Drifter – Part 10

By D

Chapter XIX

“Are you sure about this, Takoda?” Odahingum asked even as he shifted the clan away from the beaten path they normally followed when they chased the herd across the plains. “You know that Koko and Donoma will not be able to find us if we deviate from our projected path.”

“I am aware, Odahingum. I am also aware that if we do not change our course, we will face a hardship that will devastate our clan. I do not believe that Donoma and her mate intend to return to us any time in the near future. Koko Kanti has other responsibilities.”

“And what of her commitment to Donoma?”

Takoda smiled. “That is one thing I have no doubt about anymore.” Then his smile faded. “I only hope Donoma will set her anger aside long enough to listen to Koko’s words. I have to believe she will.”

They rode silently for a few minutes as the tribe followed them on an altered path into the hills. Finally Odahingum asked what was on his mind. “What of Donoma, Takoda? Does she feel any responsibility for Koko Kanti or what happened between them?”

“I do not know, my friend; she never shared with me any of her thoughts or feelings in that regard. I can only hope maturity will allow her to see that Koko was trying to look out for her. And Honaw believes that Koko will honor her commitment to Donoma and protect her regardless of Donoma's feelings on the matter. I am inclined to agree with his assessment.”

Odahingum shook his head. “So much misunderstanding. In one way, I would like to be witness to their conversation and in another, I am thankful we are not close enough to hear it. They are such strong-minded, stubborn women. I almost feel sorry for the hearing of those around them when they finally decide to discuss the past.”

Takoda chuckled. “I do as well... though I will be glad to see the end results.”

“You believe it will end well then?”

“I believe they are establishing a new foundation for both of them, Odahingum. I have too.”

The chieftain nodded and together they continued on the path that Takoda was setting for them. It marked a new direction for their nation, and with any luck, Koko and Donoma were experiencing a new beginning as well.

************

Their meal had been quiet. Several times Donoma started to speak and then hesitated and Koko was happy to wait for her to settle her thoughts. She figured Donoma had something she needed to say or wanted to ask and was trying to decide the best way to approach it. Not that there weren't any number of things Koko herself wasn't downright curious about, but she had cultivated a magnitude of patience in her time as both warrior and bounty hunter.

When she was done, Koko rose and slipped Donoma's bowl from her hands. Donoma blinked and came out of her brown study just as Koko stepped out of the fire circle. She thought of calling out to her, then turned her attention to the remainder of the meal that still bubbled slowly over the small fire. She moved it to one side and covered it, then resumed her seat and propped her head on her hands.

Koko came back from the tiny creek with clean dishes and sat down beside Donoma. Unexpectedly, Donoma turned to Koko and pinned her in place with sad, haunted eyes. Koko had time to wonder briefly what had changed in the short time she had been gone to put such an expression on Donoma's face before a whispered query brought her thoughts to a halt.

"Koko, was I hurting you?"

Koko frowned, truly not understanding exactly what she was being asked. "When, ka'eskone? Do you mean earlier when you were treating my injuries?"

Donoma shook her head. "No, warrior. I mean before – before you left. Was I hurting you?" Her hesitation was brief, but it was long enough for Donoma to see the deep-seeded pain in Koko's eyes before it was swiftly hidden.

"No, ka'eskone," Koko denied almost immediately. "My pain was of my own making...." She would have continued had Donoma not covered her mouth.

"Please do not lie to me to spare me pain now, Koko, especially about something this important. Something Honiahaka said made me realize that you were taking all the blame for our separation, even though some of the responsibility lies at my feet." Donoma dropped her hand from Koko's lips and let her eyes fall to the ground between them. "I always assumed it was my fault, but it was so easy to be angry and place the blame solely on you since you were the one...."

"... since I was the one who left. You were not doing anything, Donoma, other than being yourself as you had always been." Koko shrugged and stepped away from Donoma and that action made the blonde head come up in question to see broad shoulders slumped in defeat. Koko sighed. "It was not your fault that I loved you even then."

"But it was my fault for not being able to see that – to see that your feelings for me had changed somehow." Donoma crossed the few steps that brought her back to within touching range of Koko's back and she reached out a shaking hand and placed it between the strong shoulder blades. Koko twitched then relaxed, but she did not turn around. "Koko, I always knew there was something between us... even if I did not know what it was or what to do about it. I expected things to always be the same between us and that was wrong of me."

"You were a child, ka'eskone... why should you not?"

