Naughty Language Disclaimer: Nope, not too bad in here. Maybe a word or two.

Other Language Disclaimer: One of the main characters in here speaks Apache, and while it has taken me a long time to find the materials I needed to get this as accurate as possible, there is a very real chance that I messed up somewhere. This is my first attempt at doing a historical piece of Uber fan fiction, so if you notice anything, please let me know. If I have offended anyone with a mistake, I apologize now.

I used the "Western Apache-English Dictionary" edited by Dorothy Bray to find the Apache words. Also, the poem mentioned in here is "Tomorrow" by Peter Blue Cloud. Not mine, unfortunately.

Sex Disclaimer: Well, this is an alternative story, so the two main characters do happen to love each other… and they're both women. (gasp!) If that isn't your cup of tea, you may not wish to read this, or you can give it a try - won't hurt, I promise. Nothing is real graphic in here, anyhow.

Violence Disclaimer: Yeah, there's quite a bit of that in here. Mention of rape and its aftermath, as well as some physical abuse in general. If that kind of stuff bothers you, just close your eyes over those parts.

Author's Note: A big thank you to my friends Charlene, Tina, AJ, and Amanda for being there for me, and to everyone else that I can't begin to name for supporting this little bard. The feedback I get from you readers means more than you can imagine. And, of course, more thanks and love than I can say in words goes out to my beta and best friend, Amber. Always.

If we were to take the time to look into the secret history of our enemies, we would find there a longing and a sorrow enough to disarm all hostility.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And now, the story:

Y02Mustang@AOL.com

Part 3

Morning brought rays of golden sunlight into the room, streaming onto the sleeping Indian's face, and slowly brought her to her senses. Aware of a presence by her side, she glanced down, and saw that Wolf had fallen asleep at her feet, protecting both of his mistresses.

"Thank you," muttered Blue Fire, stroking the animal's head, no doubt in her mind now that it was her Spirit Guide that had pulled her to the blonde rancher. "You took me to Alicia, when she needed help, and I am sure you tried to help her yourself. I only hope she will be able to tell me what happened.

"But, first, she must get well," the Indian said, aloud, and got to her feet to get another basin of cool water. Refilling it, she returned to her bedside position, and rinsed the sleeping blonde's bruised face with the damp rag, as a preventative measure for fever. The last thing the ill rancher needed was a fever, along with her injuries.

"Fight, Alicia," pleaded the woman, as she allowed herself to caress a pale cheek with a shaking hand. "You must fight to come back. I have heard of ones that sleep like this, sharing a bed with Death, but you must leave! I know it is not your time to join the Great Spirit; it cannot be.

"I do not know what I would do without you," she admitted, a tear making its way down her face. "Come back to me, Alicia. You taught me much about caring, and living, but even that means nothing to me if you are not beside me. I need you," the tall Indian whispered, her voice hoarse. "Open your eyes, and we will fight this together, I promise."

Praying for any movement from the woman, and watching her face earnestly, Blue Fire's heart dropped when there was nothing. The rancher's breathing was still labored, and were it not for the blood that marred her tender skin, she would have looked almost peaceful.

Her anger growing as she cleaned the woman's wounds, and knew that her own people were responsible for the atrocity, a sudden thought hit the Indian, and was enough to make her lose her breath.

The Apache did this to her, she thought, painfully. I am Apache. What will she think of me? Will she hate me for not protecting her? Will she even want me near her, after what has happened? Great Spirit, I could not handle it if she is afraid of me. If she fears me, I will leave once more, for I do not wish to cause her pain, she decided.

In fact, she decided that once she knew the woman was safe, and would be okay, she would leave, so Alicia would not have to see a reminder of her attackers wherever she turned. She would continue to watch over her, of course, but once again, from a distance.

Remembering the things that needed to be done, the tall Indian quickly fed the horses, and told them she'd take care of their mistress as best she could, before digging into her pack for some fruit she'd taken with her. Not really hungry, for her stomach was filled with worry, she only munched on the cactus fruit, feeding what was left to Wolf.

Then, knowing that trying to keep her mind active would help, she picked up the book "The Last of the Mohicans", and began reading aloud. She started from where she'd last read, and got through several chapters, before pausing for a while to check Alicia's wounds again.

The blood from her injuries had finally stopped flowing, so now it was a matter of keeping them free from infection, and keeping a fever at bay. Stopping every hour, Robyn diligently rinsed the blonde's pale face with cool water, checked her bandages and sutures, before assuring the rancher she was strong enough to fight her way back.

"I know you can do it, Alicia," insisted Blue Fire. "I believe in you; I know you will make it." You must make it, for if you do not, I will not.

Three days passed, with Robyn realizing each morning that sleeping in a hard wooden chair was not nearly as comfortable as the floor, and no progress from the injured young rancher. Blue Fire was glad no one had come by, because she knew no one could know she was there, for it would only cause problems, and she wouldn't leave Alicia's side, unless it was in a wooden box. And the Indian had no doubt if she was found, that would be the result.

As Robyn struggled through the book Alicia had called Hamlet, she held the woman's hand, and felt her heart skip a beat when she was sure the blonde had squeezed her hand! Sure, it was weak, but she knew she'd felt it.

"Alicia," said Blue Fire, anxiously, putting the book down as the literature was quickly forgotten. "Alicia, please, wake up. Come on, I know you can do it! Fight, Alicia!"

With a pitiful moan of pain, foggy green eyes slowly opened, and looked around. When the emerald orbs came to rest on Blue Fire, who was trying hard to contain her tears of relief, they widened in fright.

"N… no," murmured Alicia, withdrawing her hand, and trying vainly to escape.

"Alicia, it's all right," spoke the Indian, gently, as her heart broke at the fear that filled the emerald eyes. "It's me, it's Robyn. I won't hurt you. You're safe, now," she assured her, but did not touch the woman, since that seemed to frighten her all the more.

"Robyn," voiced the rancher, glancing cautiously at the woman, as though trying to figure out if she should believe her.

The tall woman nodded. "That's right," she said. "Do you remember? I will not hurt you," she repeated, calmly.

"Robyn!" Alicia cried, painfully raising her arms, beseeching the tall Indian for a hug, which the woman gave without hesitation, being extremely careful not to hurt the injured blonde. Sobs racked the small body, and Blue Fire held her close, swallowing her own tears.

When Alicia seemed to have cried herself out, Robyn pulled back, and softly brushed away the rancher's tears with her thumb, before realizing what she had done, and quickly turning away to retrieve the basin of water.

The blonde bit her lip, sure that her initial reaction was what had made Blue Fire turn away.

"Robyn, I'm sorry, I…" she began, but sighed. She didn't know what to say. What? I'm sorry I tried to run away from you because you're an Indian and I had a flashback, and I thought for sure you had come back to finish me off? Yeah, sure, why not, she thought, bitterly.

"No, it's all right," assured the Indian, as she wiped the woman's face with the cool rag. "I understand. I will get tea for you. You must drink, and eat when you are ready," she said, and the rancher nodded as the tall woman left the room.

While Robyn was making the tea, Alicia examined her injuries, and was pleasantly surprised to find she was healing quickly. She knew she had her Indian friend to thank for that, for taking care of her.

For a moment, when she first opened her eyes, and again when the bronzed hand wiped the tears from her face, the blonde swore she saw something in the woman's eyes… something like love. But she shook it off, assuring herself that was ridiculous.

And too much to hope for.

It was four days before Blue Fire allowed Alicia to get up, and even then, made sure she was by her side constantly. While she had been restricted to the bed, Robyn brought her tea, cereal, and broth to keep her strength up, patiently helping her with anything, even eating and drinking, if she had trouble or became frustrated.

Two days into her recuperation, the blonde was dying for a bath. Her head itched, and she hated knowing it had been a week since her last washing. When she mentioned the fact to Robyn, the Indian was quick to form a suggestion.

"Why do you not take a bath?" she asked, with a smirk. "I will warm water, and be back to get you soon."

"But, you said I couldn't walk," the blonde pointed out, as the Indian turned.

Smiling, the tall woman raised an eyebrow at her, and replied, "I did not say you would walk." A while later, when Robyn was sure the water was the right temperature, she returned, and revealed her plan to Alicia.

"I will carry you," she said, moving towards the bed, and green eyes widened.

"Uh…" stammered the rancher, and Blue Fire stopped, sensing her discomfort. "Listen, Robyn, that's really nice of you to offer, but I don't think it'll work. I'm pretty heavy," she said, lamely.

A dark eyebrow was raised, shooting down that excuse.

"Alicia, I need to check your bandages anyway," sighed the Indian. "I will carry you to your bath, and check your wounds when you are done. Here," she said, wrapping the blanket around the woman, who was still nude, Blue Fire insisting it would do no good for her to get dressed, since she had to clean her injuries anyhow. Holding the blanket around her, careful not to disturb her healing arm, the tall woman easily lifted the blonde into her strong arms, and cautiously walked into the kitchen, where the tub was set up.

"You must let go of the blanket, Alicia," came the gentle voice, and the embarrassed woman shyly did as she was told, letting the cover fall to the ground, so she was bare in the woman's arms. Focusing on looking straight ahead, Robyn slowly lowered Alicia into the water, flinching herself when the blonde's waist hit the water, and the injured woman gasped in pain.

Since she'd regained consciousness, Alicia had not let Blue Fire examine her more intimate wounds, and so the change of temperature hurt. The small blonde had suffered nightmares every night, and would give a start every once in a while, if she happened to catch Blue Fire out of the corner of her eye without knowing she was nearby. In short, the woman was afraid of her friend, and refused to talk about what happened, despite Robyn's insistence.

"Sorry," said the Indian, and continued placing the rancher in the bath water. "Do not get your arm wet," she advised, and the woman gently placed her injured arm on the side of the tub, out of the water.

"Do you want me to wash your hair?" offered the Indian, and the blonde nodded, scooting forward a bit, glad the water was deep enough to keep her covered. With a gentleness that surprised the young woman, Robyn cupped the water in her hands, and wet the short blonde hair, before softly massaging the soap into the hair, and then rinsing it away, with more care than Alicia knew was possible.

By the time the tall woman was done, Alicia was almost asleep, she felt so relaxed. "I will leave you, now," said Blue Fire, getting to her feet, and turning away to give the blonde some privacy to continue washing. "Call for me if you need anything."

When she was done, Alicia called for a towel, and her face turned a lovely shade of scarlet when Blue Fire lifted her out of the tub, wrapped a towel around her chest that covered her waist, and then carried her back to bed. She allowed the woman to fully dry off on her own only after she was seated on her mattress.

Alicia couldn't help but marvel at the excellent care Blue Fire was giving her, and wondered if the tall Indian would now say her debt was fulfilled, from so long ago, and leave for good. After all, she had done for Alicia what the blonde had done for her.

Her fears were confirmed when she walked out into the living room, after getting dressed on her own, and saw Blue Fire packing her things into her leather bag.

"Robyn?" she asked, quietly.

The Indian jumped, and turned to face her, her blue eyes looking sad. "I must go," said the tall woman, trying to keep her voice even. "It is best for you."

"What do you mean?" asked the blonde.

Robyn sighed. "Alicia, you fear me," she said. "I see it when you look at me. You have nightmares about what my people have done to you; it is not right for me to remain here when it causes you pain."

The blonde sat down on the couch, and motioned for Blue Fire to join her. The Indian sat beside her, silently.

"I'm sorry," said the rancher. "I don't want to be afraid of you, Blue Fire. And it's not you - it's my memories. Maybe it'll be better if I talk about it…"

When the small blonde began her tale, Blue Fire wished she could block it out, but knew she had to listen. Her blood boiled at the woman's description of how the Indians had arrived at her house, and started demanding, in rapid Apache, to know where Blue Fire was. She pretended not to understand, so one asked her in English.

Alicia refused to answer anything, claiming she didn't know where the Indian was, and had no idea where she would be. The Apaches didn't believe her, and beat her into unconsciousness, striking her each time she ignored their questions.

The next time she came to, they were dragging her deep into the forest. She was dropped unceremoniously on the ground, where she was given an ultimatum: tell them where they could find Blue Fire, or die. She looked her interrogator right in the eye, and spit in his face. The Indian grabbed her throat, and as the world faded away, the small blonde vaguely acknowledged an inhuman growl as Wolf came to her aid.

"I guess one of them distracted him, while the others took care of me," she said, and Blue Fire was surprised the woman wasn't crying - the tall Indian herself was near tears. "That's all I remember until just a few days ago, when I woke up."

Robyn was silent for a time, and then said, her voice a bare whisper, "I am sorry. I should have been here. It would not have happened if I was here."

Alicia was quick to correct her. "Robyn, if you were here, they would have captured you. I didn't tell them where you were because I knew they would hurt you if they got a hold of you," she explained. "I think it's better that you weren't around."

The Indian was confused. "You… you do not blame me for leaving you to them?"

The blonde's jaw dropped. "Blame you?" she repeated. "No, of course not! Blue Fire, what happened was not your fault. There was nothing you could have done." Suddenly, the petite rancher understood what had been bothering her tall friend - guilt.

"You've been blaming yourself this whole time, haven't you?" Silently, the tall woman nodded, and hung her head, to which Alicia sighed. "Blue Fire, I'm sorry. I would have said something sooner, but I thought you were acting strangely because of the way I was treating you."

Robyn just shook her head. "And yet you fear me still," she stated.

