Chapter 22

Faith fought through her headache as she eyed the outline of the two braves riding ahead of her on the trail back to the waterfall. Flies Ahead and Running Bear sat with their hands tied behind them and feet bound beneath each mount's belly. Grant rode with Running Bear's horse tethered to his own, and White Horse held the rope for Flies Ahead's mount.

There was almost no chance these two could get away. Yet Flies Ahead's anger was apparent in the rigid set of his shoulders, and she could still remember the hatred in his eyes as White Horse and Grant secured him on the animal. He would escape if he could possibly find a way. And if he did, his vengeance would have no bounds.

"Almost there." Grant's voice drifted over his shoulder as the sound of the waterfall hummed in the air. "I see the river through the trees."

A weight eased off her chest as the sound of the falls grew louder. They still had decisions to make—what to do with these two kidnappers, and who would go with Grant to find his brother. But at least they were back at the waterfall and cave, where they would have food and protection while they worked through the next plans. And she could finally lie down and close her eyes against the pounding in her head.

She'd felt much better before they left Flies Ahead's camp that morning. But a long day in the saddle, jolting and jostling as the horses climbed and descended slopes, had worsened her pain so much that flashes of light sometimes seared her vision.

Soon, she could rest.

When they rode into the clearing, she caught a glimpse of something that made her gasp. There, near the base of the waterfall, sat three very familiar horses.

She reined around Grant to get a better view, but still, the sight seemed too impossible to believe. "Rosie?"

Her sister was already riding toward them, with Dragoon and Ol' Henry approaching behind her.

A glance sideways showed White Horse had nudged his mount faster, so Faith did the same. Two Bit struck into a canter, maybe as excited to see Rosie's horse as she was to see her sister.

She and Rosie both reined in when they met and jumped to the ground. Her sister might still be angry at her for leaving the way she did, but less than a day ago, she'd thought she would never see her family again. She had to greet Rosie with a hug.

Rosemary met Faith's embrace. She'd been hoping for a bit of warmth in return, but Rosie clutched her so tight tears stung Faith's eyes.

"I'm so glad you're all right," Rosie whispered.

Faith breathed in the feel of her, letting her fear and worries from the past days fade as she reveled in the love of her sister. A love she'd not realized mattered so very much.

She inhaled the familiar scents that always surrounded Rosie—horse and grass and yes, a bit of sweat. Rosie wasn't afraid of hard work.

When her sister finally pulled away, they both wiped at tears. Rosie shook her head. "We got here as soon as we could. We were worried sick about you."

Rosie's gaze flicked toward the others, catching on White Horse. Even as she couldn't seem to tear her eyes from him, she spoke to Faith. "You have a lot of questions to answer."

Then she moved past Faith to White Horse, who'd dismounted behind Faith's horse. Did Rosie intentionally stop on the other side of Two Bit so the gelding would partially conceal her and White Horse from Faith's view?

She'd sometimes wondered if a special regard might be growing between her sister and White Horse—something more than friendship. The way they stood so close now seemed awfully suspicious. They'd dropped their voices too.

She couldn't see Rosie's face well, but White Horse was looking down at her with as close to a moony-eyed gaze as she'd ever seen from him.

Though she'd love to scoot closer and hear what they were saying, she should allow them a little privacy. Besides, she had other friends to greet.

Ol' Henry and Dragoon stood with their horses, standing back as they waited patiently for their turns. She strode toward them, dragging Two Bit with her. "I never thought I'd see the two of you out here."

She pulled them each into a hug, and Ol' Henry murmured into her hair, "We was worried about you, little sister."

"That's sure 'nuff true." Dragoon wrapped an arm around her, then let her go as he stepped back. He sent a glance toward Rosie. "We stopped at the ranch and happened to mention that we saw Two Bit here at the rendezvous. I said I never thought I'd see the day you sold him. Rosie got all worried about you, an' we went through a heap o' trouble trackin' you down."

She cringed, her headache making itself known once more. "I'm sorry I put you all through that. I found a lead on where Steps Right was, and I had to follow it." Better keep the conversation moving. She turned and motioned for them to follow her. "Let me introduce you to the others."

As they filed past Rosemary and White Horse, the two seemed finished with their quiet conversation and turned to walk with them. Grant had stayed back with both captives and Steps Right.

With Rosie walking beside her, Faith fixed her gaze on the man who'd captured her heart so thoroughly. Grant dismounted and took a few steps forward, but he couldn't leave his charges in order to meet them.

At last, they all halted before Grant. It would be better for her sister to meet Grant first, leaving Steps Right's introduction for the end.

