He chuckled. “You tell me that every day.”
“And every day, you don’t listen.” She tilted her head, glaring at him until she couldn’t hold back a smile any longer.
“I have to oversee and make sure your cabin is built just right. Ethan’s been dishing out too many orders. It’s making Trevor and Travis short-tempered. Travis says he’s ready to run off into the mountains and spend the winter up on the Yellowstone.” He grinned and drew her closer. Nuzzling her neck, he murmured, “Someday I plan to take you there to see some of the wonders of the area.”
Cora tilted her neck to give him free access. “What kind of wonders?”
Nathaniel straightened. “Scalding hot water that comes out of the earth and shoots into the air in great big bursts. Mud that boils and looks like your porridge bubbling on the stove.”
Cora laughed. “You expect me to believe your tall tales, Nathaniel Wilder?”
He stepped back and touched his hand to his chest, feigning injury. “You wound me, Mrs. Wilder, calling me a liar. Someday I’ll prove it to you.”
Cora shook her head, still smiling. “I would never call you a liar. You don’t have to prove your honesty to me. If you say there is a place where hot water shoots out of the earth, then I believe you.”
His eyes narrowed. “Uh huh,” he drawled and dipped his head to kiss her neck again.
Cora leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck again to pull him closer. Nathaniel stepped forward, pushing her up against the wall. Cora moaned. Fumbling with the buttons on her dress, Nathaniel trailed kisses along her neck.
“It’s the middle of the day,” she whispered
“So what?” he murmured against her neck.
“What if someone walks in?” Cora’s heart beat faster in response to her husband’s actions. His chest rumbled with a chuckle.
“Everyone’s busy in the woods. No one’s going to come in.”
Cora clung to his shoulders as he slipped his hand inside the bodice of her dress, caressing her through the fabric of her chemise. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the rough log wall.
“I don’t tell you enough how much I love you, Cora,” he rasped against her neck. “I can’t imagine life without you.”
“You tell me you love me every day,” she whispered. “And you show me every day.”
Nathaniel leaned down to kiss her along her collar bone. Before his lips explored lower, the sound of a gunshot reverberated through the valley. Nathaniel stiffened instantly. He frowned.
“Where did that shot come from?” Cora’s forehead scrunched. Memories of the last time she’d heard unexpected gunshots several weeks ago flashed before her.
“Not sure, but it sounded like it came from the woods.” Nathaniel moved to the door.
“Is one of your brothers hunting?”
Nathaniel shook his head. “We don’t hunt this close to the cabins.”
Another shot rang through the air at that moment.
“Maybe Harley and Josie decided to do some target shooting,” Cora offered.
Nathaniel shook his head. “Harley was on his way to the woods when I came back here.” Nathaniel wrapped her back in his arms, and grinned. “Maybe Ethan finally made Travis mad enough that he’s taking shots at him.”
Cora’s eyes narrowed on her husband. “You men are always at each other’s throats and talking nonsense like that. Admit it, Nathaniel. Each and every one of you would lay down your lives for one another.”
“Just as I would lay down my life for you.” He kissed her again, when another shot rang out.
Nathaniel straightened. “Stay here,” he ordered, and grabbed his rifle that he’d propped up against the wall. Ripping open the door, he rushed out.
Cora breathed deeply to catch her breath. Her heart resumed its pounding, but for an entirely different reason than a few moments ago. She ran to the door.
“Be careful,” she called as Nathaniel disappeared into the trees behind the cabin.
With trembling hands, she buttoned the bodice of her dress. She flinched when several more shots rang out in quick succession. What was going on? Fear for Nathaniel and his brothers gripped her. Where was her rifle? The last time she’d seen it, Josie had used it for target practice.
“Cora, what’s going on?”
Anna and Caroline came running from the other cabin. Anna’s face was pale as a sheet. No doubt she also remembered the last time someone had been shooting at them.
“I don’t know,” Cora called. “Nathaniel thinks the shots came from where the men are working in the woods.”