"No," said the blonde, with enough conviction in her voice to make blue eyes look into her serious emerald pools. "I don't fear you, Robyn, believe me. I know you won't hurt me - I trust you. It's just the memories, and they'll fade eventually," she assured herself, and the tall Indian.

"Still, perhaps it would be best if you did not have to see an Indian every day," sighed the woman, her dark hair covering her face as she lowered her head.

"No, please," protested the blonde rancher. "Don't go, Robyn. I trust you, but I… I don't know what I would do if you left. You've taken such good care of me, Blue Fire. Please, don't go, not yet," she pleaded.

The Indian nodded, extremely glad she didn't have to leave. "I will stay," she said, and was surprised when the small woman enveloped her in a quick hug.

"Thank you." With that settled, Blue Fire decided it was time for them to eat something, and prepared a light meal for them both, making sure Alicia's still sensitive stomach could handle the soup.

Even with Robyn sure of her place in Alicia's home, she kept her bag packed, in case something should arise, and she'd have to leave.

It wasn't more than two weeks after the blonde had finally revealed her story to Blue Fire, when they were enjoying a nice breakfast, and there was a loud knock on the door. Wolf growled, menacingly, and the Indian told him to be quiet as she opened the door. Only if it was trouble could he snarl again.

The woman frowned when she found herself face-to-face with a large cowboy of a man, wearing a leather vest over his crisp shirt, and a gold star reflecting brightly in the morning light.

"Blue Fire?" asked the big man with the gold badge, and the tall Indian raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yes," she drawled, glancing around uncertainly at the other men with him. They all held rifles, and wore cowboy hats, still mounted on their horses, glaring down at her. Recognizing only one, Jake, she clenched her jaw; she still didn't like the feeling that developed in her gut when she saw the man.

"I'm Sheriff Pete Riser, and you're under arrest." That said, he withdrew his handcuffs, and prepared to place them on the woman in front of him, when a small blonde spoke up.

"Under arrest?" repeated Alicia, skeptical, sure he had to have the wrong Indian. "For what?"

"Murder. Of two white men," he added.

"I think you've made a mistake, sheriff. She didn't -"

Robyn cut her off, holding up her hand. "No, Alicia," she said, silencing her. "They are right." Green eyes looked confused, and hurt. "I am sorry," she whispered, swallowing her pain at seeing Alicia's verdant orbs fill with disbelief.

Putting her hands in front of her, she was ready and willing to let the man chain her, when a loud cry was heard from the forest. Several Apache warriors stormed through the land, in full paint and dress, coming to a quick halt in front of the woman of their own color.

"Dotth'izh ko'," said one, and Blue Fire narrowed her eyes.

"Let me guess," she said. "You want to take me back to pay for my crimes."

"What do they want you for?" demanded Alicia.

"Returning to the tribe when she was banished," said one, who spoke English and served as a translator for the others. "The pale-faces want you, too, Dotth'izh ko'? Well done!" he chuckled, when she nodded.

The tall woman growled at him, but the sheriff interrupted her anger. "Now, hold on a minute. We're placing her under arrest for murder," he explained. "Since we can't very well kill her twice, I think we need to reach some kind of agreement."

"Such as?" questioned the translator, a pompous Indian Robyn knew as Iron Horseshoe, but everyone called Big Head.

"Well, why don't ya'll take her back, since I'm sure you'll be hard on her, and you just give her a few lashings for us," he suggested. "I'll send a few of my guys along to make sure she gets whipped good, and then you can do whatever you want with her." He expected her own people would fry her or something, the damned cannibals they were known to be - however false that conviction was.

The Indians nodded, and the tall woman was shoved roughly over to her former brothers for capture. Holding her wrists tightly behind her, Iron Horseshoe and another Indian restrained her from escaping, although she really wasn't planning on it, until she heard the next words that came from the sheriff's mouth.

"Jake, why don't you stay here, and make sure Alicia doesn't follow. We don't want her to get hurt," said Pete, and the man in question nodded. "She's a clever one," he added, as a warning.

"Sure, sheriff," he agreed, standing beside the blonde, who was watching Blue Fire in earnest. "Don't worry about a thing; Alicia may have more bright ideas than a porcupine has quills, but I won't let her go anywhere," he grinned, meeting the prisoner's blue eyes with his own delighted but evil stare.

"No!" cried the Indian, struggling when she realized Alicia would be left alone with the man she despised.

…than a porcupine has quills… she mused, thinking hard. Why did that sound so familiar to her?

That was what the Shadow Man had said to Brian…

Jake was the Shadow Man! It all made sense now! The money Alicia owed him, the poisoned feed, never coming around when Robyn was there, having Brian do everything so the blonde wouldn't suspect him, having to gain her trust… The Boss, whoever that was, wanted Alicia's land, and Jake was trying to sabotage the ranch!

"No, you can't!" Robyn insisted, trying to twist free of her restraints.

"Silence her," ordered someone, and Blue Fire felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, before everything went black.

Alicia tried to run to her side, but Jake gripped her arm, and held her to him. "No!" she shouted, trying to squirm free, ignoring the pain in her still healing arm. Her heart aching, she watched as two Indians grabbed either of the unconscious woman's arms, and dragged her unceremoniously through the dust and rocks, her moccasins slipping off and her feet scraping the entire way.

"It's all right," soothed Jake, pulling the upset woman to his chest. "She won't hurt you anymore."

"She never hurt me!" cried the blonde, trying to push away from the man. "You! Damn you, Jake! You helped them arrest her! Don't touch me!" Flinging the man's hands from her arms, she stormed into the house, and with a sigh, Jake followed after her.

"Alicia, please, wait!" he called, determined to get her to trust him, if it was the last thing he did. Then it hit him - she'd cursed! Alicia had actually sworn!

She must really be mad…he realized. All that work I did, and I was so close!

All the more work for him to gain her trust again. If he couldn't, the plan would be a little more difficult to execute, and the Boss said he didn't want to hear of any more setbacks…

The next time Blue Fire opened her eyes, she found herself naked from the waist up, with her wrists tied widely above her head, her front against some sort of a cross. Glancing around, she realized it must have been the white men's idea, because she had never seen such a contraption. However, taking a wild guess, she figured the whip on the ground would come in handy to her captors while she was tied up.

Suddenly, there was a splash of water in her face, and she sputtered and coughed, glaring into the brown eyes of a young girl.

"Oh, sorry," Small Fox said, sweetly. "I thought you were still asleep."

Blue Fire growled at her. "So, what is it?" she asked. "Hanging? Knives? The white man's rifle? What?"

The girl shrugged. "Don't know," she said. "My father and the council are still deciding on this matter. Your mother is speaking on your behalf. Oh, the white men are ready for you," Small Fox grinned, stepping back when one man picked up the whip. The Indian got a good look at it, and then wished she hadn't - the whip was a crude looking piece of leather, one end splayed into a half-dozen eight-inch long strips, causing each lash to be six-times worse.

"Glad to see you're awake, savage," he spat, rotating his wrist and shoulder to prepare for the long lashing. "It'll be much more fun to see you scream, for murdering my friends!"

Blue Fire said nothing, even when the first blow made contact with her skin, and the man cried out a loud, "One!" as the whip hit its mark. The leather cracked across her back, leaving a bloody mark in its path, from her shoulder down to her lower back. It stung like crazy, and burned as the open air hit it, but she didn't dare make a noise.

"Forty-nine more," said the man. "I'll have you begging for mercy and crying in pain by the time I'm through with you, you heartless bitch." Still snarling, the man brought the whip down again, and again, and again, each time harder than the last, trying to get a sound out of the stoic warrior woman he was beating.

Although the Indian tasted blood, from biting her lip in anguish, she did not scream. She told herself she was not going to give the white man the pleasure. The urge to cry out was great, and the pain was blinding, but she swallowed the feeling, and tried her best to think of Alicia's smile.

Taking his time, it was nearly thirty minutes later before the man was done. Having stripped his shirt off during the process, the hot sun making him sweat in his work, he picked up his soiled garment, and shoved it against the fresh wounds.

Blue Fire was nearly unconscious, but the stinging sensation quickly brought her back to reality, and she knew she'd have deep teeth marks on her bottom lip. In fact, she was surprised she hadn't bitten all the way through.

"Let the vultures pick at you," he growled, walking away, as Blue Fire hung by her wrists, unable to hold up her own weight any longer. She heard the white men leave, and knew they had only come to watch her receive her punishment. They had no concerns about what the Indians did to her afterwards.

"Tu (water)?" offered a voice, and Blue Fire weakly raised her head, barely enough to nod, that slight movement enough to make her eyes swim and her stomach churn.

Gently bringing the ladle to parched lips, the girl allowed her former sister to drink, even though most of it dribbled down her chin. Like it or not, she did feel bad, and thought the white men had been harsh, in the way they'd taken their time to make her suffer all the more.

"I have a question for you, Dotth'izh ko'," she began, and the tall woman raised an eyebrow at her, however weakly. "That white woman they say you were with when you left… why were you in her home?"

Blue eyes widened. "Is she here?" she demanded, trying to crane her neck to check behind her for the blonde, although it hurt like nothing she'd ever felt before, and made her nauseous. "Answer me, please! Is she here?"

"I don't think so, why?" responded the young woman.

"I can't let her see me like this," she said, hanging her head. "Great Spirit, tell me she didn't watch it. It'd be too hard on her, and she doesn't deserve that pain. Please, do you know if she's okay?" The girl shrugged, and Blue Fire struggled against her bonds for a moment. "I have to make sure she's all right!

"They left her with Jake! He's going to do something, I know it!" she snarled. "Can you send someone out there, to check on her?" the injured woman pleaded.

"No one will want to help a white woman!" spat the girl, and the tall Indian sighed, knowing the young girl was right.

"But I must do something!" she cried, tears forming in her worry. "He will hurt her, I know he will! It's him, he's the Shadow Man!" There was no other reason for the man to be so interested in Alicia's land, as to be surveying it when he thought the woman wasn't looking - but a certain Indian was. And it made sense - he was still angry about Matthew Winters' loan from him, the money he was owed.

It's amazing what a white man will do for money, Robyn sighed.

"Small Fox, I'm begging you to help me," Blue Fire said, and the girl's brown eyes widened in surprise.

Blue Fire… begging? That didn't happen every day. In fact, when she took a moment to think about it, it had never happened before. The explanation would be interesting.

"Why? What is so special of this white woman?" the girl demanded.

The tall woman's voice was a bare whisper, and for a moment, Small Fox wasn't sure she'd spoken. "I love her," she said, her eyes downcast. "She is my heart, and my soul, and my life. I do not expect you to understand, Small Fox, but she is my soul mate. I have found the one that I will love for all time, and she doesn't even know it," she said, a tear making it's way down her bronzed cheek, falling to the ground, making a sole imprint in the dirt.

The next time Blue Fire looked up, she realized the young girl had a knife in her hand. Tilting her head back, she exposed her neck, and urged, "Do it. Go on, just be quick. The sooner you do it the sooner I can watch over Alicia once more."

To her surprise, she felt no pain in her neck, but more of a tingling in her wrists. Watching in astonishment, she saw Small Fox cut her ties, and toss her the shirt nearby, which had been thrown in the dirt after it had been removed to bare her back.

"Go to her," said the girl.

"But, escape means certain death! And for you, as well," said Blue Fire, hesitantly, struggling to regain her footing as she nearly fell, her legs weak, her feet sore and torn.

"If you really love her, you will go, and let me deal with the council. I am the Chief's daughter, I will tell them you never should have been banished, and the kill you made was in defense for your life," Small Fox said, handing her the knife. "I will take the punishment for lying, as that is what brought this on in the first place. Perhaps you may return some day.

"I am sorry," she finished, quietly.

"Thank you," said Blue Fire, sincerely, startling the girl by placing a quick kiss on her forehead before she left. To see the young girl so mature, grown enough to take responsibility for her actions no matter how late… the gesture meant a lot to Blue Fire, who had learned from Alicia that people deserve a second chance.

"You are forgiven." That said, she sped off, putting on her shirt as she ran, trying to ignore the pain it caused in her tender and wounded back, which was a bloody mess. Her feet were raw and painful, still bleeding in places, from the long drag she'd undergone from Alicia's Ranch to the Apache camp.

Even so, Robyn's only concern was of Alicia, and she barely felt the pain for the adrenaline and worry coursing through her body.

Reaching the Ranch just a little before dusk, she searched frantically for Alicia, but found nothing. Jake, Alicia, they were both gone. Wolf was there, and greeted her anxiously, having been locked in the house.

"I need help," she admitted, aloud. "But who can I turn to? My own people will not help a white woman, and the whites will not believe me. If I go to the sheriff, he will only arrest me," she said.

Suddenly, it hit her. The one white man she could trust who would believe her! Taking off as fast as she could, Wolf close on her heels, the woman raced through the town, coming to a ranch with horses, and chickens, and goats. Knocking on the door, she called to the man.

"Anderson!" the tall Indian cried, and the man rushed out the door.

"What's going on?" he demanded. "Robyn, is that you? Is that a wolf? I'm in the middle of dinner! What's wrong?" He hadn't seen the woman for more than a couple of months; since she and Alicia had dropped off the yearling he'd requested, which was doing very well, especially since Blue Fire had been kind enough to train the young horse for him.

"Alicia is in trouble," she said. "Jake and Brian are working together to get her land, and Jake has taken her somewhere. You must get the sheriff and help me! I would go, but he would only arrest me, and Alicia is in danger!"

