Read Online Wilderness Trail of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 1) by Dorothy Wiley - Free Book Online
Authors: Dorothy Wiley
Ads: Link
killed him?” Bear asked, his eyes widening.
“She thought he was dead, and drug him outside, but the bullet must have just grazed him. Someone helped him and they left on horseback. Sam went after them. He’s been gone since early this morning. He wanted you to follow him, but you’ll have to wait until morning. It’ll be dark in less than an hour, impossible to follow their tracks.”
“Och! The men of this state have tried to track that beast through the woods for years and Jane manages to shoot him,” Bear marveled.
“I’m afraid she’s in danger. Bomazeen will come back for her.”
“Aye. Disease decimated many of the Pennacooks. Not many remain in the White Mountains. Smallpox killed most of the women of the tribe last year. I just heard in Durham yesterday that they started raidin’ from here to the Canadian border, takin’ women captive. They’re difficult to stop because they sneak in and out quickly, leavin’ nothin’ to follow. These natives like strong women. They do most of the work and tend the crops. Aye, the threat is real.The Chief could send Bomazeen and more braves after her again. I’ll stay with you until we know ‘tis safe,” Bear offered.
Stephen had little respect for some of the Algonquian tribes. He had heard many stories from Sam. On more than one occasion, Sam saw them fight alongside the British during the Revolution. During a battle in the Mohawk Valley, decimated Continental troops suffered more than 400 casualties, many at the hands of the natives. Sam had not forgotten, and neither had he. But, he also knew that other natives had helped many colonists. Some built trusted relations with them and even owed their lives to the aid provided by friendly Indians. But the British purposely tore through those bonds of trust and kept tensions high, making peaceful relations with the tribes difficult. And it rankled him that men like Bomazeen kept the pot stirred, sometimes to over boiling.
“I’m not sure it’s ever going to be safe,” Stephen said. “The British continue to arm these natives and encourage them to resist us. You’re right, they are exceedingly difficult to fight—they grab women quickly and then disappear without a trace. Bomazeen targeted Jane for the Chief. The fact that she shot a man like Bomazeen will only make her more desirable to the Chief. Bomazeen’s wounded pride will make him come after her as soon as he’s able.”
“They do admire strength. I agree there’s reason to believe they will come again.”
“Let them come. Better yet, let’s take the battle to them,” he growled through gritted teeth. “We can get others to help. We’ll leave in the morning.”
“Ye’re na thinkin’ right, man. You’re talkin’ out of rage,” Bear said. “That’d be suicide. They would know we were comin’ a mile away. They’d set traps for us. Tryin’ to fight them in the timber andmountains is near to impossible. It’d be like elk tryin’ to hunt a mountain lion.”
“Damn it. Defending my family is my job—not Jane’s. The bastard nearly raped her. She’s my wife. It’s my duty to protect her.”
“Then start.” Soundlessly, Sam had sidled up behind the two.
“What happened? Did you find them?” Stephen demanded.
“I found where they had stopped to rest their mounts.”
Stephen and Bear waited for Sam to continue.
“Looks like Bomazeen is on his way to the Pennacook village. I lost his trail in the rocks. Searched for some sign of them for hours, but to no avail. It was getting late and it would have been ill-advised to continue, so I turned back.”
“How can a man be so cruel?” Bear asked.
“Some say it’s the French in him, some say it’s his Indian blood. I tend to think he’s just a mean sick bastard,” Sam said.
“I hate to even say this, but I think Bomazeen will come after Jane again. She made him look weak to the Chief,” Stephen said.
“I agree, but I am afraid next time he’ll not only seek to
“She thought he was dead, and drug him outside, but the bullet must have just grazed him. Someone helped him and they left on horseback. Sam went after them. He’s been gone since early this morning. He wanted you to follow him, but you’ll have to wait until morning. It’ll be dark in less than an hour, impossible to follow their tracks.”
“Och! The men of this state have tried to track that beast through the woods for years and Jane manages to shoot him,” Bear marveled.
“I’m afraid she’s in danger. Bomazeen will come back for her.”
“Aye. Disease decimated many of the Pennacooks. Not many remain in the White Mountains. Smallpox killed most of the women of the tribe last year. I just heard in Durham yesterday that they started raidin’ from here to the Canadian border, takin’ women captive. They’re difficult to stop because they sneak in and out quickly, leavin’ nothin’ to follow. These natives like strong women. They do most of the work and tend the crops. Aye, the threat is real.The Chief could send Bomazeen and more braves after her again. I’ll stay with you until we know ‘tis safe,” Bear offered.
Stephen had little respect for some of the Algonquian tribes. He had heard many stories from Sam. On more than one occasion, Sam saw them fight alongside the British during the Revolution. During a battle in the Mohawk Valley, decimated Continental troops suffered more than 400 casualties, many at the hands of the natives. Sam had not forgotten, and neither had he. But, he also knew that other natives had helped many colonists. Some built trusted relations with them and even owed their lives to the aid provided by friendly Indians. But the British purposely tore through those bonds of trust and kept tensions high, making peaceful relations with the tribes difficult. And it rankled him that men like Bomazeen kept the pot stirred, sometimes to over boiling.
“I’m not sure it’s ever going to be safe,” Stephen said. “The British continue to arm these natives and encourage them to resist us. You’re right, they are exceedingly difficult to fight—they grab women quickly and then disappear without a trace. Bomazeen targeted Jane for the Chief. The fact that she shot a man like Bomazeen will only make her more desirable to the Chief. Bomazeen’s wounded pride will make him come after her as soon as he’s able.”
“They do admire strength. I agree there’s reason to believe they will come again.”
“Let them come. Better yet, let’s take the battle to them,” he growled through gritted teeth. “We can get others to help. We’ll leave in the morning.”
“Ye’re na thinkin’ right, man. You’re talkin’ out of rage,” Bear said. “That’d be suicide. They would know we were comin’ a mile away. They’d set traps for us. Tryin’ to fight them in the timber andmountains is near to impossible. It’d be like elk tryin’ to hunt a mountain lion.”
“Damn it. Defending my family is my job—not Jane’s. The bastard nearly raped her. She’s my wife. It’s my duty to protect her.”
“Then start.” Soundlessly, Sam had sidled up behind the two.
“What happened? Did you find them?” Stephen demanded.
“I found where they had stopped to rest their mounts.”
Stephen and Bear waited for Sam to continue.
“Looks like Bomazeen is on his way to the Pennacook village. I lost his trail in the rocks. Searched for some sign of them for hours, but to no avail. It was getting late and it would have been ill-advised to continue, so I turned back.”
“How can a man be so cruel?” Bear asked.
“Some say it’s the French in him, some say it’s his Indian blood. I tend to think he’s just a mean sick bastard,” Sam said.
“I hate to even say this, but I think Bomazeen will come after Jane again. She made him look weak to the Chief,” Stephen said.
“I agree, but I am afraid next time he’ll not only seek to
Similar Books
