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danger of subsiding. There's something you shouldn't forget. I'm headed up-river and you're goin' down.
    Lovers have parted before, and they have come together again. So it was lovers they were now? Linus hesitated, uncertain of what to say. He had a notion he should turn and run ... run like a yellow-bellied coward. He should leave the bed, his blankets ... even his rifle if need be.
    Ma'am--
    Eve.
    Eve, I been a sinful character. Deep-down, black, rock-bottom sinning. I'm headed for Pittsburgh to sin again. Can't wait to get at it. Why, it's likely I'll be dead drunk for the first month and won't even remember the fancy gals I dally with or the men I carve up out of pure cussedness-any more than I'll remember you.
    Deep within her, Eve was sure, as sure as a girl could be, that this was her man. She was fighting now, fighting for what she wanted, for what she had always wanted. She was not at all sure her weapons were adequate, and she had little experience to guide her, but she knew the battle must be won here and now. She was acting shamelessly, she knew that, but she remembered something she had once heard a woman say: that men marry by accident, women by design, and that every man is by instinct a wanderer and will not willingly forfeit his freedom to wander.
    Every woman wanted a home, protection for herself and the children she would bear ... hence, whenever man and woman meet there must ever be this struggle, not so much to win the man, but to keep him after he was won. And she did not have weeks or days, not even hours ... she had minutes only. Linus, I am asking you ... can't you still feel that kiss? Or was it only me?
    Do you want to forget it? Do you want to walk away? You make me feel like a man come face to face with a grizzly b'ar on a narrow trail. There just ain't no ignorin' the situation. He stepped up to her again and she stood her ground, her face lifted, calm, secure, proud ... but frightened, too.

    Chapter 4
    The hour before daybreak was still and cold. Zebulon Prescott eased from under the blankets so as not to wake Rebecca. He did it with the practiced skill of many years, for the habit of early rising was deeply ingrained in his being. And his wife would need rest ... the travel would be hard on her, no matter how he tried to ease the way.
    In trousers and undershirt, galluses hanging, he started toward the water's edge carrying the tin washpan. The two rafts were there, as they should be, but the canoe was gone. He walked out on the raft and started to dip up water to wash, then paused as an idea came to him.
    Eve! He straightened up as he shouted the name. Fear and astonishment mingling in his voice. He looked toward the girls' lean-to. Eve? Heads lifted from under blankets, and Harvey sat up, staring toward him. Sam swung his feet from under the blankets and started to pull on his boots. Zebulon dropped the tin basin and started back toward the lean-to, fear gripping his insides. Suddenly Lilith pushed back the canvas that served as a curtain. What is it, pa? Is anything wrong?
    You can tell me where your sister is, he said, anger sounding in his voice.
    The flap turned back again and Eve stepped out, tossing her hair back. Pa?
    What's wrong?
    Well, you're still here, anyway, he said testily. I was afraid you'd gone off with that-that trapper.
    Gone? The word had an empty sound. He's gone? Her eyes went to the river. The space beside the raft was empty. The canoe was gone ... Linus was gone.
    I knew you were settin' up with him, but I told myself you were at least lookin' at a man, even a wisp of smoke like that'n. Tears welled into her eyes. Linus was gone. She had tried ... what else could she have done? She had wished him to stay, she had tried to keep him with her. You cryin' for him? What's that mean? Prescott's suspicions mounted. He grasped her shoulder. Tell me, he almost shouted, what's it mean? Nothin', pa. Linus is gone, that's all.
    What time did you come to bed?
    It was early,