Romancing the Wilderness: American Wilderness Series Boxed Bundle Books 1 - 3

by Dorothy Wiley

  “I know I should have told you before we were married. But I was afraid it would cause you to harden your heart towards me again. I know it’s important to a man to have a son. I can see it on Stephen’s face every time he looks with such hope at Jane’s growing belly. I was so afraid of losing you over this that I decided to keep it from you.” In a tear-smothered voice, she continued, “That was wrong of me. I’m sorry now. Forgive me, I wish I had told you sooner.”

  “Catherine, I…,” he started, but she interrupted him.

  “If you want to annul the marriage, I’ll understand, or at least I’ll try to.” She was crying now. Her tears flowing in earnest. It was the first time he had seen her weep and it broke his heart. He would do his best to be sure he never gave her reason to cry.

  He reached for her hands and squeezed them. “My love. Have you forgotten that God has given us a son? Not just any orphan—he’s a Wyllie—and he’s ours. If we are meant to have more children, then we will. If we are not, then the three of us will be family enough. Never again worry about this or anything else from your past. You can tell me anything and I will only love you more because I will know and understand you all the better. As husband and wife, we need to share everything. The good, the bad, and everything in between.”

  Catherine threw herself into his arms.

  As his lips covered her wet face with kisses, he tasted the salt of her tears. The taste of it touched his very soul. She had shed those tears because she did not want to deny him a son. Because she was afraid he would end their marriage. He gazed directly into her moist eyes. “Catherine, know this, nothing, nothing, will ever make me stop loving you.”

  “Or, I you,” she said, sniffling and smiling now. She hugged his chest again before she stepped away and took a deep settling breath.

  She stood on the shoreline with her back to him for a few minutes, her bare feet in the clear water. She seemed to be deep in thought.

  He regarded her with somber curiosity. There was something else on her mind. “Do you have anything else you need to tell me before I satisfy that hunger of yours?”

  “Well, what hunger are you talking about?” she teased. “Food, or…?”

  “Either one. Your wish is my command, my lady.”

  “Well, my knight in buckskins, there is one thing.” She turned back to face him.

  “Is it a big thing or a small thing?”

  “You might consider this a big thing,” she said, nervously chewing on her bottom lip.

  It made him want to nibble on her lips too, but he made himself focus on her eyes. He searched her face anxiously for the meaning behind her words.

  “A very big thing,” she added, gripping her hands together.

  Chapter 36

  Sam felt his pulse quicken. Now what? He hoped it would not be something else that caused her pain. The silence lengthened, and she seemed reluctant to speak. He raised his brows in question.

  “I haven’t told you much about my life in Boston or my late husband Mr. Adams. He was a relative of John Quincy Adams and his friends were among our country’s most well-known patriots and influential men. And, he was wealthy. Do you remember what I told you? That, before he was murdered, my husband was going after a prime parcel of land here in Kentucky. He purchased it several months before we ever left Boston. He was well acquainted with Isaac Shelby, Kentucky’s first Governor. The Governor ordered the Land Office to set aside a first-rate piece of land for my husband and to expedite the processing of his claim. He was in a hurry to see it. I wanted him to wait until we could travel with others, but he was so haughty and self-important, he foolishly thought he could take care of us himself. Well, as it turned out, he could not. He told me that the land would be mine if something happened to him on this trip. He showed me where he hid the deed in our wagon, along with his will naming me as the beneficiary of his estate. He also hid a rather large quantity of gold and currency. It’s also still hidden in the same place.”

  Catherine paused to catch her breath, and then added, “Remember when I went to see the lawyer? I showed him the papers and he confirmed that they were all in perfect order and that I have an undisputable claim to the land.”

  “How large a parcel of land?” he asked.

  “Ten thousand acres.”

  Taken aback, he nearly swallowed his tongue. “You own ten thousand acres?”

  “We own it.”

  Sam felt his mouth drop. “No, I can’t…” he started to protest, shaking his head.

