Red River Rifles (Wilderness Dawning—the Texas Wyllie Brothers Series Book 1)

by Dorothy Wiley

  “Have you ever read the Bible, Louisa?” Baldy asked.

  “I used to. We have one. Our mothers wrote our birthdates in it. It’s the only thing the Indians left behind. Samuel said he’d go fetch it for me sometime.”

  “When he brings it back, read the gospel of John. It’s my favorite. I believe you will find it thought-provoking.”

  Louisa liked how he simply left it up to her to draw her own conclusions after reading the gospel.

  Baldy moved back to his worktable to put away all the ingredients he used for the liniment. “How did your mothers die?”

  “I’ve always wondered about that. They both seemed fine just before they died. My mother died unexpectedly when I was about Adam’s age. Soon after, Pa married Adam’s mother and we moved away. Then, suddenly, about three years later when Adam was about one, she died too. I was around eleven. I’d grown especially fond of her.” That was the last time she’d felt wanted and loved. Since then, her mind-numbing loneliness had grown every day.

  “So that was about six or seven years ago. And you never learned the cause of their deaths?”

  “I was so young I barely knew what death was, much less what caused it. In both cases, one day they were there taking care of us and the next they were buried in the ground.”

  Baldy frowned and appeared thoughtful. “That must have been terribly hard for both of you.”

  “It was.”

  Compassion filled Baldy’s face. “Well, let’s not dwell on the past any longer. This is your wedding day and you have your entire future ahead of you. I realize you haven’t known Samuel long, but I’m certain it was long enough for you to realize what a special man Samuel is.”

  A smile that came all the way from her heart broke out on her face. “I knew that the first time I met him. I said ‘yes’ when he asked me to marry him because he’s already my hero. Not just because he saved our lives, but because he makes me happy—truly happy.”

  “Samuel is a proud and spirited son who comes from a truly heroic family. His father and all four of his uncles are valiant, principled men. And their sons are as well. And both of Stephen’s daughters are equally brave and honorable. Even though my past was spotted, they welcomed me and then Melly into their family with grace and love.”

  “Just as they have done for Adam and me.”

  Baldy nodded. “Indeed. You are a part of our family now.”

  His words made Louisa’s eyes water. “I truly appreciate how you are teaching Adam medicine. He’s a smart boy. Perhaps he can even follow in your footsteps and become a doctor someday.”

  “I would be delighted if he did,” he said with a kind smile. “I’m going to go see if I can help get things ready. They might need an extra pair of hands. Let me know if any more patients show up, but you’re under orders to stay here and rest.”

  Louisa wasn’t sure how much she could rest, but she laid down on her bed anyway, just to think. She thought about Samuel’s last kiss last night, which felt equally sensual and heavenly bliss. The feel of it would likely stay with her for days, yet she longed for another kiss, and more. She wanted to be held against his strong body. She wouldn’t have to wait long. The thought sent tingles racing down her spine.

  Abruptly, a thought interrupted her musings and she sat upright with widened eyes. Where would they go after they were married? They couldn’t sleep here, of course. And Samuel slept with his brothers. The settlement had no inns. And it was too dangerous to set up camp in the wild.

  Oh dear! Had Samuel given this any thought? she wondered.

  She laid her head back down. Were she and Samuel doing the right thing? Had they really thought this through? Had they known each other long enough? Perhaps they were rushing things too much. Should they build a home before they married? But if she didn’t marry today, her father would demand that she and Adam go to Nacogdoches with him. She rubbed her forehead, beginning to ache with the worry of it all.

  None of that matters, she told herself. Only one thing mattered now—they loved each other.

  She closed her eyes and let Samuel’s smiling face fill her mind. A wonderful, contented peace flowed through her once again.

  Moments later, she was sound asleep.

  Minutes later, she wanted to scream.