"I am a seer, warrior. I should have known."

Koko turned slightly... enough that Donoma could see the wry expression twist her lips. "I do not think the Great Spirit gives insight to matters of the heart, ka'eskone. If he did, a seer's time would be taken up with constantly giving advice to the lovelorn. I do not think that would sit well with the chiefs and war leaders."

Donoma smirked. "Probably not, but it does not make me feel any less stupid about my inability to see the truth of my own heart, warrior." Koko twitched her eyebrow in question and Donoma sighed and flushed a little. "Koko, you were my best friend, my hero, MY warrior – someone I loved without question or reservation. I could talk to you about anything and even when we argued, you never laughed at my opinions or put them down – you always took the best care of me. I was always happiest when I was with you and missed you with an aching need in my heart when you were gone. You would think that would have told me what you really meant to me."

"When did you know?" Koko asked softly. "When did you understand the truth?"

"Understanding it - about a heartbeat after discovering you were gone. That is what made me so angry, I think. Accepting it – well, that did not happen until today. I had no reason to."

Koko turned around completely and wrapped Donoma in an embrace so tight, it was like being surrounded by a cloud. "I will never give you a reason not to believe again, Donoma Chepi."

"I will never give you cause to leave me behind again, Koko Kanti."

Koko smiled when Donoma's arms crept around her and returned the hug as fervently as she could. "When I go, Nutta... where I go – I will take you with me. Or I will stay where you are if that is what you desire, ka’eskone.”

“Koko, I know you have a life outside of what we know with the tribe. I would not ask you to give up whatever comforts and things you have there to return to the life of a nomad if that was not going to make you happy. Is that life important to you? Do you need to do whatever it is that you do in the white man’s world?”

“It filled a need in me, Donoma. It gave me purpose and provided for me in the white man’s ways. I no longer have to fill that particular need, but I do need to return at least once more to let Stephen... the local marshal... know about the disposition of the outlaws that followed me here. They were wanted men in the white man’s world.”

“Why were they following you, Koko?”

“Revenge. I am a bounty hunter, ka’eskone. My job is to track those who break the law and escape justice then bring them in. I am very good at it. Outlaws do not like that.”

“Perhaps you should consider another line of work.”

“Perhaps I should consider retirement.”

“Would you want to do that, Koko Kanti? Could you give that up?”

“In a heartbeat, Nutta, if it meant keeping you by my side. I promised to protect you. I cannot do that if I am chasing outlaws and trying to keep my own skin whole.”

It was quiet for a little while after that while Donoma considered what Koko had shared with her so far. Finally....

“Tell what it was like for you when you left, my warrior. Tell me about your life when you went into the white man’s world.”

“If we are going to start that conversation, we might want to make ourselves comfortable, ka’eskone. It is a tale that will take some time to relate.”

In answer, Donoma took Koko’s hand and led them a short distance from the fire, out into the tall grass where they could lay cushioned and look up at the bright blue sky. They settled side by side on their backs, holding hands and closing their eyes against the brilliance of the sunshine.

“This is nice,” Donoma commented, “though it may put me to sleep.”

Koko chuckled. “Me too. I’ll tell what I can though before that happens. The Great Spirit knows we could use the rest – you probably more than me actually,” frowning in memory at the smudge of darkness underneath Donoma’s eyes before she opened her eyes and squinted in Donoma's direction to confirm her memory. Koko had been so focused on the emotions in the eyes that she had failed to note the fatigue so obvious now that she looked for it.

"In fact," Koko said, tugging on Donoma's hand and waiting for the green eyes to open and peer at her from beneath scrunched brows. With her free hand she patted her thigh. "Here... put your head in my lap. It will be more comfortable and maybe you will be able to get a little rest."

Donoma leaned up on one elbow and smiled at Koko. "Should I not be saying that to you? I am not the one walking around with a hole in my stomach."

"And I have slept a majority of the last six days away, ka'eskone. I am tired, but not really sleepy. You, on the other hand, look as though you have not had a full nights' sleep since I arrived." She patted her leg again. "Please, ka'eskone. I will tell you my story until it puts you to sleep," with a smile, then she reached up to trace the dark circles under Donoma's eyes. "I will even retell the parts you sleep through. But you need to rest."

Donoma caught and held Koko's hand. "This bothers you so much?"

"I swore to protect you, ka'eskone... that means taking care of you when you will not. We have time, Donoma; I am not going anywhere without you – I swear."

