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

by Dorothy Wiley

  Now, Bear lent a hand to whatever Wyllie needed help with. Or defending. A formidable hunter and fighter, much like Sam, she knew Bear would defend any member of his family to the death.

  “And a round of ales to toast to the bride and groom!” Colonel Byrd ordered as the woman turned away to retrieve the desserts.

  All of them, except Byrd, looked at her father.

  “Excellent idea. After all, it is a wedding feast,” McGuffin said. “But I’ll be toasting with my coffee. Give my ale to my new son.” He sounded resolute and sure of himself, and enormously proud of William.

  Kelly nodded her head in approval and smiled at her father.

  When the desserts arrived, carried by three women each bearing two or three plates, Kelly’s eyes widened. She’d never seen so many sweets in one place. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten anything sweet. But now, the table nearly overflowed with luscious temptations—apple and chess pies, bread pudding, apple tansey, gingerbread, custard, and apple dumplings. The smell of nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon, along with the tantalizing aroma of fresh pie crust, made her mouth water.

  “Ladies first,” Bear said, “as long as ye don’t pick the apple dumplings.”

  “I won’t, Bear,” Kelly reassured, “but I simply can’t choose. They all look delicious. Why don’t you gentlemen take your pick and I’ll just take what’s left.”

  “Good heaven’s no. You’ll have first pick, my bride, including the apple dumplings,” William said, giving Bear a reproving glance.

  With a mischievous grin at Bear, she reached for the apple dumplings, then at the last second, moved her hand to pick up the gingerbread.

  “Ye had me frettin’ there lass,” Bear teased.

  The men all found something they couldn’t resist and when he quickly finished off the apple dumplings, Bear took a second, and then a third dessert. It seemed as though the giant’s belly was bottomless. William only ate a small custard sprinkled with nutmeg, but seemed to relish each spoonful.

  “Kelly, do you know how to make custard?” he asked after finishing the last bite.

  Kelly swallowed a mouthful of gingerbread. “Well no, but I can learn easily enough. But you need to have chickens to have eggs and a milk cow.”

  “We’ll get both and anything else you’ll need. It’ll be good to have some chickens around again. I’ve missed having eggs now and then. Sam, do you remember what Uncle Toby used to say about eggs?” William asked, laughing.

  “Yes, indeed, I do. He would eat eggs every morning, but they had to be from chickens that had a rooster with them. He said that’s what kept lead in his ‘pistol.’ He was about ninety when he told me this,” Sam answered.

  “Maybe we should think about what he was saying,” Colonel Byrd said with a chuckle.

  “He also smoked a pipe and chewed tobacco till he was ninety-five, and he drank spirits all his life,” William added.

  After the good meal, delicious gingerbread, and the hearty ale, Kelly was feeling much more like herself.

  “Can I join you, gentlemen, at your camp tonight?” her father asked Captain Sam and Bear.

  “Indeed, you are most welcome, Sir,” Sam answered.

  “Did ye bring a good wool blanket with ye?” Bear asked. “I fear ye will need it tonight.”

  “No, I’ll need to buy one before we leave for your camp,” McGuffin answered.

  “We’ll take our leave and visit the general store then,” Sam told William. “But first, may I have a word with your lovely bride?”

  “Of course,” William answered. “Why don’t the rest of us get a breath of fresh air? Bear, you can smoke your pipe.”

  The men all stood and then promptly left, leaving her and Sam at the table. She eyed him quizzically. What did he need to say to her?

  “Kelly, I just wanted you to know how pleased I am that William has married you. As his oldest brother, I look out for him and I want to be sure he remains happy. I think marrying you is the best thing he’s ever done.”

  Kelly lost her breath at the compliment. She tucked his words away in her memory, wanting to remember them forever.

  She started to say something and he said, “Please. I have more I need to tell you.”

  She became instantly alert, wondering what exactly was on Sam’s mind.

