Josiah crept up the rocky terrain toward the cave. The rain had finally stopped just after dawn, but the damage had been done. The landscape was lush and green, but the nearby creek was swollen. The water had escaped its bed and was two times its normal size. Most of the surrounding land had turned to thick mud, miring their boots with every step.

He’d given up and changed into the old moccasins he always kept in his saddlebag, which allowed him to almost walk on top of the brambles and dense foliage lying in clumps everywhere. Once he reached the rocky base of the small mountain, he made faster time, as did the other men. Bass hadn’t wanted to take any chances of the outlaws escaping, so he and the others had circled around to the other side and were coming at them from behind, cutting off any escape. Summer had stayed behind with the horses, far enough away so she wouldn’t be in any danger. Thankfully, she hadn’t argued, setting Josiah's mind at ease. He’d already lost everyone else, and he wasn’t about to lose her, too.

Keeping low, he pulled himself over a boulder jutting out above the path. If he was watching his back trail, that would be the most likely place for a lookout. Inch by slow inch, he eased himself out across the large rock until he could see the trail as it turned the corner. Sure enough, there was a man hidden in an alcove. If he’d stayed below, he would have had a knife in his gut.

From his vantage point, he could only make out the man below him and the next curve. Anything further in was hidden from view, which didn’t help his situation at all. Easing back from the ledge, he rolled onto his back and stared at the gray sky overhead. The storm clouds hovered, as if waiting for him to decide whether or not he needed them to vent his building frustration. He couldn’t get to the man below without being on the trail, and that would get him killed.

He turned his head and noticed a good-sized rock lying nearby. His mouth rose in a partial smile as an idea formed. He was at least twelve feet above the man hiding below him, so dropping a large enough rock on him should at least knock him out. Rising into a crouch, Josiah grabbed a rock about the size of his head and moved back to the ledge. Peering down, he held out the rock, making sure it was directly above the man, exhaled, and let it fall. With a sickening crack the man slumped to the ground.

“One down, four more to go.”

Staying high, he followed a narrow animal trail leading around the rocky face until he couldn’t go any further. Muttering to himself, he backtracked to where he started and dropped down to the trail, hoping he hadn’t missed anything. He wasn’t in the mood for any surprises.

He took his time, stopping and listening as he made his way around the base of the mountain and up an incline where he had to walk almost sitting down, the massive rocks looking as if they had shifted sideways. He knew from Bass’s description, he should be coming up to the large divide in the rock where it looked as if the mountain had split into two large pieces.

He found the natural formation and, just as Bass described, further in there were naturally carved stone stairs leading up to the cave’s giant mouth. He stepped off the top of the stairs and headed toward an ancient tree that had toppled sideways. The air after the storm lay heavy and silent. He caught the quick stench of unwashed body a second before the massive arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him back against the thick chest.

“Thought you was better than this for an Injun.’”

Josiah gagged as the odor of rotting teeth washed across his face. The man’s face pressed against his and the hard end of a pistol jabbed into his side. He focused on his anger and what this man did to his wife. No matter what happened to him, this man would pay.

“If’n you know what’s good for ya, you’ll walk. I don’t much care if you die right here, but I have something of yours that just might make you change what yer planning’ on doin’ in that mind of yers.” The man shoved the gun into Josiah’s side harder. “Now, march.”

They rounded a large boulder jutting out into the path, which widened as the rock walls climbed high above them. Josiah stumbled, almost dropping to his knees. Before him, bound in rope with a bloody bandage wrapped around one arm and a dirty handkerchief tied around her mouth was his wife. Standing beside her, holding a knife against her throat was Johnny, the fourteen-year-old boy who'd been labeled a "troublemaker" since the day he was born.

Josiah stared into his wife’s frightened gaze, not quite trusting his eyes. Mia was alive… How could he have been so wrong? His chest tightened, his heart swelling with emotion, and he sent up a silent prayer of thanks and also asked for forgiveness. He should never have doubted in the first place.

Mia blinked and stood a bit straighter as if to let him know she was all right. He couldn’t have been prouder…and more terrified as he stared at the knife resting against her pale skin.

He took a step forward and Johnny tightened his grip, pressing the razor-sharp edge against Mia’s neck, nicking the skin, causing a thin line of blood to appear. She flinched but didn’t make a sound.

“What do you want?” Josiah asked, keeping all emotion from his voice. By now, he hoped Bass had taken out the other two men who should have been watching the trail along the back side of the mountain. With Mia alive—as long as he could keep Johnny calm with that knife pressing into her throat—they might just get out of this alive.

“I know you ain’t up here alone. That Bass Reeves is up here, too. I want safe passage out of here.”

“And for me too, Big Red!” Johnny hollered. “I’m supposed to go with you!”

