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

by Dorothy Wiley

  “No, Dear. It’s best if you just leave. William has your mare ready for you.”

  Kelly turned and hurried through the back door, leaving only a part of her heart behind.

  “She did what?” Captain Sam asked heatedly.

  “The woman’s soul is as cold as a frozen pond,” William spat.

  “Lass, come sit down here with us. Ye look like ye could drop to the ground any second now,” Bear said. He gestured toward a nearby log that served as a bench. “Would ye like a wee cup of coffee to bring yer strength back some?”

  Kelly nodded and sank down on the log, feeling weak and vulnerable, all her anger spent.

  But William’s fury rapidly swelled. His nostrils flared as he whirled to stare at her. “Don’t let them bring you down. You’re too good for them.”

  She did feel humiliated, deflated. She had tried so hard to excel as a tutor and knew that the children responded well to her lessons. If only she could have controlled her emotions—banished her recurring dream—a frightening red dragon—that wanted to devour her. A fearsome blood-chilling beast whose scorching breaths burned her face. The dream had become more frequent in recent weeks and the last time she’d had the dream, she swore she could actually feel the dragon’s hot breath on her skin. Then the creature tied her and started to consume her whole. She screamed, but no sound came. She tried again, but her voice remained mute. Then, just as the beast’s jaw, filled with enormous sharp teeth, was about to engulf her, she saw William coming toward her, arms outstretched. She tried to reach out to William but she couldn’t move her tied arms. That’s when her voice finally came and her own screams woke her up before the dragon could eat her. That was her dream the night her nightmare made the girls cry too.

  “Kelly, William is right. You can’t let them demean you. They don’t understand, that’s all. We do,” Sam said, in a gentle tone.

  “I have no place in the world now. No home. No place where I belong.” She felt so alone.

  “You are more than welcome to return to Cumberland Falls and live with Catherine, Little John, and me. You’re like a sister to all of us now,” Sam said.

  She peered up at William who stood with his hands on his hips staring at Sam. Did William think of her as a sister too?

  “Or Stephen and Jane would welcome ye with open arms,” Bear added. “Ye’re part of the family now. Just like I am. We willna let any harm come to ye.”

  Her uncertain future and trampled pride made the blood pound in her head. She could feel her face growing hot with humiliation, conscious of their scrutiny. She wanted to just escape. But where? Against her will, tears began to roll down her cheeks, and she swatted at them, angry at herself.

  “Kelly, lass, what’s got ye so miserable?” Bear asked. “Are ye worried about leaving Boonesborough?”

  Since her attack, shame was her constant burden, sometimes a light burden and sometimes a heavy one. And now, after an abrupt dismissal from her first job she felt an even deeper sense of disgrace.

  “She doesn’t need to go anywhere,” William nearly swore.

  She looked up, feeling the blood drain from her face at the adamancy of his tone. What did he mean? Her breaths shuddered. Did he want her to stay?

  William eyed first Sam and then Bear. “I think you two should go take a smoke on your pipes down by the riverbank.” It was more than a suggestion.

  Kelly had often seen the Captain and Bear stroll along amiably together, smoking their pipes, often in a heated conversation about politics, hunting, or Indians. They both grabbed their rifles at once and strolled off into the darkness, leaving Kelly and William alone in the light of the campfire.

  William stepped closer and gazed down at her. For a moment, he studied her intently. Still wearing his best clothes, resolve seemed to heat his handsome face. In the light reflecting from the fire, his profile was sharp and spoke of determination. What was he suddenly so sure of?

  She searched anxiously for the meaning behind his look. She sniffled and swallowed the lump that filled her throat.

  He handed her a handkerchief and knelt beside her. His eyes were startlingly beautiful against his tanned skin and light hair. Just looking into his eyes made her chest heat inside her and made her feel a little better. A lock of blonde hair fell onto his forehead and she reached up to push it out of his eyes. Surprised that her hand didn’t shake or hesitate, she moved the hairs away from his eye, amazed at the thrill it gave her.

