“Was it very difficult?” she asked him.
“Much easier than I had anticipated.” He escorted her to the canoes, a smile in his voice. “It turns out that having an army at your disposal makes things a lot less difficult.”
“I imagine so.” She also smiled. “Do you think there will be any more trouble now that we have the soldiers?”
“The Nor’westers will rebuild Fort Gibraltar, and they’ll continue to give us trouble, but they won’t have the power to remove the settlers from the colony ever again.”
His words gave her the first measure of relief she’d felt since her arrival in Assiniboia. “Do you think the colony will grow and prosper now?”
“I dinna see why not.” He helped her into the canoe and handed the sleeping Miriam into her hands.
Next, he aided Nicolette and Isla into the canoe, then helped Fiona and her children inside. Soon, all the women and children were in the canoes, making their way to Fort Douglas once again.
“This is the third time I’ve been exiled and returned to the colony,” Isla said, almost to herself. “I’m getting too old for this.”
Eleanor smiled. “Hopefully it will be the last.”
“It better be.” Isla crossed her arms. “I need to get on with my life.”
“Aye,” Arran agreed, reaching through the darkness to take Eleanor’s hand in his own. “’Tis time we all get on with living our lives.”
It took about an hour for the little brigade to reach the base of Fort Douglas. The rain had ceased, but lightning still danced in the eastern sky. Arran helped everyone disembark from the canoes and then he carried Miriam up the riverbank to the gate.
Fiona stood for a minute at the fort gate and took a deep breath. Eleanor said a prayer for her friend that the memories of Fort Douglas would not be too painful for her to continue her healing.
“Isla,” Fiona said to the older woman, “seeing that we’re both widows, I thought ye might like to live with the children and me for the time being.”
Isla’s eyes lit up and she nodded. “I think that will be just fine.”
“The soldiers have set up the tents,” Arran told them. “You can sleep in one for tonight and then in the morning, I’ll help you move into your home in Colony Gardens.”
“Thank you,” Fiona said to Arran. “For everything.”
Arran nodded and he and Eleanor watched as they were directed to one of the tents.
“Now, Mrs. MacLean,” Arran said to Eleanor, “’tis time to take you home.”
Warmth filled Eleanor at the wordhome.
They entered the governor’s house and Eleanor stood for a moment to take it all in. It was evident that it had been occupied very recently. Coals still smoldered in the fireplace, there was a pair of pants lying on the floor, and there were dirty dishes on the table.
“Nicolette,” Arran said, handing Miriam to the housekeeper, “would you take Miriam upstairs to one of the rooms?”
“What of the mess?” Nicolette asked, taking the sleeping child from him.
“We’ll see to it in the morning.”
Nicolette nodded and then went toward the stairs without a backward glance.
“Don’t you think Miriam should sleep down here with us?” Eleanor asked.
“She’s old enough to be in her own room,” Arran assured her. “And Nicolette will be close at hand, should she need something.”
Eleanor watched Nicolette walk up the stairs, uncertainty in her heart. She’d slept with Miriam ever since the child had been born. There had always been so much unrest, she’d wanted Miriam close if there was trouble in the fort.
“She’ll be fine.” Arran set his musket next to the door and went to the fireplace to stir the coals to life, then he put a few logs on the fire. “She’ll only be upstairs.”
“To you, it’s upstairs. To me, it feels like a hundred miles.”