"Whoa, whoa," said the dark-haired man, trying to get her to calm down. It was no surprise to him that the woman was Indian - he'd gathered as much the first time he'd seen her choker. But what was this nonsense she was rambling on about? "Now just hold on a minute. Jake and Brian are what?"

"They want Alicia's land, and it was their idea to poison the feed and get me out of the way," she explained. "Get the sheriff, and take Wolf. He will go with you, and when I find her, I will whistle for him. Just follow him, and he will lead you to us," Blue Fire said.

"Please, Anderson!" she begged, when the man looked reluctant. "Alicia may be hurt! I have to go to her!"

"Go," he said. "We'll follow with help."

Nodding, she told Wolf to stay, and the tall woman was off like a shot. If she was hiding someone, where would she take them? Probably not someone's home, or even their own, so a cottage was out of the picture. Someplace where they couldn't be heard very well if they screamed…

"The mine!" she realized, and started in that direction. Not far off Alicia's property was an old mine, closed down because it had been labeled a danger to the workers. Blue Fire remembered thinking that if the white men would close it down, it had to be very a serious hazard, because she knew they worked their men in some of the worst conditions imaginable. They would kill their own to make money.

Now she was ready to go charging in there without a second thought.

Once inside, she listened closely, trying to decipher whose voices she heard, and where they were coming from. Hearing two deeper tones, she assumed Jake and Brian were there, and an occasional shout told her they were probably yelling at Alicia, so that meant the woman was there with them.

"Great Spirit, if they've harmed one hair of her head, the sheriff will have two more murders on his hands," she whispered. Creeping through the tunnels, she retraced her steps when the voices grew fainter, and was soon able to follow the light shed by their lanterns.

Once she was sure she knew where they were located, and could find it again, she quietly moved out into the open, and whistled through her teeth. A sound that was almost too high pitched for her to know if she'd made a sound or not, she knew Wolf would hear it, and now only had to wait.

Minutes later, Wolf, Anderson, Sheriff Pete Riser, and a few other men, came running up. Dismounting quickly, Anderson approached the Indian, and she shook his hand, thankful for his quick response.

"You and you," she said, pointing to two men with the sheriff, "come in with us. Anderson and I will help you all bring them out, and the rest of you will stay out here in case they try to escape. Come," she urged, leading the way, motioning for them to stay quiet, ignoring the angry look the sheriff was shooting at her.

Blue Fire rounded the corner first, and her blood instantly rose to a boil. Tied at the hands and feet, Alicia was sitting on the ground, a gag in her mouth, blood trailing down from her split lip. Jake was playfully aiming a pistol at her, and Brian was checking the lantern, which was dimming.

"Let her go," spoke the woman, and Alicia's eyes widened upon seeing her. Jake spun around, and leveled the pistol at her chest, pulling back the hammer.

"You've been nothing but trouble," said Jake, hotly. "I'm this close to completing a plan for taking her land, and you show up! Can't you just be a good little Indian and go do a rain dance or something?"

Robyn growled at him. "I'm tempted to demonstrate a scalping," she snarled, and the man laughed, as Brian came up behind her, ready to fight.

"Oh, I'm shaking," Jake chuckled, steadying the gun once more.

"Don't even think about it," she warned, kicking Brian in the gut, hard enough to send him sprawling back into the wall.

"Hey!" cried Jake. "Leave him be, will you? Now, you walk out of here, and she dies. You stay, and you both die." To show his point, he raised the weapon to the tall woman's head, and placed his finger inside the trigger well.

"Fire that gun and we'll all die," said Anderson, coming to stand beside her. "Come on, Jake, give it up."

"Oh, goody," he grinned, "two heroes. If I can't get what I want, no one can!" Aiming the barrel of the gun upwards, he fired a shot at the ceiling, trying to ensure that the Indian would never meddle in his plans again… nor would Alicia.

Almost instantaneously, the rumble began, shaking the weak foundation. Rocks began falling, and Blue Fire dove for the gun as soon as the lantern blew out, wrestling the weapon from the man's grip, another shot going into the walls during the struggle.

"Take him," she cried, shoving Jake to the two sheriff's men after throwing the gun deep into the trembling cavern. Drawing her knife, she cut Alicia's bonds, and helped her to stand, also covering her from the falling debris. Hearing a moan, she growled when she realized Brian's leg was trapped underneath a fallen beam, and called to Anderson.

"Anderson, take her outside," she said, and the man obediently took Alicia's shoulders to guide her.

"What about you?" he asked.

"Go!" she shouted. "This whole place is going to come down on your head, and hers, if you don't leave now! Get her out of here!" she cried, and the man hesitated for only a moment, before leading the woman out of the crumbling mine.

"I should leave you here to die," she sighed, bracing her feet to lift the beam. "When I lift this, you will move, or I will drop it on you again and not come back." The boy nodded, quickly, his eyes wide. Coughing in the dust, Blue Fire grunted as the strain pulled at her back, but didn't stop lifting. Her shoulders stretching to their limit, she heard the boy scramble back, and let it drop.

"Can you stand?"

Brian nodded. "But, I can't walk," he said, and Robyn sighed, heavily.

"Put your arm over my shoulder," she ordered, wincing when he was forced to lean his arm on her wounds, she slipped her arm around his waist, supporting him as she dragged him along. The walls literally coming down around them, Blue Fire found it nearly impossible to see, and stumbled along, nearly falling several times, having to catch Brian several more.

Outside, the sheriff and his men gasped when the whole thing collapsed, sending a thick cloud of dust into the air. Beams and stones were seen blocking the entryway, and Alicia had tears in her eyes, knowing the Indian was still in there, Anderson the only thing keeping her from rushing towards the cave-in.

Inside, Blue Fire dove for cover, taking the boy down with her, covering him with her body, allowing the debris to make impact with her back, hissing at the pain. When it was over, just seconds later, she struggled to her feet, and looked around for an opening, knowing they were somewhere near the entryway.

"There," said Brian, pointing near the top of the "wall" where a draft was coming through, and a bit of moonlight could be seen. "You can get out there."

Blue Fire nodded. "Yes, but you can't climb with your leg," she said, and began digging. Starting at the top, she worked quickly, and built a small stone ramp for the injured man to climb up to the hole, and then get out.

"You will go first; they will help you out," she said. "I will follow. Go." Giving him a shove in the right direction, she helped the boy walk up the makeshift ramp, and then climb through the hole. Taking a few moments to catch her breath, she wiped some sweat from her face, and realized with surprise that blood coated her hand, not sweat.

"Great," she muttered, stumbling through the hole and to the outside world.

"Robyn!" cried Alicia, rushing towards her as soon as she had taken a few steps on solid ground. "You're bleeding!"

Ignoring the pain she knew it would cause, the tall woman pulled the small blonde close to her, in a strong hug, tears in her eyes at the feeling. Alicia returned the embrace, oblivious to the whip marks she was hurting, and neither woman wanting to let go.

"Are you all right?" asked Blue Fire, pulling back long enough to lock eyes with the rancher, who nodded.

"I'm fine," said Alicia, "but you…" Her voice trailed off as she eyed the damage, and gasped. Blood trailed from the tall Indian's forehead, from a gash on her cheek and above her eye, and, judging by the way she was standing, her back was also injured. Glancing down at her feet, green eyes widened at their poor and battered condition.

"I will be all right," Robyn assured her. Meeting the blonde's gaze, she allowed her feelings to show in her clear blue eyes, and the corner of her mouth turned up a bit, as she felt a little nervous. Slowly, gently holding the woman's chin with her left hand, she ran the other through fine blonde hair, and gathered her courage. Leaning down, looking for any sign that Alicia didn't want her to continue, she softly pressed her lips against her love's, and was lost.

The feeling was exquisite - it was a rush, but neither had felt more secure. Blue Fire let her hands caress the soft skin of Alicia's face, and felt her own skin come alive when the blonde covered her hands with her own smaller ones.

And the tall Indian felt the world drop out from under her when a questioning tongue gently probed her mouth. Moaning lightly, she did the same, and felt Alicia place her hands behind her neck, pulling her even closer. Blue Fire wrapped her arms around the smaller woman's waist, and simply melded with her, their bodies fitting perfectly together, as though they were made for each other.

This is love, thought the Indian, blissfully. If it is not, Great Spirit take my breath from me now, for I know I can never possibly feel this happy again.

Reluctantly, when she began to feel lightheaded, and not just from the blissful kiss, Blue Fire pulled back. Blue eyes met dancing green, and she smiled, kissing the blonde's forehead with care.

"I am more than all right, now," she grinned, and Alicia blushed. The color deepened when Anderson and a few of the sheriff's men began cheering, the others not caring for the display.

The Indian raised an eyebrow at them, wryly. "If you don't mind, Alicia and I will continue this conversation later, in private, and, if it's not too much trouble for you all, I would like to go home."

As if sensing her hurt, the blonde took her hand and led her to the wagon, which the sheriff had sent one man to retrieve. He offered to bring a doctor, but Blue Fire and Alicia both refused, knowing they'd take care of each other just fine.

"Blue Fire!" called Brian, as she stepped into the wagon. Glancing back, she raised an eyebrow at him as a few men helped him settle in the saddle, Jake already in handcuffs on another horse. "Why'd you do it?" he asked. "Why'd you come back for me? What'd you expect?"

The Indian sighed, and looked away for a moment, before responding. "From you? Nothing," she admitted. "From me? Nothing less."

"Hold on just a minute, there, Blue Fire," warned Pete Riser, and the Indian paused, giving the man a bored look. "What about your punishment for murdering those two men?"

Alicia jumped to her feet before the tall Indian had a chance to respond, coming at the man with, "You said it was up to her own people to punish her, sheriff. You even sent two of your own men along to make sure she got what you thought she deserved, so don't even try to backpedal this one!

"Blue Fire has more than paid her dues, and even did more than she had to, saving Brian and all," reminded the fiery blonde. "The next time you talk to her, it had better be to chat about the weather, because so help me God if you bother her unnecessarily, I'll…"

"Alicia," spoke Robyn, gently, hiding her smile well. As much as she appreciated the gesture, the woman was getting in deep with the white law, and she didn't want the blonde to get into trouble.

"I get the picture," mumbled the sheriff, upset about not being able to get rid of the damned meddlesome Indian once and for all, but deciding he'd just have to try another tactic. The savage bitch would be out of the way soon, if he had anything to say about it. With a heavy sigh, he climbed on his horse and rode away, Jake and Brian in tow, as Alicia returned to her place beside Blue Fire.

The ride back to the ranch was rather bumpy, and each jolt made Blue Fire wince, but, eventually, they came to a stop, and Alicia helped the tall woman from the wagon. Assuring everyone they would be okay, she watched them drive away, and then led the Indian into the house.

"Sit," she said, pointing to the couch, and the woman obediently sat, being careful not to lean back. "First I'll take care of your head, then your back, and then your feet, all right?"

Blue Fire nodded. "And then I will tend to your wounds," she insisted, and Alicia smiled. The Indian sighed, and carefully stripped off her shirt, as the blonde retrieved the supplies she would need.

Alicia lost her breath for a moment, when she came back into the room, and saw the woman sitting topless on her couch, despite the fact that her back was turned to her. The surprise was quickly replaced by worry, when she noticed the innumerable amount of welts and deep cuts that marred the Indian's strong back.

The only word that came to her mind was shredded.

"Oh, Robyn," she said, sitting beside her, cloth and salve in hand. "I'm afraid this is going to hurt."

"Don't worry," Blue Fire said, reaching back to squeeze the blonde's hand, reassuringly. "Do what you must."

As gently as she could, Alicia cleansed the cuts on her back, since she'd rather get those done, tell the woman to put her shirt back on, and then work on the lacerations to her face. She removed gravel, and dust, and even small bits of leather from the wounds, before coating them with an antibiotic ointment, pleased when none needed stitches.

"You can put your shirt on, now," said Alicia, and, albeit carefully, the Indian did just that. Then, turning around, she let the blonde treat her injured face the same way. She tried not to, but when the woman got to the gash on her cheek, she flinched, and green eyes looked sad.

"Sorry," said Alicia, quietly, looking away for a moment. Working in silence, she stitched the slash, and then asked the woman to put her feet up on the couch. Placing them on her lap, the blonde bit her lip when she realized how much pain the woman had to have been in, having to run across the land with her feet already as bloody as they were.

Softly, she cleaned and treated each wound, promising to wrap Blue Fire's sore feet in warm cloths later on, to help her rest.

"Thank you," said Blue Fire, and motioned for the woman to turn to her, so she could see to her split lip. Gently wiping away the blood, she kissed the tender forehead when she was done.

To her surprise, she found tears falling from the beautiful green orbs she loved. "Alicia?" she asked, concerned. "What is wrong? Are you hurt?"

The blonde shook her head. "This is all my fault," she said, sniffling. "If I hadn't met you, and insisted you stay, you wouldn't be having to pull me out of trouble every time you turn around. You got hurt coming after me," she cried, and Blue Fire's heart constricted at the genuine sorrow in her soft voice.

"Alicia, if I had not met you, I would not be alive," she said, and the woman looked confused. "You saved my life, that day you brought me to your home and tended to my wounds. You asked nothing in return - you did not even know I would stay, and yet you cared for me.

"And your kindness saved my soul," she continued. "Before, I was an Apache warrior, who killed because it was what I knew how to do. Now, I can still kill, but I choose not to, if I can help it. You have taught me how to forgive. And how to love," the Indian added, quietly. "I do not regret a single day I have spent with you. I love you, Alicia."