  “Kelly, I also believe your marriage to my brother William is the best thing you will ever do. He is a man of honor and principle. A man of high virtue who will do everything in his power to keep you safe. He is nothing, nothing, at all like the men who attacked you. And nothing like that shameless Harpes. It’s like night and day. Darkness and light. Goodness and wickedness. Let William share his goodness with you. You’ll be safe, I promise you. He would never do anything to hurt you.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes. But they were tears of joy. She was so happy she could barely speak. Kelly appreciated Sam’s brotherly advice, especially now that he really was her brother. She made herself say what was on her heart. She had to admit the truth graciously and honestly. “I love him very much. More than I thought a person could love another. I admit I harbored some misgivings about a physical relationship and that made me behave strangely for a while. But I’m no longer afraid. I realized, just as you say, that William is nothing like those men who attacked me. And he is not anything like that slick Harpes. William loves me and treats me with kindness and respect. Almost from the day we met, I found myself strongly drawn to him. Pardon me if I’m being too bold or inappropriate. I don’t want to appear brazen.”

  “No, we’re family now. And after what you went through, your fear was perfectly understandable.”

  “Perhaps, but I don’t feel fear anymore. I just don’t know much about…I just want to be able to show William how much I love him.”

  “Do you trust him?”

  “Yes, completely.”

  “Then focus on your trust. On your love for him. Keep trust and love in your mind and your concerns will disappear like the setting sun.”

  Kelly straightened her shoulders and stood. As Sam paid for their dinner, she strode out of the inn to her husband, then with William’s arm wrapped around her shoulder, watched as the sun set in the west beneath a cloud-free rose and amber sky.

  Chapter 20

  Their horses laden with the bare essentials they’d picked up at the general store before leaving town, Kelly and William arrived at the cabin in the soft, almost black, purple of twilight. Before dismounting, Kelly once again admired the view of the rolling hills spread out before her. Thousands of majestic trees, silhouetted against the sky, joined together in a dark curling ribbon that stretched across the horizon. It was too late to see much of it now, but the many splendors of nature she’d seen yesterday—a canopy of trees flashing brilliant fall foliage, late-blooming wildflowers, the brisk creek, and the wide-open landscape—made her think she would never tire of being here.

  And living here with William would make her life a dream come true.

  As soon as her feet touched the ground, she felt at home. But her boots had barely landed before William swept her up into the cradle of his arms. “Welcome to our home,” he said with a gentle softness in his voice and eyes.

  “I can hardly believe it’s true,” she whispered. She laid a hand against her chest. “It is our home.” She placed an arm across his broad back. As he held her close, she could feel his uneven warm breaths on her cheek.

  Jauntily, William inclined his blonde head to one side. “Are you ready?”

  Her heartbeat raced, but she gave a firm nod of consent.

  He bounded up onto the porch, somehow managed to open the door without dropping her, and stepped across the threshold. After shutting the door with the heel of his boot, he looked down and caressed her with his eyes.

  She buried her hands in his thick hair and drew his mouth to hers. His kiss was slow and so gentle it was soul-soothing. She quivered at the sweet tenderness of it. When he pulled his lips away, she dropped her che
ek to his chest, and with a sigh of pleasure, relaxed, sinking into his cushioning embrace.

  For a moment, he just stood there quietly. He seemed to be savoring the moment. Then, he lowered her feet to the floor, took her hand above her head, and spun her around in a small circle. “Our first dance, my lady,” he said gallantly. “As husband and wife,” he added.

  She had to chuckle, remembering how they’d enjoyed dancing together when Sam and Catherine married. At the wedding, William held her for the first time as they’d danced. It was also the first-time desire stirred within her. Now, after twirling her around a time or two, her need for him swelled within her. And, as he pressed her body to him, her heart called out to his.

  He gazed down at her, his eyes brimming with tenderness. “We’re home,” he said, his voice somewhat husky. “We should get settled. I’ll go tend to the horses and bring in our supplies.”

