was a draft from behind them, however, and when she mentioned it to First Rider, he removed his capote, placed it over his legs and cut off the bottom of it with his knife, then attached it to several sticks at their back. This done, and with the fire reflecting upon the white material of his jacket, the warmth enveloped them, causing the ice on both their clothing to fall off in little puddles.
"Come," said First Rider. "We shall share some of…dried meat we have left. Tomorrow, I hunt."
"And, I shall come with thee."
He nodded, saying only, "As you wish."
