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

by Dorothy Wiley

  “Certainly not, however, I am well awake now.”

  “Kelly, Bear’s right. You should stay put for a couple more hours, till we know the drugs have fully worn off,” Sam said.

  “All right, I’ll agree, but only if you go back to find William,” she said, meeting Sam’s disapproving eyes without flinching.

  Although she thought of both Sam and Bear as brothers, it wasn’t easy standing up to the two enormous, equally obstinate, warriors. But she had to convince them to go to William. She glanced uneasily over her shoulder, back in the direction they’d come from. Her confidence that she was right spiraled upward. With desperate firmness, she said, “If you don’t turn these horses around, I will jump down from here and go myself. And if I break a leg or my foot when I jump, it will be your fault.”

  “Och, but the woman can be stubborn,” Bear complained to Sam.

  “Indeed,” Sam said, with a smile.

  Powerful relief filled her when Sam turned his mount.

  McGuffin peered ahead, anxious to catch his first glimpse of William and his brothers. He prayed they would have already caught up to Kelly and that she would be all right.

  “Don’t worry, Sir, your daughter will be located. With William, Captain Sam, and Bear after her abductor, he stands little chance of success,” Boone offered.

  “I pray you are correct, Sir,” McGuffin answered. “I have much to say to my daughter. And much time to make up for. I had just come to collect her and take her home when she was abducted.”

  “Can I ask how Kelly came to be in Boonesborough and why you are just now coming to claim her?” Boone asked.

  McGuffin told Boone what he knew of the events that led up to Kelly being in Boonesborough. He was ashamed that he didn’t fully understand what happened himself. He should have had the good sense and patience to question her further and listen to what William had been trying to explain.

  “I sense you are struggling with other problems as well,” Boone said.

  “The last few years, ever since my beloved wife passed, I have cultivated a regrettable habit of drinking whiskey too often and too much. It’s caused problems between me and my daughter.”

  For a moment, Boone didn’t say anything. He seemed pensive, not judgmental or angry. “Fine whiskey is one of Kentucky’s proudest achievements and we’ve developed a reputation for our distillers' skills, especially Bourbon County, just north a short distance from where we are now. They’re blessed with the right assets —a steady good crop of corn, sweet water, and abundant hardwoods for making barrels. But, the brew can be a powerful temptress if one does not possess the ability to know when to put the cork back in the bottle. I’ve known others who have had the same problem. Some overcame it and some didn’t. Only the strongest of men win that difficult battle. What kind of man are you? Strong or weak? Are you prepared to lose someone you can’t bear to lose—someone you love more than your own life?” Boone’s blue eyes pierced the distance between them.

  McGuffin stared squarely back at Boone, asking himself the same questions. The day of reckoning has come, he thought with fearful clarity. He drew his lips in thoughtfully. A few moments ago, his life nearly came to a horrifying end. Was this a chance to start a brand new life? As a man and as a father? With a startling realization, he decided that it was. If he didn’t take this chance now, he might never have another one. He could lose the only person he loved in the world—his beautiful daughter.

  “I’m going to stop drinking. I swear to God and to you, I am. Right now.” He halted his horse and reached behind him and into his saddlebag. He wrenched out his jug, and with his heart beating rapidly in his chest, he let the contents escape to the earth below. It pained him, like pouring out his own blood.

  “Emptying that jug out won’t banish the desire for it from your body,” Boone said, looking down at the puddle of wet earth. “There’s only one thing that can.”

  “What’s that?” McGuffin asked, anxious to hear the answer.

  “Love is the only answer. Love for, and from, your maker. And love for your daughter. As far as love for God, as scripture says, it has to be with your heart, soul, and mind. All three. And as for God’s love for you, if you let it fill you, strengthen you, there’s little room left for temptation or evil.”

  In that moment, McGuffin recognized that Boone, considered a formidable Kentucky warrior, was a kinder, gentler, spirit than most people knew.

  Perhaps God would be too.