"Oh, Blue Fire," cried the blonde, sinking into the strong woman's embrace, leaning against her. "I love you, too." There was a small silence. "About what Sheriff Riser said… about those men…" the blonde wasn't sure how to continue.

Robyn sighed, understanding what the woman was asking. "After my tribe banished me, Moonbeam traveled into the white man's camp, and they captured me," she explained, deciding to give the woman the condensed version, and spare her the details. "When one of them tried to… touch me, after taking the ear-drop from my ear and pushing the arrow deeper into my shoulder, I snapped his neck to stop him from doing any more.

"Another man came in, and aimed his gun at me, so I threw my knife, hitting him in the chest," the woman sighed. "The gun went off… that's the bullet you took out of my thigh. I rode as fast as I could on Moonbeam, but they were shooting at me, and one eventually hit my horse."

Taking a moment to swallow the lump in her throat, Blue Fire finished, "He went down, and I ran as far as I could, before tripping and landing in the ravine where I'm assuming you found me. It was self-defense," she added, quietly.

The rancher nodded. "I never once thought it was in cold blood, Blue Fire," she assured the Indian, taking her hand.

"Alicia, why did Jake want your land so bad?" asked Robyn, after a moment.

"Before Matt got sick," she began, "he had an agreement with Jake that he would take over the land, should something happen to him, since he had loaned us the most money to get started. When they got into an argument, over the money I suppose, Matt withdrew his offer, saying the Ranch would go to me. He died, I got the Ranch, and I guess Jake wasn't very happy," she said.

"But I never thought he'd try…" Her voice trailed off as she thought of her frightening ordeal, and remembered how close she'd come to being killed by a former friend. Tears sprang to her eyes, and Blue Fire quickly took her into her strong arms.

"Shh…," murmured Robyn, into the woman's hair. "I've got you, my love. It's okay. I am here, and I will never let you go," she swore.

I was wrong, she thought, as Alicia's breathing matched her own, and the woman relaxed. She grinned as she felt their hearts beating, as one, and placed a soft kiss on the blonde head that was tucked under her chin.

This is love.

Blue eyes opened, and the tall Indian grinned. My heart has never felt so glad, she thought, as she awoke in the same position she'd last remembered - Alicia wrapped safely in her arms, resting her head on her chest.

Verdant eyes soon fluttered open, and the blonde smiled, paying no mind to the slight pain in caused in her split lip. "Morning," she said, looking up at the woman she loved. "For a minute there, I thought it had all been some kind of dream."

"Then I must still be dreaming," said Robyn, kissing the blonde's forehead. Upon trying to sit up, however, she quickly discovered she was indeed awake, as pain spread through the marks in her back. Alicia watched the pain cross the bronzed face, and was quick to gently help the woman into a sitting position.

"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.

Robyn nodded. "Yes," she replied, trying to convince the small blonde that she didn't need to worry, and knowing it was a futile effort, "just a little sore. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," replied the rancher, kissing the Indian's lips, softly. "Sit here; I'll put more salve on your back, okay?" At the woman's nod, the blonde hurriedly retrieved the ointment, and helped Blue Fire to remove her shirt. Concentrating solely on the task at hand, Alicia bid the woman to replace her clothing as soon as she was finished.

"It is better now," the tall Indian said, smiling. "Thank you. Alicia… are your people all right that you and me are together?" the woman asked, tentatively.

The blonde sighed. "Some," she said. "A few don't mind, but most people, at least around here, don't like the idea of two women or two men being together. Like the sheriff," she added.

"He will not arrest you?" exclaimed the Indian, worried, and Alicia smiled, taking the large hands into her own.

"No," she assured her, "he can't; not just for that. It's just that some people think a woman shouldn't be with another woman, and a man shouldn't be with another man."

"Why?" asked Blue Fire. "Deserve to love and feel love, too," she pointed out.

"That's the way I feel," agreed Alicia, "but there are others who say it's a sin to be with someone of the same sex. It's even mentioned in the Bible." Seeing the slight look of confusion on Robyn's face, she continued, "A book with the word of our God."

"Why would He restrict love?"

Alicia shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted. "Listen, Robyn, I don't have a lot of these answers, when it comes to things like this. Things are the way they are, and that's all there is to it. All it means to us, is we won't be able to show affection in public," she explained.

The Indian frowned. "I do not understand, but I will do as you say is right," she sighed. "I may make you breakfast?" The blonde nodded, happily, and helped the tall woman to her feet, and into the kitchen, where she prepared an absolutely ambrosial meal.

They were just finishing, when Wolf growled at the door. Alicia got to her feet. "You stay there," she told Blue Fire, "I'll get it so you don't have to walk."

A few moments later, a shaky voice drifted back into the kitchen. "Uh… Robyn, I think it's for you," said Alicia, and Blue Fire was by the door in an instant when she heard the fear in her beloved's voice. What she saw caused her to step out in front of Alicia, and reach behind her to take her hand, reassuringly.

Riding up on horses, and some on foot, was about a half-dozen Indians. Blue Fire's mother was among them, walking along side the mounted Indians, and looked pleased. Nonetheless, the tall woman did not step away from her protective vantage point next to Alicia.

"Blue Fire," called the Chief, who was on horseback, "come. We must talk."

Robyn paused. "Stay here," she told Alicia, quietly, walking over to where the Indians had stopped, a few yards from the house. "What is it that we must so urgently discuss?" she asked, sharply.

The Chief sighed. "Small Fox has told us the truth, and how everything really happened," he admitted. "You were wrongly accused and punished, on both counts. For this mistake, we welcome you back into the tribe once more. You may return home to the camp with your mother, Dotth'izh ko'," he smiled.

Blue Fire was quiet, thinking. "May Alicia stay with me?" she asked, at last, squinting as the morning sun hit her eyes when she looked up at the man.

Ndoitcho snorted, thinking the tall woman was surely joking. "She is white," he laughed, but noticed Robyn was serious.

"Then I will not return," she stated. "I love Alicia with all that I am, and will stay with her, even if it means being away from my tribe."

"The girl may visit," offered Proud Lion, through gritted teeth. Feather in the Wind had begged him to do anything he could to get her to return, and he was trying, but, Great Spirit, Dotth'izh ko' was stubborn!

"No. She will stay there with me, or I will stay here with her," the tall Indian woman explained, leaving no room for compromise. "Nothing else is good enough."

"I will not have a white woman in my tribe!" shouted the man, angrily.

"Then you will not have me." Turning away, she felt a hand on her arm, and looked into the eyes of her mother. "I am sorry, Mother, but it is you who said we must never give up our soul mate. I love Alicia with all my heart, and I will not leave her," she said, gently.

"I know, little one," Feather in the Wind smiled. "I only wanted to give you my blessing for a long and happy life. We will see each other when we can, and until that time, I know you are safe with your Alicia. She will take care of you, Dotth'izh ko', as you will her."

Blue Fire nodded, and gave her mother a long hug, before walking back over to the blonde, who still stood in the doorway. Slipping her arm around the smaller woman, Robyn watched the men exchange glances, before Feather in the Wind took the reins of one horse, and led them away.

"What was that all about?" asked Alicia, lightly.

"Small Fox told them the truth, and they have let me back into the tribe," Blue Fire explained. "Proud Lion says I am welcome to return with them."

"That's great," exclaimed Alicia, happy for the woman.

The Indian shook her head. "No," she said, "it is not. They would not let you stay with me if I go, so I will not leave."

"Oh, but, Blue Fire," protested Alicia, kindly, "it's your tribe. Those are your people, and that's your home."

Here, Blue Fire smiled. "You are wrong, my love," she said, kissing the fair forehead. "My home is here, with you. Only with you." It has always been with you, my soul mate. I thank you, Great Spirit, for granting me the greatest gift you can give - love.

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

- The Bible, Isiah 11:6

For the first few weeks after Blue Fire's return to Escape Ranch, she rarely let Alicia out of her sight. To wake in the morning and find the small blonde gone, even if she was just in the kitchen making breakfast, was enough to drive the woman into a panic.

By the end of about three weeks, however, the Indian was not only beginning to realize that Alicia wasn't going anywhere and was safe, but she was fully recovered from her injuries. The only reminders of the torture she'd endured at the hands of the white man were the scars that marred her back.

Able to walk and ride comfortably, now that her feet were healed, Blue Fire began taking Winter Escape on long rides that often lasted several hours. Unbeknownst to Alicia, the Indian she loved was actually doing continuous checks of the perimeter of her land, for fear of allowing Jake or Brian or someone like them to hurt Alicia again.

It was on one of these expeditions that Robyn noticed a small wooden cabin, erected just inside Alicia's property. Frowning, she dismounted, and approached with caution, the stench of blood assailing her nostrils almost immediately.

Something very bad has happened here, she thought, examining her surroundings carefully.

The cabin couldn't have been bigger than about three rooms, and while the only thing amiss outside seemed to be an overturned chair, the tall Indian was wary of the door, which was slightly ajar.

Wolf whined lightly, and Blue Fire quieted him, slowly pushing open the door, wincing as the hinges loudly complained, giving notice to her presence. When nothing happened, and all was silent within the cabin, Robyn entered, ready for anything.

Although a dead body was certainly not what she had been expecting. The black woman didn't look to be much older than the Indian herself, and her blood covered not only the floor but the walls, as well. Her throat had been slit, wounds visible on her back and chest, and even Blue Fire was struck by the brutality of the act.

It did not go unnoticed by the Indian that there was someone else in the cabin with her… she could feel the person's eyes watching her every move.

Turning her attention back to the woman on the wooden floor, Robyn decided she would return later with her bag, to give the woman a proper funeral, and ensure a safe passage for her spirit.

Kneeling to make a quick blessing until she could come back, the Indian growled when she felt a body crash into her. Throwing whoever it was across the room, Blue Fire leapt to her feet, ready to face her attacker, sapphire eyes widening when she beheld a young boy.

She guessed him to be about ten years old, with dark skin, and brown eyes that were currently hardened, but swollen from crying.

"You killed my mother!" he cried, charging the woman again.

Robyn stepped out of his path, not wanting to hurt the child. "No," she said, evenly. "I only want to help."

"You lie!"

When he ran at her once more, she dropped to one knee, grabbing him by the arms before spinning him around, pulling the boy tightly against her chest, restraining him by wrapping her arms around his struggling frame.

"I'm not going to hurt you," the Indian insisted. "I do not know who did this, but I do not think you are safe to stay here. If you give me your word not to attack me again, I'll release you, and we can talk.

"Do you promise?" When the boy solemnly nodded, the woman carefully loosened her grip until he was free. To his credit, he didn't try anything.

"Who are you?" he asked, looking the woman over carefully as she slowly got to her feet.

"My name is Blue Fire, but the white men call me Robyn," she replied, and then asked the boy the same question.

"My Indian name is Little Bear, but my English name is Virgil," was his response.

The tall Indian was silent for a moment. "How is that you have an Indian name?" she queried.

The boy met her gaze, evenly. "My pa is Navajo," Virgil answered, "but my mother was a slave, until she escaped."

Blue Fire's eyes softened towards the child. "Do you know who did this?" she asked, quietly.

"My father went hunting three days ago, and said he wouldn't be back for a long time, because he wanted to make sure we wasn't being followed. Two days after he left, the Navajos came for us again." Here the tears returned. "Mama put me in the food closet to hide me, but she couldn't hide with me."

The tall woman gave the boy's mother a moment of quiet respect, gently squeezing Virgil's shoulder.

"Come, Virgil," she requested, "return home with me. It is not safe for you to stay here, in case the Navajo come back."

"What if you're the Navajo, too? How do I know I can trust you?"

"The white men call my people the Apache, and if I wanted to do you harm, you would be dead already. Come with me, and you will be safe, I can promise you that," she added.

"But…"

"I will return, if you wish, to give your mother the burial she deserves, and to keep watch for your father, should he return from the hunt," the Indian offered. "Then, he will not worry."

Virgil frowned. "How come you're doing this?" he asked, genuinely perplexed. "Most people don't help me 'cause I'm black, and I even tried to hurt you… How come you're being so nice to me?"

Blue Fire grinned at the child. "Someone once told me it does not matter what color skin you have, or what we might do differently; all that matters is you need help, and I understand why you acted the way you did," she explained, thinking back with fond memories of the blonde who had managed to capture her heart with ease. "There is no reason for either one of us to be against each other.

"You have two options, I think. One, you can remain here, and risk facing the Navajo again. Or, you can come to the home I share with my soul mate Alicia, and we will protect you. It is up to you; what do you choose?" the Indian questioned.

The boy hesitated for only a moment, before nodding, quietly asking, "Why did they hurt my mama?"

Blue Fire felt her heart constrict at the honest expression of hurt and grief on the young child's face. "I don't know, Virgil; but I will find out."

"I will go with you," he agreed, and the tall woman gently led him out the door, before whistling for Winter Escape, who galloped obediently up to her mistress. Mounting, and then helping the boy to do the same, Robyn took the young child back to Escape Ranch, knowing Alicia would house him until his father could be found.

While the young blonde was surprised to see the Indian return with an extra person, she nonetheless took Virgil under her wing, instantly seeing to it that he had a bath and a hot meal.

Giving the boy his privacy during the bath, Alicia took that time to talk to the woman she loved. "What happened to his parents?" she asked, talking softly.

"His father is out hunting, and his mother was killed by the Navajo," the Indian explained, quietly. "I will go, now; his mother's body is still at the cabin, and I promised I would give her a proper burial. Her spirit must have a safe passage."