  “You just said as husband and wife we share everything. Do you believe that or not?” she asked with a defiant lift of her chin.

  “I believe it, but…”

  “No buts, my Captain. We share it. Period. I’m not giving it to you, I’m giving it to us.”

  Still unable to believe his ears and speechless, he started to pace, trying to take it in. Was he man enough to accept all this from a woman? Yes, of course, he was. He dismissed the idiotic thought as quickly as it had arrived. He would expect her to accept it from him if the circumstances were reversed. What difference did it make where it came from? It was all a gift from the Almighty anyway.

  He couldn’t believe he and Catherine were landowners, and ten thousand acres to boot. He stopped abruptly and gawked at her. “Do you realize what this means?”

  Her extraordinary eyes blazed with excitement. “Yes, I believe I do. It means you, Stephen, Bear, and even William if you can get him to leave Boonesborough, will all have the land you need. It means we can begin building homes for all of us now. For our family Sam. They’re my family now too and I want to help them. If you’re willing.”

  “Willing? Of course, I am. I’m still stunned, but I’m also elated. We can help them build a future in Kentucky. A future for all of us.”

  “When do you think we should leave?” Catherine asked, as she hurriedly braided her hair.

  He could hear the eagerness in her voice and realized she was anxious to share her good news with the others. As was he. Stephen would be beside himself. At least Sam hoped he would be. Stephen was a proud man. He was sure his brother would want to pay a fair price for the land, or trade horses and cattle for it once he built up a herd. But at least now, he wouldn’t have to worry about all those complicated steps and potential conflicts involved in securing a parcel of land. Yes, Stephen would be happy. And so would Jane. If they all hurried, they could get a home built for Stephen’s family before the baby came. And before winter. And in the spring, he would get a home built for Catherine and Little John, and if the Almighty blessed, maybe more. But for now, three of them seemed perfect. Absolutely, completely, perfect.

  “Sam, I think we should be on our way soon, don’t you?” she asked again, tossing the long braid behind her back.

  “Sorry, my mind is racing. I’m still trying to come to grips with what this means to all of us. As for leaving, it will be hard to beat a morning like this and we’re about to have a good meal. If it’s what you want, we could leave after we have eaten.”

  “Oh Sam, I could stay here forever, but I want to get back to the others—to our family.”

  Our family. He liked the sound of that. Wait. She had never told him where the land was. “Catherine, where is the acreage?”

  Her eyes twinkling, Catherine starting giggling. Then she was laughing. Then she was clapping her hands and twirling in a circle. What had gotten into her? She seemed about to burst with glee. Finally, she stopped laughing long enough to say, “Cumberland Falls on the Cumberland River, south of Fort Harrod.”

  The shock of her revelation hit him full force. “Here?” he asked, incredulous. “Right here?”

  “Yes, yes, Sam, right here. The deed described the land and location. I asked Lucky to suggest this location to you for our honeymoon. He knew right where it was and enjoyed sharing my little secret. He’d been here to see the falls. He told me it was beautiful, but I had no idea it was this stunning.”

  Little secret. Ha! The secret was about a
s big as they got. He still couldn’t believe it. He loved this special place. Even before she had revealed the location of the land, he had felt at home here and dreaded having to leave. And she was telling him it was theirs. He stared wordlessly at her, his heart pounding.

  “I’m speechless,” was all he could think to say.

  “I have another confession,” she said almost timidly, as she sat down next to the fire, tucking her legs under her. “Promise you won’t be mad?”

  Sam nodded. This was getting out of hand. Wondering what was coming, he just sat down next to her and studied her twinkling eyes, waiting. What could she possibly have left to tell him?

