Chapter 4

"Are you sure you want to go alone?"

Faith held Elise's hands, the woman who had been so kind to her these past days. She met her gaze, though it was hard, knowing she was misleading these wonderful people. "I'll be fine. Really. I'm leaving early enough. I bet I can even make it home in one day." If she were going home. Which she wasn't.

Elise studied her face, not letting go of their joined hands. "I'm not sure your sisters will be pleased with me."

Faith gave a gentle squeeze. "They'll be fine. They know I'm stubborn. But they also know I'm capable. I've lived here in the Territory for three years now. I can ride a day or two by myself."

Elise nodded, though she still looked uncertain. "This land does make you strong." Then she pulled Faith in for a hug. "I'm sorry you didn't find Steps Right. We'll keep looking on our journey and send word if we find her."

For just a moment, Faith let herself breathe in the warm security of the embrace. How long had it been since she'd been truly held by a mother figure? Her sisters would slip an arm around her shoulders sometimes, but not a true hug that wrapped her fully. Made her feel loved and cared for.

The burn of tears stung her eyes. And when Elise pulled back, Faith blinked to keep from letting them show. "Thank you for everything. I've loved getting to know you and your family."

Elise smiled and reached for her husband, Goes Ahead, who stood back a few steps with Faith's gelding, Two Bit. The Gros Ventre man came to his wife's side. "We will pray your journey is safe and you find the grandmother you seek."

Faith tried to keep her smile bright and not allow the shyness that always tried to creep in around this man. Though he spoke clear English, he carried himself like the warrior he'd once been.

Elise and Goes Ahead's story was fascinating, how they met nearly seven years ago when Elise and her brother came to this land as missionaries. Goes Ahead had been mourning the death of his Salish wife while trying to travel through the mountains with his infant daughter and young son. Elise and her party had helped them, and by the end of the journey, Goes Ahead had come to faith, and the two of them had developed an affection that became the start of a beautiful marriage. All four of their children traveled with them now as they continued their missionary work, even fifteen-year-old Walking Bird and seven-year-old Pretty Shield, the pair who had brought them together in the beginning.

Faith nodded in response to Goes Ahead's words. "Thank you." Then she reached for her horse's reins. "I'd better get going."

Once she'd mounted, she glanced over to the campfire where Walking Bird knelt. The rest of the children still slept in the early light of dawn. The youth nodded to her. "Ride safe."

She returned the nod, then offered a final farewell to Elise and Goes Ahead. "I'll see you again soon."

At last, she nudged her mount's sides and started on the trail south, toward the Collins ranch. Surely she could find the exact location of the waterfalls on Mr. Allen's map, search them all, and get back to her sisters before these friends finished their route and came back through the trading post next month.

She rode southward until a hill separated her from view of the camp, then continued a bit farther until a cluster of trees also stood between them. She reined in Two Bit and slipped to the ground. "All right, boy. Now's the time to get ready for the rendezvous."

She'd worked through this setup in her mind all day yesterday. Then worried too much about it when she should have been sleeping.

Moving quickly, she pulled her trousers and work shirt out of her pack and slipped them on. For once, her stick-straight figure would be helpful. The shirt fit loosely enough that she didn't even have to wrap her chest to conceal the few curves she possessed. She tucked the pouch containing the blue crystal beads for Steps Right under the neckline. Maybe it was too risky to have brought them, but if she couldn't get Steps Right to come back to the ranch, at least she would be able to return this long-lost treasure to her.

She straightened and reached to pat her head. Her hair would be a bigger challenge. Should she cut it? Maybe leave a little length on her neck like a young man who'd spent a few months out here? She wouldn't be able to add even the start of a beard, though, so it'd be better to look fully trimmed. Like someone who'd come fresh from the east, ready to start exploring.

But she couldn't bring herself to cut her hair that short. Not for a single trip into the rendezvous camp to get better directions. She simply had to pass for a young man long enough to get the information she needed. And tucking her braid up into a hat should accomplish that.

After securing the wide-brimmed hat in place and pulling on her boots, she glanced down at herself once more. Too bad she didn't have a mirror to check the parts she couldn't see. Her clothes were dirty enough to pass for a man's.

Her hands, though ... She dropped to her knees and rubbed mud from the dew-dampened ground over her exposed skin. Her hands, her neck, even her face. It should dry before she reached the rendezvous and might even help her look like she was growing a bit of scruff on her upper lip and chin.

Finally, she repacked her things and mounted Two Bit, then let out a breath as she gathered the reins. "Let's get this done."

From the details her family and the missionaries had said, she knew approximately where the rendezvous was being held this year. And Mr. Allen's pointing yesterday had confirmed the direction she'd thought. Hopefully she could reach that valley in a couple hours of steady riding.

