CHAPTER SEVEN

"Why did you do that?"

Mercy smiled at Arrow. "I was kissing you goodnight."

A slow smile snaked across his face. "I thought you wanted me to leave you alone."

"I never said that." Mercy immediately regretted her words. Making love to him again was the worst thing she could possibly do. Yet at that moment, surrendering to him again with him in his lodge, seemed like the most reasonable thing she had done in years.

Wanton, lustful thoughts filled her mind. She had no right thinking about them, but for some reason she could not get them out of her head.

"Do you want me?" she asked in a low, seductive voice.

Arrow closed the distance between them in seconds. "Yes," he breathed, his hands

coming up to cup her face.

His kiss was strong, full of need, his tongue diving into her mouth, claiming her, possessing her. Mercy kissed him back with a passion she never thought possible. Her hands went to his bare waist, running over corded, solid muscle. She felt the puckered flesh from past war wounds, ran her hands up his back.

Arrow leaned into her, pushing her down against the floor. She lay back, felt his weight on top of her. Warmth fired something in the pit of her stomach, downward to her core. She opened her legs, and he easily fit between them.

His hand found hers as he kissed her. Gently, he pushed it downward to the center of him. Her fingers gripped around his manhood, and he groaned. His mouth left hers to trail wet kisses down her jaw, to her neck.

"Mmm…" Mercy could not control her breathing. She wanted this. She wanted him with a need that pulsed her soul. She pushed his breachclouth to the side, wrapping her fingers once again on his manhood. He was wide, intriguing her and fueling her arousal. He had taken her someplace holy before. She had no doubt he would again tonight.

And she wanted it. Needed it. Craved it.

His hands tugged down her bloomers and pulled her skirts up to her waist. She felt a finger slide into her.

"You are so wet…" He kissed her hard and demanding, his finger finding a place in her that made her shudder.

"Do you like that?"

Mercy closed her eyes. A moan she did not even recognize as her own escaped her.

"Does it feel good? Tell me."

"Yes."

"Do you want me?" He whispered in her ear. "Tell me you want me."

"I want you."

He positioned himself above her. Mercy took him in her hand and guided him into her. His groan was deep, making her want him even more.

"You feel so good."

"So do you," she sighed as he moved against her.

He rode her slowly, expertly, as if they had been doing this very thing their entire lives. Pleasure built, crashed in waves. Suddenly Mercy felt herself toppling over the edge. She forgot that his children were in the lodge, that an entire village was outside the thin bark walls. She cried out as the pent-up release came and shook her very being.

Arrow said something in his language. Mercy did not know what it was but she could tell he was experiencing the exact same bliss.

Breathing heavy, he rested his forehead against her.

"That was amazing," she blurted.

He chuckled softly, kissed the tip of her nose, and rolled to her side. "Yes it was."

He settled next to her and enveloped her in his arms.

Mercy placed her hands against the strong arms that made her feel protected and cherished. Exhaustion was quickly taking over and she wanted nothing more than to stay here with him until morning. She quickly glanced toward the children, and thankfully they were both sound asleep.

"You belong here." Arrow noticed her looking at them.

Yes. Mercy did not answer, just smiled and sunk further into his embrace. She wanted to belong.

~ * ~

Arrow opened his eyes with a start. His arms and legs were wrapped around Mercy as if he would never let her go. Peace lived in his heart when he was with her. He could not explain it, but he never wanted it to go away.

But something was not right. Someone was in his lodge.

He flew to his feet to see his sister standing in the middle of his lodge. He had let his guard down. He never did that. He was a warrior, always ready for anything life threw at him. Never placed in a position of vulnerability.

" Kenha , put some clothes on!"

Arrow quickly grabbed for his breechclout and pulled it on, angry that she had made him feel like a fool.

"What are you doing here?"

"You are sleeping with her now."

Arrow looked over at Mercy who was still sleeping. She looked so innocent. He suddenly wanted to protect her.

"You look like a family."

She seemed disappointed, and that angered Arrow. He remembered how his Elina was friends with his sister. He did not like that. Deer had been the one to first introduce him to Elina. If not for Deer, he might be happy. Of course, he would not have Talise and Tarlo. Even though he was a terrible father, he could never imagine life without them.

"What do you want?"