  Chapter 13

  They both fell backward, tumbling against William’s squealing stallion. Smoke side-stepped as the two men plummeted underneath the horse. With Harpes weight on him, William’s back slammed into the hard ground. He caught glimpses of Smoke’s hooves stomping around their heads, dangerously close, as the stallion tried to get out of the way. His breath deserted him and his mouth gaped open, but he couldn’t let the lack of air in his lungs stop him. He thrust his knee into Harpes’ stomach and tossed the man off to his left.

  Quickly searching for his weapon, knocked out of his hand as they both crashed against his startled mount, he spotted the pistol to his right and darted over to it. William snatched up his flintlock and straightened while sucking in much needed air.

  Harpes scrambled upward and drew his weapon.

  In the next instant, they both held pistols aimed at each other’s heaving chests.

  He stared into the man’s malicious grey eyes, flashing like silver lightning, knowing Harpes could kill him in the next instant. Any chance of a future with Kelly could vanish with a single tiny lead ball fired from Harpes’ flintlock. He couldn’t let that happen.

  “Drop your weapon,” William ordered, narrowing his eyes. “I caution you to give up now.”

  “Drop your weapon,” Harpes countered, his face a frozen smile. “Unless you’re prepared to die today.”

  William scowled at the vile man. “Harpes, you are in enough trouble without killing a sheriff too.”

  “I’m not going to kill you,” Harpes said. “I’m an excellent man with a firearm. I’ll just geld you.”

  The repugnant threat fueled William’s anger even further. He would have a hard time not killing this disgusting man. His chest heaving, he gripped the gun’s handle even harder. “You can’t make a threat like that without expecting dire consequences.”

  Cool as ice, Harpes posture was relaxed, his face calm. “Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.” The man took a deep, satisfied breath and straightened his waistcoat. William half expected the dandy to start whistling.

  He had to make himself just as composed. He needed his wits about him if he was going to beat this devil. Then, he would release his fury on Kelly’s abductor like the wrath of God.

  “I’m warning you Harpes, give up your weapon, now. I won’t ask this a third time.”

  “No,” Harpes answered simply.

  It was time to end this. Taking a few slow breaths, William regarded Harpes with somber interest. He needed to find a way to distract the loathsome man.

  He started to walk unhurriedly in a wide circle, his footsteps sure, his gaze unrelenting.

  His movement forced Harpes to pivot to keep William in sight.

  His steps easy and unrushed, William continued to breathe slowly.

  Harpes looked as if he were weighing whether he was faster with a pistol than William was. William had half a mind to make that clear to the contemptible man.

  When he’d taken Harpes through a half circle, William abruptly glanced up and let his face brighten. “Ah, at last, my brothers are catching up to us,” he said eagerly.

  Harpes’ started to turn and then, as he recognized William’s attempt to distract him, he swore under his breath, narrowed his flinty eyes, and fired his weapon.

  In one fluid motion, William spun to his side and discharged his pistol.

  The lead from Harpes’ weapon hit the ground just past William and kicked brown dust up to mingle with the smoky cloud of the black powder
from both their weapons. Through the haze, he saw Harpes clutch his chest.

  “You son of a…” Harpes began, before he fell forward on his knees, grabbing at his wound.

  “I warned you more than once to give up,” William said, wishing the fellow had listened.

  A moment later, Harpes crumpled over, unconscious.

  William rushed over. Already, bright red blood stretched outward across the front of what was an exceptionally white shirt. But he hadn’t hit the heart. The abductor might live.

  He retrieved the rope that Harpes had used on Kelly and quickly tied the man’s hands in front of him. He wasn’t taking any chances.

  Then he searched Harpes and found not one, but two daggers, hidden in his jacket and boot, and an exceptionally small pistol in his waistcoat.

  He used Harpes’ handkerchief, also amazingly white, to apply pressure to the wound. He’d rather let the swine bleed to death, but it wasn’t in him to just let a man die.

  Within a minute or so, the man regained consciousness. “Am I done for?” Harpes asked, his voice weak.

