Read Online Wilderness Trail of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 1) by Dorothy Wiley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dorothy Wiley
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Philadelphia with more than 30,000 people and New York with some 25,000. He’d often said these bustling places made him feel like he couldn’t think clearly. Cities held too many distractions and too much potential for trouble. The few times business or the need for supplies forced Sam into a large city, he got in and out as quickly as possible.
“Then we would turn southwest on The Great Indian Warpath, taking us through southern Pennsylvania, the eastern edge of the frontier. After that, we’d continue south through Virginia all the way to Bristol. At that point, we’ll pass through the Cumberland Gap and head north into Kentucky. I don’t know much about the route after that, but we can find out more from the locals.”
“How soon do we leave?” Bear asked.
“We can’t ask you to go,” Stephen said. “This is our problem and I don’t expect you to leave everything behind.”
“Ye did na ask me. I want to make the trip. I did some thinkin’ on my way here about our conversation at the tavern. I decided that I wanted to go with you if you went west. Your family is my only family. Your problems are my problems,” Bear said.
Stephen had known for a long time that Bear felt that way. As a young man, Bear had traveled from Scotland to the colonies with his father and mother, but both parents died in route on the ship. Buried at sea, they left their orphan son a modest sum of money. With no family in the colonies, Bear had become a hunter and trapper, using the skills his grandfather had taught him as a boy in the Scottish highlands to rid the area of the threat of predators.Stephen’s father befriended the young man, often buying fresh meat from him for his large family. Their mother would insist that he stay with them from time to time to attend church and receive schooling with her own boys. They had both been like parents to Bear.
“Besides, there’ll be more bear for me to hunt there. These woods are gettin’ picked over, are they not?”
“Sam and I would welcome your help. Then it is settled. You’ll join us, of course.” Stephen closed the barn door. Had he just closed the door on his old life?
They started back towards the house.
“But what about Jane? Is she of a mind to leave?” Bear asked. “If I know her, she’ll na let Bomazeen run her from her fine house.”
“Indeed. In fact, she’s so stubborn she would probably stay just to prove he couldn’t. Before this happened, I wanted her to feel the same way I do about the Kentucky. I didn’t want her to go out of loyalty to me.”
“Does she?” Sam asked.
“I haven’t asked her yet,” Stephen begrudgingly admitted, rubbing the stubble on his chin.
Sam and Bear, both looking incredulous, stared at Stephen, making him feel more than a little foolish.
“How could you have gone this far in your thinking without talking with her?” Sam asked.
“You’re asking for a storm by keeping this from her,” Bear added.
Bear was right. Jane’s temper could ignite quicker than dry leaves.
“I wasn’t keeping it from her. I planned to talk to her after I had reached a decision. Until I knew for a certainty that I wanted to go, there was no point in worrying her about it. Besides, she’ll support what I want to do,” he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He admitted to himself that he should have raised the possibility with her before now, but the right moment never seemed to present itself.
“We’d best wait out here and have a smoke before dinner,” Sam said.
Bear quickly nodded his agreement.
“Cowards,” Stephen muttered. He swallowed hard, then turned toward the house.
CHAPTER 9
A s Stephen reached his porch, the aroma of the cooking meal greeted him, but did little to stimulate his lack of appetite. He heard the girls playing upstairs, laughing now. Again, he thanked God silently for sparing his daughters.
Jane swung the door open, about to toss out some dishwater, and nearly collided with him.
“Then we would turn southwest on The Great Indian Warpath, taking us through southern Pennsylvania, the eastern edge of the frontier. After that, we’d continue south through Virginia all the way to Bristol. At that point, we’ll pass through the Cumberland Gap and head north into Kentucky. I don’t know much about the route after that, but we can find out more from the locals.”
“How soon do we leave?” Bear asked.
“We can’t ask you to go,” Stephen said. “This is our problem and I don’t expect you to leave everything behind.”
“Ye did na ask me. I want to make the trip. I did some thinkin’ on my way here about our conversation at the tavern. I decided that I wanted to go with you if you went west. Your family is my only family. Your problems are my problems,” Bear said.
Stephen had known for a long time that Bear felt that way. As a young man, Bear had traveled from Scotland to the colonies with his father and mother, but both parents died in route on the ship. Buried at sea, they left their orphan son a modest sum of money. With no family in the colonies, Bear had become a hunter and trapper, using the skills his grandfather had taught him as a boy in the Scottish highlands to rid the area of the threat of predators.Stephen’s father befriended the young man, often buying fresh meat from him for his large family. Their mother would insist that he stay with them from time to time to attend church and receive schooling with her own boys. They had both been like parents to Bear.
“Besides, there’ll be more bear for me to hunt there. These woods are gettin’ picked over, are they not?”
“Sam and I would welcome your help. Then it is settled. You’ll join us, of course.” Stephen closed the barn door. Had he just closed the door on his old life?
They started back towards the house.
“But what about Jane? Is she of a mind to leave?” Bear asked. “If I know her, she’ll na let Bomazeen run her from her fine house.”
“Indeed. In fact, she’s so stubborn she would probably stay just to prove he couldn’t. Before this happened, I wanted her to feel the same way I do about the Kentucky. I didn’t want her to go out of loyalty to me.”
“Does she?” Sam asked.
“I haven’t asked her yet,” Stephen begrudgingly admitted, rubbing the stubble on his chin.
Sam and Bear, both looking incredulous, stared at Stephen, making him feel more than a little foolish.
“How could you have gone this far in your thinking without talking with her?” Sam asked.
“You’re asking for a storm by keeping this from her,” Bear added.
Bear was right. Jane’s temper could ignite quicker than dry leaves.
“I wasn’t keeping it from her. I planned to talk to her after I had reached a decision. Until I knew for a certainty that I wanted to go, there was no point in worrying her about it. Besides, she’ll support what I want to do,” he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He admitted to himself that he should have raised the possibility with her before now, but the right moment never seemed to present itself.
“We’d best wait out here and have a smoke before dinner,” Sam said.
Bear quickly nodded his agreement.
“Cowards,” Stephen muttered. He swallowed hard, then turned toward the house.
CHAPTER 9
A s Stephen reached his porch, the aroma of the cooking meal greeted him, but did little to stimulate his lack of appetite. He heard the girls playing upstairs, laughing now. Again, he thanked God silently for sparing his daughters.
Jane swung the door open, about to toss out some dishwater, and nearly collided with him.
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