“Shut up! You ain’t nothin’ but a hindrance to me from here on out.”

Josiah reared back, his head slamming against the outlaw’s while he pushed the man’s gun away. The pistol went off, the ricochet loud in the enclosed space, his only thought was getting to Mia. A grunt sounded behind him. He glanced back. The man lay moaning on the ground, profusely bleeding from where his own bullet grazed his head.

Josiah turned back to Johnny. “Drop your guns, mister, or I’ll cut her.”

Without taking his eyes off the boy, he did as Johnny said, unbuckling his gun belt and, slowly kneeled, laying his Colts on the ground. As if in slow motion, Josiah saw the determination on the boy’s face and the hate in his eyes. As the knife began its sideways motion across Mia’s throat, Josiah grabbed for the knife inside his boot and threw it as hard as he could.

Johnny’s knife dropped, and he stared at the handle sticking out of his chest. He raised his head, a frown on his face, as if he couldn’t believe what he saw. He fell back against the boulder behind him, then to the ground.

Mia stared at Josiah, an expression of horror on her face. Her hands were wrapped around her neck, blood seeping between her fingers. She started to fall, but he was there, catching her before she did. As gently as he could, he managed to get them both to the ground and pulled the dirty handkerchief from her mouth.

“Sweetheart, I need to see how bad the cut is…you need to let me look,” he begged, trying to pry her hands away from her neck.

With tears in her eyes, she shook her head. “I—I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I love you.”

He smoothed back her tangled hair. “When I saw the house burned and thought you were gone from me, something inside of me…changed. I don’t ever want to feel that angry again. You make me whole, Mia, and I’ve never felt this way before.” He kissed her forehead, desperate to help her and terrified he could still lose her if she didn’t let him. “I love you with everything I am. Don’t do this, iskitini chukfi luma. I refuse to let you go, now let me look at your neck.”

He pulled her hands away and breathed a sigh of relief. The wound bled profusely but was only superficial and hadn’t cut very deep. He reached down, grabbed her underskirt, tore off a long strip and pressed it against her neck, then pulled her against him, holding her tight.

“I don’t think I can move from this spot or let you go,” he whispered against her hair. He could still smell the faint lemon scent of her shampoo, which filled his nostrils and calmed the rage that had been pushing him for the past twenty-four hours. “I love you, iskitini chukfi luma.”

Sitting sideways in his lap, she pressed a kiss against his chest, her hand caressing his upper arm. “Are the children all right?” she asked.

He closed his eyes, not quite sure what to tell her. “Summer is fine. We left her with the horses. I don’t know about Billy or Elias.”

“I believe I can help you there,” Bass said, walking up behind them. He squatted down in front of them, a worried frown on his face as he met Josiah’s gaze. “Is she all right?”

“Wound isn’t deep and it’ll need a few stitches, but for right now, I just need to hold her.”

Bass nodded, his gaze dropping to Mia’s. “Your man was hell bent on vengeance when he thought those men harmed you and the young’uns. Never seen the likes. Storm rolled in equal to his fury. Summer seems to have some Creek belief that he's a Weather Controller.”

“Elias and Billy?” Mia asked, clearly not caring about anything other than making sure the boys were fine.

“My man Teague found Elias by the side of the path back yonder. Bullet grazed his leg and he lost a little blood; but, otherwise, he should be good.”

Mia nodded. “That’s how I was shot.”

Bass smiled, his gaze rose to Josiah’s. “That’s the story Elias told us. Evidently, Johnny didn’t like something Elias said and grabbed Red’s gun, but Mia pushed Elias out of the way and got herself shot in the arm. Made Red so mad, he took it out on Johnny, which caused a bit of dissension in the ranks. The two men guarding the back end gave Red up and even offered to testify for a lesser sentence. Seems they didn’t agree with some of the things he’s been doing, including kidnapping your woman and children. Told us they should never have been involved—would have gotten away if they hadn’t of been brought along.”

Teague shoved Big Red, his hands now tied behind is back, toward the other two men who were also similarly bound and held by the other deputies as they waited for Bass several feet away.

Josiah ran his fingers through Mia’s hair and rested his chin on her head. “Well at least someone in the group had some sense.”

“They tried to help Elias and me when Johnny and Big Red weren’t looking. They would have let us go if they’d had a chance. We had just slowed them down.” Mia glanced up at Bass. “And Billy? No one’s seen him? He got away before they started the fire. He’s only seven years old…” A small sob slipped out, and she buried her face in Josiah’s chest.”

“We’ll find him, iskitini chukfi luma. He’s probably holed up someplace safe. Didn’t you say Elias’s old place is close? We’ll check there as soon as we get home. But first, I need to clean and suture your wounds.”

“Thank God you found us, Josiah.”

