The orange glow of the late afternoon sun shimmered in her eyes and hair, and he couldn’t look away. She was the most stubborn, yet at the same time the most alluring woman he’d ever met. It was just that stubbornness that made her a survivor, and that was exactly the kind of woman who could share his life in the wilderness. She was passionate and protected her family with the same kind of fierce tenacity as a mother grizzly would protect her young.
He leaned forward. To hell with waiting. Time to throw caution to the wind and stop tip-toeing around Cora like a scared kid. He’d stopped being reserved and cautious after his folks died, so why was he acting like it again in front of this woman? Now was as good a time as any to voice the crazy thought that had been formulating in his mind all day, even if it was a harebrained idea.
“Cora, there’s something we need to talk about. I think that –”
“Nathaniel? Hey look, Joseph, it’s Nathaniel.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
C ora stepped away from Nathaniel, her eyes searching for whoever had called his name loud enough to surely be heard throughout the fort. A curse word escaped Nathaniel’s mouth as his hand fell away from where he’d held her. He smiled when he obviously recognized whoever had called to him.
Two men dressed similar to Nathaniel walked toward him with long, confident strides. One looked to be slightly older than the other, but the younger one reached them first. A wide grin brightened his features. Judging by his youthful face, he had to be a few years younger than she.
Nathaniel stepped to the side, facing the approaching men. He glanced at her again, a frown of disappointment on his face. Cora studied him. What had he wanted to tell her?
“I think we’re interrupting something, Joseph. What are you doing here, Nate?” The young man slapped Nathaniel’s back while simultaneously holding out his other hand, which Nathaniel shook.
“Lucas,” he greeted, then reached out to clasp the other man’s hand. “Joseph. Nice surprise to see you here.”
“Likewise. We were at Harley’s Hole about ten days ago. Ethan said he was expecting you back any day.”
Cora’s eyes went from the two men to Nathaniel. He smiled easily, making her heart pitter-patter. All traces of his frown from a moment ago vanished. She’d seen him grin at her in amusement, but this was a genuine smile without reservations, which only enhanced his handsome face. Clearly, he knew these men well.
At first glance, the two woodsmen seemed friendly enough. Like Nathaniel, they were of a different breed of mountain men from the unkempt men here at the fort or those she’d encountered previously at Fort Laramie. Despite the fact that they wore buckskins and homespun, they were clean and well groomed. The older one, Joseph, wore his dark hair long like Nathaniel, while Lucas kept his thick mop of raven hair shorter.
Both shot her curious glances. The one named Lucas stared at her openly, his eyes boldly appraising her. He even leaned back slightly. Cora stood straighter, glaring at him. How dare he appraise her like some commodity or cheap harlot?
Next to her, Nathaniel cleared his throat. “Cora, these are friends of mine, Joseph and Lucas Walker.” Turning to them, he said, “This is Miss Cora . . . Hudson.”
Cora’s eyes shot to Nathaniel. He’d called her by her maiden name, a name she’d planned to use again once they reached Oregon. Since her marriage to Ted wasn’t legal, there was no reason why she should keep his last name, but she hadn’t mentioned it to Nathaniel.
“Miss Hudson.” Joseph held out his hand and offered a friendly smile. Cora shook it. The other one grinned at her, then at Nathaniel.
“I’m lost at what you find so funny.” Cora squeezed Lucas’ hand harder than necessary. She leaned forward, her eyes narrowed on him like she would glare at Patrick when he was out of line, even though Lucas Walker stood a good half head taller than she.
His eyes widened with delight. He laughed. “I like her.”
“Well, now that we know that you have my brother’s approval, Miss Hudson, we can all breathe easier.” Joseph Walker smiled, then grabbed his sibling by the shoulder and pulled him roughly aside. “I apologize for my brother. When they were handing out manners or common sense, he forgot to get in line.”
“All I did was compliment the lady,” Lucas argued. He expertly ducked away from his brother’s grasp. “Didn’t mean any disrespect, Miss Hudson.” His grin hadn’t faded when he addressed her. “I’m just saying I approve of you for our friend, Nate.” His eyes traveled to Nathaniel with a cocked eyebrow.
