As the other braves turned toward the threat, one more shot found its mark. Another of them grabbed his belly and sank to his knees.
Two more reports from smaller weapons caught one in the throat. The other shot missed either of two braves who’d dropped into a crouch.
In one swift motion, Nate brought his hatchet down against one Indian’s neck as Bob flipped his musket butt first and took a mighty swing at the last one’s head.
Stillness filled the air.
The two friends glanced at one another in the near dark. All the enemy were down. But how? Who had fired those shots?
At that moment, longhunters Reynolds and Stuart emerged into the open. “Howdy, boys,” Reynolds said nonchalantly. “Thought mebbe you could use some comp’ny.”
Nate stared in shock, his mouth gaping.
“Better check an’ see iffin’ any of them redskins is playin’ possum,” Stuart suggested. “Wouldn’t want no surprises, would ya?”
“No, we sure wouldn’t.” Recovering his senses, Nate uncovered the smoking ashes with his foot until he found some live embers. Then, grabbing long sticks off a pile, he jabbed them into the coals to set them afire for use as makeshift torches. “I counted eight of ‘em when they stopped on the road.”
The hunters and Bob reloaded their muskets.
After a head count of the war party’s dead, they found that only one had escaped into the wilderness. Nate looked around for the women but couldn’t spot them. “Wherever you women are, stay put,” he yelled, then he turned to Bob. “You better stay here, just in case.” Then he and the longhunters took the torches and started after the runaway’s tracks.
“There’s no way he’s gonna be a threat.” Nate rubbed a knot on his arm. “Look at that trail of blood he left behind.”
Reynolds gave a sober nod. “Yeah. He’ll bleed out soon enough.” The threesome headed back to the camp as the light flurry turned into a steady snowfall.
Chapter 39
As he and the other men returned to the camp, Nate saw that Bob had dragged the corpses into the brush and had a blazing fire going. The women had also come out of hiding. Rounding a drooping fir tree, he could feel the warmth emanating from the flames. But it was the sight of Rose that really chased away winter’s chill.
She turned around, and her blue eyes locked with his.
Nate felt his knees go rubbery. She’d come so close to being taken or killed. But God had sent the longhunters to save her. To save them all. His eyes smarted as he went to her.
She opened her arms to him. Wrapping her in his embrace, he drew her close, kissing her hair, her upturned face, never wanting to let her go.
Suddenly he swept a frantic glance around. “Where’s Jenny?”
Rose reached up and cupped his face in her hands. “Right over there, propped against that boulder.” She tipped her head in that direction.
Tugging her along with him, he strode over and picked up the cradleboard, holding it between them.
Jenny Ann grinned at him around a piece of slobbery jerked meat clutched in her fist, and Nate bent his head and kissed the baby’s plump, rosy cheek. “God heard our prayers, little angel,” he whispered hoarsely.
“He saved us all.”
With a tremulous smile, Rose touched his face. “So He did. The Lord surely cares for His own.” A slight frown drew her brows together, and she took a step back. “By the by, where’s that turkey you went after? It would appear God sent us some company for supper.”
Nate laughed and pulled her close again. “He sure did.”
The enticing aroma of roast fowl permeated the air as Rose snuggled close to Nate. With Jenny on his lap, the man had yet to stop grinning, and the pair were a sight to behold. The little one gnawed on a bit of a wing he’d sliced off for her as everyone waited for the gobbler to cook through.
Across the fire, lovebirds Robert and Shining Star sat with their heads together, whispering back and forth in their own little world.
Mr. Reynolds turned the spit, his eager eyes willing the bird to finish so they could all delve into its juicy meat.
“Wish we had somethin’ besides the bird to offer you boys,” Nate said, watching him. “What made you turn back, anyway?”
Stuart shrugged a burly shoulder. “Luck. Pure luck. We just pulled off the trail so’s we could unload the horses b’fore the storm cut loose.” He peered up at the lightly flaking sky. “Thought fer sure it’d be snowin’ a lot harder by now. Seems it’s slowin’ down.”
“Anyway,” Reynolds cut in, “we heared them Injuns a’runnin’ up the trail an’ knowed they was the ones ya tole us about.” He caught a dripping from the turkey and licked his finger.