“Maybe Trevor and Travis got bored and started a shooting contest,” Caroline suggested.
Cora shook her head. “I don’t think even those two would do something like that. They know it would alert everyone.”
Anna glanced around nervously. “I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she said quietly. “Let’s go inside and wait. It’s been several minutes and there haven’t been any more shots. Perhaps it was just the boys being boys.”
Cora glanced in the direction of the woods. There was no sign of Nathaniel or anyone else. Her head whipped around to look at Anna and her sister.
“Where are Josie and Patrick?”
Caroline’s eyes widened, as if it had just occurred to her that her sister wasn’t present. She and Anna exchanged a quick look.
“She went to the creek to get water and wash some linens,” Anna said. “Patrick went with Trevor earlier to help the men.”
Cora looked from one to the other. At that moment, another shot echoed through the valley, followed quickly by two more. Fear gripped her in earnest.
“You two get inside, and bolt the door,” she ordered. “I’m going to find Josie.”
Worry made her limbs heavy as lead as she ran in the direction of the creek, which flowed behind the large cabin that served as a barn for the horses in winter, and currently as the twins’ sleeping quarters. A good stretch of it was concealed by a stand of aspens and cottonwoods. Her wagon was parked along the corral fence. Cora’s heart nearly stopped when she rounded the corner behind the barn.
“Josie,” she screamed.
A man had her sister by the arm, struggling to pin her against him with his arms. Josie let out a yell and her body flailed in defense. The man glanced toward her at that moment. Ted!
Cora ran faster to reach her little sister, who continued to struggle against the much larger man.
“Let her go,” Cora yelled. She came to a stop when Ted held up his arm, pointing a revolver at Josie’s head.
“You’re here just in time, Cora,” Ted called back, a triumphant leer on his face. “I was just about to come pay you a visit.” He pushed a struggling Josie in front of him.
Cora’s mind raced and her heart pounded in her chest. She inhaled a deep breath to calm her nerves. Ted was not going to see her panic.
“Your business is with me, Ted. Leave her alone.” Cora shot an anguished look at her little sister, whose eyes were wide with terror.
Ted laughed. “I think I’ll just hold on to her while you and I talk, so that you’ll cooperate, Cora. It occurred to me just recently that the only way I was going to get you to do what I want is through your sisters. I should have thought of it before. Would have saved us all a lot of trouble.”
Cora swore under her breath. How could she have ever been fooled by this man into letting her believe he had decent intentions in Independence?
“You despicable swine,” she spat. “What do you want from me? You already shot my husband.”
Anger and fear for Josie made her body tremble. She fisted her hands at her side to keep them from shaking. Utter helplessness consumed her. She stood there, waiting for Ted to make his demands while Josie feared for her life, or worse.
What must be going through her little sister’s mind? Cora swallowed, her eyes pleading with Josie to remain strong. She’d repeatedly sworn to her sister that she’d never let another man touch h
er. Josie ceased her struggles, her panicked eyes locked on Cora.
Ted sneered. “And I thought I had killed him, too.”
“Let my sister go and I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“Oh, you’re going to give me what I want.” He laughed. “And don’t think anyone’s going to come to your rescue this time. A couple of friends of mine have those woodsmen busy enough to keep them occupied for quite a while.”
Cora shook her head in disbelief. Renewed fear gripped her, this time for Nathaniel and his brothers. She shot a hasty glance in the direction of the woods before turning her attention back on Ted.
“What do you want?” she asked, trying to sound as calm as she could muster.
“I know you brung quite a fat money purse with you from Independence. We could have split it in Oregon, but you had to be stubborn about it. Now I want it all.”
“It’s yours,” Cora said without hesitation. “I have to get it from the wagon.”
Ted sneered in triumph. He pushed Josie forward, still clamping an arm around her waist while holding the revolver at her temple. “One wrong move, Cora, and your little sister gets a bullet in her pretty head,” he sneered.
Cora looked at Josie, silently communicating with her eyes for her sister to be brave, that everything would be fine. A cold, determined gleam came over her sister’s tear-streaked face. She nodded, the movement nearly imperceptible.