  Chapter 17

  Before she could scream, her father gagged her while she was still in the bed. With the Commander’s help, her father tied her hands despite her desperate struggles to keep him from doing so. Then Long tied her feet while her father held down her legs. With disbelieving eyes, she glared at her father as he stood there while Long threw her over his shoulder. They were abducting her! They were going to keep her from marrying Samuel!

  Ignoring her glares, her father straightened the bed to make everything look normal before they snuck out the cabin’s back door. Long went first and her father followed. As she tried to glower up at him, she noted that her father’s face bore bruises and swelling from Samuel’s blows. The sight actually pleased her. Normally, it was her or Adam with banged up faces or bodies.

  Three horses were tied nearby. She tried to scream through the gag, but Long tossed her over the saddle of one of the horses and knocked the breath out of her.

  “What about my son?” her father whispered as they swiftly tied her on the horse.

  “Never mind him. We can come back for the boy when I have more men to back me up,” Long said in a hushed voice.

  “After you’re married, I’ll come back for him myself,” her father said.

  Her heart hammering, alarm swelled through her.

  A moment later, they trotted into the forest with Long pulling the horse she was on.

  Long turned his head toward her. “Louisa, I wouldn’t be doing this, but Samuel threatened to kill me if I came near you. Still, I wish we could have just talked and not gagged you. But we couldn’t risk alerting them to my presence. No telling what that ruffian, Samuel, and his brothers might do to me.”

  “That’s true, look what he did to me,” her father said. “And we didn’t have time for an argument. If our plan was to work, we needed to act quickly and get in and get out without delay. You saw them as we watched from the woods. They are clearly getting ready for a celebration. Samuel intends to marry Louisa right away. We had to act first.”

  Long turned his head back toward her. “Louisa, I’ll take that gag out and untie you just as soon as we are well away from the Wyllie’s place. Then we’ll make plans for our own wedding.”

  Louisa’s stomach churned and she forced bile down. She could choke if she retched while gagged. It wasn’t the bouncing horse making her nauseous, it was the thought of being forced to marry Long. She tried to think. But only questions raced through her mind. How long would it be before Samuel or someone else discovered she was missing? How far away would she be? Where were they taking her? Would Long try to kill Samuel if he came after her? Would Samuel kill Long?

  Then Long spoke. “I’ve changed my mind, Mr. Pate.”

  Louisa’s eyes widened with hope. Had he given up on this foolish plan? Was there an ounce of decency in the man after all?

  “What do you mean?” her father asked.

  “I don’t think we should take Louisa south to Nacogdoches. It’s about a hundred and fifty miles away. And the Arkansas Post is an even further distance north of here. I’ve decided I don’t want to wait that long to marry your daughter. We can’t risk Samuel coming for her.”

  “What do you want to do then?” her father asked.

  Long remained quiet for a few moments before he said, “I need Louisa. Having a beautiful wife like her by my side will aid in my recruitment of men to our cause. She’ll draw them like bees to nectar. They’ll see I am a family man fighting for freedom!”

  What about my freedom? Louisa thought. What about the freedom of the slaves on his plantation? What about their mangled and shackled hearts? How can a man fight for freedom and deny it to those he controls? The irony of the situation would be
laughable if it weren’t so sad.

  “But how will you wed? The only preacher around here is that ungodly Baldy Grant. Men say he plays cards and drinks whiskey and who knows what else. He claims it’s so he can reach sinners. But if you ask me…”

  Long interrupted him. “We’ll do a handfasting with a spousal de futuro, a marriage contract to be made official at a future date. It’s binding, especially if it’s consummated, as long as you give your approval as her father.”

  “It would be my honor, Commander,” her father said. “That’s a brilliant solution.”

  Louisa’s panic increased ten-fold. She could easily believe her father was doing this. He’d always put his own interests before hers or Adam’s. However, she couldn’t believe Commander Long would force her into marriage. She didn’t know what the word consummate meant, but she suspected it meant she would be forced to lay with him.

  They continued riding through the woods, staying well away from roads and trails, likely because people might question why they had a woman tied on a horse.