His partner nodded. “Who else’d be runnin’, ‘ceptin’ if they was chasin’ somethin’ or bein’ chased. So we pulled the animals down below the trail an’ drew our muskets an’ waited.” He patted his brace of pistols. “Them redskins stopped when they seen our tracks, mutterin’ amongst themselves whilst they caught their breath.”
“Yeah.” Reynolds smirked. “One kept pointin’ our way. But they decided to keep goin’. Figger they was fixin’ to come back after us once they took care of y’all.”
Stuart’s gaze centered on Rose. “Couldn’t let them savages get at you purty little ladies.”
As Nate stiffened beside her, Rose pressed her hand over his to make sure he remained calm.
“That wasn’t luck, friends.” Robert looked from one hunter to the other. “Even before we cried out to the Lord, He had help comin’. Ain’t God good?”
Shining Star tugged at his sleeve.
“Oh yes.” He smiled at Rose. “Star wants you to know she’s gonna learn English as fast as she can. She wanted to tell you before not to be afraid, that ever’thing would be all right. She said …” The fire reflected against moisture in his eyes as he drew a ragged breath. “She knows He’s her God, too, now, because He speaks her language, not just English.” He lowered his dark eyes to Star and winked. “The Lord told my bride not to fear. Ain’t that somethin’?”
The sight of the couple blurred behind tears of her own as Rose realized the full meaning of Robert’s words. His bride …Nothing could prevent him from taking her to be his true wife now.
“Well, congratulations!” Obviously understanding his friend’s comment, as well, Nate whacked his thigh with his palm.
The two longhunters exchanged uncomfortable glances. Stuart cleared his throat and stood up. “Me an’ Reynolds better go unload our animals whilst that gobbler finishes up. Mebbe we can come up with somethin’ to add to the meal, if ‘n you folks don’t mind us stayin’ the night.”
A muscle worked in Nate’s jaw as he set Jenny on the robe beside him.
“Of course we don’t mind,” Rose blurted before Nate could come up with an excuse for them to leave. “I can probably find some fairly dry needles for beds under that big tree yonder.” She pointed to one a sufficient distance away.
“Why, thankee, ma’am.” Tipping his cap, Stuart nodded to his pal and the two started back to the trail to collect their packhorses.
Once they were out of sight, Rose turned to Nate. “There’s something you need to get straight, Nate Kinyon.” She hiked her brows to emphasize the point as she looked deep into his eyes. “You were doing some real backtracking this afternoon. But if you think I’m going to release you from your marriage proposal, you can just forget it. I happen to be in love with you, and I’m holding you—”
His lips collided with hers, effectively silencing her with a breath-stopping kiss. She melted into it, wanting it to last forever.
But they’d forgotten about Robert. Across the fire from them, their chaperone gave a meaningful “harrumph.”
Eventually Nate broke away from Rose and chuckled at his pal. “Quit worryin’. Soon as we get to a preacher-man, Rose and me are gonna marry up. Right and proper.” He met her gaze, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Yessir, right and proper.”
Th
ose precious words rendered her momentarily speechless.
With Jenny snuggled inside the cradleboard on her lap, Rose watched the muscles in Nate’s back stretching and tensing as he and Robert paddled downriver on the Potomac, dodging chunks of ice. After two days they would reach Nate’s and Robert’s childhood settlement, Conococheague, a name she still had problems pronouncing.
She flicked a despondent look at the masculine attire Nate had acquired for her at the horse trader’s trading post in exchange for his hatchet. Though worn and oversized, the garments were better than her nightgown, to be sure, but Rose cringed at the thought of having to meet Nate’s mother and his brother’s family with men’s clothing cinched about her waist.
She’d had the last laugh, however, when she’d presented herself in the frayed and stained outfit that swallowed any hint of her feminine figure. “If my proper English neighbors could see me now,” she mused with a wry grimace.
Surprisingly, Nate’s expression turned worshipful. “You’ve never looked more beautiful to me.”