  She heard him suck in a breath, but his gleaming eyes never left her face.

  Behind William, a tall, dark figure stepped from the dark shadows of the forest.

  Ice spread through her heart and her body stiffened.

  Then a terrifying realization made her insides shrivel.

  Kelly looked away from him and her expression suddenly darkened. William saw uncertainty and an inexplicable look of withdrawal spread over her face.

  The flame of hope in his chest quickly extinguished.

  Then her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.

  He swallowed his disappointment. He had been so close to reaching her, to giving her his heart. A mere moment away from letting her know his true feelings. He studied her face with concern, wondering where the Kelly he’d seen just a moment before went. He’d seen desire in her eyes, he was sure of it. But not now. Now all he perceived was fear. It was almost as though she vanished and another woman now sat before him.

  A woman silent and defeated.

  Then he heard something behind him. He quickly stood, drawing his pistol at the same time, and turned.

  A tall man stood near the tree line, feet spread and arms crossed. The man’s dark eyes stared at Kelly instead of him. “Hello Kelly,” the stranger said. His voice echoed ominously through the forest and darkness beyond.

  “Papa,” Kelly replied, her voice weak and breaking slightly. She remained seated.

  Kelly’s father appeared middle-aged, but still robust, although a bit underweight. He was unshaven, but not bearded. His eyes appeared a bit bleary, his face sun dried, and his hands leathery. The man continued to glare at Kelly.

  The tension between the father and daughter was immediate and increasing with frightening intensity.

  “Sir, I am Sheriff Wyllie,” William said extending his hand and taking a few steps forward.

  The man didn’t move at all and William lowered his hand but increased his wariness.

  Finally, her father’s eyes moved away from Kelly and focused on William with a look of suspicion.

  “You stole my daughter. I’ll have you hung for that!” the man swore.

  William heard Kelly gasp.

  “Mister McGuffin, you are mistaken. My brother and I rescued your daughter and killed the men who attacked her,” William said, his voice harsher than he intended, but this man’s attitude was beyond belief. Her father should be grateful instead of accusatory.

  Kelly finally stood, and William sensed the apprehension coursing through her.

  A flash of protectiveness suddenly filled him. She was afraid of her own father. William wanted to beat the whoreson to a bloody pulp. A child should never have to fear their father. That just wasn’t right. He clenched his jaw and fists in an effort to control his rising ire.

  “Kelly, gather your things, you’ll be coming home with me,” McGuffin ordered.

  Kelly didn’t move, but William did. Incensed, he advanced to stand directly before the man, just inches from his face. “Whether or not Kelly leaves will be her decision—not yours. She’s a full-grown woman now and can decide for herself where she wants to live.”

  “Get away from me, you pompous peacock,” McGuffin yelled. He put a hand on William’s chest and shoved.

  “You can shove me but one time. And if you ever lay another hand on her, I’ll see that you hang,” William spat.

  “She’s my daughter and I’ll decide her fate.” His voice hardened ruthlessly. “And she’ll learn not to run away again.”

  “She didn’t r
un away,” William insisted, “we invited her to join us for her protection. What kind of a father would leave a young woman alone in the woods to fend for herself for weeks at a time? You’re a worthless excuse for a father.”

  McGuffin’s right fist hit William’s jaw before he could dodge away. The blow shook his head, but he still stood firm and erect, ready to return the blow. His lips pursed in anger and he glared at the man. “I don’t want to fight you, Mister McGuffin. But I won’t let you take her either.”

  “Won’t let me?” McGuffin mocked. “Now who is telling her what she has to do?” The man scowled at him, leaned forward, and with narrowed eyes warned, “Don’t ever pick a fight with an old man. If he’s too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

  “Stop!” Kelly screamed. She shot up and marched to her father. “Leave him alone. I owe my life to him.”