  The rumble of distant thunder rolled toward them and it suddenly grew darker. Louisa turned her head and glanced up trying to see through her long hair hanging in her face. Gray, churning clouds filled the sky. A thunderstorm would soon be upon them.

  “We need to find a shelter,” Long said. “We can’t take her to your place. It’s the first place they’d look.”

  “You’re right we can’t go to my place. Hm.”

  “Well?” Long demanded. “Think man, think.”

  “A young couple was killed by Indians a few days ago. Their cabin would be empty. You two could use it tonight. I can just go back to my place. If they show up, I’ll just say I don’t know where Louisa is.”

  “Do you know where that cabin is?” Long asked.

  “Never been there, but I heard men talking about where the attack happened. It was west of here, a little more than a mile from the settlement. I think I could find it and we’re in luck, we’ve been traveling in that direction anyway.”

  “Lead the way then,” Long said. “And hurry. Those clouds are getting darker by the minute.”

  Samuel crossed one thing off his mental list of things to do before the wedding. He’d found a puppy for Adam. The fluffy yellow dog with one white paw, a male, was spread across the saddle in front of him. Based on the size of his paws and huge tummy, the pup would soon grow into a large dog that would provide protection and companionship for Adam. The dog’s company would be especially important after his sister wed.

  The puppy licked his hand as he rode toward a place owned by a man known for selling excellent horse stock. From the looks of the herd of quality horses grazing nearby his home, the man’s reputation was well warranted.

  “I’m looking for a small, already trained mare for my future bride, Mr. Jackson,” Samuel told the man when he arrived.

  “Got just the horse for ye. We bred her ourselves. She’s a cute, well-mannered, four-year-old filly on the smallish side. She may be a wee horse, but she’s got some real strength in her.”

  Sounded a lot like Louisa, Samuel thought.

  They strode over to a horse paddock and the man pointed. “There she is over there, the chestnut close to where my three sons are training those geldings.”

  Samuel took a long look, admiring the mare’s conformation and color. “She is a pretty thing. Would you please saddle her up and let me ride her?”

  “Sure thing.”

  Jackson led the mare to his horse shed and saddled her while Samuel petted the back of the pup. Missing his mother and litter mates, the puppy whined pitifully. “I know a little boy named Adam who is going to love you a whole lot,” he cooed against the puppy’s downy ear. The whining stopped and the puppy resumed licking Samuel’s hand.

  Samuel observed the calm mare as Jackson saddled her. Her ears were relaxed and so was one of her back legs. She showed no hesitation accepting the saddle and bit, and she kept her head down as Jackson slipped the headstall on her. He liked what he saw so far.

  “She’s ready for you, Sir,” Jackson said as he buckled the last strap and then held out the reins.

  “Thank you, Mr. Jackson. If you wouldn’t mind, could you hold this little fellow for me?”

  “Happy to. Nothing better than hugging on young pups and young babies.”

  With a smile, Samuel handed the pup over and mounted. “What’s the mare’s name?”

  “Don’t have one yet. Never name the ones I intend to sell.”

  Samuel put her through left and right turns, turning in a circle, backing up, and then took her to a gallop before stopping her abruptly. The horse responded well to all the tests he put her through. The only thing left to do was to determine a fair price.

  “How much?” he asked.

  Jackson cocked a brow at him. “You said she’s for your bride-to-be?”

  “Yes, we’re to be married this afternoon. Her name’s Louisa Pate.”

  “I always was a romantic,” Jackson said and then named a more than fair price.

  “Sold.” Samuel counted out the appropriate gold and silver coins. “If you’ll remove your saddle and tack, I’ll be on my way.”

  “I heard you’re the owner of Red River Cattle Company,” Jackson said and handed the pup back to Samuel.

  “That’s right.”

  Samuel put the pup down and let him walk around a bit so he could relieve himself before their trip back into the settlement. When the deed was done, the little fellow romped around playfully. Adam was going to love that little guy.

  “I tell you what. If you give me your company’s horse business and send your friends who need horses my way, I’ll throw in that saddle and tack.”