“Please, Cora, help me,” Josie cried. “Let’s get to the wagon, and get him what he wants.”
Josie’s wide eyes stared at Cora with an intensity that belied her fearful outburst. Cora nodded.
“At least your sister has more sense than you,” Ted scoffed. “Get to the wagon.”
Cora broke eye contact with Josie, and headed for the wagon. She’d gone only a few paces when the loud thunder of hoofs hitting the ground reverberated through the air. Cora’s eyes widened and hope sprang to life in her. Were the Wilder men coming, or was it Ted’s accomplices? She shot a quick look at Ted, who dragged Josie to the wagon.
Three riders came charging out of the woods, racing across the valley toward the homestead. One of them leapt from the saddle when he reached the main cabin, while the other two remained on their horses.
“It’s over, Ted,” Cora called. “I don’t see your friends. I only see my husband and his brothers.” As much as she wanted to call out to them, she didn’t for fear that Ted would shoot Josie.
“Get in the wagon and give me the money,” he demanded. His eyes had gone wide, frantically darting between her and the men by the cabin. His hand that held the gun to Josie’s temple trembled.
Ted pushed Josie up against the tailgate of the wagon while Cora scrambled into the rig.
“Hurry up,” he hissed. He released his tight hold on Josie, but still held the gun to her head.
Cora fumbled through her trunk where she’d hidden the money that remained from the sale of the farm in Ohio. She grabbed for the purse and handed it to Ted. Josie stared at her, then her eyes widened and shifted to a spot in the wagon.
Cora looked to where Josie indicated with her insistent stare. She nearly cried out in relief when she glimpsed her rifle lying against the tailgate. As Ted grabbed for the money, Cora quickly reached for the rifle and swung as hard as she could. The butt connected with Ted’s shoulder. He yelled out in pain.
Cora scrambled to get out of the wagon and Josie ripped the rifle from her hands.
“Josie,” she called as her little sister pointed the weapon at the startled man. He stumbled backward, his eyes wide with surprise and rage.
“Cora?” Nathaniel’s distant voice called from the direction of the cabin.
“You’re finished, Ted. You can kill us, but if you do, you’re not getting away alive,” Cora hissed.
Ted stared at her with cold fear in his eyes. His hand that held his gun trembled violently. In the blink of an eye, he turned and ran. A shot rang out, and the acrid smell of gunpowder drifted through the air. Ted fell to the ground and a muffled shot followed. He lay lifeless.
“Josie?” Cora scrambled from the wagon.
Her little sister stood motionless, holding up the rifle and staring where Ted lay. Trembling, Cora took hold of the rifle, removing it from her sister’s hands. She set it on the tailgate of the wagon, then pulled Josie into a tight embrace. Josie’s slight body shook and she cried into Cora’s shoulder.
“It’s over,” Cora whispered, holding her sister close. She stroked her fingers through Josie’s hair to bring what little comfort she could. “It’s over.”
“I didn’t mean to kill him,” Josie cried, repeating her words over and over. “I wasn’t aiming to kill him,” she sobbed. “I left the rifle in the wagon before I went to the creek. I only did it to protect us.”
“I know.” Cora murmured. “I know. You did what you had to.”
Strong arms reached for Cora in the next instant. Cora glanced up through tear-filled eyes to look at Nathaniel’s worried face. She eased away from her sister and fell against his chest. Nathaniel held her close while wrapping one arm around Josie, drawing them both into an embrace.
“Nice shooting,” someone called from behind them. Cora frowned at Travis’ dispassionate words.
Nathaniel eased away. He glanced to where his twin brothers hovered over Ted’s lifeless body. Travis looked up, looking their way.
“Who aimed for his leg?”
Josie sniffled and ran a hand over her face. Cora wiped at her own tears.
“Josie had the rifle,” Cora rasped and cleared her throat.