Donoma twisted until she could lay her head down on Koko's thigh, shifting so she could face Koko instead of looking up. Koko smiled and tangled her fingers in the blonde hair, gently massaging her scalp, then forcing herself not to laugh at the contented sigh that flowed from deep in her chest.

"Comfortable?"

"Yes. This reminds me so much of the nights we would go out and look at the stars."

"I have very fond memories of those nights. I always enjoyed seeing the patterns through your eyes; you saw things so differently than me." Koko paused and laid her head back on the grass, closing her eyes in thought. "I have not done that since I left."

"Neither have I... not like that anyway. Sometimes I would look at the stars, hoping they would answer my questions."

"I never bothered. I knew the answers... or thought I did." Donoma squeezed the hand she still held and tucked it under her chin. "I know we cannot change what happened, ka'eskone," Koko said as her fingers caressed the skin along Donoma's jaw line, "no matter how much we would like to. It will take us both some time to get past our feelings about it, but I do think sharing our stories with one another will help alleviate the guilt and anger between us. So where would you like me to start?"

"Start at the beginning," Donoma mumbled sleepily. "Later," she continued as her breathing deepened in sleep.

"Later, beloved... I promise. Rest now; I'll keep watch."

In response, Donoma tightened her grip for a moment and then relaxed. Koko smiled and extended her senses, using the listening techniques she had taught Donoma all those years before.

************

"Oh my...." Donoma said as she blinked open her eyes to find darkness surrounding her and the sky full of stars. "I guess I really did need some rest." The surface she was laying on shook with laughter and Donoma turned her head to look at Koko who was gazing at her with adoring eyes. "How long were you going to let me sleep?"

Even in the darkness, Donoma could see Koko's blush, but mostly because the chagrin was clearly written in her eyes. "I fell asleep as well, ka'eskone. I have only been awake a very short time myself."

This time Donoma chuckled and squeezed the hand she still held. "I suppose we both needed the rest, warrior. At least we can chase stars now."

"We certainly can, Nutta. Would you like to stay here or would you prefer to go back to our clearing?"

Donoma lay still, considering her words before answering. She felt the tension in the body beneath her and knew if she was stiff, Koko by definition had to be in agony. "I think we should go back, Koko. At least then we can pull out the furs to lay on and we probably need to eat."

As if on cue, two stomachs growled loudly. They exchanged glances and grinned, then Donoma released Koko's hand and rolled over until she could push herself into a sitting position. She twisted slightly, grimacing at the popping noise, but sighing at the relief she felt. Then she eased to her feet and extended a hand down to Koko.

Koko looked at Donoma with a frown. "You know it is not supposed to be like this, ka'eskone. I am supposed to take care or you... not the other way around."

"No, warrior mine – we take care of each other. And you cannot do by this yourself."

Koko gave Donoma a wry smirk before accepting the hand she held out. "It is hard to argue with that kind of thinking, ka'eskone."

"I know," Donoma agreed as she gently pulled Koko to her feet and steadied her there for a moment before releasing the hand she was gripping. Then Koko caught her hand once more and Donoma smiled up at her. "It is why I used it. I am more than just a pretty face, Koko Kanti. I am pretty smart as well."

"I remember that," Koko concurred, bringing her other hand up to trace the delicate features of Donoma's face. "But you are not simply pretty, ka'eskone. You are beautiful. You would make beautiful children."

"I do not want children, warrior mine – beautiful or otherwise. I only want you."

Koko smiled shyly and looked at the ground. "I am glad about that... both parts of that, actually. I was certain when I realized where I was and how angry you were that I would never have the opportunity to be with you the way I wanted to. It was only because Takoda forced me to speak to you directly that I did so."

"Takoda?"

Koko nodded. "He said you deserved better from me than my leaving without a word again... and he was right. I will have to thank him for the kick in the behind."

Donoma stared at Koko's contrite expression for a long moment, then glanced at her ass before returning her eyes to Koko's. "Remind me to thank him as well. At least he did not leave a mark."

Koko chuckled and tugged on Donoma's hand to start them back in the direction of the camp. "I think he would have," she confided, "if he had been sure that your wrath would not have been turned in his direction for doing so. I got the impression the tribe is very respectful of your anger."

"They have learned to be. It was very sharp for a long time, but never without cause. I just allowed it to go to the extreme."