“Approve?” Cora’s forehead scrunched. What was he rattling on about? Her heart pounded in her chest. He made it sound as if he implied she and Nathaniel were courting.
Would that be such a bad thing? She mentally shook her head. It was a crazy thought. She didn’t want another man in her life, did she? A lot had been going on in her mind where Nathaniel was concerned. Every time he looked at her, she forgot to breathe. She’d interacted with him only as much as necessary since the previous day for fear she’d let down her guard again.
He’d completely shattered her walls the day before when he’d asked her why she had refused his help. Whether it had been the effects of the hit to the head she’d suffered, or the simple fact that Nathaniel Wilder made her feel things that scared her and could leave her with a broken heart, she’d simply crumbled in front of him. He’d already seen too much of her vulnerabilities, and she’d spelled out her fears like an open book.
She’d never leaned on a man before, someone who gave her strength, and it had felt so good when he’d wrapped his arms around her and told her everything would be all right. At that moment, everything truly had seemed safe, but it had only been for a few minutes. She couldn’t afford to dwell on his words, or on the memory of how secure he made her feel. She was in real danger of losing her heart to him, if it wasn’t too late already.
Next to her, Nathaniel cleared his throat. “Not so fast, Lucas. Miss Hudson and her family were on their way to Oregon when they ran into some trouble, and I was bringing them as far as Fort Hall.”
Joseph frowned while Lucas made a face as if he had a bitter taste in his mouth. “You’re part of that outfit camped along the creek about a mile south of here?”
Nathaniel shook his head. “Cora and her family are on their own at the moment. They’ve been hoping to find a wagon company to join.” The last part of what he said sounded forced. Cora stared up at him.
Lucas’ eyes widened with delight. “Well, if you don’t want to join up with those folks - and I don’t recommend you do - and are looking for a guide, I can get you to Oregon. When do you want to leave?”
“Hold on, Lucas. When have you been on the trail to Oregon before? You don’t even know that part of the country.” Nathaniel spoke up much too quickly.
He shot a hasty glance at Cora who tilted her head, studying his face. He looked worried. Cora turned her attention on Lucas, raised her brows and laughed. “I don’t know you, Mr. Walker. I wouldn’t let you within five feet of my wagon. I have my sisters to consider.”
Joseph snorted. “Wise decision,” he mumbled under his breath.
Lucas gave her a wounded look. He held his hand to his chest as if he’d been injured, then his face lit up in a grin again.
“Sisters? I’m perfectly dependable and trustworthy around women, Miss Hudson. Not that I don’t like the company of a nice girl, but once you pay too much attention to a female, they expect things, and I’m not of the mind to settle. Joseph learned that lesson once, right, Joseph? But I think he came to his senses when his former wife tossed him out.” He shot his annoying grin at his brother and elbowed him in the side. He turned back to Nathaniel.
“What do you say, Nate? You’re never one to shy away from the opportunity to go somewhere new. Here’s our chance to go exploring where we ain’t ever been. We’ve talked about it before. How far is it to Oregon from here? I figure we wouldn’t be gone more than six months or so.”
Nathaniel shook his head. �
�I can’t just up and head to Oregon, Lucas. I have to get back to Harley. I have supplies for winter to take home.”
Lucas waved a dismissive hand at him. “Joseph can deliver your supplies and let Harley and Ethan know you’re with me.”
“Well, that’ll make Harley feel a whole lot better.” Joseph scowled at his brother. “What harebrained idea are you going to have next, Lucas? You don’t even have proper supplies for a spur-of-the-moment undertaking like this.”
Lucas grinned. “That makes it more interesting.”
“Not to mention you can’t hire yourself out as a scout if you don’t know the terrain or the Indians,” Joseph continued.
Lucas shrugged, apparently unperturbed by his brother. “Mountains are mountains, no matter where you go, and I can communicate with the Indians just fine.” He held up his hands and wiggled his fingers. “Everyone speaks sign language. Nothing to it.”