"I came to tell you that the entire village is talking about you."

Arrow felt his blood boiling. He could care less what anyone thought of him. He had never had a good reputation with most in the village. Why did she think he would start caring now?

"Is that the reason you barged into my home?"

"I thought perhaps you would want to know what the people are saying."

"I do not care what they are saying."

"They are saying that it does not look good to bring a white woman here. That you expecting her to be a mother to Talise and Tarlo is an abomination."

Arrow wanted to throw her out. He wanted to say quite a bit, but he held his tongue. "How many people have let whites, Hurons, other Hodenosaunee into our village? Adopted them as one of their own? Adahya, Shadow, Hunter of the Four Winds, Bear. Have they all not taken white women as their own?"

Arrow recalled the other warriors who had successfully coupled with white women and were now very happy. It was rare, but it did happen. However, all Deer could see was that Elina was no longer living in the village and no longer speaking to Deer.

"Most are adopted because they lost a family member and they were allowed into the Gageagaono to replace that family member who was lost."

"I lost Elina."

"They are replaced when a family member dies. Elina did not die."

"I wish she had."

Deer gave him a look to kill. Arrow was not sorry for his words. Elina had abandoned their children. She deserved every kind of ill will that Arrow could wish upon her. She was not the one who was constantly asked where their mother was, when she was coming back, why she had left them. She was not the one left to wonder what on earth to say to them, how to answer questions that no child should ever have to ask.

"Is that all you came here for?"

Deer glanced at Mercy who was now awake and staring up at them. Her hair fell over her shoulder in dark waves, the hides held tight to her chest so as to cover her nakedness underneath. Just the sight of her made Arrow's manhood stir despite his sister's unwanted presence.

"I just thought you would like to know."

"When have I cared what others think of me?"

Deer sighed. "Never I suppose."

"Good morning." Mercy looked right at Deer and smiled.

Deer seemed surprised. Ashamed perhaps? Arrow could only hope. She deserved to feel ashamed.

"Good morning." Deer nodded to her. Red flushed her cheeks. Good. She was embarrassed. Mercy could dance circles around Elina as far as being a decent human being. Perhaps in time Deer would realize that.

Deer turned to Arrow. "I should be going."

"Yes. You should."

Wordlessly, Deer nodded and left Arrow's lodge.

Arrow turned to Mercy. Without waiting for an invitation, he brought his hand to the back of her head and pulled her to him. He kissed her long and hard, taking possession of her without thought or care. "Good morning, Koronkas ."

Mercy smiled at him. She made him feel like he was home, that he belonged, that he was wanted. He had desired to feel wanted his whole life.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes."

The children began giggling.

"What are you doing awake?" Arrow raised his voice in a monstrous tone that made them both laugh. He attacked them with wrestling and tickling.

"What are we going to do today?" Talise piped up with the energy of ten people.

"It is up to Mercy." Arrow answered. He had hundreds of things he wanted to show her, but would let her decide. He had nothing to do today and the thing he wanted to do most in the world is to spend it with her and the children, and perhaps get them all to bond.

"What are the choices?"

"Well, we could---"

Arrow heard the shouts before gunfire went off. He flew out of the lodge.

Six Redcoats stood in the center of the village. Arrow immediately recognized two of them as being at the council lodge last moon. They had wanted allegiance to the cause of the Crown. No one had been in agreement. It did not appear like they were here in peace now.

Arrow moved in closer, pushing his way through the crowd of Gageagaono . Trunks of beads, tomahawks, flintlocks were open at their feet. They were offering bribery in return for allegiance just as they had promised at last moon's council meeting. He listened to them go on with promises to help them secure their land if they bent in allegiance with them to win the war with the colonists.

"What about the starving women and children right at home?"

Arrow knew it was Mercy before he turned to see her marching toward them. His own children held each of her hands.

"Woman, who are you?" The Redcoat officer raised his chin, obviously intrigued.

"Mercy Whitstone. I work at John Grossman's trading post in German Flats."

"I have heard of it."

"Of course you have. It's one of the most prominent posts this side of Albany."

Arrow moved up to get beside her but was pushed aside by more warriors gathering close to get possession of the guns being offered.

From the sidelines, he could see her but could not get to her. She was standing too close to the soldiers. Any one of them could grab her or his children and take them prisoner.