---

Christmas Day

“Billy! Put down that cookie this minute!” Summer yelled at her cousin and chased him around the table. Billy squealed, his head thrown back, laughing with abandon as he ran up the stairs. She shook her head. “We should have left him in Elias’s cabin,” she muttered and grabbed a cookie for herself and munched on it as she stomped up to her room.

Mia smiled from her curled up position on the sofa. She leaned her head back against the tall cushion and sipped her cider. The heavy scent of cedar filled the house as boughs of greenery adorned each room. Sprigs of mistletoe, with its white berries, tied the branches together to make the room quite festive for the holiday. In the middle of the mantle, in a place of honor, sat the beautiful nativity scene Josiah had lovingly carved for her.

She had so much to be thankful for. Several months ago, they had almost lost everything, but God really did work miracles. Billy was found safe and sound and told Josiah that he’d snuck back into the burning house and pulled out Elias’s Bible and left it for them to find before running and hiding.

The day after they returned to Eufaula, Bass and his deputies made sure the outlaws were secured in a local house. Then, along with a recovered Harjo and his tribal police, they rebuilt Josiah and Mia's home. The men had even returned a few weeks later and built a small schoolhouse for her to teach in. In addition to Summer, Billy, and Elias, she now had seven more students who’d been turned away from the regular school in town.

Over the last couple of weeks, everyone had pitched in, baking all sorts of delicious food to make today’s celebration a joyous one. The most special gift, of course, she and Josiah would give the children as soon as he came in from tending the horses.

She heard Josiah’s heavy boots on the front porch. The door swung open then closed. She smiled, waiting for her husband’s cold hand to cover her warmer one, but was pleasantly surprised when his somewhat warm lips nuzzled her neck, kissing her instead.

She chuckled. “Did you stick your face in front of the stove before coming over here?”

“I didn’t think you would appreciate me sticking my cold face against your toasty neck.”

“Hmmm, so thoughtful. Thank you. Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“Everything’s ready. I’ve been keeping the food warm until you got back.”

“You don’t mind me helping Bass every now and then?”

Mia shook her head. “Not if it helps you work off some of your restless energy. Besides, you love working with Bass. You were meant to be in law enforcement every bit as much as you were meant to raise horses. It’s a blessing you can do both.”

“Like you with our misfit family?”

She scowled up at him. “I don’t like that word.”

“I think it’s the perfect word for us and doesn’t have to mean something negative. You turned it into a positive and created a home for a bunch of people who never really fit in anywhere else. You did that, Mia, and I love you all the more for it.” He leaned down and kissed her on the nose. “I don’t want to wait until later to tell the children our surprise. I want to tell them now.”

She giggled. “I think you’re more of a child than they are.”

He held out a small box. “Happy Christmas.”

She frowned. “We said we weren’t exchanging gifts—that this year would be only for the children.”

He smiled. “I lied.”

She took the box, her excitement building. “You are incorrigible.” She lifted the lid and gasped. Inside lay a beautiful silver bracelet. The etched design looked like flowing figures—a man and woman—surrounded by beautiful filigree designs pressed into the shiny metal. “I have never seen anything so beautiful,” she whispered, as Josiah took the bracelet from her shaky grasp and slid it round her wrist tightening it with a gentle squeeze.

“Something small from my heart.” He turned her hand over and kissed her palm, his touch thrilling her as it always did. “Now you’ll just have to bake me something sweet every day for a month to make up for not getting me a present.”

He wiggled his brows and walked to the stairs, Mia’s gaze following him. He'd been different after the kidnapping last summer. His lightness had turned more somber and darker, but he was just as loving and tender to her and the children. If anything, he was more so. Her heart swelled with emotion, and she pressed a hand over her heart, tears of joy burning the back of her eyes. She had never known such happiness.

“Children, come downstairs! Mia and I have something we want to tell you!” Josiah hollered, his deep voice booming through the house.

Elias and Billy, in their usual manner, bounced down, while Summer followed at a slower pace. He motioned for them to sit on the floor in front of the fireplace. When they were finally seated, which seemed to take forever since Billy liked to poke and push Summer as much as possible to annoy her, Josiah sat down next to Mia on the sofa, took her hand in his, and cleared his throat.

“We have something very special we want to ask the three of you.”

Summer’s eyes narrowed, her gaze darting between Mia and Josiah. Mia bit back her smile. Summer detested surprises, and this one would be a big one.

“Mia and I asked the tribe if we could officially adopt the three of you.”

The house had never been so quiet. Mia thought she could actually hear the snow falling outside. “Well, say something. Anything. Don’t you want to be a family?” She leaned forward, worry forming hard knots in her stomach. Maybe they should have asked them before asking the tribe?