Emotion swelled within her at those tender words. How could she not love him? Unable to reach him now, since Shining Star occupied the bench ahead of her, Rose flipped the cradleboard around and planted a kiss on the baby’s cheek instead. Jenny giggled and mashed into Rose with a sloppy kiss from her little wet mouth. It made Rose’s heart contract. The darling wouldn’t have many more chances to return her kisses once she was relinquished to her grandparents next spring. Rose refused to expose the child to any more winter weather.
Glancing again over the top of the cradleboard toward Nate, Rose noticed Shining Star’s rigid posture. The Indian girl had been deadly silent since Robert had announced they’d be docking soon. Recalling how fearful she had been herself of going into a strange and unknown foreign world, she leaned forward and tapped Star’s shoulder, motioning for her to turn around on the seat.
When the girl complied, her dark, doelike eyes held a wary look.
Rose placed a palm over Star’s tightly clasped hands and smiled. “Not afraid. God is with us.”
Shining Star pursed her lips together, and a tiny smile trembled forth as she gazed upward. “Not afraid.”
“We’re comin’ in,” Nate hollered over his shoulder. “Conococheague’s dead ahead.”
As Star stiffened, her eyes flaring wider, Rose gave the girl’s clenched fists an encouraging squeeze. Then she pointed at Star and then herself. “You, me, together. Not afraid.”
The Indian maiden smiled as she clutched Rose’s free hand between both of hers and leaned forward. “You, me, Nate, my Bob.”
Rose grinned. Shining Star and her Bob, and Rose with her Nate. Very soon now, she and Nate Kinyon would become husband and wife. Her heart nearly burst with joy.
Riding beside Rose on horses borrowed from the blacksmith, Nate chuckled to himself thinking of the surprise his family would have when he arrived with an almost-bride and a baby. He tightened his arm around wide-eyed Jenny, noting how her sweet smile drew attention from passersby. His gaze drifted to Rose, his love, wearing the tattered and smudged maroon cloak over her frontier attire and looking more beautiful to him than any woman he’d ever seen.
Nevertheless, she hadn’t relaxed the tight set of her mouth as they neared his family’s home on the muddy road. Nothing he’d told her about his kind, loving mother or his spry sister-in-law allayed her fears.
“We turn here.” Reining his mount onto the less-traveled path through the woods, he looked over his shoulder at equally tense Shining Star, riding alongside Bob, and gave her a reassuring nod. “We’re almost there.”
“Wonderful.” A flat smile accompanied Rose’s comment.
There had to be a way to perk her up. He tipped his head. “Bob’s place is just up the road.”
Staring toward an upcoming clearing, she gave an aloof nod.
“Looks like Jonah cleared more land,” Nate commented as they reached the edge of the still-bare trees. “He plants wheat and corn mostly, and some flax for spinnin’. Course, it’s all plowed under now. Looks lots better come spring. He’s got a couple half-growed boys to help out.”
“How nice.”
Nate could barely hear her soft answer. He saw her focus on the large cabin ahead with smoke curling up from its twin chimneys. No one was in sight, but two spotted dogs crawled from beneath the front steps and started barking, announcing their arrival.
“Halloo the house!” Nate hollered, adding to the ruckus.
Immediately the cabin door swung open and a pair of young redheaded boys ran out. James, the gawky twelve-year-old, gave a loud hoot. “It’s Uncle Nate! An’ Bob Bloom!”
Evan, his ten-year-old sibling, gawked, stretching his mass of freckles. “An’ they brung women!”
That brought broad-shouldered Jonah into view. He emerged carrying three-year-old Gracie, his golden-haired daughter. The last time Nate had seen her, she was a mere babe. And on Jonah’s heels came his slim, reddish-blond wife, Margaret, along with their mother, who had aged noticeably in his absence. “Nate, my dear boy,” she murmured, the care lines in her face softening with her smile. “High time you got back.” She drew her shawl close about her thin form as she hurried toward him. Then her gaze landed on the cradleboard in front of him. “You got a babe, Nate? And I ain’t even met yer wife!”
Nate lowered Jenny down to her. “This is Jenny Ann, Ma. An’ she ain’t my baby. Leastwise, not yet.” He swung down and wrapped his mother and the baby in a big hug. “I’m sure glad to be home.” He meant every word.