Faith moved to stand partway between her sister and Grant. "Rosie, I'd like to introduce you to Grant Allen. I met him back when I was traveling with Elise and Goes Ahead. He told me about these waterfalls, and when I made up my mind to come search them for Steps Right, he stayed by my side every step of the way. I couldn't have made it without him."

She swallowed, her gaze shifting to meet his. Hopefully he could see the thankfulness in her eyes. His gaze was warm, but then he shifted back to face Rosie. She should finish her introductions. "Grant, this is my eldest sister, Rosemary." Then she motioned to the men standing behind her. "And our good friends Ol' Henry and Dragoon."

As the men exchanged greetings, Rosie gave Grant a narrow-eyed look and only nodded in response to his "I'm honored to meet you." Then she turned her focus away from him.

Faith's gut twisted at her sister's rudeness. Maybe Faith shouldn't have started the introduction by saying that Grant had been the impetus for Faith to set out on her own. She'd just wanted Rosie to know how vital Grant had been in finding Steps Right. Clearly, they'd need to have a private conversation later.

Rosie also ignored the bound braves, turning her focus to Steps Right. White Horse must have explained their presence here. Had he also told of the kidnapping? Maybe not, or Rosie would have demanded the full story already.

For now, Rosie and White Horse were approaching Steps Right, and quiet had settled over the group entirely.

This felt like White Horse's moment, a time for him to introduce his mother. So Faith stayed back with Grant, sidling a little closer to him as a flutter of nerves eased through her. He must have felt her tension, for his hand moved to her back, imparting a solid strength that eased her churning middle.

This was a happy event. Nothing to worry about.

White Horse spoke with a voice deep and strong enough to mark the moment. "Rosemary Collins. My mother, Steps Right. áaksíksikka'yiwa Okamo't."

Rosie approached Steps Right where she still sat on her horse. With her injured ankle, she'd stayed in the saddle as much as possible on the ride back.

Steps Right held out a hand to Rosie, and Rosie took it in both of hers. From this distance, Faith couldn't hear her sister's soft words. But Steps Right seemed pleased with them, for the lines on her face curved in a full smile.

"I hear good of you, Rosemary Collins. From my son." Her gaze slipped to White Horse, then dipped back to Rosie.

White Horse looked more sheepish than she'd ever seen him, and even Rosie stepped back, a little flustered. There definitely must be more between them than friendship.

Grant spoke up, his voice a calming blanket over the group. "Why don't we make camp and unload the horses?"

Faith nodded. "We have plenty to eat in the cave. I'll bet you're all hungry."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, they set up a large camp beside the river, a little ways down from the waterfall, where the thunder of water wasn't so loud. Steps Right, Rosie, and Faith would sleep in the cave, but the men would sleep out here.

It would be nice to have some privacy, and these trees provided a better place to tie the braves. They still needed to sort through what should be done with them, but they had too much else to catch up on.

For now, though, they were all sharing the meal around this large campfire. Eating had finally made her headache ease, which was a blessed relief. Between the food their newcomers brought, what was left from Flies Ahead's camp, and a few supplies Steps Right had in the cave, they were enjoying a wide variety of food. Everything from beans and biscuits to depuyer, a food White Horse had spoken of in the past as something he missed from his tribe. He'd made it sound like a type of bread, but none of them had been able to learn how to make it.

Now that Faith had sampled a slice, it seemed like a cross between smoked meat and bread pudding. Not easy to describe, but sweet and tender. White Horse had eaten three servings of it so far.

Besides eating, he sat quietly, his mother on one side and Rosie on the other. Rosie had assigned Faith the spot on her other side, probably so she could interrogate her with questions about the kidnapping and the entire journey. Faith had already relayed the main details, skimming over much of the time in Flies Ahead's camp, but it could take days to remember all the things that had happened since she left the ranch with Goes Ahead and Elise and their family. Had that only been a little over a month ago? It seemed a lifetime.

She'd been impulsive and na?ve back then. She might still be those things, but hopefully she'd gained wisdom on this journey. She'd certainly added experience.

A glance sideways at Grant eased the tension inside her. He was smiling at something Dragoon said, a tale about the first time Dragoon had spotted her and her sisters at the rendezvous three years ago, back when they'd just come west in search of Steps Right.

"We traveled up and down the Green River Valley for weeks looking for you, ma'am." He turned this remark to Steps Right. "It was quite a mystery where you'd gone."

The older woman didn't show whether she understood every word, but she seemed to be following the conversation, a constant smile on her face.

Sparks danced skyward from the crackling flames as the group settled into a moment of quiet. Maybe this would be a good time to tease White Horse a little and help Steps Right join the conversation.