In a blink, all three children erupted in whoops and hollers as they jumped up and launched themselves at the two adults, hugging both of them. With everyone laughing and talking all at once, no one heard the pounding on the front door. Finally, Josiah pulled away and opened the door, his smile fading as he stared at two men in military uniform staring back at him.

Mia frowned, shushing everyone and walked into the kitchen to stand next to her husband.

The older man took off his hat and held it between his hands, displaying his nervousness, his gaze never moving away from Mia. “I’m—we’re sorry to disturb you on Christmas, but we’ve come a long way—from New York City.” He cleared his throat. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Major Xavier Bradley, Jr, and this is my younger brother, Major Gerald Bradley.”

Mia reached for Josiah’s arm, squeezing until she couldn’t feel her fingers any longer. “Did you say Bradley?”

“Yes, ma’am. Our father was Dr. Xavier Bradley,” the younger man said and held out a small metal frame.

Mia hesitated, then with a quick glance at her husband, took the frame. It was a picture of a woman—a woman who looked almost identical to Mia. She looked at the two men in confusion. “Who is this and why are you here?”

With a gentle push, Josiah scooted her back and opened the door wider. “Please, it’s cold outside and you both must be frozen. Come in and drink some cider. Our daughter Summer made it, and it is quite delicious.”

Without being asked, Summer served the two men the cider and everyone moved back into the living room and sat around the fire. Elias added another large log to the flames, the snapping and popping soothing Mia’s ragged nerves. It couldn’t be a coincidence that they had the same last name as she had.

She took a deep breath and handed them back the frame and leaned against Josiah who wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I believe you have a story to tell?”

Gerald smiled and nodded. “We were so young— Xavier was ten, and I was eight.” He rubbed his hands over his face then dropped them around his hot cup of cider, staring at the dark, steaming liquid. “Our father was a drunk. He never recovered from our mother’s death after our sister was born.”

Xavier traced the woman’s face in the photograph with a smile. “He broke our sister’s tiny arm when he stepped on her in a drunken stupor one night. Never knew he’d done it. I set the bone in a cast. It was my first one. The next accident was when he kicked her when she was crawling and broke her leg. He thought she was a dog. We never owned a dog.” His voice faded.

Gerald met his brother’s stricken gaze and nodded. “We came home from school one day to find that he’d broken her arm again and flayed her back open with a whip…again thinking she was the dog. We knew we had to do something—that he was going to kill her if we didn’t get her out of the house,” Gerard said. “So, we wrapped her in a blanket and put her in a basket and pinned a note to her telling the foundling home owner that her name was Mia Bradley, which is our mother’s maiden name. Xavier and I stopped using our father’s name that night as well. To us, he is dead.”

Mia stared at them both, her gaze moving back and forth between the two men whose dark coloring resembled hers. “And you believe I am this child? Why?” She didn’t really need their answer. She knew. From the way her husband’s hand caressed the exact spots where she had long, faded scars on her back, he also knew she was that child, but she wanted to hear what these two men had to say.

Both Xavier and Gerald smiled and pointed at her arm where she was absently rubbing it. “That’s where our father broke your arm not once, but twice.”

“How did you find me?” she asked, emotion clogging her throat and Josiah holding her upright.

“When I found out I was being transferred to Indian Territory, I wrote a letter to the foundling home to find out if you had ever been adopted.” Xavier glanced at his brother and cleared his throat before looking back at Mia. “I couldn’t leave before finding out if you were all right.”

“He’s turned into a softie in his old age,” Gerald teased, deftly side-stepping his brother’s elbow. “When he received a letter from Madam Wigg telling him you had moved to Eufaula to be married, I put in for a transfer and…well, here we are.” Gerald rubbed the back of his neck, his face turning a darker shade of red. “I know it’s a bit presumptive on our part, but we’ve spent our entire lives wondering how you were, and we both want our little sister in our lives again. We pray you want the same.”

Eyes filled with tears and nodding furiously, Mia reached out and hugged the two men to her. Her brothers.

Two hours later, exhausted and drained, Mia stood in front of the window, staring out at the snow-covered woods. The moon’s glow lit up the pristine white ground. Everything sparkled. Josiah’s arms snaked around her waist, and he kissed her neck, his cheek resting against hers.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m better than all right.” She turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him to her. She had spent the last two hours getting to know her brothers, and with the late hour, they had decided to stay the night.

Josiah and the children had become her family in every possible way, but here were two men, who were her flesh and blood. She’d never let them go, not when they’d just found each other again. As soon as their transfers were final and they returned, she’d be impatient to know them better and add them to her heart. She could wait until then.

All of her dreams had come true—she’d found her family, both old and new, and Josiah was her everything. Mia smiled up at Josiah’s handsome face. She had never been so happy.