  “And I’ll get a fire going in the hearth,” she offered. “I see kindling in that bucket and some wood was stacked on the front porch.”

  As Kelly worked on getting the fire going, a blaze of love already burned brightly in her heart. Feeling as though she’d entered a safe sanctuary, her mind filled with a calm peace. William’s presence, the cozy haven of the cabin, and their mutual love surrounded her.

  At this point, she was beyond the burdensome chains of fear. She had no more worries. She envisioned her future here with William with confidence and clarity.

  William made several quick trips into the cabin with their packages, his rifle, and other items. On his last trip, his arms were so full of their food supplies, new blankets, and linens, he nearly dropped it all.

  Kelly knelt before the hearth, coaxing the small flames to a larger life. The flickering fire made her long hair sparkle like strands of gold and cast her face and form in a warm becoming light. Her figure had more curves than the surrounding hills. She turned her head toward him and stared intently.

  Was that longing he saw in her eyes? How he wished he were right. He hoped he could be sensitive enough to her feelings tonight.

  He tossed everything down on the table and went to her. He offered her a hand and tugged her to her feet. “Do you realize how beautiful you looked just now? I never want to forget that image—the first time I saw you in the light of our hearth.”

  Something intense flared within him. How could he show her how much he loved her? Then he had an idea. He unsheathed his knife. “Come here,” he said as he moved toward the bed.

  She followed, curiosity filling her sweet face.

  He started carving a heart into the wall beside the bed. When he finished, he etched their initials into it—W.W. and K.W.

  “Good thing my name’s not Wilma,” she said.

  Despite her jest, he could tell she was pleased because, while he carved, she never stopped smiling.

  A deep contentment settled within him. He liked pleasing Kelly and he wanted to go on making her happy for the rest of their lives.

  When he finished carving their initials into the heart, he turned to her. “Now, whenever you’re in our bed, you can look up and see that our hearts are one.”

  “I know,” she said, “I can already feel yours beating within me.”

  Her loving words called for another kiss. But this time he deepened it, letting her feel his passion. After thoroughly kissing her, he said, “We’ve already eaten dinner. Would you like some wine? I told the store owner it was our wedding night and managed to talk him into selling me the only bottle he had.”

  “I’ve never had wine before. What’s it like?”

  “We used to enjoy it quite often back home. Our brother Edward, the only one of my siblings who remained in New Hampshire, sells quite a lot in his store. It’s made from grapes grown in vineyards, but it’s not sweet like grapes. Sometimes you can taste a bit of walnut, cinnamon, vanilla, or dried fruit. A good wine, like this one from France, will make your mouth pucker a little. But it has the effect of relaxing most people, including me,” William said, “and after the day we’ve had, I would enjoy relaxing a bit.”

  “Wine sounds delightful, but let’s put everything away first and we’ll need some water from the creek,” Kelly said. “And you’ll need to bring in a few more logs.”

  “Already you’re a bossy wife?” William teased, affectionately, while he removed one of his pistols, lead pouch, and items from his pockets. He set them all on a small table by the door. “But you’re right. Once we start drinking that wine, the only thing I’ll want to do is wrap my arms around you and never let go.”

  “That sounds delightful too,” Kelly said coyly.

  He took his new coat off, not wanting to get firewood chips all over it, and hung it on a deerhorn attached to the wall by the door. He went to her and ran his hands up her arms, bringing her closer. Her soft curves molded to the contours of his body and she was just tall enough that he could rest his chin against the top of her head. They fit together as if God had made them for each other. Maybe He did, he thought, as he hugged her one more time before attending to his tasks.

  He’d always thought he could never be happy with just one woman in his life. Now he realized just how wrong he’d been. Never had any of the, admittedly far too numerous, women in his past made him feel anywhere close to what he felt for Kelly. It wasn’t just his undeniable physical attraction to her. He was pulled to her by a far greater force—love.