  William was sure she’d yelled it loud enough for Sam and Bear to hear. They would come running back shortly.

  “I don’t abide a man taking my daughter. Since you’re apparently the sheriff here, there’s little I can do but punish you myself.” McGuffin grabbed Kelly by the wrist and shoved her behind him as he yanked out his skinning knife and glared maliciously at William.

  “I don’t abide giving men who beat their daughters a chance to take them back,” he retorted. “Release her. Now!”

  “Or maybe I’ll just let everyone know their new sheriff is a kidnapper of young women. What will a charge like that do to your reputation Sheriff Wyllie?”

  “I’m not worried about my reputation. I’m worried about Kelly,” William snapped.

  “Who the hell are you anyway?” McGuffin asked. “And who told you I beat her?”

  “I’m justice in these parts, you selfish, disreputable, reprobate.”

  McGuffin held up a hand and seemed to yield to William’s authoritative tone. “You say you rescued my daughter. Who did the killing?”

  “I did, along with my brother.”

  “How many of them were there?”

  “Two. Both atrocious men. They had already murdered the husband of one of our friends,” William begrudgingly explained. He wanted to beat this man, not talk to him.

  McGuffin turned his attention to Kelly. “These attackers, what did they do to you?” he asked, his tone expressing more blame than concern.

  Kelly just stared at her father, her face bleak, looking like she was holding back tears with great effort. She put the handkerchief to her nose and looked down.

  William’s heart ached for her. Would she tell her father the truth? She’d already dealt with a lot today and now this. She was actually trembling now, but she took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and boldly met her father’s reproachful eyes. “Papa, I….”

  Without making a sound beforehand, Sam leapt from the trees, and headed straight for McGuffin’s back, while Bear charged in from another direction and swept Kelly up in his enormous arms.

  Bear stood there, a protective giant, baring his teeth and growling at McGuffin. “Ye’re safe now lass. This man will na harm ye.”

  After relieving the man of his knife, and pinning an arm behind his back, Sam held his own long knife against the whiskers on McGuffin’s throat. “What does this mangy fellow want, William?” Sam asked, his tone challenging, as he twisted the arm a little more.

  “He wants to take Kelly back to their home in Virginia,” William answered. “Although he doesn’t deserve the name, this is her father.” He spit the word out between his teeth. His eyes met Kelly’s intense gaze.

  Her eyes clung to his for a moment, then shifted from one person to another, before she said, “Bear, please put me down.”

  Bear seemed reluctant. “Are ye sure lass?”

  Kelly dropped her eyes before saying, “Yes,” in a voice that seemed to come from a long way off.

  Bear eased her down, but stood within inches of her, a hand on his axe, looking like a real Bear ready to protect its cub.

  “Captain Wyllie, release my father.”

  Chapter 6

  Sam slowly released McGuffin’s arm, but kept the scowl on his face menacing and the grip on his long knife firm.

  William studied Kelly’s father speculatively. The man’s intelligent eyes gleamed, dark and insolent as he glared at Sam. A muscle flicked angrily at his jaw while he rubbed his sore elbow. McGuffin’s scruffy appearance matched his surly demeanor.

  Would he leave and let his daughter be? Or would the man continue to insist on taking her? One thing he was sure of. He would not let McGuffin take Kelly against her will.

  Her father strode up to Kelly and, looking down his long nose, scrutinized her for several uncomfortable moments. Then, with an almost imperceptible note of pleading in his voice, he said, “Gather your things Kelly, it’s time to go home.”

  Suddenly filled with possessiveness, William declared, “Boonesborough is her home.”

  Kelly took a long deep breath and seemed to force her emotions into order. Without looking at William, she moved toward her bag, still sitting where she’d left it. When she reached for it, he thought his heart might stop.

  His anxiety increasing with each second, William gave her a sidelong glance of utter disbelief. “Kelly, surely you don’t intend to go with him?”

