Nebraska Territory - 1849

    Maggie’s feet were numb from standing in the cold water. Her legs were wobbly and tired. The last time her feet had slipped out from under her, her head went under. She came up sneezing and sputtering. Emma laughed, and then fell under herself. And came up gasping.

    "Not so funny now, is it?" With hair dripping in their faces, they grabbed onto each other for support, collapsing in giggles.

    "Only halfway across." They groaned. Maggie looked toward the wagons, which were still traveling forward. The few women left had made it to the banks of the river.

    Emma gasped. "Maggie. Look."

    Maggie glanced behind at where Emma was pointing.

    "Indians."

    Four of them. Her eyes were too blurry to see clearly, but they were definitely Indians.

    Emma grabbed Maggie’s arm. "We’re too far from the wagons. We need to hurry."

    The women tried to speed their crossing, but the bottom was slippery. Maggie glanced back. "I saw him before."

    "Who?"

    "The Indian. He was the one we saw that day. Across Little Blue."

    The Indians were close now and looking straight at them.

    Maggie slipped. A gulp of murky water entered her mouth, she spit it out. Fear clawed at her throat. She couldn’t think straight. Something splashed beside her. It was either a mighty big fish or...not a fish. A fish didn't grab her waist and yank her out of the water. An Indian did, and he plopped her onto the rump of a horse. His horse.

    "Emma!" Maggie yelled.

    The Indian scooted her forward on the horse and jumped on behind.

    Maggie looked around frantically. "Emma."

    "PUT HER DOWN!" Emma slodged toward Maggie only to find herself dragged onto another Indian's horse.

    "Help!" Maggie squirmed in the tightening hold. "Let me go."

    "No. You will ride."

    "Y-you speak..." Her shock overcame her fear. "You speak English?"

    "Yes." He nodded.

    "Where are you taking us?" Emma yelled.

    "We mean no harm." He signaled to the others and they guided their horses through the water. "I take you to your people."

    "No, I can walk." Maggie attempted to slide down.

    "No!" The arm tightened around her. She sighed, not knowing whether to fight or give in. A breeze blew on her wet skin and drenched clothing causing her to shiver.

    "You are cold."

    She shivered again just to prove him right.

    He turned his horse around and approached their packhorse. He climbed off and stopped the horse. "Whoa." He took a blanket from the top.

    When he had the stack of woven blankets straightened and secured again, he handed Maggie the blanket. "Wrap."

    Climbing back onto the back of the horse he said, "Where is your man?" He sounded angry. Why was he concerned?

    "I d-don’t have a m-man." She tried to arrange the blanket better, but couldn’t quite get it around herself. Her teeth wouldn’t stop chattering. "M-my b-brother."

    "Let me," he said, grabbing the blanket edges and wrapping them around her tightly. "You travel with your brother?"

    She nodded.

    He put his arm around her. Where was her strength? Where was her fight? She remembered Emma. And turned. "Emma?"

    "Your friend is there." He pointed in front of them, and pulled her back against his chest. She was so tired. She sighed, feeling the heat of him seeping through the fabric of her dress. The others were waiting at the edge of the river, allowing her Indian to lead the way.

    Her Indian? Where had that thought come from? She had no rights to him even if she did find him attractive in a primitive way. His long hair, his muscled body. She liked the feel of his strength as he held her tightly against his chest, but she knew better than to allow her mind to wander too long in that direction. That direction would lead to longings that couldn’t be fulfilled.

    "We will surprise the wagon drivers, like I surprised your friend beside the river." He looked down at her. "Watch their faces," he whispered in her ear.

    "You aren't kidnapping us?"

    "No. I spoke already. I take you to your people." They splashed out of the river in time to hear shouts from some of the trail riders who were charging in their direction. The Indian’s soft chuckle vibrated against her back. She shook her head to break the fog trying to cloud her mind.

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