Alicia agreed. "Okay. I'll see you for dinner?" she hoped, but the woman paused.

"I do not know, my love. The burial may take me a while… normally I would be quick to dispose of the dead," the Apache were known to be killers, but didn't like to be around the dead any longer than necessary, "but I feel the need to honor this woman. If I do not make it for dinner, I will see you in the morning."

The blonde seemed disappointed, but nodded, kissing the woman lightly on the cheek before she left. Announcing her presence before entering the kitchen, the rancher found her young guest fully dressed once more, drying his short hair.

"Feel better?" she asked, with a small smile.

"A little," he sighed. "Thank you for the bath, ma'am."

Alicia laughed. "Oh, Virgil, call me Alicia. What do you say we find you a place to sleep, and then get dinner started? Does that sound good?" The boy was quiet for a moment, not used to being asked his opinion by anyone other than his parents, but agreed.

"Yes, thank you."

"So polite," praised the woman, with a grin and a quick pat on his head, the child being only an inch or two smaller than herself. Virgil smiled, and followed Alicia through the house, immediately offering to take the couch so he wouldn't be an inconvenience. Protesting that it was what he was used to, the blonde finally gave in, but wouldn't back down when it came to supplying sheets and a light cover.

The two ate dinner alone, Virgil absolutely fascinated by everything that Alicia had to say as she told him all about the ranch, and Blue Fire, and the town, and even Wolf. It didn't matter what he told her, just so long as he heard her voice. He found it very comforting and soothing, like his mother's…

That thought was enough to drive him to tears in the middle of his supper, and Alicia was quick to put an arm around his shoulders.

"What is it, Virgil?" she asked, and the boy sniffled.

"I just… I miss my mom," he admitted, lowly, wrapping his arms around the small blonde when she drew him into a tight hug.

"I know you do, sweetheart. But Robyn and I will do everything we can to help you, okay? You don't have to worry about that. And it's okay to cry," she added, sensing that he seemed to be attempting a brave front. "We all have to cry sometimes."

For the next twenty minutes, until they retired to their separate beds, Alicia allowed the young child to cry on her shoulder, assuring him that while he would never forget his mother, the pain would lessen with time. Bidding him good night, and making sure he knew he could call on her if he needed anything during the night, Alicia tucked him in and kissed his forehead before walking down the hallway and climbing into her empty bed.

Just as she'd expected, Blue Fire did not return until just past dawn the next morning. She was there in time to find Alicia and Virgil feeding the horses, and, after spending numerous hours the night before burying a young boy's mother, it did her heart good to hear Alicia's laughter echo throughout the barn.

"Robyn!" the boy cried, spying her before the blonde, running up to the Indian. "Was… was my mama okay?"

Blue Fire knelt down to be eye level with the child. "She is home, now, Virgil. She is safe," she assured him, sparing him an encouraging squeeze of his shoulder. "I will return after breakfast to look for your father, so he will not worry, as I promised you."

True to her word, just after breakfast, Blue Fire packed her bags again, and walked out the door. She didn't return until the sun was long gone for the night, and found Virgil asleep but Alicia waiting up for her. Apologizing for being so late, she explained she hadn't found the boy's father yet, but was still looking.

The Indian continued the same routine for nearly a week before Alicia felt she had to say something. Virgil was asleep on the couch, while Robyn and the blonde rancher talked in their bedroom. The woman was upset that she never saw Robyn anymore; she was always at the cabin, searching for Virgil's father continuously.

"I never really knew my father, Alicia. He died when I was just a child. If I can help Virgil find his, I must try," insisted Blue Fire, beginning to tire of explaining the same thing over and over.

Alicia sighed. "Do you really think it's necessary to spend all day at that cabin?" Blue Fire just rolled her eyes. "I know you want to help, and I want to see Virgil reunited with his dad, too, but there's only so much you can do!"

"That boy's father could be out there somewhere, looking for his son," said the Indian, sternly. "Until I know for sure, I am not giving up."

"And I'm not asking you to," insisted the rancher, unable to tell the tall woman that she was worried about her - worried that whoever had killed Virgil's mother would return, because she feared the Indian would shrug it off, telling her she'd be fine when Alicia's gut was telling her a completely different story.

"But I am asking you to be reasonable!"

Blue Fire growled as she walked out into the night. Alicia did not understand, and she refused to argue with the blonde when the Indian knew it wouldn't do any good. With a sigh, Robyn made her way through the forest to her mother's.

Alicia groaned as she felt the sunlight on her face, signaling a new day, and immediately reached for the tall Indian she loved… green eyes shot open when her hand touched a cold sheet.

"Robyn?" It slowly sunk in that the woman had not returned during the night. She was still out, wherever she was, angry or sulking or hurt.

That last thought was enough to cause the small blonde to leap out of bed and get dressed in two minutes flat. What if Robyn was at the cabin, injured, in need of help? What if something had happened during the night?

Stepping into the living room, Alicia was aware of the adorably cute picture that she beheld. There, on her floor, lay Wolf and Virgil, curled up peacefully together, both sound asleep. Alicia breathed a sigh of relief; if Wolf wasn't agitated, the chances were good Blue Fire was not in danger.

Thank God for the connection of Spirit Guides, she prayed, quickly, before beginning to make breakfast for three. She expected Robyn back at any moment; it wasn't like the woman to be gone for very long…

"Virgil," called the woman, smiling when the boy stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Breakfast is ready, kiddo." The child smiled, and scrambled to his seat, only after helping Alicia set the table.

When the rancher sat down beside him, the intelligent young boy instantly realized the lack of their companion.

"Where's Blue Fire?" he asked, as he dove into his bacon.

Alicia evaded answering his question directly. "She should be here soon," she said, starting on her own meal, however slowly. When the two made it through breakfast and still no Blue Fire, the blonde began to wonder just where the woman had gone.

Well, if she went off to the cabin, she should be back by nightfall, the woman thought. Figuring that was where the Indian went, Alicia felt a little better, and was able to make it through the day, Virgil helping her in any way he could. He was such a good and polite child, Alicia enjoyed his company immensely, and the two were always telling tales about one thing or another.

But when Alicia tucked Virgil into bed, and had been lying in her room for about an hour, still without one sign of Blue Fire, the worry returned full force. Why wasn't the woman coming home? Wolf didn't seem agitated, so hopefully she wasn't hurt, but was the Indian angry enough to leave?

"Oh, God, I hope she didn't intend to leave for good," prayed Alicia, staying awake as long as she could, falling into a light sleep only a few hours before dawn.

Alicia awoke the next morning feeling tired and worried, and so the whole day passed by slowly, with Virgil sensing the change in her mood and being very careful not to upset the woman. He tried to be very good and to help Alicia with whatever she asked, thinking that perhaps it would lift her mood, and while he managed not to make her angry, he didn't think she was feeling any better by dinnertime that night.

"Alicia… did I make you mad?" he asked, quietly, interrupting their otherwise peaceful meal.

The woman started, and glanced up at him, apologetically. "Oh, no, I'm sorry, Virgil. It's not you, sweetie, I'm just worried about Robyn. I guess I've been kind of glum today, haven't I?" The boy nodded, slowly. "I'm sorry," the blonde repeated.

"Maybe we could go see Robyn," Virgil offered, helpfully, and Alicia smiled.

"That sounds like a good idea, Virgil. Why don't we plan on leaving for the Apache camp in the morning, and checking there?" When the child agreed, he listened happily as Alicia became more talkative, and told him everything he ever wanted to know about the Apache Indians.

Although Alicia and Virgil made quite an impression walking into the Apache camp at a little past ten the next morning, and Feather in the Wind had to convince Ndoitcho to allow them to stay in her home, Blue Fire didn't realize any of this was going on… she wasn't even in the camp, as a matter of fact.

Upon the advice of her mother, Blue Fire had gone on a vision quest. Feather in the Wind sensed that something was bothering her daughter, and insisted that she be on her own for a while, even if it meant getting away from her beloved Alicia. With a heavy sigh, the woman had realized her mother wasn't going to give in, and so settled down for a long walk and an insightful vision quest.

While she had intended on finding guidance pertaining to Virgil and his father, Blue Fire instead saw something completely different… She saw the Apache nation, the camp she'd grown up in, symbolized by a glowing turquoise stone. To her surprise, she saw a tomahawk fall from above and strike the stone, hard. It faltered and began to break, and Robyn found herself holding it together. She wasn't alone in her efforts; another smaller pair of hands reached for the stone, and together, they kept the nation from breaking apart.

The tall Indian came to her senses with a start. She was sitting cross-legged under a large, sturdy tree, about two miles from the camp she'd just seen in her mind. The quest hadn't gone quite as she'd expected… she still didn't know what to do about Virgil, or his father, or her fight with Alicia. All she knew was that she was hungry, stiff from sitting on the ground since dawn that morning, and missed the small blonde terribly. Stretching and getting to her feet, she headed back towards the camp with a sigh.

Ducking into her mother's kowa, she was startled to find Alicia and Virgil sitting beside the elderly woman.

"Come, Virgil; we leave them," Feather in the Wind stated, calmly, nodding to her daughter as the two exited the hut to give the women their privacy.

"Alicia?" questioned the Indian, still surprised.

"Oh, Blue Fire, I've missed you!" cried the blonde, hugging the tall woman tightly, relieved when the gesture was returned, just as strongly. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I never meant for our argument to get so out of hand; I was just worried about you being out there alone."

Robyn smiled softly, and urged the woman she loved to sit beside her. "My heart, I can handle my own, as you say," she reminded Alicia, and the rancher sighed.

"That's what I was afraid you'd say." Blue Fire frowned, looking confused. "I didn't want you to just laugh me off, because I really felt something was going to happen to you. I can't help but worry, and I couldn't take it if you decided to make light of it."

"I would take your concern seriously, Alicia, and I am sorry if I gave you reason to think that I would not," said the Indian, honestly. "It means a lot to me that you are worried for my safety, my love. But it is important to me to find Virgil's father if it is in my power."

"What happened to your father, Blue Fire?" asked Alicia, softly.

Taking a deep breath, the Indian decided to tell the blonde the story that she had never told any one - her mother had always been the one to do the explaining, because, even now, it was hard for her daughter to talk about.

"My father was one of the best hunters this tribe had ever seen," she began. "He died when I was only six summers old, and I do not remember very much about him, except that he was very kind and loving. He was open to my idea that I wanted to be a warrior, and often helped me train, secretly taking me along on a few of his trips at night to check snares and traps.

"He taught me how to hunt and how to be a good tracker," the woman said. "Every time I use these skills, I think of him in some way, and I believe he would be happy with what I have done.

"One day, he went out on a hunt with some of the other braves, and said I could go along, if my mother agreed. She didn't have anything I had to do, and so said I was allowed to go with the hunters. While my father and the others were busy stalking deer, I went off on my own and followed tracks, just like my father had taught me.

"The tracks led to a cave, and I wandered inside, only to find a litter of baby mountain lions, and one mother cat, very angry at being disturbed. Being a child, I wanted to take a kitten to show off to my father, to show him that I was a good tracker, but the mother did not like that idea. She growled and hissed at me, swiping at me a few times, ready to pounce with the next move I made.

"I don't know how he knew that I was in trouble, but all of a sudden, my father rushed in, taking me out of the cave in a hurry. The cat followed, thinking she had found food, and my father readied his bow and arrow, but the lion was too close. The other men came running to help him, but it was too late, and the mountain lion…

"He risked his life to save me, and it led to his own death.

"I miss him very much," voiced the Indian, looking away as she blinked back her tears, Alicia putting a comforting arm around her waist.

"I'm sorry you had to watch that, being just a child," she said, quietly.

Blue Fire nodded. "That is why I want to help Virgil; I know what it is like not to have a father when you are young, and I do not want him to feel that," she explained.

Alicia agreed. "I understand, but I still want you to be careful, okay?"

"I will, my heart," Robyn assured the rancher, kissing her softly before suggesting they join her mother for lunch. "After we eat, I will go to the cabin for the day, but will return by nightfall, I promise." Alicia realized she would have to be satisfied with that arrangement, and kept any objections she had to herself, calling for Virgil and Feather in the Wind to come back inside for the meal.

The Indian was relieved to learn that Virgil's father spoke English, and set out for the cabin not long after they had all finished eating. She said her good-byes to her mother and Alicia, spending a fair amount of time assuring the blonde that she would be home soon, kissing her tenderly before promising the small boy to do all she could to bring his father back to him.

Watching Alicia and Virgil ride off, Blue Fire mounted Winter Escape and rode towards the edge of Alicia's land. The cabin was there, exactly as she'd left it, so she assumed Virgil's father had not yet been there. Waiting up in the trees, since she didn't feel right staying in the cabin that wasn't hers, the tall woman was instantly alert when she heard the sound of a horse approaching.

A well-built man with dark skin, wearing leathers similar to her own, rode up on a dark brown horse, pulling his steed to a halt when he got to the cabin. Dismounting in a hurry, he ran inside to search for any survivors within, starting when he walked back out only to find a woman standing beside his horse.

Robyn noticed he was Navajo, and was cautious; she couldn't be sure if it was Virgil's father, or one of the murderers back to follow up.

"Where is my wife?" he snarled, drawing a large hunting knife made of bone from the leather sheath that hung around his neck. "What have you done with my son?"

