"At midday the scout rode back from up ahead to tell Steven there were Indians to the east. He immediately got off the horse and then mounted again, behind Emma. She looked back at him in question, and he kissed her lightly on the mouth. "If anybody takes an arrow in the back," he said, "it isn't going to be you." Emma was frightened, but she also felt protected and valued, and there was a certain contentment in that. If she could be close to Steven, she could face anything. Uneasily,"