  “If we can get that bullet out of you, you stand a chance. But, I’m not inclined to dig around on you much myself. Hopefully, you’ll make it back to Boonesborough. Then the doc can take a look at you.”

  “We both know I won’t make it that far,” Harpes said, his voice husky with emotion.

  “I’m inclined to agree with you.”

  “We’re a lot closer to Lexington. You can take me there.”

  “I have no business in Lexington. My duties require me to return to Boonesborough, and that’s where you’re going.”

  “But I don’t want to go to Boonesborough,” Harpes whined.

  “You should have thought of that before you abducted Miss McGuffin.”

  “Are your brothers really coming?”

  William gave him a half-smile. “No. Not yet.” He didn’t want to reveal that the two had already returned to Boonesborough with Kelly. “They’ll be along soon enough.”

  “What did you do with the young lady?” Harpes asked.

  “She’s with my brothers,” William answered. “She’s no longer your concern. She never was.”

  “If I tell you why I was really taking her to Lexington, will you promise to dig this bullet out of me?” Harpes entreated.

  “How do I know you’ll tell the truth? You haven’t so far.”

  His voice rose an octave as he said, “Because I want to live.”

  That, at least, William believed. He said the words with the certainty of a man who knew he would die without help. His eyes caught and held Harpes’ stare. “I’ll not help you unless I’m absolutely convinced you’re telling the truth.”

  Harpes coughed and a little blood splattered onto his shirt. That wasn’t a good sign. Watching a man die, even a despicable one, was a grim prospect.

  William sighed with exasperation. He decided to try to get the truth out of Harpes before it was too late. “All right, I promise to try to get the bullet out, if you are strong enough, and if you tell me the truth.”

  His tone cold and exact, Harpes began. “I am a partner in a bordello. The finest one in Lexington. My partner’s name is Belle. I acquire young women for the house. Usually women with little or no family and poor prospects. We drug them for the first few days until they settle in. Then I teach them what they need to know to pleasure a man. I was taking Kelly there.”

  William’s scant pity for the man evaporated entirely. He shot him a withering glance. “You are depraved and vulgar. Again, I should just hang you right here. Right now, you bastard.”

  “Sir, I may be a bastard, in fact, I think I am. But I am certainly not vulgar. Nor should you hang me. I fear it will be unnecessary.”

  “Civility and fine clothing do not make a man decent or a gentleman,” William hissed. “You, Sir, are as vulgar and loutish as they come.”

  “If you will cease throwing stones at me for the moment and start digging this bullet out of my chest, it would be much appreciated.”

  “All right. Do you have any whiskey? You’re going to need it.”

  “No, but I have opium. It’s in my saddlebag on my horse’s left side.” Harpes coughed again. He sounded weaker.

  William considered Harpes speculatively. Should he risk trying to get the bullet out? The man would probably bleed to death. He decided he had to try. He located the package of opium. “How do I give it to you?” he asked.

  “The best way would be to make some tea, but I can’t wait that long. Put some on one of the biscuits in my other bag,” he said, closing his eyes, and biting his lip.

  After he gave Harpes the biscuit, he opened the blood-soaked shirt with his knife and lifted the handkerchief. Blood still spilled out of the hideous wound just above his right nipple. William quickly replaced the cloth and applied as much pressure as Harpes could tolerate.

  He had no idea how deep the bullet might have penetrated or if it would even be possible to get to it. He decided to use one of Harpes’ daggers. They were probably cleaner than his own knife. He pulled one. The blade sparkled in the light, needlepoint sharp, and spotless.

  Harpes watched him with a critical squint. “Have you ever removed a bullet before?”

  “Yes, but not from a man’s chest.” William didn’t want to do this, but he’d promised he would and he meant to keep his word. He sighed, then gave a resigned shrug. “Are you ready?”

  Harpes blinked and his face grew even paler. “I feel lightheaded. Sir, if I don’t make it, will you tell Miss McGuffin something for me?” His imploring eyes searched William’s face.