"Your wife is dead," she said, gently. "She had been gone for several days when I found this place; I gave her the best burial I could. Her marker is there," she informed the man, nodding towards a large tree just to the side of the cabin. A large rock, almost a boulder, could be seen at the base, on which Robyn had scrawled, in English, the name Virgil had supplied.

"My son…?" The man now seemed afraid to ask, tears in his eyes at the news of his wife.

"Virgil is safe at my home, with Alicia, my soul mate. I told him I would wait here and bring you to him," she explained.

"I am Blue Fire," she introduced, sticking her hand out towards him.

He sheathed his knife, and gripped her forearm, saying, "I am Golden Eagle, but the white men know me as Christian. How do I know you really have my son, and you haven't killed him, too?"

"I did not kill your wife, Golden Eagle. I was not with the Navajo party that Virgil says attacked the cabin. You do not have to trust me, but Virgil is waiting for you… he would like to see you. You are welcome to come with me, if you wish; if you do not, than I will bring him to you in the morning," she offered.

Mounting Winter Escape without waiting for a response, Blue Fire started towards the ranch, pleased when she saw Christian pull up beside her. He had shoulder-length black hair, and his brown eyes looked dim and sad, but the knife he carried was snugly put away, so Blue Fire assumed he trusted her, at least a little.

Neither Indian said a word on the ride to the ranch, Golden Eagle spending the time with his head down, honoring his dead wife in silence. Robyn was careful to do the same, giving the woman a moment of reverence.

"We are here," she said, softly, when they arrived at the ranch. Christian looked up, and examined his surroundings, apparently pleased by what he saw. Dismounting, Blue Fire waited for Virgil's father to do the same, and then offered to stable his horse. When he agreed, she asked him to follow, and the two retired their mounts to the barn. It was dusk, so the other horses had already been fed, Robyn giving a flake of hay to Winter Escape and Christian's horse before motioning that they would go inside the house.

"Blue Fire, is that you?" called Alicia, when she heard the door open.

Robyn smiled at the sound of her love's voice. "It is me, my heart. And I have brought someone with me. Virgil, come out here, please," she said, and the boy peeked his head out of the kitchen, where he was helping Alicia make dinner.

His brown eyes widened. "Papa?" he asked, almost uncertain of what his eyes told him he was seeing.

Christian dropped to one knee to embrace his son. "My son," he swallowed, blinking back tears as he clutched his only child tightly to his chest.

Blue Fire gave them some privacy, and moved into the kitchen to wrap her arms around the small blonde. Alicia leaned back into the strong hold almost involuntarily, placing her head on the woman's shoulder, kissing her softly.

"I'm glad you found Virgil's dad, and I'm glad you're home," she said, smiling.

"So am I. Dinner smells good," she added, moving to taste the thick stew, only to have her hand gently slapped away.

"Not yet," scolded the rancher. "Set the table and call Virgil and his father. Then we can eat," she explained, as Robyn gave her a mock scowl, before doing as she was asked. Summoning their guests for the meal, Blue Fire watched Christian very carefully when he introduced himself to Alicia, not liking the way he seemed to stare openly at the beautiful young woman throughout dinner, and even steal occasional touches to her arm or shoulder.

Reminding herself that the man just lost his wife not long before, she nonetheless felt the burn of jealousy emanating from deep within her heart, and promised to keep a closer eye on the Navajo. Shaking the thoughts from her head, she barely registered what Golden Eagle and Alicia were discussing.

"You're welcome to stay here for as long as you need," Alicia offered kindly, and Christian smiled at her.

"Thank you, but I should start repairing the cabin soon," he said. "Then Virgil and I can have a place of our own, and will not have to depend on you and Blue Fire. It is very nice of you to open your home to us. And I thank you both for taking good care of my son while I was away," he added, sincerely, reaching over to take the blonde's hand.

"He's a good kid," praised Alicia, and the boy blushed.

Robyn cleared her throat; if anyone at the table noticed that she seemed agitated, no one mentioned anything. "I will take Virgil to town for some clothes soon. Perhaps tomorrow," she said, abruptly, and the child smiled at her. He'd been wearing his same clothes for the past week, simply because he'd been too busy helping Alicia to worry about what he wore. Taking a bath everyday was good, but some clean clothes would be nice.

"Really? Thanks, Blue Fire!" he exclaimed, hugging the woman tightly.

"Yes, thank you," echoed Golden Eagle. "Everything we had was destroyed or taken… I will return to the cabin to see what else we need, and perhaps will join you later to pick up the supplies."

The tall woman agreed to the plan, and soon they all decided it was time to turn in for the night, each having had an emotionally stressful day. Virgil fell asleep dreaming about all the nice clothes he was going to get, Golden Eagle thanking the Giver of Life for sparing his son - and yet mourning his wife, Alicia glad to hold the Indian in her arms again, and Blue Fire wondering if she shouldn't warn Christian not to touch the small blonde. She didn't think she had anything to worry about at the moment, but knew that if he went any further, she'd have to say something.

Setting out the next morning, Virgil rode in front of Blue Fire as they made their way to the town. Almost immediately, the boy found a display in front of the store that interested him - some wooden toy or another, Robyn realized - and asked if he could stay for a moment to look at the objects.

"Sure, Virgil. I will be inside if you need me," she smiled, patting the boy on the shoulder, warning him not to go anywhere else without telling her first, and then heading inside the store.

"Good morning, Robyn," greeted Lauren, amiably, and the Indian nodded to him.

"Good morning. I am here to get clothes for my friend, Virgil," she stated, and he glanced outside at the young boy who seemed to be enthralled by the new shipment of wooden tops he'd just received.

"Ah, the young black fellow out there?"

Blue Fire nodded. "Yes. He is staying with Alicia and I until his father can repair their home, and he needs some new clothes," she explained, and Lauren happily pointed her in the right direction, giving her a few suggestions before going back behind the counter when he saw she was fine on her own.

The woman turned from choosing some clothes for Virgil when a noise out front caught her attention. Hearing voices, she moved so she could see out the window, and immediately headed in that direction when she spotted a horde of angry men surrounding the young child.

"What do you think you're doing?" roared the Indian, rushing in front of the boy, who was trying hard not to cower in the corner, his brown eyes wide with fear. "Leave him alone!" The people took a few steps back, but didn't disperse.

"Look at him, he's just a damned nigger," cursed a man Blue Fire knew to be one of the local barbers. "Standing out here like this - it's not right! How could you bring him to our town? It's bad enough we have to put up with goddamned Indians, but now blacks, too?" he complained, and the two dozen or so people behind him agreed.

The tall woman glowered at the crowd. "You would do him harm, just because of the color of his skin? He is only a child - he's done nothing to you! Why do you treat him like he is not entitled to the same things as you?" she demanded.

"He's a slave boy!" cried one man, and the others backed him up with shouts of agreement. "He don't deserve to be in the same town as us! I mean, he's not like us!"

Blue Fire growled at the group, quickly growing frustrated. "'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone'", she recited, from the many nights she had spent interestedly reading the word of the white man's Great Spirit which Alicia had so generously lent to her.

"Did not the book of your God say this?" Eyes faltered from her steely gaze. "If there is anyone here who can truly say they are not different, then you may do with this boy as you wish."

No one stepped forward. They knew the Indian was right.

"So be it," the woman hissed. "You have no more right to be angry with this child for the color of his skin than you do for his age. He can control neither, so why should it be in your power to condemn him for it?

"Come on, Virgil," she urged, leading the boy forward with a gentle hand on his shoulder, moving easily around the stilled crowd. Mounting Winter Escape, she gave the young child a hand up, and nudged her mare into a gallop, heading for Alicia's ranch, leaving a silent and stunned group of townspeople in her wake.

Once they returned to the ranch, Blue Fire informed Alicia of what had happened, the blonde becoming just as angry as the Indian.

"They called him what?" she demanded, and Robyn placed her hands on the woman's shoulders.

"Easy, my heart. Keep an eye on Virgil, and I will go back to the town and get the supplies, since I did not have a chance to get them earlier. I should be back soon," she added. Noticing that the boy seemed to be preoccupied with Wolf, Blue Fire stole a quick and reassuring kiss before mounting Winter Escape once more, swinging the saddlebags over her shoulder. She wasn't using a saddle, and didn't want to take Thunder or the wagon, so decided to use the saddlebags to carry the supplies home.

"Be careful, Blue Fire. I love you," smiled the rancher.

Robyn grinned down at the blonde. "I love you, too," she echoed, nudging the mare into a gallop, headed for the small town, ready to face the angry citizens again.

It didn't take the Indian very long to retrieve what she was looking for, and Lauren felt compelled to apologize for his fellow man's behavior regarding Virgil, causing Blue Fire to sigh.

"So am I, Lauren," she agreed, and hefted the bag to her shoulder, now feeling the weight. Ignoring the harsh looks that she was being given, the tall woman exited the store, intercepted on the way to her horse.

"Miss Robyn! How are you doing?"

Robyn groaned, and mentally rolled her eyes as she acknowledged the town doctor with a nod in his direction. The balding little man was absolutely fascinated by her extraordinary rehabilitation skills. He never missed a chance to discuss things with the Indian, be it about the weather or her health.

"I'm doing just fine, Dr. Frank, but thank you."

Before she could turn to go, he grasped her arm, asking, "Why don't you step into my office for a moment, so I can see for myself?"

"I really need to head home," she protested, but realized with a sigh, just to be polite, she could spare a few minutes to humor the old man. "All right, but not too long. Alicia is expecting me."

Dr. Frank smiled. "Excellent, excellent. Well, come along, let's have a look," he urged, happily pulling the tall woman into the clinic, closing the door behind them.

No more than ten minutes had passed before Robyn realized something was wrong; Dr. Frank was acting very strange, repeating things more than usual, and continually watching out the side window behind her. He didn't seem to be paying attention to the scars on her back or shoulder at all.

"What's going on?" she asked, suspicious, beginning to fix her shirt.

"Oh, no, no, no; we're not done yet," the doctor insisted, a little nervously. "Just have a seat, there, Miss Robyn. Have a seat. Now, how about that bullet wound?"

Now Blue Fire growled at him, leaping off the cot and tucking in her shirt. "That's been healed since my last two visits. I don't know what you're trying to do, but I'm leaving. Out of my way," she warned lowly, when he stepped between her and the door.

"I can't let you go, not yet. I can't. They said I had to keep you until dark," the man uttered, and blue eyes grew wide.

"Who told you that?" the Indian demanded, grabbing his shirt. "Who wanted you to delay me?" The only thought that popped into her mind was Jake or Brian, although they were in jail, and that had her scared beyond words.

"I… I can't say names, Miss Robyn. But I will tell you they left shortly after you first arrived in town, and planned to be done by dark," the doctor confessed, not at all surprised when the tall woman pushed him roughly aside and flung open the door. Rushing outside, she mounted Winter Escape, urging the horse to run as fast as she could towards Escape Ranch, traveling through the heavily setting dusk. Night was coming quickly, and Robyn worried that she would be too late to stop whatever was planned to happen… she was afraid she would fail Alicia, again.

After what seemed like forever, the ranch finally came into view, but Blue Fire was startled to find that the bright orange glow she'd seen a while back was coming from her destination. That sight combined with the odor that drifted to her nose led her to believe it could only be one thing: fire.

Riding ahead, Blue Fire intercepted a group of about forty or fifty people, some on foot and some on horseback. All wore white sheets, masking their features, even covering their horses. The ones on horseback and a few on the ground held torches, accounting for the fiery glow. The others were armed with pitchforks and rifles, advancing on the small cottage.

The Indian led Winter Escape around the mob, stopping in front of the door, shouting, "What do you want?"

"Give us the boy!" cried one with a sheet-covered horse. "He stole from Lauren!"

Now uncomfortable by the proximity of the people, Robyn spurred her mare in the flanks, giving her the cue to rear and hanging on as the horse lifted her front legs off the ground.

"Get back! You have no right to be on this land."

"Get her," snarled one on horseback, and several hooded members swarmed towards the mounted Indian, who once again asked her mare to rear, the strong forward-striking hooves startling many of the people bad enough to back up a few steps.

Sliding to the ground, Blue Fire sent Winter Escape through the crowd, and called for Wolf as she quickly opened the door to let him out. The animal bounded outside, teeth bared dangerously and the hair standing up on the back of his neck. Alicia followed, Winchester in her hand, Golden Eagle not far behind. The two had only been waiting for Blue Fire to show up, not wanting to leave Virgil alone, and also being smart enough to realize that one of them alone was no match for the angry cult.

"The odds are thirty-to-three, Indian," cautioned the one who Robyn assumed was the leader, seeing how everyone seemed to be surrounding him and his horse.

"You're right. We accept your forfeit," she replied, chuckling at the fuming thug.

Before he could bark his next command, Alicia fired a warning shot into the air, and everyone fell still, staring.

"I know you all thrive on your secrets and privacy, but I can guarantee you, if you don't get off my land, we will remove you. And when we do, we'll be sure to remove a few hoods at the same time, and your privacy will be gone. You'll be turned into the sheriff, and the KKK of this town will be no more.

"Now, do you really want to fight us?" she called, looking directly at their leader.

He was laughing. "You can't beat us, wench. Get the boy!" he ordered, and the mob moved towards the house. Blue Fire was quick to push into the crowd, pulling the mounted men to the ground, landing strategic blows that felled them quickly.

Spotting the leader, still on his horse, she went after him, dodging punches and pushing others out of the way as she made her way through the dense crowd.