It turned out to be nearer to three hours before the telltale signs of smoke rising above the crest of the hill gave her the first clue she was nearing her destination. Her heart quickened, and she urged Two Bit up the slope. At the top, she reined in where she could just see the valley but wouldn't be conspicuous to anyone looking up this way.

There weren't nearly as many lodges as the first rendezvous she'd seen three years before, when she and her sisters first came west. There were gaps between the campsites here, though, which probably meant a number of trapping parties had already left. The festivities were winding down.

She inhaled a breath for courage, then released it. Protect me, God. And help me get what I need here.

She nudged Two Bit forward, then adjusted her posture in the saddle so she sat more like a man. As they descended the slope into the valley, she could make out trappers wandering through the camps. A few looked her way, but she didn't hold their interest long as they continued with whatever they'd been doing.

A lodge and tent came into view that matched Mr. Allen's description, so she steered her horse a bit to the left, toward that camp. Two men sat in front of the fire, but she was too far away to see their expressions enough to know if they were watching her.

She did her best to look nonchalant. She would need to deepen her voice. How should she begin? Should she ask for the man named Parson? Or simply say she'd heard they were setting out to a place where they'd see waterfalls?

Faith took a deep breath as she neared the edge of the camp, then reined in Two Bit and dismounted. She left the reins hanging so he would stay ground tied as she'd taught him, then ambled forward.

One of the men looked older, with graying hair and weathered skin above his full beard. The other possessed a youthful face and a scruffy beard that hadn't fully grown in. They both regarded her as she stopped a few feet from their campfire, but the younger man showed more open curiosity. Both seemed to be waiting for her to speak first.

She started to smile but caught herself and shifted her expression to something a little cocky, yet not unfriendly. "Howdy." She made her voice as deep as possible without sounding silly. "Is there a fellow named Parson here?"

The older man tipped his head a little. "Who's askin'?"

That must be him. "I heard he was headed west on a trail that might lead to a few waterfalls."

The lines across the man's brow deepened. "Might be."

Parson certainly wasn't a trusting man. Should she smile a little to show she was friendly? Men didn't reveal emotion as often, but the younger fellow beside Parson didn't seem to be trying to conceal his curiosity.

She tried for an affable, open look. "I'm hopin' to get some directions from him. Maybe find out the best trail to find those falls. I've a friend who said she'd be staying near one of 'em. Not sure which one, so I might need to check all the falls in that area."

Parson narrowed his gaze. "Your friend's a woman?"

She barely kept from cringing. Why had she revealed that? He probably thought she was a fellow trying to meet up with a sweetheart from one of the tribes. "She's an old grandmother from the Peigan tribe. A healer. She asked me to bring her something."

She couldn't breathe as she waited to see if that would satisfy his questions. The way he was eyeing her, he must be trying to decide if he believed her.

She didn't let herself shift under his scrutiny. She didn't exactly meet his gaze full on, but she waited. Keeping herself quiet.

His expression gave no sign of his thoughts, but at last he spoke. "You can join on with me if you like. We're headed there in the mornin', me an' six others." He nodded to the younger man beside him. "Skeet here is one of 'em. We'll be trappin' all along those rivers where the falls are. I can show you a few that aren't on any map I've seen. If you have a mind to learn trappin', you can trade fer a few kits afore we leave. If not, you can come along as camp keeper. I expect every man to earn his share, but I don't nose into yer business neither."

She tried to keep the surprise from her expression. She hadn't expected an offer to join the group. Trap with them? She'd always wanted to try her hand at it. But she didn't have time to learn the trade now. Maybe later ... but not with a group of strange men.

She gave a nod of thanks. "I appreciate that offer. Any other time, I'd say yes an' thank ye." That was an expression she'd heard the trappers use. "But I need to move faster this time. My friend needs what I'm bringing to her. Could you maybe draw me a map, or point me to a trail that will take me to the area?" If he would include more falls than she'd seen on Mr. Allen's map, all the better. Coming here had certainly been the right choice. Maybe even direction from God.

But he shook his head. "There's not a trail. And there's too much ground to cover to draw it out." He eyed her. "Besides, it's not a route a fellow should go on his own. 'Specially not one who's green to the area."

At least she'd been successful in her disguise. But the disappointment pressing in her chest didn't feel like success.

He pressed his hands to his knees and stood, releasing a little groan with the effort. "If you wanna see the falls, ride along with us. You can tend the fire and cook meals. Help with the horses. I've got enough supplies to feed you. Be here at sunrise."

He turned and ducked into the lodge, a clear signal he was done with the conversation.

The other fellow still sat by the fire, but as she met his gaze, he raised his brows. "You in?"

That was the question, wasn't it? She pinched her lips. "Maybe. Need to do some thinkin', I suppose."

Then she turned and headed back to Two Bit before he could ask anything more.