  “That depends.”

  “Tell her I’m sorry. That’s all, just, I’m sorry.” Harpes eyes examined William.

  “Sorry you took her or sorry you got caught.”

  “I’m just sorry…”

  “I’ll tell her.”

  As his labored breaths faded to a hushed stillness, pleasure briefly lit the abductor’s face.

  In the next twinkling, death abducted pleasure from Harpes’ eyes forever.

  William stood and looked down at the lifeless body, a heavy feeling in his stomach. “I’m sorry too.”

  And he was—sorry that Harpes forced him to take a life. Sorry the evil man doubtless just arrived in hell. Sorry for the trauma Harpes inflicted on Kelly.

  What emotional havoc had Harpes caused Kelly?

  His mind feared for her.

  His heart ached for her.

  His soul needed her.

  Chapter 14

  At the sound of horses approaching, William glanced over his shoulder. This time it really was his brothers—and Kelly. She was sitting in front of Bear, fully awake and Sam had her mare in tow.

  A powerful cry of relief broke from his lips. He was amazed how much the sight of her cheered him.

  Suddenly anxious to be away from Harpes and with Kelly, he started running toward them. Toward her. His body nearly vibrated with excitement. He couldn’t wait to see her beautiful eyes shining back at him. He leapt over a log and lengthened his stride. It felt good to run. To feel alive when he could so easily have died back there.

  He kept his eyes on her as he ran, waiting expectantly for her to hear or see him coming.

  She soon peered ahead and caught sight of him. Her somber face lit up with a bright smile, like the sun coming out from behind a dark cloud. “William,” she called.

  He was just moments away from her! His heart beat faster with the tick of each second.

  Bear stopped his horse Camel, and with just one of his powerful arms, lowered Kelly down from his saddle. She grabbed her skirt and started running too.

  William caught a glimpse of the huge smiles on both Bear and Sam’s faces. He was going to have to give the two of them a piece of his mind. They were supposed to take Kelly back.

  But right now, though, as she leapt into his arms, he was enormously grateful they hadn’t.

  “Kelly! How I’ve prayed for this moment,” he whi
spered into her ear as she hugged him fiercely, and without any hesitation.

  He embraced her so tightly, glee bubbled out of her in a laugh. She drew back a little and gazed up into his eyes, happiness radiating from deep within her. She had changed. That much was clear. But how? Why? He had expected her to be worse off, not better—not this euphoric bundle of joy.

  “I had to come to you. I did it, William. I did it!”

  “Did what Kelly?” he asked, putting his hands on her arms and searching her face.

  “I realized why I’ve been afraid. And I won’t tell you all about it now, but you were right, fear was making me weak. And afraid. I’m not afraid anymore. Or ashamed. In fact, I feel stronger than ever before. You helped me kill the dragon. I had a dream while I was drugged, and we slayed the dragon together.”

  William had no idea what she was talking about, but he was delighted by the confidence he heard underlying her words. “Kelly, you can’t imagine how happy it makes me to hear you say that. But first things first. Did Harpes hurt you?”

  “He drugged me, but that’s all. He said he wanted to take me to Lexington to give me an education.”

  William had to bite down on his tongue to keep his angry words in his mouth. Any remorse he felt for killing Harpes vanished.

  “I made Sam and Bear bring me back to you. They didn’t want to, but I had to be sure you were all right,” she said, running her fingers affectionately over his coat and chest. “Dear God William, there’s blood on you. Are you hurt?”

  Her touch sent wonderful shivers up and down his spine. “No, not me.” He gestured for Sam and Bear to join them. “It’s Harpes’ blood.”

  “I was a fool to go with him. I was just desperate and…”

  Sam and Bear pulled alongside them, interrupting her. “Where’s Harpes?” Sam asked.

  “Over there,” he pointed, “dead.”

  Kelly gasped and her heavy lashes flew up. “You killed him?” She bit her lip and seemed to stifle an outcry.