Before she could get to her destination, however, she was ambushed from the side. Three men ran at her, knocking her to the ground before grabbing her arms and pulling her to her feet. One hooded man decided a restrained Indian was an easy target, and began landing sharp blows to her middle.

With a battle cry that sent chills down the spines of everyone within earshot, Blue Fire used her attacker for leverage and, running up the length of his body, the woman managed to complete a flip and loose her arms. Once she was free, she turned on her captors, knocking them unconscious within seconds, and then heading towards the hooded leader once more, who was trying desperately to ride away from the fray, finding it hard to maneuver his horse through the dense crowd of people.

"You're mine," she growled, jumping for him in a leap that defied gravity, knocking him from his horse, the two landing hard on the ground, Blue Fire immediately getting the upper hand. Turning him onto his stomach, she straddled his back and twisted his right arm before he could do more than whine and plead for her to let him go.

"Not yet," she stated, ripping the hood from his head. Her blue eyes widened in shock as the man tried in vain to hide his face. "Sheriff Riser! You led them!" the Indian exclaimed, dragging him to his feet. It made sense to her, now, why the group hadn't been afraid of being caught - if the sheriff was their leader, they'd never be put in jail.

Pushing him towards the house, so he'd be in plain view, for all to see, she snarled, "I should kill you where you stand." Still twisting his arm behind his back, she watched as the people clad in white slowly stopped fighting when they noticed their leader had been discovered.

Alicia managed to recover from her surprise enough to shout, "In light of this, deputy Byron Tailor will take over as sheriff, and will handle the law. That means you will all be put in jail for coming together to try to destroy my house… Get off my property!" she cried, and people scattered.

Grabbing a rope, Blue Fire tied the former sheriff's hands, and then whistled for Winter Escape, who came galloping up to her mistress. Mounting her horse, Robyn informed Alicia that she was going to take the man in personally to the deputy - now sheriff - to make sure he knew the real story. While she rode away, Pete Riser walking beside, Alicia and Christian went to check on Virgil, the fact that the brave had his arm around Alicia's shoulders not going unnoticed by the woman warrior.

It was a long ride, prolonged by the fact that the man often refused to walk, his whining getting on the Indian's nerves, and she wanted to be back at the ranch to keep an eye on Christian. She couldn't help it, she was jealous of the physical closeness the man seemed to have with the small blonde.

Eventually, they arrived in the town, and Blue Fire walked him right up to the deputy's doorstep, knocking loudly and waking him.

"Mr. Tailor, I have the leader of the… KKK," she announced, remembering what Alicia had called them. She'd have to ask the woman about that later. "Peter Riser."

"Sheriff Riser? You're the leader of the Klan? It makes sense, now, why they could never be caught," the young man said, looking to be in his mid-twenties with short blonde hair and gentle blue-gray eyes, which were now staring hard at the man he'd called "Boss" for many years. Seeming to be well built, from what Robyn could tell through his thin white shirt, she had the feeling he would be a much better sheriff.

"That makes you the sheriff, Mr. Tailor," she hinted, handing the man the rope. "They said that Virgil stole, and that is why they wanted him, but he did not take anything. I will swear to that," she added, firmly.

"Thank you, Robyn, I'll take things from here. I believe you about your friend, I know you're trustworthy, and your word is good. Go back to Alicia, and tell her I send my regards. Have a good night," he said, nodding respectfully. Bidding the man to have the same, the tall woman mounted her Palomino mare once again, riding back to the ranch at a gallop, looking up at the stars occasionally.

She thought about how, ever since the incident in the mine, everyone in town began acting like they knew her personally. The doctor, the deputy, everyone. While some took a liking to her, others could have just as well have seen her dead, all because she was an Indian.

It didn't bother her that much, she realized. Just so long as Alicia loved her, that was all that mattered to the tall native. Everybody else could go kick a beehive or kiss a mountain lion, for all she cared.

I would not have imagined that the love of a white woman would ever become my utmost priority, she thought, with a sigh. But since I have met Alicia, many things have changed. Several whites have become my friends, such as Sheriff Tailor and Lauren and Anderson, and I have discovered that many of the beliefs of my people are not the same as the white man's.

Living with Alicia has given me a new perspective on life, the Indian decided. And I like it. She is very patient in explaining things to me, and yet, I think, worries more than my own mother when I am out of her sight! Smiling as she thought of the woman she loved, Blue Fire realized that she had really fallen hard - thinking of her future, she could see herself with no one else, but Alicia.

But Christian… I do not know what to think of him. I do not like the way he is always touching Alicia, she admitted to herself. Perhaps I should speak with him about how close he gets to my soul mate.

On the ride back to Escape Ranch, Robyn couldn't help but think about the vision she'd experienced… she still didn't understand it. She was no longer living with the Apache, so how could she possibly be involved in its foundation? And what of the second pair of hands? They were dark-skinned, so the Indian determined it was not Alicia; who else would be helping her?

By the time the ranch came into view, the woman was no farther along in deciphering the vision than early that morning, and she decided to speak to Alicia about it. Perhaps the young blonde had an idea as to what it meant.

It no longer surprised the Indian to find the rancher waiting up for her, but it did please her when she walked through the door and was greeted by a firm hug around the neck and a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello to you, too, my love," she chuckled, returning the embrace, speaking softly since Virgil and Christian were asleep in the living room, just a few feet away.

"Hi," sighed Alicia into her shoulder, happily. "I missed you."

An eyebrow was raised. "I was not gone long," Blue Fire pointed out.

"I know," acknowledged the blonde, "but I missed you, just the same."

"I missed you, too," smiled Robyn, kissing the top of the rancher's head. "It has been a long and hard day for both of us; to bed, yes?" Alicia accepted the suggestion immediately, and pulled the woman into the room by her hand. Once the door was shut securely behind them, the smaller woman kissed the Indian soundly on the lips, only pulling back when she needed air.

"Mm, what was that for?" asked an extremely surprised but satisfied Indian.

"Just because I love you," stated Alicia, blushing a tiny bit at her boldness.

Blue Fire smiled, and gently led the small rancher to their bed, returning the kiss once they were both sitting on the edge. "I love you, too," she whispered. "Thank you, my heart, for letting Golden Eagle and Little Bear stay with us… and for understanding why I needed to find Christian for Virgil."

Alicia placed her hand against the woman's cheek, smiling a little when the Indian leaned into her palm, reveling in the loving touch. "Sweetheart, I will always be behind you in whatever you choose to do, but I will always worry about you. Unfortunately, my worry often overrides my sense," she smirked. "Never doubt that I will support you, okay?"

"This is one of the reasons I love you, Alicia," said Robyn, and continued when the blonde gave her an encouraging look. "You always know what to say to make things better." With that profession, Robyn received another long kiss, a series of which continued until both women were left breathless, the strong Indian holding the rancher in her arms.

"Alicia, what is this KKK that you spoke of?" she asked, abruptly, and the blonde sighed.

"The KKK stands for the Ku Klux Klan," she explained, quietly. "They're a group of people who are against any blacks, Indians, homosexuals, and basically anyone who is not like them. The only reason they didn't come for me is probably because you're here," she admitted.

"They would come for you? Why?"

"Because of who I choose to love. Since I love a woman, it goes against what they believe, and they would rather punish me for it than accept it."

"They will not lay a hand on you!" snarled the Indian.

Alicia smiled. "Not now they won't, love," the rancher reassured her. "Since their leader is caught I doubt they'll be a problem in this town, and like I said, they're more than likely afraid of you. I don't think we'll have to worry about the Klan for a long time," she said, happily, snuggling deeper into the Indian's arms.

While they were lying there, Blue Fire explained her vision to the blonde, and asked her what she thought of it.

"Blue Fire, you will always be a part of the Apache nation, no matter where you go or who you live with," the woman said, gently. "You were born and raised there - it's who you are. I wouldn't be at all surprised if, heaven forbid, should something happen to them, you would be there in a heartbeat to help fix it. And you'd no doubt need help, from another Indian and not me, so the extra pair of hands don't surprise me, either.

"But, that's just what I think," Alicia finished, with a shrug.

"You may be right, my love," smiled Blue Fire. "But then what worries me, is what would break the nation apart?"

The next morning, Blue Fire was rather startled to awake to the sound of Christian shouting at the top of his lungs. Alicia, somehow, was still asleep, so the Indian crept out of bed carefully, and approached the man with a frown.

"Why do you yell? You will wake Alicia!" she scolded, and he just stared at her, wide-eyed.

"My son is gone!" he cried. "Virgil is gone! Where did he go? We have to find him! What if the pale-faces have him?"

Blue Fire grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and ordered, "Breathe! We will find him, but first you must be calm. You will only hinder the search if you are this emotional," she warned, and he nodded, taking a deep breath and collapsing onto the sofa.

"I will get Alicia, and tell her of the problem," she explained. "Then we will saddle our horses and look for Virgil. Alicia will stay here in case he comes back.

"Golden Eagle," she said, sternly, getting his attention. "We will find him, I promise you." The man swallowed hard, and tried to believe her as he gathered his wits.

"My love," called Robyn, gently shaking Alicia.

"Not yet. I love you more than anything, but please go away," pleaded the blonde, but this time, the Indian couldn't let her sleep in.

"Alicia, you must wake up. Virgil is missing, and Christian and I are going to look for him. We need you to stay here, in case Virgil returns," she explained, and green eyes flew open.

"He's gone?"

Blue Fire nodded. "Yes, my heart," she confirmed, and the woman was dressed in a flash. "We will meet back here when the sun is high, at noon, if neither of us has found him yet. I will take Wolf with me, as well," Robyn stated, as they convened in the living room, and then the two Indians mounted their respective horses.

"You go to the east, and I will look to the west side of the land," Golden Eagle said, having gotten control of his senses again, and the woman agreed, spurring Winter Escape to the eastern section of Alicia's property.

Wolf followed close behind, and helped as best he could, nose to the ground almost constantly. The animal had grown to be a very intelligent and very obedient wolf under Blue Fire's gentle hand, and the woman had made sure his tracking skills were honed to near perfection; she had no doubts that Wolf would find the boy. The only thing she was worried about was whether someone else would find him first… say the whites or the Navajos.

With sweat running into her eyes and down the side of her face, Robyn was about ready to head back to the ranch to see if perhaps the boy had returned on his own, since it was near noon, when Wolf suddenly charged into the brush. Urging her horse to follow, the Indian quickly dismounted when she found the young child lying on the ground, apparently trying not to be seen.

"Virgil, are you all right?" she asked, anxiously, and the boy looked up at her, nodding.

"Yeah," he sighed, heavily. "How come you had to find me, Blue Fire?"

The Indian frowned. "Virgil, your father is very worried for you!" she exclaimed. "Why did you leave?"

"Because it's my fault," he sniffled, and Robyn kneeled down beside him.

"What is your fault?"

"That the bad white men wanted to hurt Alicia and burn her house," he explained. "They wanted me, but instead tried to hurt you and Alicia and my pa. If I don't stay there, they won't come back," he said. "I thought if I left I wouldn't cause so much trouble, and maybe you and my dad wouldn't be mad at me… I guess I still bother you."

Blue Fire sighed. "Little Bear, you are not trouble, no one is angry with you, and you do not bother us," she said, clearing that up right off the bat. "Those people were bad, yes, but it was not your fault that they attacked us. They have been causing trouble for many people, but now are where they belong; so, in a way, you were a help.

"And leaving is not good - your father misses you very much," the woman added. "Alicia and I were also very worried. Come back with me, Virgil, it is time for lunch."

The boy shook his head, adamant. "Why didn't they like me?" he asked.

The tall woman bit her lip, wondering what to say. She wouldn't lie to the child, but didn't like what telling the truth meant. "Because you are not like them," she admitted. "They did not like me, either, because I am Apache. They did not like you because of your skin color; they do not really know you, Virgil. Some people are just afraid."

"Of what?"

"Of accepting change and understanding that if no one was different, if we all pulled in the same direction, the world would tip over," the Indian surmised. "There are some who do not like people just because they are different… but that is no reason to pass judgment.

"Come, enough of this, you must be as hungry as I am," she hinted, offering her hand, pleased when the boy took it and allowed her to pull him to his feet. Mounting Winter Escape, the two rode back in silence, which lasted until Christian threw open the door when he saw his son, and ran outside to greet him.

"Virgil!" he cried, sweeping the child into a tight hug. Speaking in rapid Navajo, he admonished his boy for running away, before clutching him tighter when he learned of the reason.

"I love you, my Little Bear," he smiled, "and I would never want you to leave. No matter what you do, I will always love you, okay?" The child seemed happy to be reassured of this fact, and gripped his father tightly, letting him carry him into the house and into the kitchen where they all shared a delicious lunch.

"It's good to have you back, Virgil," grinned Alicia, giving the boy a strong hug. "Don't ever worry us like that again, all right? Always remember that if someone is prejudice against you, if they don't like you because you're different, that you're stronger than they are, because you can accept them for who they are," the rancher requested, and the young child agreed.

After lunch, Blue Fire offered to show Christian where the grooming supplies were kept so he could work on his horse. The two Indians walked out to the barn together, and as soon as they were out of range of the house, Robyn turned on the Navajo.

"It would be wise for you to stay away from Alicia," she growled.

The man had the nerve to smile at her. "Why?" he questioned.

"I do not like that you are always being close to her… she is my soul mate," she stated, evenly.

Christian shook his head. "You have nothing to fear from me, Blue Fire. I just lost my wife, I am in no way trying to take your Alicia," he assured her. "It is just nice to have a friend like her."