Stepping back from her, he turned to Rose, who hadn’t attempted to dismount. He reached up and helped his reluctant love down then wrapped a protecting arm around her. “Ma, Jonah, Maggie, this here’s Rose.”
“How do you do,” she managed as the rest of the family crowded close.
“Well, come inside outta the cold,” Jonah said. “You all must be hungry.” He looked up at Bob. “Why’re you still sittin’ up there? You come, too.”
Bob shook his head. “I think mebbe me an’ Shining Star oughta head down to my place.” He slid a glance to her.
“Nonsense,” Margaret cut in, her green eyes twinkling. “There ain’t nothin’ but mice an’ spiders at that ol’ place of yers. Come in an’ warm up.”
Bringing Rose with him, Nate reached over to Margaret and gave her a grateful hug. Unlike so many of their neighbors, his family had always made Bob welcome despite his Indian blood.
Margaret eased out of his embrace and arched her golden brows at Bob. “‘Sides, if you don’t come in, we won’t know how many of Nate’s tall tales to believe.”
Everyone laughed as she yanked Nate’s scruffy beard. It was then he realized how much he’d missed the gal’s quick tongue. He switched his attention to Bob and watched him help his lady to the ground.
Leading the way to the house, Jonah nodded to his sons. “James an’ Evan, go see to the horses. An’ rub ‘em down good.”
“Yes, Pa.”
Ma, still holding Jenny, sidled over to Bob and tugged his shoulder till he bent his head for a peck on his cheek. “Well, now. I see you got yourself a woman, too. Purty li’l thing she is.” She gave Shining Star a welcoming smile.
He drew Star close to his side. “This is my sweet bride.”
“Seems you boys’ve been real busy.” She turned to eye Nate and Rose. “I reckon you up an’ married, too, an’ without so much as lettin’ yer ma know.”
“That’s not how it is, Ma. Rose is my betrothed. We—”
Her mouth gaped. “Oh.” She glanced lovingly at wide-eyed Jenny then placed a sympathetic hand on Rose’s shoulder. “Sorry about yer loss. You got a fine lookin’ babe here.” She made a silly face at Jenny Ann and earned a gap-toothed grin.
Despite the fact that Ma was mistaken in her assumption, her sympathetic gesture must have done the trick. Nate felt Rose relax against him as they walked up the porch steps.
Bob followed a step behind. “You don’t
know the half of it. Once we get our gals in out of the cold, I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Now that’s what I like,” Margaret gushed. “An eager tattler.”
Nate stood with his brother and Bob at the potbellied stove, watching James and Evan, in their Sunday breeches, lighting every candle in every holly-decorated sconce in the simple church. Two days after arriving home, he and Bob were marrying their sweethearts. Two days that had lasted forever.
Fragrant pine boughs with trailing red ribbons adorned the ends of the dark, wooden pews. Breathing deeply of the evergreen scent, Nate couldn’t help grinning. “Sure was nice of folks to decorate the church for our weddin’.”
Jonah chuckled. “It’s for tomorrow’s Christmas Eve service.”
“Well, I’m getting’ my Christmas present early.”
“Sure hope Shining Star likes it.” Bob let out a nervous breath. “Everything’s so new to her. But we both wanted a proper church ceremony to give our marriage credence in the eyes of our neighbors an’ to say our vows before God.”
Nodding, Jonah gave Bob’s shoulder a squeeze. “Even so, it’s best we’re just havin’ the minister an’ the family. That timid bride of yers would’a had a hard time with a passel of strangers gawkin’ at her.”
“Aye. An’ with Rose an’ Nate stayin’ with us till spring, she’ll have time for Rose to teach her the white way of doin’ things. Mebbe my ma would’ve felt more welcome if she’d had somebody like Rose helpin’ her.”
Nate’s heart swelled with the realization that others knew how special Rose was. He was the luckiest man alive. This was his wedding day, and his bride would be walking up the aisle to him any minute now …if those fussy women ever got here.
Jonah’s brow furrowed. “I just can’t figger out why a educated lady like Rose would wanna hook up with a rough-an’-tumble rover like my brother.”
Nate was about to say something in his own defense when he heard the wagon roll up to the church. He quickly rubbed a smudge from his buckled shoe on the back of his other knee-length stocking.
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