“I’m not going home to tell Mama that you’ve gone off to Oregon for six months, and that she may never see you again.”
Cora’s eyes volleyed from one brother to the other as they argued. Their banter was light-hearted, as if they did this on a regular basis, but there was a deep underlying respect between the two.
Lucas nudged his chin at his brother. “You never know what unexpected journey could change your entire life, Joseph. I don’t plan on growing old and having regrets that I didn’t get to do or experience something because the timing wasn’t right.” Turning to Cora and Nathaniel, he added, “So, how about it? Are we going to Oregon?”
Nathaniel touched Cora’s arm. She glanced from Lucas Walker to the man who made her heart beat faster. Would he agree to take her to Oregon?
“We’ll talk about your options in the morning,” Nathaniel said evenly before she could respond to Lucas Walker, giving her a look that conveyed that she shouldn’t make a rash decision. Did he think she would even consider the other man’s offer? Lucas Walker seemed rather impulsive. Her breath caught in her throat. If Nathaniel offered to take them to Oregon, she’d accept without hesitation, even if being in his company for much longer might be a bigger mistake.
Nathaniel continued to prove that he had her best interest in mind and was looking out for her. He’d taken charge since they’d come to the fort, shielding her from the leering eyes of some of the men they’d passed, and from the trader. Surprisingly, she didn’t mind that he’d taken the leadership role. In fact, it was a great relief that she didn’t have to be on guard constantly, and could depend on Nathaniel. Every moment she spent with him made it harder to conceal the feelings growing in her for this man. Her best defense was to continue with her haughty demeanor and keep as much distance as possible.
“I think I need to get back to camp. I’ve been gone far too long,” she stammered, an intense need to get away from him taking hold in her. “I’ll leave you to visit with your friends. I’m sure you want to catch up on things.” She nodded at Joseph Walker and his brother. “Come for supper if you’d like.”
Lucas chuckled. “See, she’s warmed up to me already. A moment ago she didn’t want me near her wagon.”
“You’re a friend of Nathaniel’s.” Cora stepped up to him and looked him in the eye. “That’s good enough for me to invite you to supper, but nothing more,” she finished in a firm tone, daring him to be smart about it.
“Thank you, but Lucas and I have some business at the trading post, and then we’ll be heading out,” Joseph Walker said.
“We are?” Lucas shot his brother a quizzical look.
“Yeah, we are.” Joseph said firmly, and nodded to Nathaniel.
“Well, it was nice meeting you. If you change your mind, the offer to eat supper with us stands.” Cora offered a smile to Joseph.
Turning on her heel, she paused and looked at Nathaniel. The expression on his face was one of surprise. The look in his eyes and the hint of a smile on his lips sent another rush of warmth through her. He’d clearly understood that she’d openly declared her trust for him.
“I’ll go back with you,” he said, touching her arm again.
She shook her head and stepped back, out of his reach. She desperately needed some time away from him. “No, I’m sure the three of you have plenty to talk about. I can find my own way back.”
Before Nathaniel could say anything else, Cora hurried in the direction of where her wagon was camped.
“If you change your mind about Oregon, let me know,” Lucas called after her.
Cora didn’t bother with a reply. If the other wagon train wouldn’t take her on, Lucas Walker might be her only option. Nathaniel hadn’t seemed too happy about the idea. If only he would offer to take them, but he had other obligations, and she would never ask it of him. He’d already gone out of his way and done enough.
The mules and Gray, along with Nathaniel’s two horses, grazed a short distance from the wagon. A fire had been lit, judging by the wisps of smoke rising over the top of the canvas on the opposite side. Close to the wagon stood another horse, fully saddled. A quick rush of apprehension coursed through Cora. Who was at their camp? There had been several trappers and unsavory men inside the walls of the fort. How many more were camped in the area? Dread raced down her spine.
“Anna?” she called and hurried toward her camp.
If only she hadn’t insisted that Nathaniel stay with his friends. She didn’t even have her rifle. It was under the driver’s box in the wagon. How surprising that Nathaniel was her first thought when there was potential trouble. She was already depending on him too much. Her heart lurched when Patrick raced around from the other side of the wagon.