Faith straightened. "I've enjoyed hearing Steps Right's stories about White Horse. She told us one about the first time he went hunting with his father." She slid a look at him to make sure she wasn't overstepping her bounds by sharing it with the full group.

His eyes had narrowed a little, but he didn't look angry.

It was Rosie who snatched her focus, though. Her sister tipped her head, a curious expression on her face. "Do you mean the time he sneezed?"

Faith drew back. "How did you know?"

Rosie turned sheepish. "I..." She looked to White Horse, out of reflex probably. But the glance made it clear who had told her that story. Her cheeks reddened, but she motioned for Faith to continue. "Go ahead. Tell it for the others."

"Actually, I think Steps Right should tell it." Faith sent the woman a hopeful look.

Steps Right nodded and began the tale as she'd told it in the cave.

Faith took the opportunity to watch her sister from the corner of her gaze. How close were she and White Horse, that he had shared such an intimate story with her? He'd always seemed so much like an older brother to Faith—wise, patient, skilled at nearly everything he attempted. Even teasing at times, in his own way.

White Horse was handsome, no question about that. And he'd proven his character a thousand times over in the years they'd known him. Rosie was of an age that would be a good match for him. Why had she never considered all this?

Rosie must have felt her looking, for she turned raised brows to her. Faith smiled, trying not to show what she'd been thinking.

Her sister's expression softened, turning sweet and a bit motherly. She leaned close and slipped an arm around Faith's shoulders, speaking just loud enough for Faith to hear. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Faith rested her head on Rosie's shoulder. "I am too."

The stories continued a while longer, and they coaxed Steps Right into sharing several more memories of her family, including from her own girlhood.

If only Lorelei and Juniper could hear these tales. There would be time, though. Once they all reached the ranch, they would be able to draw many more memories from Steps Right, especially through the winter months they would spend in the warm cabin.

As the evening waned, Grant's attention seemed to drift away from their little group. Thinking about finding his brother, most likely. She needed to talk with him. Needed to know what he was thinking. One thing she knew for certain—she wouldn't be sending him off by himself this time.

She also still had to talk with Rosie about Grant. They hadn't had a second alone for that conversation. But it would help to know Grant's plans—and let him know about hers—so she could prepare her sister for this final leg of their trip.

Perhaps Grant overheard her thoughts, for he leaned close and murmured, "Would you like to walk with me?"

She nodded as she met his gaze. He still looked at her with a kind of gentle affection, though his eyes had an extra line or two beneath them. Or was that a trick of the shadows?

When she leaned close to Rosie to share their plans, her sister eyed her warily. "Should I come with you?"

Faith fought to keep from rolling her eyes and instead touched Rosie's shoulder, meeting her sister's focus squarely. "He's a good man, Rosie. I'll tell you more about him when we have time, but you needn't worry."

Rosemary shot a look toward Grant, then pinched her mouth as she gave a single nod. "Call if you need anything."

Faith chuckled as she stood and turned to follow Grant outside of the ring of firelight. Likely, the others were watching them leave, though Dragoon was still bending White Horse's ear about a group of Blackfoot he'd met at this year's rendezvous.

As they settled into the path beside the river's edge, the rustle of the water replaced the murmur of voices behind them.

The quiet didn't last for long. Grant ran a hand through his hair. "I have to go find Will."

As she'd expected. "When do you want to leave?"

They stopped walking, and he turned toward the river. She could barely see his face in the glow of the moonlight. "Now that your sister's here and I know you're safe, I plan to leave in the morning."

She would have liked to have more time to catch up with Rosie, but they could do that later. She nodded. "I'm going with you this time. We'll leave at first light?"

He spun to face her, then regarded her for a moment. If only the clouds weren't covering so much of the moon and she could see his expression.

At last he said, "I don't imagine your sister will approve of us going off unchaperoned."

She shrugged. "She's welcome to come along if she likes." Or ... would he rather have privacy when he saw his brother again for the first time after so long?

She touched Grant's arm to stop him, then moved in front of him so she could better see his face in the moonlight. As she spoke, she studied his eyes, searching for a sign of his true thoughts. "I want to be there with you, Grant. But if you'd rather go alone, I won't force my presence on you."

His mouth curved in a gentle smile, but a moment passed before he answered. "If you're willing to go, it would mean a lot to have you there. And I'd like the chance to get to know your sister better if she'll ride with us."

A grin filled her heart, spilling over onto her face. "Good."

Finally, he did what she'd been hoping he'd do all day. He raised his hands to cup her shoulders, then lowered his mouth and kissed her.