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“When I came home a couple of weeks later, I didn’t call you. Instead, I asked my friends about you. Everyone told me you had a baby.” He shook his head and then cleared his throat. “I figured you’d gotten involved with a man who had a child. I knew you’d gone on with your life without me. So I tried to put you out of my mind.”
    “I see.”

    “No, you don’t, Patience. I never really put you out of my mind. I still care about you.”
    “I guess that’s why you came after me.”
    “Yeah. Thanks for still caring enough to call me. I’m sorry it took me so long to come to help. I didn’t want you hurt.”
    “Thank you. I’m not sure I deserved your concern, but I’m glad you came.”
    Suddenly he signaled her to be quiet and then stepped around her to peer into the forest. “Time for us to move.”
    Patience nervously looked over her shoulder. “Did you see something?”
    “It’s hard to tell.” He retrieved the horses. He picked up Tommy and mounted his while Patience mounted hers. They set off again.
    He encouraged Jasper to move quickly through the woods, where the snow wasn’t as deep. They had one more slope to go down and another to climb before they got close to the cabin.
    As Patience followed, she thought about what Jim had said. He still cared about her. Mild words, compared to the way she’d describe her feelings for him.
    But first things first. She had to make sure she got Tommy home safely before she consideredher own happiness. And if Jim had no interest in Tommy, she would have to let go of her dreams at last. Because Tommy was her responsibility and her life.
    She forced her attention to her mount, because descending a steep hill was tricky. A fall would only complicate their escape.
    When they began the climb, they slowed. There was a trail to follow, but it was narrow at times. Her fear of heights had her clutching the saddle horn. But she didn’t dare close her eyes.
    Once they got close to the top, the trail steepened even more. Jim stopped and dismounted, leaving Tommy in the saddle, clinging to the pummel. “Tommy, I’m going to lead Jasper, but I want you to hang on and stay up there. Can you do that? Can you hold on tight?”
    “Yes,” the boy said softly.
    “If you start sliding, you call me.”
    “I don’t know your name,” the little boy said, his eyes wide.
    “My name is Jim. Can you remember that?”
    Tommy nodded.
    “Good.” Jim turned to Patience. “You’ll have to dismount, too. We’ve got to lead the horses over this part. Let me know if you get in trouble.”

    “Okay,” Patience said, looking over her shoulder. “I haven’t seen anyone on the down slope.”
    “Neither have I. Hopefully we’ll be up and back in the forest before they get to that point.”
    “Yes. But Tommy…”
    “He’s going to hold on tight, right, Tommy?”
    “His name is Jim, Mommy,” Tommy told her, pleased with his new knowledge.
    “Yes, sweetie, I know. Hold on tight.”
    They climbed in silence, saving their energy for the climb. Jim had warned her not to follow too closely in case Jasper got in trouble, and several times, the animal slid. Her heart leaped to her throat, as she feared for Tommy’s safety. But her little boy held on bravely.
    When Jim reached the top, he tied Jasper to a tree and lifted Tommy down. He set him on the ground nearby with instructions not to move until he was back. Then he hurried downhill to lead Patience’s horse. She continued on up in front of him, grateful the climb was almost over. She checked on Tommy when she reached him. He seemed in good spirits. She was grateful he didn’t fully understand what was happening.
    “Okay, Patience,” Jim said, “look throughthe trees. Do you see that big rock sticking out?”
    “Yes. Don’t tell me we have to climb it!”
    “No. I want you to take Tommy and ride toward that rock.”
    “Without you?”
    “Yeah, without me.”
    He was standing there holding her reins. “Aren’t you