  “I told you before when we talked about my dagger’s crest that my family was from the nobility. Well…I have my own inheritance of land and a sizable estate and fortune back in England. My grandfather left his colonial properties, including a Virginia tobacco plantation, to his daughter, my mother. My brother will inherit the plantation from her. But my grandfather left his English estate, Brympton, to me. It’s considered one of the finest country estates in England. After the Revolution, I went there several times with him. It’s managed by a family that has been with my relations for generations.”

  “Where is it?” Sam asked.

  “A few hours from London. It’s very beautiful. And it’s quite productive, producing a handsome income each year.”

  She almost seemed embarrassed saying it. She stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something.

  This time Sam could only laugh. It started bubbling in his belly and spread to his chest. Most of all, his heart laughed. Clutching his stomach muscles, he was soon laying on his back, his eyes crying from chuckling so hard. It felt marvelous. It had been far too long since he’d experienced such unrestrained joy. Soon, he managed to stifle his laughter and just snicker, and occasionally snort, as he continued to shake his head in wonder. “If you have any more confessions, please keep them to yourself. I can’t handle any more good news this day.”

  “No, that’s all there is.” She smiled almost coquettishly. “For now.”

  “For now?”

  She just smiled mysteriously.

  “Do the others know any of this?” he asked as he sat up.

  “No, I wanted to be sure the man I married was marrying me for love, so I told no one. I married once, per my father’s directive, for money and position in society, not love. I was never going to let that happen again. And, as you helped me realize, I wanted to determine my destiny—not let my wealth or my status determine it for me. I’m sorry all this comes as such a shock to you.”

  “I believe I can force myself to become accustomed to it eventually,” he said, grinning, but wanting to laugh again. “As long as you don’t expect me to dress or behave like a dandy.”

  “If I’d wanted a fop, I would have gone back to Boston. There are plenty of peacocks there. Sam, you’re the perfect man for me. I don’t want any of this to change you even a little bit. I married you because of your good heart and your strength. I knew I could trust you with sharing my fortune. I just hope it will make your life easier from now on—provide you and the others with opportunities you wouldn’t have had otherwise and fewer struggles.”

  “Your trust means everything to me,” Sam said.

  “Do we need to discuss any of this further?” she asked.

  “For now, I just need to get breakfast finished so we can be on our very merry way.” He started to laugh again but managed to stop himself. It was all so much to take in. When he woke that morning, he didn’t think he could be any happier, but Catherine’s revelations had done just that. Now their future was secure. He no longer had to worry that he would not be able to provide a comfortable life for her. The kind of life she deserved. And, although, life in Kentucky would undoubtedly force the two of them to face tremendous challenges, it was a relief to know poverty would not be among them. And, they could now also ensure a bright future for Little John and could help Stephen and Jane do so for their girls. And, if Catherine agreed, he wanted to help Kelly too. Maybe send the precocious young woman to a good school. She deserved a better start in life than she had received so far.

  Catherine stood, but for the moment seemed in no hurry to dress on this warm morning. Perhaps she found leaving as difficult as he did. She peeled off her sheer nightdress and walked knee deep into the river, shivering as the water hit her bare skin.

  “You’re making it difficult to concentrate on cleaning these fish,” he called to her, admiring the perfect shape of her backside.

  Laughing, she said, “I’ll take care of that.” She slid down into the water until she was submerged.

  When her head came back up, he asked, “Are you sure you should be swimming with your shoulder so recently healed?”

  “It will help work out the stiffness,” she yelled back. “And give me a chance to bathe.”

  He watched as she swam gracefully to the middle of the river before stopping and turning to glide on her back. Her flat stomach and long legs floated to the water’s surface. The soft mounds of her breasts revealed themselves as she titled her head and hair back into the water. She looked like a mystical ghost, all white, her skin shimmering on the river’s sun-kissed sparkling surface. The ghost bride of Cumberland Falls. Sam grinned. A rich ghost.

