Whispering Hills of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 3) by Dorothy Wiley Read Free Book Online Page A

took the stairs two at a time.
    After throwing her few things into her bag, she hurried down the stairs. She wanted to say goodbye to the children, but theywere nowhere in sight. “Can I at least say goodbye to the children and Mister Wolfe?” she asked when she nearly ran into Mrs. Wolfe in the parlor.
    “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