“Cora, guess who’s here,” the boy called. He skidded to a halt in front of her. His eyes were wide as they stared up at her. He seemed relieved to see her. “Anna’s talking to him. Does this mean Nathaniel’s leaving?”
Cora frowned and shook her head. “Who’s here, Patrick?”
At that moment, Anna appeared, followed by a man. The pulse pounded at Cora’s temple. Her legs turned soft as pudding and her hands shook as anger rose in her. She rushed to meet them.
“What are you doing here?” she fumed, glaring at the man who smiled brightly. Her eyes went to Anna, whose face had gone pale.
“Is that any way to greet your husband, Cora?” He stepped up to her and pulled her against him. He leaned forward for a kiss. Cora pushed against his chest and quickly turned her head. His lips grazed her cheek.
“You’re not my husband, Ted. You said so yourself,” Cora hissed.
He released her, running a hand over his unshaven face. “I made a mistake, Cora. I shouldn’t have left you back at Fort Laramie.”
Ted glanced from her to the hat in his hand, looking contrite. He made eye contact again and the smile returned. “Forgive me.”
Cora’s hand shot to her hips. “Forgive you?” Her voice rose to match the anger simmering inside her. “Forgive you for lying to me, making me think we’re legally wed, then leaving us stranded in the middle of nowhere?”
“Patrick, come to the wagon with me.” Anna grabbed for Patrick’s arm and pulled him with her toward the wagon. Her eyes met Cora’s before she turned away. Cora gave a grateful nod to her friend. No doubt Anna had told Caroline and Josie to get in the wagon when Ted had shown up.
“Don’t make a scene, Cora.” The smile on Ted’s face turned to annoyance. “That’s always been the problem with you. Always running off at the mouth. Show a little respect.”
Cora laughed. “Respect? How dare you talk to me about respect? At least I never lied to you. You think you can just show up again and now say that we’re married? When it suits you?”
Ted stepped up to her, a cold gleam in his eyes. He grabbed her arm, his fingers biting painfully into her skin. He roughly shook her. “Now you listen here, Cora. That marriage certificate might be fake, but no one has to know any different. It certainly fooled you.”
“Let go of me.” Cora pulled back, but Ted held tight to her arm. “I�
�ll never believe another word that comes out of your mouth. You and I aren’t married. I want you to stay away from me and my family.”
“I said I made a mistake, and I’m willing to go on to Oregon and start a farm like we talked about. We can tie the knot for real if it makes you feel any better.” He leaned in closer and whispered against her cheek. “We consummated our vows. That should count for something. And I have the certificate. No one will know it’s not real.”
Cora shuddered with dread in response to the hot breath against her face. She leaned away from him. She’d accepted him in her bed because she’d believed him to be her husband. Her eyes narrowed.
“Get away from me,” she hissed. Rising shame and anger made her limbs shake.
“I don’t know how you managed to get this far, Cora, but no one is going to let you tag along to Oregon unless you’re married, just like before.” Ted offered a smug smile, no doubt thinking he had the upper hand.
Cora sucked in a quick breath. “I have someone to take me to Oregon. Now let go of me.”
When Ted tightened his hold on her arm, she renewed her struggles.
“What?” He laughed. “That woodsman I saw you with at the trading post? You’d trust someone like that over me?”
“I’d say she has more reason to trust me than you. You’ve got exactly two seconds to let go of the lady, mister.”
Cora nearly cried out with relief at Nathaniel’s familiar voice. Where had he come from so quickly? Ted’s eyes widened. Slowly, he complied. Cora yanked her arm fully out of his grasp and stumbled backward. Nathaniel caught her around the waist and tugged her up against him. He casually held his rifle in his other hand and stared at Ted.
“I suggest you leave this camp right now,” he growled.
“Cora’s my wife. You have no right to order me to go anywhere,” Ted spewed. His eyes narrowed, darting from Nathaniel to Cora.
Cora's Pride (Wilderness Brides Book 1) Page 11