The soldiers eyed her up and down. One sneered then laughed. "You work at the trading post as a whore no doubt?"

Arrow lunged for them but two warriors Two Guns and Runs Free held him back.

"I am the widow to the late Trevor Whitstone. I saw what your people did to him. They shot him in the back. The wives and children of colonial soldiers are starving. Their husbands are off to war and you are starving them out. We are left to tend to the home and family and you are killing us! What do you have to say for killing innocent women and children?"

The officer stopped grinning. His expression was curious, almost as if he saw Mercy as dangerous, someone to be stopped.

Arrow broke away from the warriors. He charged the soldier so fast he did not have time to back away. His fist slammed into his mouth, nearly crushing his jaw. Years of fighting took over. There was no thought, no regard, just the driven-born instinct to protect what was his, what he wanted to be his, and to keep Mercy and his children safe.

Two soldiers drew their muskets. People screamed, scattered. Two Guns rushed them, Many Stars was shot in the arm. More screams. Arrow pushed the officer to the ground. He slammed his fist into his face again and again. Fear pushed him forward to protect his people, his family, his way of life.

Wahanassatta stormed between them. Another warrior pushed the musket and the shot rang out in the air. Another took their guns.

"Leave this place." Wahanassatta said to the officer as they pulled Arrow off him. "You have smoked with us in council. I do not wish to have trouble with you."

The officer spat a mouthful of blood. His left eye was nearly swollen shut. "Then you had better get control of your warriors. This is not over, Wahanassatta."

Arrow did not see it coming and he assumed no one else did either. The officer pulled a small pistol from his belt. The musket hit hard and fast with no warning. He felt the skin in his collar bone burn before he felt the pain. He heard Mercy scream. He heard Talise and Tarlo crying as he fell back. The acidic stench of black powder filled the air.

He did not even recall falling. He saw Mercy leaning over him. One of the soldiers grabbed her shoulder.

"Come with us if you want to escape."

Mercy shrugged him off as if she did not give it a second thought. "Someone help us! Please!"

Mercy had a chance to escape but she stayed with him. It was Arrow's last conscious thought.

~ * ~

Mercy stared down at Arrow as Ray of the Sun meticulously dug into Arrow's chest her a small, curved knife. The musket had entered his shoulder, shattering bone close to his neck. Ray of the Sun made a frustrated, guttural sound down in her throat. Holding it with a knife and her forefinger, she dropped a bloody musket ball into a bowl that Mercy held.

Mercy couldn't help but laugh as pent up nerves escaped with relief. "Will he be all right now?"

Ray of the Sun shook her head. "I do not know yet. It is early. If infection sets in...I do not know."

Mercy frowned. She saw Arrow wince, his breath coming out in animal-like pants. Anyone else would likely be screaming. She knew Arrow had been shot before by the scars that riddled his body, so this was likely nothing new, but she could tell from the sweat on his brow and the pain in his expression that he was in sheer agony.

It had all happened so fast that she did not know what happened. The only clear thing was that it had been all her fault. Had she not gone over there the altercation would not have involved Arrow or been as violent as it turned out. Was it that important that she retributed her Trevor's death so much so that it endangered other people? Not only had she gotten Arrow and other warriors hurt, she could have gotten Talise and Tarlo hurt or killed.

Guilt hit her fast and hard.

All this time, she was so worried about Trevor, about getting even for him being shot in the back. Who was she to appoint herself as God? Trevor would not want her putting people in danger, especially children, because he too knew as well as she did what it was like to lose a child.

Trevor would want her to let it go. He would want Mercy to allow his spirit to live in peace.

The realization hit her like a thousand sharp knives stabbing her heart. She barely caught her breath. Perhaps God--or Trevor--had led her to Arrow and his family. Perhaps this was where she needed to be. But why? They were so different from her culture, her life.

Arrow's cry of pain woke her to the present. Ray of the Sun had heated up the blade of a knife and had pressed it onto his wound to cauterize it. The flesh burnt and smelled. Mercy ran a hand on his forehead, knelt down, and kissed him. He looked up at her with wide-set, black eyes. His expression was frightened.

"Why are you here?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Be-" He winced. "Because you wish to leave me."