  Now that Billy and his horses were gone, Samuel had no reason not to take his offer. The man and his sons were obviously excellent horse trainers. “My thanks, Sir.”

  After Jackson tied the mare onto Samuel’s saddle, he mounted and placed the pup on the saddle in front of him. “Before I go, my compliments to you and your sons on this mare’s excellent training.”

  “Thanks. It’s what we love to do. The trick is keeping the Indians from sneaking in and stealing them. My sons have lost a lot of sleep protecting our herd.”

  “I know what you mean. They tried that at our place recently, but my brother and I were on guard. We had to kill three braves just yards from our horse shed.”

  “I heard about that. We’re posting a well-armed guard every night now. Hope your gal enjoys her horse. I can tell she’s going to be a lucky bride marrying a fine young man like you.”

  “I’m the lucky one, Sir.”

  “Greetings to your father and brothers.”

  Samuel nodded. “Good day to you, Sir.”

  With the two hardest tasks out of the way, the only thing left to do was to visit the trading posts for dresses for Louisa and clothes for Adam, since the arrival of Commander Long had interrupted his previous trip into town for supplies. He also wanted to purchase a ring, but he doubted either of the traders did any business selling jewelry. A ring would have to wait until his trip to the Arkansas Post.

  Ten minutes later, he rode up to Wetmore’s trading post and tied both horses on the rail in front. He nodded to a cluster of men he knew well standing nearby. They were all dressed in buckskins, and the straps for shot pouches and powder horns crisscrossed their chests. They wore their hair long and loose under worn tricornes or shapeless floppy hats.

  “Howdy, Samuel,” Elijah Anderson said. “That mare is a bit on the small side for ye, ain’t she?”

  “Your feet will be dragging the ground, sonny,” Elijah’s brother Bailey said and laughed.

  “When she gets tired of carrying a man of your size, you’ll have to let her ride you a while,” Mr. Johnson said.

  Samuel chuckled at their good-natured ribbing. “She’s for my bride to be,” he said unable to stop the wide grin that split his face.

  With a glance up at the heavy, ash-colored
clouds, he decided he needed to make haste. He placed the pup on his shoulder and hurried in. On their journey from Kentucky, they’d visited numerous general stores and trading posts along the way. They all held the same pleasant scent. He could only describe the aroma as friendly.

  The well-stocked store, which also served as the post office, held a good supply of guns, ammunition, blankets, kettles, and pans made of copper and iron, tin cups and plates, tobacco, bolts of cloth, sacks of grain, and jugs of strong-spirits. Stacked in a corner were several sizes of finished rope made from hemp. They also had staples such as coffee, flour, cornmeal, spices, and other essentials. Household supplies included baskets, pails, torches, paper, and wicks and wax for candles. And an assortment of jars holding glass beads, used for trading with Indians, added a rainbow of color to one shelf. Behind the store, the owner kept basic blacksmithing equipment and pitch and tar for waterproofing.

  Samuel hoped they sold ready-made clothes too. Taking a deep breath, he savored the blend of fragrances unique to a trading post. “Mr. Wetmore,” he called.

  The man emerged from the backroom and smiled. “Samuel! What are you needing today? I just got two freight wagons loaded with goods and provisions in so I’m well-stocked.”

  “Good day to you, Sir.”

  “That’s a cute pup you got there.”

  Samuel petted Adam’s puppy, already growing attached to it himself. “Do you have any readymade gowns for ladies?”

  “I do, nothing fancy though. Just got a new shipment in and it included some in small, medium, and large in two styles.”

  “I’ll need two dresses in the small size. And I’ll take one of each style.” With a storm brewing, he wouldn’t take the time to look at them now. “Do you have any clothes for boys?”

  “Well now, that’s harder because most mothers sew their children’s garments. But I do have something he might could use. A woman brought some clothes in because her own boys outgrew them. I traded her some flour and sugar for the garments.” He went to the back and brought out a good-sized stack of used clothing.