Frontier Gift of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 5) by Dorothy Wiley Read Free Book Online

bringing trouble, we might be needed.”
    “Aye. Ye’re right. Either ye or I should leave at once,” Bear suggested.
    “I can’t leave because I have to train Wallace for at least a couple of days and introduce him around before I’d feel comfortable leaving the town in his hands.”
    “Aye. I’ll gladly go,” Bear said. “Artis can travel with ye, Kelly, and her father.” He hated the idea of being separated from his new wife for even a day, but Sam, Catherine, and Little John might have trouble on their hands. And if they did, he wanted to get there as soon as he could. He’d always been protective of his brothers. He did not intend to stop now.
    “That sounds like a sound plan.” William stood and studied the calendar hanging on his office wall. “It’s Saturday, December 17. You can leave right away. I’ll train Wallace and then leave Tuesday the 20 th . We’ll spend the night at Fort Logan. That should get us to Sam’s place by late in the day on Wednesday, the 21 st , four days before Christmas.”
    “‘Tis settled then. I’ll leave as soon as possible. Promise me ye’ll check on Artis every mornin’ and each evenin’ on yer way to and from town. It should take ye only a few minutes since it is right on yer way.”
    “It would be my pleasure to do so,” William said. “But perhaps she’d rather come stay with Kelly and me. After what she went through last month, she might be reluctant to stay at your place alone.”
    “Perhaps yer right. I’ll suggest that to her.”
    “I’ll stop by on my way home to see what Artis decided.”
    “My thanks. I just bought these Christmas presents for Little John,” he said pointing to the packages sitting by the door. “Would ye mind takin’ them home with ye and then bring them in yer wagon when ye leave for Sam’s? Perhaps Kelly could help Artis pick out presents for Stephen’s girls and yer little Nicole. Or if they can na, could ye?”
    “Sure. I always wanted to play Father Christmas.”
    “Father Christmas is a merry ol’ man. Yer merry without a doubt and I do see a wee bit of gray there around yer big ears, but yer still far from lookin’ like an old man.”
    “Then we’ll just have to ask Sam to do it,” William suggested, laughing.
    Bear chuckled. “For yer sake, I will na tell him ye said that. By the way, yer new deputy seems impressive.”
    “Thank God he came to me looking for a position. I was beginning to run myself ragged trying to keep up with all my duties here in town and at home. Kelly keeps both her father and me busy. There’s nary a spare moment for amusement anymore.”
    “Nonetheless, ye would na trade yer life with Kelly at Whispering Hills for anythin’ would ye?”
    “Nope. I’ve never been so content.”
    “I feel the same.” Bear stood to leave. “Do na forget to introduce Wallace to Lucky McGintey. He might need the old man’s sage advice. No one knows Boonesborough as well as Lucky.” Both Bear and William considered the aging hunter and long-time companion of Daniel Boone to be a good friend. More than once, Lucky’s luck had rubbed off on them.
    “That’s an excellent suggestion,” William said.
    “Before I leave for home, I’ll find Lucky and ask him to keep an eye on both our places and feed the stock for us while we’re gone. I do na think he’ll mind.”
    “We can show our appreciation with a nice bottle of brandy when we get back,” William suggested.
    “Aye, the old boy would like that.”
    “Bear, promise me you’ll stay safe on your journey.” From his sun-toughened face, William leveled concerned eyes on Bear.
    “Aye. That I will do. Ye do the same.”

Chapter 4
    Wyllie Cattle Farm, Kentucky, Friday, 16 December, 1799
    S tephen Wyllie’ s chest swelled with pride as he surveyed his herd of cattle. When they left New Hampshire more than two years ago, he brought an outstanding young bull and his two best heifers with him. The bull had bred both twice since then, and