Arrow's words hurt because they were true. Had been true. How could she

leave him now? She had nearly gotten him and his children killed. She'd had the perfect opportunity to escape with the British soldiers but she had not. She did not want to. She knew Arrow now, knew his children. As different from her as they all were, they were human beings with thoughts, fears, dreams. If she left them now she would always wonder what became of them. Also regret never knowing.

"I'm here now, aren't I?" Mercy knew her answer was not reassuring, but right now it was

the best she could offer.

Arrow stared at her for a short while then his eyes slowly began to droop.

"Sleep is the best thing for him right now." Ray of the Sun placed a hand on her arm.

Mercy nodded. She was still surprised that so many of the Gageagaono would speak English. She wondered if she stayed here any longer if she would begin to pick up the language. Arrow had assured her that she would.

She reached for Arrow's mother and hugged her. Ray of the Sun was welcoming, her arms coming around her in a tight embrace.

"Thank you for saving him."

Ray of the Sun nodded. "Thank you for staying with him."

Mercy nodded.

"I know you care for him. Talise and Tarlo like you as well. This is good."

"Yes." Mercy wiped sudden tears away. It was all she could say.

Ray of the Sun said goodbye and left, leaving her alone with Arrow.

Mercy watched him until his breathing grew deep and rhythmic. She wondered about him, wondered what life was like for him growing up, wondered if he had a happy childhood. Arrow had never told her how he had met Talise's and Tarlo's mother, just that Deer had been friends with her first. Mercy wondered if Arrow and Elina had known each other their whole lives here in his village. He had mentioned that she no longer lived here. Had she left for a man in another village? A white man perhaps? So many questions. Knowing Arrow, how he gave little information, she doubted she ever would know what really happened.

Does it even matter?

Talise and Tarlo came into the lodge just then. Mercy smiled at them both. They looked down at their father and their expressions immediately fell.

"Come sit beside me." Mercy patted the place next to her. They rushed to sit on either side of her.

"Father was shot." Talise's bottom lip quivered.

Mercy draped her arms around them, and they both hugged her waist. "Your father is going to be all right."

"How do you know?" Tarlo asked.

"Because Ray of the Sun took the musket ball from him."

"What is a musket ball?" Tarlo's expression was confused.

"That was what was shot out of the soldier's gun." Mercy realized she had made a mistake speaking of the musket ball, but it was too late now and she was not about to lie to them. "Your father was shot, but Ray of the Sun healed him. Now he is sleeping. That will be the best thing for him to make him all better."

"Father will not die?" Talise asked.

"No," Mercy answered. She tried to imagine the fear that they felt. They had first lost their mother. To lose their father would be devastating.

"What will happen to us if Father dies?" Talise asked.

Mercy squeezed her. "He won't die."

"But what if he does? Everyone dies."

"Your father has many years ahead of him, Talise."

"No." Her tone was sharp. "What if he does? Who will take care of us? We already lost our mother."

Mercy stared at the little girl, at a complete loss for words. The children had family members, but was it enough? There were dozens of people here in the village that could look after them, certainly enough children to play with, but what about a mother? What about the one special person that they could turn to to hold them when they were scared at night, to tell them bedtime stories, to prepare them for life, to be the first person they bring their children to visit?

Mercy wiped at her eyes. She didn't know why she felt so emotional. They were not her family.

But they want to be.

Everything she had ever wanted was right here in front of her. It was not the man and children she had planned for. She had planned on having children with Trevor. Never in her wild imagination had she planned on being kidnapped by a Mohawk warrior with a readymade family waiting just to love her.

God worked in mysterious ways. It was possible, wasn't it?

CHAPTER EIGHT

Arrow woke to the worst pain of his life. He heard children and the sound of a woman. A familiar woman. Talise. Tarlo. And Mercy was laughing with them.

Warmth coiled in his gut, quickly working its way to his heart. Never had he heard Elina laughing with Talise and Tarlo. How often had he asked Elina to pay attention to her own children, only to be looked upon with disgust and having her leave for days on end with no word to her whereabouts? Mercy would never do that. He knew that with every inch of his heart. He did not know how but he did.

He sat up and winced. Mercy was immediately by his side.

"How are you feeling?"

"As if I have been shot," he answered, recalling the musket tearing through his shoulder.

"You need to rest."