Blue Fire snarled at him, nonetheless. "Just watch where you put your hands," she warned, and showed him where to find the tack. "I will leave you to your horse, now, but do not forget what we have discussed." Eyeing him once more, she intended to head back to the house, but as soon as she stepped outside the barn, she stopped in her tracks. There, just dismounting her horse, was Small Fox.

"Small Fox," she greeted, with a nod, having become on much better terms with the girl since she'd assisted her in finding Alicia, setting her free from the contraption the white men had set up for her torture. "What brings you here?"

"I come with sad news, shizeege (my friend)," she admitted, pulling back from giving her tall sister a quick hug.

"What?"

"Your mother… she is very ill. Ndoitcho wishes for me to bring you back to… to say goodbye."

For a moment, the woman thought that surely the young girl was joking. But the sadness written all over the teen's face told her otherwise.

"Alicia!" she cried, running into the house. "I must go, my mother is sick!"

"I'm coming with you!" replied the blonde, calling after the Indian as she ran outside to saddle Belle, Blue Fire mounting Winter Escape as she did.

"Perhaps I can help," suggested Golden Eagle, retrieving his horse from the barn. Christian helped Virgil on in front of him, and soon they were all ready to go.

"Go, Small Fox," urged Robyn, and the girl lead the way, four horses making dust as they galloped across the land at full speed, blazing a path to the Apache nation, Blue Fire terrified that in the twenty mile trek she would lose her mother.

On the way, Christian asked the girl to explain the illness, and listened with rapt attention as she related the details. Pulling up alongside of Blue Fire, he said, "I saw this sickness go through my village just before I left, but we found a way to stop it. If it is not too far, I may be able to help your mother."

The Indian stared at him, as if unsure of whether to trust him or not.

"Please, Blue Fire, I only wish to help," he assured her. "You have saved my son, it is the least I can do." With a nod, the woman gave in, and prayed she was doing the right thing by trusting a Navajo… they weren't known to be particularly hospitable, and rumors had been spread about the tribe warring with neighboring nations, including the Apaches in some areas.

Still, if it meant saving her mother's life, she'd do anything, and she knew it.

Racing into the camp, quickly explaining to Ndoitcho that Alicia, Virgil, and Christian were allowed to be there, she charged into her mother's hut. There, lying on a bed of many soft furs, skin an unusually pale color, Robyn winced as she heard her mother take a few wheezing breaths.

"Shi ma," said Blue Fire, sinking to her knees beside her mother's bedside. "Golden Eagle, a Navajo, says this same sickness went through his own village many moons ago. He knows the izee to heal you; will you let him?"

Feather in the Wind opened her eyes slowly, and gave her only child a weak smile. "Our own medicine man cannot help me now, Dotth'izh ko'. Perhaps this is goodbye," the old woman muttered.

Blue eyes became frantic. "No, mother! Please, let Golden Eagle help. We must try," she pleaded, not ready to lose her mother. When the elderly Indian finally gave in, if only to humor her daughter, Blue Fire called for Christian, who immediately had Feather in the Wind drink a cup of tea he'd made while waiting.

"This will help the cough," he told her, and Blue Fire translated, since her mother still didn't understand much English. The Navajo and Apache languages were similar in many ways, and while Blue Fire assumed with enough exposure to the tongue she could pick it up rather easily, she was glad that Christian chose to speak in English.

"You must rest and sleep often, and drink a lot of water. There is an herb in there to fight the fever and to help you sleep. You should feel better in a day or so," he deduced, slowly rising to his feet, respectfully lowering his head as he backed out of the woman's kowa, leaving her alone with her daughter.

"You will be okay, now," said Blue Fire, more to reassure herself than the woman lying on the cot.

"My daughter, I am old," Feather in the Wind reminded, gently.

"But you cannot leave yet!" cried the Indian. "I love you."

Feather in the Wind smiled. "And I love you, Blue Fire," she echoed, "but if it is my time to go, then I must go. I know your Alicia will take good care of you."

"I promise," said the blonde, quietly entering the kowa, standing beside the woman she loved. "She's a handful, though, and I don't think I can do it without your help," she added, with a small smile, and Blue Fire nodded.

"Yes, you must stay to help her," she urged, wanting to do anything to give her mother back the hope she needed to stay alive. Alicia took her hand, giving it a strong squeeze, letting her know she was there for her.

Seeing the woman yawn, Alicia suggested, "Why don't we let you get some rest for a while? We'll be right outside if you need anything." Feather in the Wind agreed, and the rancher gently led the tall Indian outside, pulling her into a loving hug, not caring who saw or what they thought. All that mattered to her was that the woman she loved was hurt, and in need of some comfort.

When they pulled back, Robyn gave her a grateful smile, and kissed her forehead. "Thank you, my love," she whispered, reluctantly moving away from the rancher when Small Fox motioned to her.

"Dotth'izh ko', what is that man doing here?" asked Small Fox, taking her sister to the side. "He is Navajo."

"And? He is a friend," the woman assured the girl.

The younger Indian shook her head. "Have you not heard? The Navajo are expected to create trouble for our tribe. My father says they are to provoke a war between our nations soon, and with their intertribal alliances, they are stronger. We have little chance against them, especially since my father is becoming weak and fragile," she whispered, urgently.

Blue Fire paused for a moment - was this the tomahawk that broke the nation apart - the Navajo tribe? Would she be called to fight in the war? Is that how she helped save the nation? She didn't like that idea at all, but knew she would do it if she were asked; they were her people, after all.

"Dotth'izh ko'? Did you hear?" repeated Small Fox, bringing Blue Fire back to awareness.

"Yes, child," she said, quietly, "I heard you. I will be staying here with my mother, but after I return to the ranch with Alicia, keep me updated. I want to know what is going on," the tall woman requested, and her Apache sister agreed, leaving her alone for the time being.

"Christian…" began the woman, going up to the man, not quite sure how to ask the question she wanted answered, and so decided for the direct approach. "How strong is your tribe? Small Fox tells me they may plan to attack our people, and it would be good to know what we are up against. I understand if you cannot say," she added, knowing where the Indian's loyalties might lie.

The man shook his head, his lips pursed tightly. "They are not my people, Blue Fire, and I will tell you why I say this.

"When I first met Mercy, my wife, she was running from a slave master that was bringing his slaves through the northern part of the land. She stumbled into our camp, and I was the first to find her, luckily. I took her to my hut and told my friends I was going to take care of her, since she was bleeding from the chains and whips that had been laid upon her skin, and they said it was fine, so long as she left when she was healed.

"She healed slowly, but I was by her side day and night, and we soon fell in love. I knew she was what I'd been waiting for all my life, and I cherished her kind soul. My brothers were not very happy, however, when they found out I had asked her to join with me. They looked down upon my marriage to Mercy, because she was a former slave, but we were in love, and we were married anyway. I loved her very much, and they barely tolerated me after that, but I was allowed in my village for a time. When Virgil was born, they called him a bastard child and he was not permitted to be on our land. We were forced to leave, and for many years we were on the run, hiding from the men I used to call brothers.

"They would attack my wife and son only because they are not part of the tribe… since then we have been at odds. And now, after… I would be glad to tell you all I can to help," he agreed, taking the woman aside as he discussed strategies and tactics in a hushed voice.

Having all this information, Blue Fire quickly reported to Ndoitcho, and told him what she'd found out and from whom. He was pleased to have the inside connection, and called a council meeting to make a strategy, in case they were forced to fight against the Navajo, so they would have a slight edge. They'd be ready for them, Ndoitcho promised, dismissing Dotth'izh ko' quickly.

Robyn stepped out of the chief's kowa, only to come face-to-face with Alicia.

"Love?" she asked, frowning when she noticed the blonde didn't look happy.

"Just what did you think you were doing?" she demanded.

"What?" asked Blue Fire, truly perplexed.

"Telling Christian not to touch me? To stay away from me? Did you think I'd leave you for him?" she cried, angrily. "I thought you trusted me. I guess I was wrong." With that, she spun around on her heel, storming off.

"Alicia, wait!" pleaded Robyn, running to catch up with her, walking backwards as she tried talking to the hostile rancher. "Please, Alicia, stop."

The blonde sighed heavily, and stilled her steps, staring at the Indian with tears in her eyes as the copper skinned woman attempted to soothe the rancher's anger.

"My heart, it's not that I don't trust you… I was only jealous of way Christian seemed to always be around you. I did not mean to upset you, I… I think I was just afraid."

"Of what?"

"That I would lose you," admitted the tall woman.

"To Christian?" Robyn nodded. "Blue Fire, I love you, but I will not allow you to choose my friends. If you're going to feel threatened by every man that comes near me, how can I believe that you trust me? Do you think I'd cheat on you?"

Blue eyes widened, and the Indian shook her head. "I know you would not, my love, and I do trust you. It is the others that I do not trust. You are very beautiful and very kind, and anyone would want you. Please, love, I am not used to having to share you with anyone yet, and it is a little uncomfortable for me to have Christian in the house when he is always so close to you. I am sorry for what I said. Forgive me?"

Alicia sighed, and rolled her eyes, before nodding. "I guess," she stated, evenly. "But the next time you're worried, or something bothers you, come talk to me, okay? I'd rather hear it from you than from Christian, or anyone else, for that matter."

Blue Fire agreed, relieved, and gave the small blonde a few loving kisses on the cheek, moving to nuzzle her neck. "I do love you, my soul," she murmured, as Alicia wrapped her arms around her strong back.

"I love you, too, sweetheart," smiled the rancher. "You know I can't stay mad at you for very long…"

Robyn grinned, and lightly nipped the blonde's earlobe, smiling to herself at the shiver it sent down Alicia's spine. "Lucky for me," she breathed, her breath warm against the rancher's neck, as she moved her kisses to the sensitive spot on the inside of the woman's throat.

"Robyn…" gasped the woman, reluctantly pulling away before they got too carried away. She didn't want to make a scene right in the middle of the Apache camp, as much as her heart was racing. Robyn knew exactly what she was doing to her and the sly grin on her face told her she loved every moment of it.

"Now, now, don't start something you can't finish," warned Alicia, and Blue Fire raised an eyebrow at her, seductively.

"What makes you think I cannot finish it, my love?" she purred, and the blonde buried her head in the woman's shoulder as she blushed.

"Oh, God. You're terrible," she scolded, squealing in surprise when the Indian picked her up into her arms, spinning her around before carrying her across the camp.

"Alicia?" asked Blue Fire, her voice low, as they stood just outside her kowa, which her mother had made sure remained standing, should her daughter return.

The rancher sighed, happily encased in the woman's strong arms. "Yes?"

"May I show you how much I love you?"

Emerald eyes brightened expectantly. "Please."

Hours later, at a little before dusk, Christian cleared his throat as he called for Blue Fire, praying he wasn't interrupting something. He'd seen the look in both women's eyes, and knew it would be wise not to disturb them for a while.

"Come in, Christian," Blue Fire grinned. "We are decent, as they say." The man entered the kowa, finding the tall woman lying with Alicia asleep in her arms, love shining in her eyes. To his relief, they were both fully dressed.

"I came to tell you your mother is awake," he said, quietly, so as not to wake Alicia. "She looks well, but asked me to tell you she wants to see you after you are… finished," the man concluded, lamely.

Robyn chuckled softly. "My friend, I know what you're thinking, but Alicia and I did not make love," she stated, amused by the red flush that rose in his face.

"Mm, it was better," muttered Alicia, curling closer to her Indian as the woman grinned and kissed the top of her head.

"We have both decided to wait on that, but I spent a while giving her a massage, since I have not had time lately to do that," she explained, not wanting the man to get the wrong idea… Although she was sure that was what everyone else thought they were doing, as well.

"And she is very good at it," complimented Alicia, eyes still closed as she refused to get up from her comfortable spot, remembering with a smile the strong hands that had skillfully massaged her back, small kisses placed softly on the same area. The dark-skinned woman knew how to give one hell of a massage, that was for sure.

"She makes a really good pillow, too." Then, peeking one eye open, she focused on Christian, and stated, "But she's my pillow." Robyn laughed, and Christian smiled, as he backed out of the kowa, having delivered his message, and finding out much more than he'd bargained for.

Blue Fire, Alicia, and Virgil stayed for three days, wanting to make sure Feather in the Wind was feeling better, while Christian went to town to get supplies and began rebuilding his cabin. He visited his wife daily, to update her on the life of their son, taking time out every morning to watch the sunrise with her and place a fresh flower on her grave.

When Robyn was sure that her mother was out of the woods, thanks to Golden Eagle's medicine, they all headed back to the ranch, under the insistence of Feather in the Wind herself. While she loved her daughter, she claimed, she knew she was more comfortable when she was able to be alone with Alicia.

"We will visit again soon," promised the Indian, before they left. Stopping to speak with Small Fox, the girl had no news, and so bid her sister good health, extending that greeting to Alicia, which surprised Blue Fire immensely.

"You would wish her well?" she exclaimed, and the young girl smiled.

"She makes you happy, Dotth'izh ko', anyone can see that," Small Fox pointed out. "It is clear she is what you need in your life, and so I wish her the best, because it follows that if one is happy, then you both are happy."

Blue Fire just shook her head, pleased with how her young friend had suddenly seemed to mature and look at the world with open eyes. "I am glad to hear it, child," she said, fondly, embracing the girl in a quick hug before mounting Winter Escape. Waving goodbye, both women rode away from the camp feeling a little better about the people therein, and themselves.

Continued in Part 4.