  Not wanting to appear too eager, he took his time as he brought the logs in and then strolled to the creek, a bucket in each hand. The drenching rain earlier in the day caused the peaceful brook to spread out of its banks for a few hours before receding, leaving behind a boggy and muddy bank. Through the moonlight, he could see the still somewhat swollen stream flowing swiftly by. He scanned up and down the creek, looking for a place to access the water easily. But it looked muddy in every direction. Intent on getting the water quickly for Kelly, but not wanting to bring mud into their new home, he tried hopping from rock to rock to reach the creek. But in the darkness, his boot skated across a particularly slippery rock and he plunged face first into the mud. His entire body mired in the deep sludge, William lifted his face, and spit out dirty rainwater and bits of grass.

  “Bloody hell,” he swore. His wedding night was not starting off well. He rubbed his face, trying to get the mud off, but his hands were equally dirty. Raising himself up on his palms, he realized his best white shirt and cravat were no longer the least bit white. And his brand new silk waistcoat appeared ruined. “Damn.”

  He stood, teetering, his boots clutched by the thick mud. He pulled one out and heard a whoosh. He stepped back with that foot and then pulled his other boot clear. His best boots would never be the same. Oh well, it was time for a new pair anyway.

  There was only thing to do—immerse himself in the creek completely and let the rushing rainwater rinse all the mud off his clothes and body.

  “Wait. I have a much better idea,” he said aloud and turned around.

  Kelly quickly dusted off the bed and then put the fresh linens and blankets on it. Making sure no wrinkles were apparent, she smoothed the blanket again and fluffed the pillows. She studied the bed for a few moments. Her stomach fluttered and something pleasurable rippled through her. She moistened her lips and grinned in anticipation.

  She found two pewter cups, in a cabinet, for the wine. When William got back with the water, she would rinse them out thoroughly and wipe the table down. Her immediate priorities taken care of, she wondered where he was. He should be back by now. Something pulled her outside.

  She opened the door and gasped. “Good heavens. What on earth?” William, covered head to toe in thick mud, was approaching the porch.

  “I was thinking, my bride, perhaps a dip in the creek might be in order for both of us. I seem to require your assistance with getting clean,” William said, smiling, his white teeth shining through his mud-covered face.

  She glanced at him playfully. “William Wyllie, did you deliberatel
y fall in the mud to lure me into that stream?”

  The thought of a bath, even if it would be in the chilly stream, appealed to her immensely. At least the wind mercifully died down and the temperature had come back up a little.

  “No, my dear, I am innocent of any premeditation. Attempting to be a dutiful husband, I was simply rushing to get your water in an area not favorable to moving swiftly.”

  She could tell he was trying to sound dignified to make up for how perfectly ridiculous he looked. Even covered in mud, though, there was something warm and enchanting in his manner.

  She tried to suppress a giggle. Amusement flickered in his pale blue eyes, and then she laughed. Soon he was laughing too and before long, their merriment had her sitting on the porch, in hysterics, holding her sides. Their tears of hilarity felt good. How long had it been since she’d laughed this hard? She couldn’t even remember. And it had helped her forget all the terrible events of the last day. That was all behind her now, shed with her tears of laughter.

  Half laughing, half crying, she stood and took a long look at her husband. He was so handsome, even covered in mud, her breath caught in her throat. His beckoning eyes, still sparkling with tears of laughter, now also smoldered.

  “Shall we attempt to get you clean?” she asked, her heart racing.

  “Are you prepared for the challenge?” The question in his eyes probed deep into her.

  “Yes, husband, I believe I am.”

  William was amazed at the thrill her answer gave him. She not only appeared unafraid, she openly admired him.

  “Bring that bar of soap we bought,” William said, “and you’d better leave your boots and gown. It’s awfully muddy down there.”

  “That, I could have guessed.”

  William watched Kelly shamelessly tuck the bar of soap between her breasts and then stared spellbound as she removed her gown, stomacher, and petticoat. Her body silhouetted against the light coming from the open cabin door, her every movement sent a thrill racing through him.