"This man can rest when he is dead."

To his surprise, Mercy began crying. He reached up and cupped her chin. She had given up a perfect chance to escape with the British, yet she had not. He wondered if she was regretting that now. Grief settled deep in his heart to think that she now wished she had run away from him. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm glad you didn't die."

"Why?"

"Because I-because I love you."

Her confession shocked him, thrilled him, surprised him all at the same time. He had expected her to be angry with him, and with herself, for not running. He had expected her to be regretting her actions. He certainly had not expected this.

"I have always loved you."

"You have?"

Arrow nodded. He recalled his attraction to her when he visited the trading post. Not physical. Something he had never experienced, something which he could not even put a name to. Just a connection that he knew he should be with her and she with him.

And now she was here. Mercy had had every chance to escape with the white men that were here, yet she stayed with him.

"Why did you stay? You could have left with the British."

"You know they are my enemy. I side with the Colonists."

"Yes, but they would have taken you to safety had you asked. Even if they were dangerous, the Mercy Whitstone that I know would have risked the danger just to escape me."

"You were hurt." She choked back a teary-eyed chuckled. She swallowed, raised her chin in a silent determination. "And the children were scared."

Something exploded in his heart with more power than the musket ball that had ripped through his shoulder. She cared about the fears of his children. She stayed for his family. Without even being asked, she stayed.

He loved her. He truly loved her.

I have never loved anyone until now. He loved his children, but it was a different kind of love. The kind of love he felt for Mercy was all consuming, selfless, sacrificing, and he was certain he would die for her if need be.

He drifted off to sleep in and out. Arrow did not know how many hours had passed. Often he heard the soft murmurings of Mercy, Talise, and Tarlo. They were laughing. Sometimes they played peachstone. Sometimes Mercy was telling them stories. It was comforting, made him feel a belonging he had never felt before and he never wanted it to end. The time he had been shot last year his mother had taken care of him, and all the children did was fight and cry. This time they were...happy.

He was happy. In as bad shape as he was right now, he was truly happy.

~ * ~

Arrow knew he would heal. He had been through worse. He did not know how much time had passed but when he opened his eyes he felt better. Alive.

Mercy immediately appeared by his side. "How are you feeling?"

"This man will live." He nodded. Pain shot into his shoulder but that was to be expected. The only time he had ever thought he would die was when he had been stabbed in the side. That was much worse.

"Where are the children?"

"Outside playing with the other children." She laughed to herself.

"What?"

"One of the village girls came in this morning. She said her name was Runs Fast."

"Two Guns' daughter."

"I didn't know what she was saying until Talise translated for me, but she was angry. She said Talise had taken her hair tie. Turns out Tarlo had it all along. I would have had quite a fight brewing on my hands had Tarlo not spoken up."

Her pleasing manner warmed his heart. He could listen to her tell stories about the children all day. He had made a wise choice taking Mercy, even though he knew it was wrong. Nothing great was without difficulty. If she stayed he knew they would share a lifetime of happiness together.

He sat up, wrinkled his nose from the stench of himself. "I stink."

Mercy laughed. "Yes. Yes, you do."

"I am going to wash at the river."

Mercy put a hand on his chest. "You should rest."

"I can rest when I am dead."

"You almost were."

"Bah!"

She released him, probably realizing there was no use trying to change his mind. He had been sleeping far too long. The sun and nature would be the best thing for him.

He sat up, winced, and held his breath.

"I told you not to get up."

"I am fine." He squeezed her hand. "I just need to get used to the pain."

Arrow allowed her to help him up. Mercy put an arm around his waist and he draped his around her shoulder. Together, they clumsily exited the lodge.

The sun was brilliant and the sky bright blue. Arrow smiled. Despite the pain it was good to be on his feet.

Two warriors, Bear and Shadow, approached him.

"How are you feeling?" Shadow was tall and built like an ox.

"I will live, I think," he chuckled. It was good conversing with people again. Arrow never put much stock in friends--most were out to betray him--but today he felt like he needed others.

"There is word that they are sending reinforcements here to retaliate."

Arrow shook his head. "They would not dare. Our warriors outnumber their soldiers."

"What if they bring more soldiers?"

Arrow did not even want to think of that. "Can we get more Gageagaono reinforcements from other villages?"