“I was aiming for his leg, to keep him from running away,” Josie whimpered. Her body shook again. “But I missed. A shot to the leg wouldn’t have killed him. I didn't want to kill him.” She looked as though she would crumple to the ground at any moment.
“It’s all right.” Cora pulled her sister close. Josie had been through so much in her life, and now she’d shot and killed a man. How would this affect her?
Travis stood, grinning. “You hit what you were aiming at.”
Cora frowned. Josie wore an equally bewildered look on her face.
“What? But, he’s dead,” Josie stammered.
“Stupid fool shot himself. When he ran, he forgot to un-cock his gun. Must have gone off when he fell.”
An audible gasp escaped from Josie's mouth as Cora drew her sister into her arms. Relief washed over her. “Did you hear that? You didn’t kill him, Josie,” she murmured. Josie sobbed again and shuddered against Cora’s shoulder.
“Guess we got some graves to dig, Trev. Not that they deserve it.” Travis walked off, followed by his brother. Cora shot Travis a glare for his callous demeanor, as if this was nothing but a game to him.
“I’m so proud of you, Josie.” Cora wrapped her arm around her sister. “We make a great team, don’t we?” She glanced toward Nathaniel, who stared at her in silence. “Let’s get back to the cabin. I think I need some tea. How about you?”
The girl nodded silently. With one arm around Josie’s shoulder, Cora reached for Nathaniel’s hand. He took it and squeezed almost painfully. She raised her eyes to his, offering a smile and communicating silently that they’d talk when they were alone. It was obvious what was going through his mind. His greatest fear was that he wouldn’t be there for her when she needed him, and he no doubt was thinking about his folks again.
Caroline and Anna ran from the cabin when they approached. Cora filled them in on what had happened and they swept Josie into their arms, ushering her inside. Rather than following her sisters, Cora faced Nathaniel. He stared down at her, his eyes filled with regret and anguish. Before she had the chance to speak, he took her by the hand and led her away from the cabin.
Together, they walked in silence along the tree line to the site where their new cabin stood, nearly finished. A gentle breeze carried the scent of pine and sweet grass and Cora inhaled deeply of the tranquil fragrance. The valley was once again as peaceful as it had been the day
she and her family had arrived.
When they reached the place where the front door to her new home would be in a few short weeks, Nathaniel pulled Cora into a fierce embrace. “I shouldn’t have been so careless regarding Ted.”
Cora wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her up against him, threatening to squeeze all the air from her lungs. His arms trembled. When he finally eased away to allow her to breathe, Cora touched her fingers to his cheek.
“What are you talking about?” Would he ever stop thinking about his folks and that he wasn’t doing enough to keep her safe?
“I should have insisted that someone stay behind at the cabin. I never thought Ted would be so bold and come to the valley. He must have gone back to Fort Hall after he shot me to bring along the other men.”
Cora offered a soft smile. “None of us realized what kind of man Ted really was. I didn’t see it, either, when I first met him in Independence.” She leaned up for a kiss. “You have always been there to protect me, even when I was too stubborn and outright refused your help, remember?” she continued. “You need to stop blaming yourself for things that happened in your past. Let go of the guilt, just like I’ve let go of my pride.”
“I will if you stop scaring the tar out of me, woman,” he mouthed against her ear. She raised her head and he claimed her mouth in a kiss that was both passionate and filled with relief.
Cora laughed. “Weren’t you the one who said life would never be dull with me around?” she teased. “You and I will always be there for each other, no matter what life throws at us. I’m so glad you wanted me for your wife.”
He eased back slightly and smiled down at her. “Mrs. Wilder, your pride alone makes you one heck of a wilderness bride.”
EPILOGUE
M uch later that night, Cora lay in Nathaniel’s arms while he held her as if he’d never let her go.
“I thought I’d lost you today,” he murmured into her hair and kissed her cheek.
Cora hugged him to her, hoping to put his mind at ease. “I think my sisters and I are a lot tougher than you give us credit for. We’re meant for this life.”
Cora's Pride (Wilderness Brides Book 1) Page 18
