Page 50 of The Spirit of the Wolf

“I too.” He ran the back of his fingers over her cheek.

She gazed away from him, ending the contact. Straightening her shoulders, she continued, “We have always known, no matter how much we didn’t wish to think of it, that there would come a time when we would have to part, for we have been well aware of our duties, and we have known we each one follow a different path in life.”

“Hau, what you say is true.” He stretched out his hand to let his fingers trace the slim outline of her neck.

This time she let his touch remain, though she drew in a shaky breath. “And, we have also known our time together might be short.” She glanced up into his eyes, her look uncertain but also determined. “Mr. Coyote, what I’m saying is this: I think the time has come for us to part.”

“Hau, I know this is the direction of your thoughts.”

“Yes. Just as I cannot force you to act in a way which is not in your nature, you cannot force me to go against my own, either. If I miss the opportunity presented to me, it will never be available to me again. And I’m not sure I could live with myself, knowing I failed.”

He nodded slowly. “I understand this very well.”

“Good, then if you do, you will agree I must return to the Minnetaree village at all possible speed, for I believe I might still be able to hire a guide there.”

“Hau.” He dropped his hand. “I do understand. But come, let us talk of this some more before you do this. You are upset, and our wise men caution us to never make a decision when the mind is troubled.”

“I disagree. It is a fine time to make a decision.”

“But you do not know this land,” he countered. “Nor are you aware of the safe ways to cross it. Stay with me, and once I have completed my task, I will take you to this village of St. Louis. Perhaps it will not be as quickly as you would like. But I will see you there.”

She nodded. “And how long will it all take? How many months—or moons—would be required to get me there?”

“I do not know.”

“And this is exactly the problem,” she said, her gaze at him serious. “I thank you kindly for your offer, but I feel I must decline. I think, if I return to the Minnetaree village now, I have the chance to arrive in St. Louis within the month, because we would travel by boat. From there I would be able to hire a ship returning to England and be home in the shortest time possible. This is important to me.”

He simply looked at her.

She added, “It is very important to me.”

For the first time, it became real to Grey Coyote that this, indeed, might be their last time together. If he could not convince her to go with him—and it appeared he might not be able to do so—they would have to part here tonight.

She continued to speak, “In truth, we are not far from the Minnetaree village, are we? It is possible I could make it back there on my own, is it not? Particularly if I travel by night? You could show me how.”

Grey Coyote considered his choices while he hesitated, then said, “It is possible, but⁠—”

“Then you must agree you have no other choice but to let me go. Honestly, in my mind, you are under no responsibility to me. In a way, I was forced on you. And you have been a gentleman about it. But the time has come for you to let me go.”

Grey Coyote tilted his head, staring at her intently.

“Please, Mr. Coyote. I am pleading. We traveled here safely enough, and out in the open. I have been in this country long enough now so that I think I can return there without a problem.”

He frowned. “It is possible…”

She swallowed hard and touched him.

It was true that his buckskin shirt stood between his bare skin and her fingers, but it didn’t matter. Her mere touch brought him excitement.

But, she was speaking, and she said, “Let me take some of this food we have prepared, and… It’s only a few days’ journey, isn’t it?”

He took hold of her hand, bending down to touch his lips to each finger. “Perhaps three.”

She sucked in her breath, but if her response was because of his kisses or due to what he said, he might never know. The look in her eyes, however, softened. “Only three?” She stared straight up at him. “If this is so, then I truly think I can make this journey alone.”

He grimaced, squeezing her hand. “I do not like it.”

“I know. But you will let me go, won’t you? You are now aware of how much I have at stake. I have to try.”