"Wahanassatta has already sent out runners for that very thing."

"We held council this morning," Bear explained. "We did not wish to disturb you while you healed."

Arrow nodded. He swallowed down the immediate dread that he felt. If their village were attacked the first thing they would do is kidnap Mercy because she was white. Possibly hurt his children if she were near them.

Arrow nodded. "I will look forward to it, and keep me posted on any news."

"We will," they both promised.

Arrow did not feel good about this situation.

~ * ~

Arrow walked to the river with Mercy close at his side. He had no idea where the children had run off to, but his eyes scanned the village for signs of them. Since listening to Shadow's and Bear's news of the British, his guard was on edge. It was as if he expected something terrible to happen. He did not like living like that, and it scared him.

To his relief, Tarlo and Talise ran toward them just as they reached the edge of the village. They threw themselves into Arrow, sending a terrific jolt of pain into his shoulder.

"You are better!" Talise squealed.

"Getting there." He hugged them both. They were definitely happier, and he had Mercy to thank for that.

"Where are you going?"

"To the river to bathe."

"We'll come too." Talise said.

"Yeah," Tarlo piped.

They all walked to the river. When he neared the water's edge, he waded up to his waist, not even removing his clothing. He gingerly bent and gathered a handful of sand from the riverbed and scrubbed his hair. The children ran into the water, clothes and all, and began swimming.

"You're getting your clothes all wet." Mercy called to them.

"They are fine." A foreign, heady feeling overtook him. Normally he would be irritated

that they swam with their clothes on. However, today was a beautiful day and he had a fresh take on life, and he was surrounded by the people that he loved.

His family.

Talise and Tarlo came charging toward him.

"Look out! We're going to get you!" Talise kicked up water with her feet, splashing him.

Arrow laughed, despite the pain he felt. The pain did not matter. This was all that

mattered right now. He motioned for Mercy. "Come."

"I can't go in."

"Why?"

"Yeah, why?" Talise asked. "Come in."

"Come in!" Tarlo headed toward her. He took her hand and pulled her in the water toward him.

Arrow closed the distance between them. He took Mercy's other hand and pulled her in.

"Are you afraid?"

"I cannot swim."

"Do not worry. The water is not deep." It reached his waist further downstream, but it never got over that. "I would not let anything happen to you anyway."

She smiled and it warmed his heart. The kids ran and splashed. They waded out in the center of the river. Arrow kissed Mercy.

Mercy broke away to look over his shoulder to see where the children were. Arrow did not seem the least bit concerned.

"They are good swimmers." He said nonchalantly.

"Anything could happen to them."

"That is why I chose you to be their mother."

Her expression was irritated, and he did not understand. "You have to be concerned

about their welfare at all times. They are just children. They don't know right from wrong. As their father it is up to you to protect them."

Arrow was not irritated by her remark. He knew he was not a good father. No one had to tell him that. "I go to war to protect my people as well as my children."

"I understand that but when they are with you, you need to keep a better eye on them."

Arrow was not going to argue. She was right. She also, however, was looking at the

situation from her white upbringing. The Gageagaono all looked after each other's children. They viewed the entire village as one whole family. Arrow did not know one white family who held the same viewpoint.

"Talise, Tarlo," he called. "Stay up here with us."

"We will." They both chimed.

"Back here. Now." Arrow looked back at Mercy to see her grinning.

"Better?"

"It's a start."

He grunted, placed his hands protectively on her hips and looked into her eyes. Before he could say anything she kissed him long and hard.

"What was that for?" he asked when she pulled away.

"For trying to be a better father."

"Oh." He breathed in the intoxicating scent of her. Everything about her made him want to get closer to her. Physically, mentally, spiritually. All of it.

He kissed her again. She put her hands to the back of his neck. His kiss deepened as she ran over fingertips over the back of his neck up to his ears. Touching him, making him feel wanted. He pulled her tight up against him, his manhood pressed to her from need of her. There was nothing they could do here, what with the children in plain sight and anyone in the village being able to see them should they approach the riverbank. But he did not care. He wanted to simply kiss her, feel her close to him, as close as humanly possible. Tonight he fully intended to show her how much he needed her.

~ * ~

Mercy heard a shot as she was kissing Arrow. Her first thought was the children, but they were running toward them. Arrow pulled her behind him as she gathered the children around her. More shots rang out.

