“Where’s he?” Hannah asked.
“You do not belong here,” Juh said, emerging from the men.
She rolled her eyes. And fixed him with a gaze. “I belong here. There’s nothing you can do to drive me away.”
They held a firm gaze for a minute and then he smiled. Perhaps the first time she would ever see him smile.
“You know where he’s,” the man said.
She wondered for a moment and figured it out. He was at the waterfall. She handed the wagon over to the men that took a faster horse. Too fast for her, she realized as they horse took to the wind, her hair blowing.
She has travelled almost all through yesterday, and was tired, but she needed to be with him. She could feel the calling of his heart to her. She was nervous. About his reaction to her. Would he push her away? Did he hate her? All her worries would soon be answered.
She spotted Bear Claw's mare and stopped next to it. She got off the horse and smoothened her dress. Her hair was a scattered mess, and she had left her comb with the rest of her belongings.
This is it, she told herself as she looked around the beautiful terrain. She took a step forward.
She looked down at the flowing river. Seated beside it was Bear Claw. Her heart swelled with love for the man. Just a few days and she had missed him so much.
Quietly, she walked through the rocks. Her heart raced in excitement. The what ifs confused her.
Bear Claw froze at a faint sound. Someone was coming. He had come here to get away from the camp. To get some quiet. He didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone.
“Go away,” he said as the footsteps paused.
They continued. Towards him.
“I said go away!” His head flung towards the intruder. He gasped. He closed his eyes and opened them. She had to be a dream. He had to be sleeping because she couldn’t be standing before him. What pleasure did the gods take in taunting him?
“Bear Claw,” Hannah said softly.
His eyes lifted to her. The apparition sounded just like her.
“I am not an apparition,” Hannah said, making him realize he had spoken out loud. “It is me. See...” she pinched herself and grimaced.
It was her? He staggered up, and she crossed the remaining distance between them, flinging herself into his arms. His arms tightened around her. She was real! He had no idea that tears were already rolling down his face. She was real! That was all he could think of.
He pulled away from her caressing her now wet face. He stared into her eyes. “You are real.”
“Yes.”
“You came back.”
“I never should have left,” Hannah said.
He crumbled her with another tight hug. He refused to let go. Her scent drifted to him, intoxicating him. He had missed her so much.
“I am sorry I left. I... Wanted to protect you. To protect the village. And I wanted to know how my mother fared,” Hannah said in a rush.
He understood her. He had thought a good deal with past day, with his sisters throwing some insight to why she may have left. He had taken her from her home to a strange land. Away from her people. He imagined the same being done to him. He would jump at the slightest opportunity to return to his kindred.
“All that matters is that you came back, that you are here with me,” Bear Claw said. All was forgiven. She coming back was a surprise. He never expected this. He had thought he had lost her for good, but here she was in his arms. It seemed too good to be true he had to pinch himself to be sure that this was not a dream.
Hannah laughed. “This is not a dream. I am here with you Sachem. I am here.”
“Why? Why did you come back?” She had wanted to be with her people, so why come back of her own will? He was elated to have her back but why....
Hannah smiled, looking up at him. “I came back because I love you.”