"Now you have no reason to." They reached the encampment, remembering the furs that had been left out to dry and hastened to retrieve them. Koko went about setting them up a cozy nest to one side while Donoma relit the fire and set the remaining stew on to warm. Then she cuddled up in Koko's arms where she had gently reclined on the furs and turned her attention to the star-studded expanse.

"I still think it is a bear, warrior. Time has not changed that."

"It is a dipper, ka'eskone. I still do not see a bear in those stars."

"You do not see his head with the little ears and the rounded body and...." stopping the age-old argument when Koko vehemently shook her head. "Maybe you should try seeing it from my eyes."

"I imagine the world would look a lot different for me if I saw with your eyes, ka'eskone. What about those?" pointing to another group of stars. The quiet conversation between them could barely be heard and the stew signaled its readiness while the stars looked on.

Chapter XX

"When I first left the tribe, I thought I would die," Koko said as they settled down after eating. "It was so quiet... so lonely. I never realized quiet could be lonely until it was absolutely silent. I kept waiting... listening for any sound that would show me there was more life out here than me. It seemed that even the animals had abandoned me. I came so close to turning around, but I knew you deserved a chance to find happiness, so I kept going. By the time I reached the fort I was happy to be there if only for the sound of other human voices. Of course, I did not realize how the white man was going to react to me."

"That bad?"

"Not after I explained myself in excruciating, explicit detail."

"What happened?"

"There were some who felt the need to heckle... who believed that my being a woman precluded me from being a warrior. And there were those who felt my not being of the white world meant I was less than they were... that I was an animal to be taken – I simply restructured their thinking."

"What happened?" Donoma repeated.

"I defeated them; I fought them and I won. Then I got my first bounty and things got a lot easier."

“Wait... go back. You *fought* them?”

“I did – hand to hand. I had no guns and no knowledge of how to use them, so I earned their respect by beating them up.”

Donoma shook her head. “Is it that way everywhere? You had to do the same when you came to us as I recall.”

Koko smirked. “I think it is simply the way of man, ka’eskone. The few women I encountered took me in and gave me a place to stay and food to eat until I could manage on my own. In return I looked out for them... didn’t let those same men push them around and beat them up anymore.” Blue eyes grew thoughtful. “I realized that the ones who have the least seem to be the most generous while those who have the most to give are the ones who want more and will do anything to keep taking. That is one reason I became a bounty hunter.”

"One reason?"

"I needed money, ka'eskone, and since I did not know how to play cards, it was about the only way I could earn it as a woman that did not require me to lie on my back underneath some man." Donoma looked at Koko with horror and revulsion shining out of her eyes. Koko nodded her head. "Exactly. Besides, I am good at tracking – good at killing, honestly. And the animals I went after did not deserve better than dying."

"Do you enjoy it, Koko?"

Koko turned to look directly into Donoma's green eyes, finding not judgment or disgust, but a desire to understand. "Sometimes," she confessed honestly. "Sometimes I am glad to kill them if only because I know they will not be able to destroy any more lives." She drew a deep breath. "The men that I go after are wicked men, ka'eskone, who have done evil, bad things. My job is to stop them in any way I can and generally that entails killing them."

"Would you give it up?"

"I could, ka'eskone... in a heartbeat. It is not something I need to do; it is something I do because it needs to be done. And I am good at it. But I will stop if that will make you happy."

"Would that make you happy?"

"I know that at some point I will have to stop or it will kill me – that is just the law of averages. Someone will come along one day who is stronger or smarter or faster who will take me down like an outlaw and end my life if I do not stop by my own choice. Even now, there is still a possibility that someone will come looking for me before I can go looking for them."

"Like what brought you back to us again?"

"Exactly like that."

Donoma took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I do not like that, warrior. I do not think I could live knowing you were in constant danger. But I am not sure it is fair to ask you to give it up either. You serve the greater good, Nutta, and that has to mean something to you or you would not have continued to pursue such a course once you had enough money to leave the white man's world."

“Donoma... ka’eskone... being a bounty hunter gave me purpose. It gave me a reason to look forward to another day, because there are always more outlaws that need hunting.”

“And now?”

“Now?” Koko brushed her fingertips across Donoma’s cheek, gratified when the green eyes closed and Donoma leaned into the touch. “Now I have the possibility of the future I have always wanted. That is all the reason I need.” She stopped talking when Donoma snuggled deeper into her embrace.