"What's happening?"

Arrow protectively pulled them behind him. His eyes darted up and downstream.

"There!" Mercy saw two British soldiers coming out of the woods and heading toward the village.

Arrow grabbed her hand, scooped up Talise and Tarlo under his arm. "This way! Now!"

Mercy ran down the river. Arrow had such a grip on her that she fell and he yanked her up, nearly pulling her arm from its socket. She slipped on rocks but kept going. They were soaking wet. Eventually they stopped. Still standing in the water, he pulled them in the thickets.

"Ow!" Talisa whined. "You are hurting my arm!"

"Shh…"

"But--"

"Be still!" Arrow barked. He put an arm around Talise's mouth to keep her quiet. The little girl froze as another shot rang out. Screams followed. Arrow's arm came around Mercy's waist, pulling her tight. She noticed that his arm shook.

More screams and shots fired. There were war whoops and gun blasts. Down the river where they had come from Mercy could see a cloud of blackpowder smoke. Tears streamed down her cheeks. If she had not gone to the river with Arrow, she would likely all be dead right now. Even Talise and Tarlo.

Mercy did not know how much time had passed until the shots and screams ceased. She knew Arrow would have been right there in the fight had it not been for protecting his family. And at that moment, she felt like his family.

Time ceased as they waited. Eventually the silence crept in and birds sounded in the distance signaling them that the fighting had stopped and the soldiers were gone.

Arrow nudged her. He pulled her to him and held her tight. Both children were crying. He held them. "Shh...everything is all right. We are safe. We are all safe."

Arrow kissed the top of Mercy's head and held her close. "Come."

She followed him to the edge of the river where he placed his children on the dry sand then held Mercy and helped her onto the bank. Slowly they walked back to the village. Mercy squeezed Arrow's arm as if her very life depended on it. She had no idea what she would find. How many people were hurt or dead? Right now Arrow was her lifeline, her rock, the only stability she had left in her life.

Women were crying and wailing. Two Guns lay face down, unmoving.

"No!" Arrow ran to him. He pushed him over on his back. His chest was covered in blood. There were two dead soldiers lying next to him. One of the longhouses was burning. Women were frantically carrying water in skid pouches to put it out.

Arrow stopped a group of warriors. Talked rapidly, then ran to his lodge. Mercy helplessly followed. She watched him as he gathered up his musket, his bow and quiver of arrows. "What are you doing?"

"I am going with my warrior brothers to retribute what they have done." "You can't. I need you. Your children need you. " Talise and Tarlo were crying and telling them they did not want him to go.

He kissed her. "I understand that you are scared. I understand that you do not want to be alone. I am a warrior. I need to go. I need to fight for my people."

"You need to fight for your family. You said we are your family. So prove it. Fight for us. Stay with us. We need you more."

He looked torn but it was obvious he was not going to listen. "Stay with us. You told me I had to choose between my old life and you three. You told me that it did no good going after the people who killed Trevor. So you need to do the same. You need to decide who is more important to you."

He seemed to be inwardly struggling. She watched his expression as he turned to look at his dead friend and the warriors who ran around in total states of confusion.

"Arrow." She held his hand. "I am not going anywhere. I give you my word. I found my place, and it is here. With you. Please do not make me a widow for a second time."

Arrow muttered something in Gageagaono under his breath. He hugged her and she hugged him back. His children ran into him, nearly knocking him over.

"My warrior brothers will not understand, but you are right."

Mercy could not stop the tears from coming. "Thank you for listening to me."

"You are welcome." He held her and the children as if he would never let them go. "So you no longer wish to retribute your husband's death?"

"I feel like you are my husband."

He squeezed her. "This makes me happy."

"If you stay I will help you go to the British for your husband."

"I no longer wish to do that."

"Why?"

"Because my family is with you. The past is in the past and I want to let it go. No good can come from it. Trevor is gone, and he is never coming back. My looking in the past will do nothing but ruin my future with you, and I don't want that."

Arrow brushed her tear away with his thumb. "Life with me will not be easy."

"What life is easy? There is never a guarantee of an easy life."

"You are correct." He hugged her. "But I just wanted you to make sure."

"I have never been more sure of anything in my whole life."