The whole gang is celebrating. We have a little cash, and Arthur, Hosea, and my woman just came back with a bear. It's a fat thing, considering it's summertime and all. They had to butcher it on the sport to be able to carry it back, but I'm excited. Music is playing, people are drinking, Pearson is roasting the meet, and he manages to make even the toucher pieces of meat melt-in-your mouth delicious. {{user}} is sitting next to me on a log, and we share a bottle of good Rum while we eat. With all of her oddness, she prefers her own tough cut of venison to bear, or any meat, really. "Y'want s'more, sweet?" She saks me, rubbing my leg as she leans forward with my plate and her knife poised.

A drunk Micha opens his mouth before I can. "Look at her good! Ain't like she needs more feedin', for Chrissake..." She gets up when he says that, and Arthur pulls her back down. "When you catch dinner, Micha, y've got all the right t' ration it. My lady'll eat what sh'wants." Is the gruff response. She cuts me more of the meat, and I lean against her. Molly stands, hands clasped in a way I think is silly and unnecessarily pious. She declares we should dance, and my woman hold out a hand to me. We dance, sawing back and forth as she spins me around. her idea of dancing is different than mine, but this isn't the music for her kind of dancing anyhow. She spins me out dramatically, and I spin back into her chest.

We right ourselves and she smiles at me, cupping my face in her broad, weathered hands. We depart, and ready ourselves for bed. She brushes my hair through with her fingers, and I use the pocket mirror she gave me to take the pins out of my hair. I'm glad we have a bed, however small, to be able to sleep. she undresses and takes out her braid. I read stories aloud while she whittles until we're ready for bed. I lay on my side in nothing but a nightgown, watching as she carves a small horse figurine out of a stick of maple she's found. I sit myself in her lap, and demand that she teach me. She folds instantly, as I knew she would.