Quiet settled over them and it was only a short while before the rhythmic breathing of sleep was the only accompaniment the crackling fire had. The stars twinkled merrily, two moreso than the rest, as the night continued on to fade towards dawn.

************

Honiahaka turned to Rachel and smiled at the delighted expression that sparkled out of her blue eyes. "You are happy with the turn of events, Nutta?"

"Oh yes, Honiahaka. I have waited a long time for my nahtonas to realize the bond they share with one another." Honiahaka laughed and took Rachel into his arms, hugging her with all the strength in his ethereal body.

"Oh Rae'l... they have yet to recognize their bonding. They have only just begun to understand and explore what is possible between them. But they will – what they have will not be denied." He brushed a kiss over the top of her dark head. "Trust me, Rae'l."

"I always did, Nutta, even before I knew you as more than just my captor. You never lied to me and you endured a lot to protect us."

"Then believe me when I tell you that Koko Kanti inherited that same strength and stubbornness. Now that Donoma's heart is open to her, Donoma Chepi does not stand a chance against Koko Kanti's persuasiveness. Besides, she wants to be convinced."

Rachel chuckled. "I think you are right about that, Honiahaka. I just hope it is sooner than later. I do not want any more gray hair than I died with."

"Come then... we will leave them to figure things out. It is time for us to rest."

And they faded from view as the sun edged its way over the horizon.

************

"Good morning, ka'eskone," Koko greeted as Donoma's lashes tickled the side of her neck. Donoma stretched carefully, not willing to leave the nest that had been created for her in Koko's arms, but equally reluctant to do any further damage to the still healing body beneath her. She turned and let her lips brush Koko's neck.

"Good morning, warrior," she croaked, clearing her throat and blinking her eyes again. She gratefully accepted the waterskin and gulped down several swallows. "How did you sleep?"

Koko shifted so Donoma could see the wry look in her eyes. "You were in my arms, ka'eskone, despite all good intentions to the contrary. How could my sleep be anything but good?"

Donoma shifted, easing into a sitting position. "You can have good intentions tomorrow, Koko. I needed to be in your arms last night as much as you needed to have me there."

"Did you really, Donoma Chepi?"

Green eyes met blue and Donoma winced to see the uncertainly lurking in them. She leaned over Koko's body and cupped her face in one hand. "Yes, Koko... I did. I needed the reassurance of knowing you would be there when I awoke this morning just as you needed to know I would be there all night long. We are rebuilding trust, warrior. We both have fears we can only face together."

Koko took the hand that cradled her face and brought it to her lips. "When did you get to be so smart again?"

"I have always been smart, Koko Kanti. It is the reason I am the warrior advisor to the best warrior the tribe has ever known."

"Oh no, ka'eskone," Koko disagreed. "That had nothing to do with your mind and everything to do with your heart. I knew someone who saw and felt as you do could be relied on to be the best possible advisor in the world. It made all the difference."

"But you did not know anything about me when you made me you advisor," Donoma protested.

"Oh, but I did, ka'eskone. You cannot see it, but your soul shines out of your eyes like a beacon." Donoma flushed bright red at Koko's words and dropped her head. Koko raised it with her fingers under Donoma's chin until their eyes were at a level. "Oh no, ka'eskone. It is nothing to be ashamed of – your soul is beautiful."

"You can really see that?"

"I always could, Donoma. It was the first part of you I fell in love with."

Donoma sat perfectly still, concentrating on breathing. Koko sat and watched in fascination as the emotion play across her face. She'd always thought that Donoma knew so much about what was between them, and was slowly coming to the realization that Donoma was feeling her way through things that Koko was still coming to terms with herself. It was one thing to know something intellectually and something else again to have to acknowledge it emotionally.

"Does that surprise you, ka'eskone?" Koko ask when the silence went on too long for her comfort. Donoma's eyes tracked back to her from wherever they had been and she blinked rapidly to bring her eyes back into focus. Koko gave her a gentle smile and Donoma responded with a shaky smile of her own. "Does it surprise you to know that I love you, Donoma Chepi?"

"No, my warrior," Donoma replied possessively. "Only that you have known for so long."

"Perhaps on some level, ka'eskone, but never overtly... at least not until I decided to leave. I spent that entire night thinking, you know – recognizing a few truths about myself... and us."

"Perhaps I should take the time to do the same." Donoma looked down at her hands and watched them fidget as if by their own volition. "I should have done it years ago... when you left. I imagine I would have followed you if I had." She paused. "Then again, I purposely avoided thinking about you or why you had left – probably because I knew it would come down to being my fault."

