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"No, I could not shame him, I could not live around him any longer either. We were raised like brother and sister. I could never marry him. It is the closest I have come to hating a person in my life. You do not marry your family, and he was part of my family."
Changing the atmosphere Aiden told them. "We've not hunted in days and our food supply is narrowing. I've made this trip a few times and know how much we have to have to survive. The fact that we couldn't hunt and stay in the cave, made it narrow down more quickly. Plus, we had to feed the horses the oats. Now we can't waste time, we need to get down. Even now that is
in short supply. But since everyone is a bit upset over what happened, perhaps Angus and I can do some much-needed hunting right now. We'll make camp early and see if we can find food."
"I agree. I wish I could have done something, though, to be more helpful." Frank hung his head.
"You did."
"What sir?" Frank asked incredulously.
"You took care of your wife." Aiden grinned.
Gloria hugged Frank now.
"I'd say all considered, what happened was a blessing, and leave it in God's hands now. It would have been a complete disaster if anyone else had gotten involved in it."
As they made camp, Frank actually hunted for firewood, the girls prepared what they could of a meal.
After Aiden and Angus showed Frank how to start the fire, Frank appreciated it and told them he'd make the next one by himself. Angus and Aiden set out to do some hunting.
They came back about two hours later with one wild turkey.
Lucy quickly defeathered it and Aiden put it on the spit to cook.
"You were lucky." Lucy smiled.
"Yeah, he just came strutting out of the woods at us." Aiden grinned.
When he noticed how badly her hands were shaking, he took her in his arms and hugged her. "It's going to be alright."
She nodded and turned to look at him and suddenly he kissed her. He raised his head and smiled, "I needed that."
"Me too!" she whispered.
When Frank and Gloria laid down that night after taking all the precautions of not freezing to death, Angus and Pumpkin curled up together too.
Aiden insisted on Lucy being with him. For one, she was too distraught, for another, he needed her there. "You'll sleep with me tonight." He grinned at her.
"I can't believe that it's over." Lucy cried into his coat as he held her tight. "I can't even believe he found us in that cave either. Of course, the smoke did give it away I suppose."
"He was a good tracker. Had he lived he would have caused more havoc, Lucy. You know that, you said it yourself. He might have even caused a war. Now maybe you really can talk to your father about the raids."
"I suppose I can go home now."
"I guess you are anxious to get back now that he's gone?" He smiled sadly.
"Do not worry. I'll go to the fort Aiden."
"I'd appreciate it." He told her. "We'll make it to the fort. But we have to remember, this time of year, hunting is scarce, fishing is not feasible. Now we need to ration the food until we get off this mountain."
"Oh Aiden," she cried moving into his arms now and cuddling close. The feel of his warm body was a welcome reprieve from the cold. "I'll miss you when I go back."
"You aren't back yet, and we still have a dance to go to." He told her.
She smiled, "I'll always love you Aiden… "
He pulled away to stare into her eyes, "Yeah… I know" his glance said so much, and she backed away staring.
