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“What?”
“The way you came galloping headlong into the group of those Indians.”
Alex chuckled. “It may not be wise of me to admit this, but I had no choice in the matter. I lost control of my horse.”
“Oh.” Evelyn giggled softly. “It was still a brave thing to do.”
Alex reached for her hand and led her to where his horse stood grazing behind him.
“I would have charged into a war party of a hundred Blackfeet to get you back,” he said with more force than he had intended. Fresh anger consumed him, thinking about what might have happened to Evie if he hadn’t caught up with the warriors.
“I know you would have, Alex. I’ll never be afraid of anything while I’m with you.”
Alex clenched his jaw. Pushing his negative thoughts aside, he lifted Evie onto his horse’s back, then leapt up behind her. The faint light from an almost full moon guided their way back toward camp. She leaned back against his chest, and he wrapped one arm around her middle, holding her close to him. He allowed his horse to pick its way through the forest, listening for any unusual sounds.
Evie seemed content to ride in silence for a while, allowing his mind to wander. More eager than ever to reach the valley at the base of the Teewinots, he envisioned the cabin he would build. It would have to be bigger than what he first planned on. He could never offer her a house like what she was used to growing up in St. Charles. And he wasn’t going back to live the life of a farmer, except . . .
“I still plan to take you to St. Louis.” Alex broke the silence between them. Evie stiffened against him, and turned her head.
“What?” she gasped. “Why? I don’t want to leave you.”
Alex’s hold on her tightened. He couldn’t help but smile. “Not the way you’re thinking. I’m going to find out what happened to your folks, and bring the person responsible to justice. If Charlie killed your parents, I want him to pay for what he did.”
Evie remained silent for a moment. “It’s what I wanted, too, when Henry decided to come to the wilderness to bring you to justice. And look what happened to him.” She spoke barely above a whisper, but her voice cracked nevertheless.
Alex inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry about Henry, Evie. He was my best friend. But he was also foolish to try and come here. He had no experience.”
Evie nodded, but didn’t respond. Alex hoped he hadn’t said the wrong thing to her again. He enjoyed his new closeness with her, and didn’t want to jeopardize ruffling her feathers again.
“Yancey is occupying the lean-to,” he said to change the subject. “I’d like you to sleep under my blankets tonight. And every night from now on.”
****
“I’ll take first watch,” Alex told Laurent, and reached for his rifle. “Those Blackfeet might decide to come back.”
The orange glow of the campfire cast eerie shadows on the men’s faces as they sat around the fire. Yancey was asleep under the lean-to. Evelyn listened quietly, her eyes on Alex. They had arrived in camp a short time ago, and she already missed her time alone with him. After lifting her off his horse, he’d kissed her quickly on the cheek, then led her to where Laurent and Jasper waited with smug looks on their faces.
“You, ah, sure you would not want me to take first watch?” Laurent asked, and darted glances from Alex to her. Evelyn’s face flushed hot, and she hoped no one could see. Laurent and Jasper had seen her and Alex kiss. It shouldn’t matter what they thought.
“I’ll wake you in a couple hours,” Alex replied, looking at Laurent, then stood. He reached for Evelyn’s hand, and pulled her up off the ground.
He led her to where his bedroll was laid out on the ground, just beyond the glow of the fire. “Get some sleep.”
Releasing her hand, he was about to turn. Evelyn reached into the darkness and caught hold of his shirtsleeve. She moved closer, not about to let him walk away from her so easily.
“I love you, Alex,” she whispered, and lifted her hand to his face. His warm hand covered hers, and he inhaled a deep breath. Leaning forward and up, she touched her lips to his. Alex grasped her hand for a moment and returned her soft kiss, then quickly released her.
“I’ll bring some more blankets for you. You won’t be cold.” He stepped away from her and disappeared into the darkness.
Evelyn inhaled a deep breath and blew the air out from between parted lips. She didn’t want more blankets to keep her warm. If memory served her right from the night before, Alex was more than capable of making sure she wouldn’t be cold. Had he deliberately decided to take first watch to avoid her? Was it something she was doing wrong? Was she being too forward?