"Not your fault, Donoma – my decision."

"And my fault for not seeing... for failing to look." She looked into Koko's eyes and took the larger hands in hers. "Koko, if I had known... if I had seen.... Takoda could not have stopped me; no one could have. I would have followed you until we had sorted all this out."

"We can only go forward from here, ka'eskone." The growling of two hungry bellies interrupted her and Koko and Donoma exchanged smirks that became chuckles after a moment. "First, however," Koko continued when the noise died down a bit, "I think we need to find something to break our fast and decide what we want to do now."

"I will catch us some fish," Donoma said confidently. "You do not need to be bending over and straining that tummy wound," she cautioned when Koko frowned. "Besides, you taught me, remember? I can do it, warrior."

"I know," Koko agreed. "It is just different than what I remember."

"It is different, Nutta. We are different people getting to know one another again. But I have to be honest... I am looking forward to it."

"So am I, ka'eskone. Go catch your fish – I will stoke the fire. There will be time later to talk."

************

"I have missed your cooking, Donoma. I had put the flavors you created out of my mind, but they bring back so many memories." Koko leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially, even though she and Donoma were the only ones around. "I always loved your cooking... even more than my Nahko'es."

Donoma smiled and blushed. "Did you really?"

"Yes. Nahko'e cooked for me because it was her place to do so, both as my Nahko'e and as the woman in a warrior's household. I know that she loved me, but she also bore a responsibility to me as her nahtona and her provider. You cooked for me because you wanted to and it always tasted a little bit better because of that."

"Not all of it, warrior. I remember some distinct disasters while I was learning."

"I would not call them disasters," Koko replied tactfully.

"I would," Donoma said with laughter. "There was nothing successful about the flat bread on fire or the stew that...."

Koko held up her hands in surrender, grimacing in memory. "All right... all right. Maybe there were a few disasters while you were developing your own style, but even then I could still taste love in the effort you put into caring for me that way."

"Could you really?"

"Of course.... because you never did it for anyone else – only me."

"Of course I did – you were my warrior."

"I am still your warrior, ka'eskone. That never changed – even when I built a home out in the white man's world."

"You built a home there?"

Koko nodded wearily. "I had to. Living in the town was driving me crazy. The noise there – while I had searched for relief from the quiet on my sojourn there as a reassurance that I was not alone in the world, I realized that I could not live with so much sound from so many sources. As soon as I could afford to do so, I moved away from the fort and built a small cabin out away from everything."

"The silence didn't bother you there?"

"I needed it – it wasn't the total quiet that haunted me when I left the tribe. This gave me a sense of peace... a sense of home that I had not had since I left here."

"Do you think I could see it?"

"Would you like to?"

"I think so, yes. I would like to know about your life while you were gone from this place. You know what mine was like – it is very consistent."

Koko chuckled. "That it is. Would you like to find your family and let them know?"

"Not until we are joined, warrior. Takoda trusts you to keep me safe."

"Then we can go whenever you would like to leave. It will take us a little while to reach the fort if you would like to go into town. My cabin is a little closer."

"I think I would like to see the cabin first. It might take a while before I feel comfortable going into the town. I am not sure how the white world would take to me."

"You will be fine, ka'eskone. You would fit into the white world easier than I did," combing her hands through blonde hair. "But I would never let you face something like that on your own, beloved," switching to English. "Anywhere we go, we go together. If you are not comfortable going into town, my business there will wait until you are."

"And if I never am?"

"Then we will not go, Donoma... simple as that. I told you – you make the choice. If you want to live here, we can always come home to your family and the tribe. I only want to be where you are."

"No, Koko... *we* make the choice. This is about us... our life together."

"Then I say that we start out at first light tomorrow. We do not have a schedule to keep, and it will give me a little more time to recover. I have this very strict caregiver who would be very happy if I took better care of myself so she did not have to continue to repair the damage I do to my body."

"Your caregiver would prefer that you not do damage to yourself to begin with, but I will accept that as a viable option in this situation."

"So leaving tomorrow...?"

"... is fine with me, warrior as long as you feel able to do so. Now I am going to go check on the horses. You should rest." And Donoma rose from her spot and headed out into the prairie before Koko could protest. Koko watched her go and let a smile cross her face. Then she rose and went into her own tent. The evening suddenly had interesting possibilities.

Part 11

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