  He had no idea she was such an excellent swimmer. Satisfied that she was not going to drown, he forced himself to turn his eyes away and take the fish to the frying pan. She said she was starving so he tried to concentrate on the task of preparing their food, adding more wood to the fire and starting coffee to brew. He dipped the fish in the salted cornmeal and added the filets to the pan, now sizzling with melted fat. Within a few moments, the savory aroma of the fried trout made his stomach growl.

  They had brought an extra horse loaded with enough supplies for a few weeks. He wished that they could stay longer, but Catherine was right. Little John needed them. Besides, he couldn’t wait for them to be together as a family.

  He poured himself some coffee, savoring the rich fragrance and warmth in his hands. Catherine would need the hot fresh brew too after being in the cool water. He poured her a cup and strode back to the river’s edge.

  Sam scanned the surface of the river, not finding her. She was gone.

  Chapter 37

  He held his breath, waiting for her to surface. When she didn’t, his inner alarm sounded, and dread quickly rose in his chest. The normally pleasant sounds of the gushing waterfall battered against his mind as he tried to think. He tried to calm himself and slow his thundering heart. Perhaps she was just relieving herself in the woods.

  But what if she wasn’t?

  A cold knot formed in his stomach and a wave of apprehension swept through him. “Catherine, where are you?” he shouted as loud as he could. He heard nothing in response and tried again. Then again. And again. “If this is a prank, I’m not amused,” he tried.

  He hurried back to the cook fire, threw the coffee down, yanked the fish pan off the fire, and grabbed his rifle. He quickly scanned the hills around them but spotted nothing unusual. He tried to listen for strange noises, but the falls covered any sounds he might have heard.

  Then his mind raced. She could be in the water, below the surface, her legs cramping or trapped by something. Why hadn’t he thought of that before now? Why hadn’t he watched her more carefully?

  Sam tossed his rifle to the riverbank, tore off his boots and hunting shirt, and dove into the water. The swift-moving stream was nearly clear to his wide opened eyes. He swam under the surface for as long as his breath allowed, finding nothing. His chest near bursting, he came up for air about midway across the river. As he gasped for air, he quickly surveyed the area again, spitting water. Nothing.

  He dove down again and swam deeper, closer to the bottom, searching, seeking some sign of her, his heart racing wildly. Soon his lungs begged him to stop. He had to get air. Just a gulp or two and then he’d come back down.

  His
head sprung above the water’s surface, his chest heaving. As he took a couple of quick breaths, a terrifying realization hit him. Indians. Maybe she was taken. He’d find her, no matter how long it took. But what if she was still underwater? Torn between continuing his search underwater or starting to hunt for her in the forest, he shouted her name once more.

  “Catherine!”

  He had to find her! He turned around to check the opposite shore once more.

  Uninhibited, she stood naked, watching him from the opposite riverbank. “Enjoying your swim?” she yelled out.

  “For mercy’s sake! You gave me a terrible fright. Where the bloody hell were you?” he demanded, treading water.

  “Swimming underwater. I’m sorry if I scared you. I didn’t realize how long I was under.”

  “Damn it. Are you some kind of mermaid?” Or ghost, he thought again.

  “My brother and I used to have contests back in Boston’s Bay to see who could stay under the longest. I always won.”

  He swam across the river to her and came out of the water scowling. He stomped forward, stopping in front of her. “Do you realize you just scared the hell out of me—and I didn’t like it. Not one bit.” He stood next to her, hands on his hips, water as well as aggravation dripping from him.

  Catherine just smiled at him, her eyes asking forgiveness, as she untied her braid and ran her fingers through the long waves, black as a starless night. “I’m sorry I scared you, Sam. Perhaps you should find a way to punish me,” she teased.

  He folded his arms across his chest. “Your punishment will be far more severe this time.”

  She giggled and then sat down on a nearby boulder and leisurely stretched out her long pale legs.

  The sight was more than Sam could tolerate. He laid his knife nearby, slid off his buckskin breeches, and laid them beneath her bottom. Then he removed his leggings, wrung them out, folded them into a miniature pillow, and placed it under her head.