  Her bearing was stiff and proud, but a tremor moved across her lips before she replied. “Yes, I do. It’s my home and I have no home and no family here. And now I have no job. Boonesborough is your home, not mine.”

  “Kelly…” William, Sam, and Bear all started at once.

  “Captain, Bear, and William,” she said, looking like she was struggling to keep her emotions under tight restraint, “this is my choice. No one else’s. I’ll thank you to let me go in peace with my father. I appreciate all that your family has done for me.”

  Her father smirked at them but showed no surprise or gladness that she would leave with him.

  “No,” William insisted, “he’ll mistreat you.”

  Lips pursed, Kelly faced him. Something flickered far back in her eyes. “Is that why you think I should stay?”

  In dazed exasperation, he simply said, “Yes.”

  Kelly fought to control the mixed feelings surging through her. Masking her inner turmoil with calmness, she peered up at William, unable to turn away. Of all the reasons William could have given her for staying, that was all he had to say? After a moment of silence, she realized she was not going to draw another response from him.

  Under his steady scrutiny, she turned away from him and grabbed the reins to her mare.

  “Follow me,” McGuffin ordered. “My mount is tied nearby.”

  Her heart clenched and her stomach turned sour as she took her first reluctant step back to her old life. Was this actually happening? She could feel William’s eyes boring into her back. Yet he said nothing.

  Biting her lip, she refused to look back.

  Her father trudged into the forest and she fell in behind him. Her initial shock at seeing him again had evaporated. Now she only felt extreme unhappiness. Her insides were weeping even if her eyes were not. She would not let her father see how this pained her.

  She had lost control of her life. Again.

  After they mounted, her father said, “We’ll camp once we’re further down the trail towards the Gap. There’s enough moon tonight to see by so we can ride for a while. Then we’ll get an early start in the morning.”

  He sounded almost pleasant, kind even. Had she misjudged him? Then she remembered. He only beat her when he was drinking, and then he turned into another man entirely. A cruel revolting man. Her father’s evil twin.

  Had he brought alcohol with him? She prayed that he hadn’t.

  Her father had started drinking in excess right after her mother died. That same night he had gotten so drunk he had slept on the porch, where he had passed out. Kelly had borne her own intense grief all alone, crying herself to sleep for several nights.

  That was four years ago. Four long years of extreme
loneliness and fending for herself while her father left to tend his traps in the Shenandoah Mountains.

  During that time, her animals were her only company and she had insisted on bringing them to Boonesborough with her when she left with William and Stephen. Now she didn’t even have those. Wolfe had refused to keep her cow, chickens, and mule and she had been forced to give them to Stephen and Jane before accepting her position in his household. Jane’s girls needed the milk and eggs more than she did anyway.

  At least she had her memory of William. She could think of him when things with her father got unpleasant. And she would use her remembrance of him to fight the harsh realities of loneliness. She would imagine him performing his duties as sheriff and then returning to his new home. There, he might play his fiddle on the front porch or enjoy the lovely rolling hills as they whispered to him in the evenings. How she wished she had heard the hills whisper just once.

  And oh, how she wished William could have whispered words of love to her.

  But clearly, he didn’t love her. If he had, he would have said so. That would have been his reason for wanting her to stay.

  No, he would want someone far more beautiful than she was. Someone as gorgeous and refined as he was. That wasn’t her and she knew it. She was just a simple girl from the mountains. That’s where she belonged. It was madness to think she would fit in anywhere else.

  She would miss him. Her heart ached for him already and terrible regrets assailed her. She’d almost found a new life. So close.

  If she hadn’t lost her job, she might have stayed. And maybe, given enough time, William could have grown fond of her. But now, with no source of income and no place to stay, what choice did she have but to return to her home? And she had to admit, she was a little homesick. She missed their cozy little dugout, tucked into the side of a rocky rise, and her frequent walks higher in the hills, where she found cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, and quiet wooded hollows. Boonesborough was noisy, dirty, and often crowded. She did not enjoy living in town.