Frontier Gift of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 5) (40 page)

When she clung to him, muffling her cries of pleasure against his shoulder, he reminded himself to be gentle and easy. He didn’t want to hurt her or make her uncomfortable.

As their bodies linked in exquisite harmony, she breathed in deep lungfuls of air. He felt love flow within her like warm honey and he couldn’t keep from moaning aloud with delight. Yet, he was careful not to yield to the full fury of his passion. He continued to love her gently, remaining sensitive to her recently healed body. Yet, her ardor was surprisingly unrestrained. It was also touchingly tender at the same time. She seemed to sense how much he needed her—how much he’d missed their coupling.

He paused to kiss her again and then whispered, “I love you,” as she
said it to him at the same time.

Later that evening, Sam played with Little John, the other children, and two frisky puppies for some time. Afterwards, he sat in his chair in front of the hearth thinking through how he would tell Catherine about her father. There just wasn’t a way to make what he had to say any easier. He needed to just tell her. It was time to find Catherine.

He found her humming a soothing cradlesong as she put Rory down for a nap. When she finished, he took her to the small space at the back of the house that he used for an office.

He liked the cozy room that smelled of his tobacco and the pipe he still smoked there occasionally. The medal George Washington awarded him was displayed on one wall and the fine-looking hide of a mountain lion hung on the other wall. Preferring to be outdoors, he normally only spent enough time in his office to keep up with the books for the farm. Although sometimes, he would use the quiet room for reading as well. A pine bookcase that he had built held some of his favorite books, including one by Daniel Boone. It was the only place the two of them would be guaranteed complete privacy and quiet.

He shut the door and motioned for her to take a seat.

“What is it, Sam? You have me worried,” she said.

“Unfortunately, this will probably worry you a lot more.” He filled her in on the conversations that first William and then he had with Dixon. He spared no details, wanting her to have the full picture. She listened attentively and quietly, her face never registering emotion or alarm.

When he was through, he paused and asked, “Are you all right?”

“Sam, I dealt with my father for many many years. I’m fine.”

“I have no idea how much of what Dixon says is true.”

“None of this comes as a surprise to me,” she said, “in fact, I’m sorry to say, it sounds typical of him.”

Sam felt a twinge of relief. At least she wasn’t shocked. But he could hear what sounded like a permanent sorrow in her voice.

“I want to go see him,” he said. “I want him to know what kind of man I am. I want your mother to know the letters you wrote were your own words. I also want him to know I will never allow him take what’s rightfully yours.”

Catherine steepled her hands and rubbed her chin against her fingers, thinking. After a moment, she settled back in her chair. “Sam, as you know, when my husband was killed, I was afraid to go back to Boston. That’s why I came to Kentucky with your family. The thought of going back home terrified me because I feared my dominating father. A child should never have to fear a parent, but I did.”

She took a deep breath and continued. “Because of you, I am no longer afraid. I’m married now, with a child of my own. Perhaps it’s time for me to face up to him. To let him know that I have a life and it’s entirely mine—not his. And my fortune, here and in England, is entirely ours—yours and mine—not his.” She paused and then continued, her voice calm and determined. “I would be willing to help him financially, if he asked. But I will not allow him to simply take.”

“Nor should you,” Sam agreed.

Catherine straightened her back. “You and I can let him know what kind of man you really are, if that’s important to you. But what’s important to me is that I
know
what kind of man you are. When we met, you didn’t have a lot of wealth to your name because you spent most of your young life serving your country and then your family. But you are rich in so many other, far more important, ways. Your mental and physical strength, your integrity, your principles, that’s what makes me love you so. I also love your intelligence, your ability to lead men, and your love of family, as evidenced by your willingness to take care of Little John when his father died. Those are the kinds of things that make you who you are, Sam. My father has wealth and power, but he lacks everything you have.”

Sam’s gaze clouded with moisture. Her words touched his very soul.
He swallowed his emotions and grasped her hand. “I don’t deserve you.”

She looked back at him, eyes intense and gleaming. “Don’t you ever say that again! You deserve me, Little John, Rory, this wonderful home and stunning land. You are blessed so richly because you gave so much of yourself for others for so long. And you still do. You are an amazing husband. You way you love me, and my body, is astonishing—sometimes I think no other woman in the world has ever been loved this well. The way you’re protective without being overly protective. The way you listen to not just what I think, but what other women think as well. I don’t give a flip what my father thinks, and I look forward to telling him all that and more. It’s past time he learned what a husband is actually supposed to be like. I feel sorry for my mother because she’s never known the kind of love I know. You’ve given me the most precious thing a woman could ever receive—true forever love.”

Astounded at the depth and passion of her feelings, Sam couldn’t speak. So he stood and hauled her into his embrace. He wanted to tell her so much, just as eloquently as she had spoken to him. He knew of only one way to do that. He placed a hand behind her head, and spoke with his heart.

When he reluctantly pulled his lips from hers, he let them linger against her mouth for a moment, treasuring the tender affection they just shared.

She laid her head against his chest and locked her arms around his waist. “Sam, you’re my hero. And always will be.”

He wanted to say something, but he decided he wouldn’t, not yet. Because what flashed through his mind was what he wanted his last words on earth to be. He would tell Catherine,
you gave me the gift of love
.

With their lives so richly blessed and a world of possibilities ahead of them, he would instead focus on the future and his growing family. It was not only a new year, it was a new century, on a new frontier, in a new country.

And he had a new son!

Another gift of love.

We hope you enjoyed reading

American Wilderness Series Romances Book Five

FRONTIER GIFT OF LOVE

Thank you for selecting my novel to read. If you enjoyed reading this book, I would be honored if you would share your thoughts with your friends. Regardless of whether you are reading print or electronic versions, I’d be extremely grateful if you posted a short review on the book’s page on
Amazon.com
. This is so helpful to both authors and readers.

My other novels are listed below. Please visit
www.dorothywiley.com
for the release date for new books or follow me on Amazon at
www.amazon.com/author/dorothywiley
. Thanks for your support!

All the best,

Dorothy

Other Titles by Dorothy Wiley

Book One

WILDERNESS TRAIL OF LOVE

The story of Stephen and Jane

Book Two

NEW FRONTIER OF LOVE

The story of Sam and Catherine

Book Three

WHISPERING HILLS OF LOVE

The story of William and Kelly

Book Four

FRONTIER HIGHLANDER VOW OF LOVE

The story of Bear and Artis

And coming in 2016 -
Book Six

About the Author

Amazon best-selling novelist Dorothy Wiley is the author of five books, including her highly acclaimed debut novel
Wilderness Trail of Love
, the first in her American Wilderness Series Romances.

Called a “deft new writer of intelligent romantic fiction,” Wiley enjoys writing action-packed romantic adventures set in the late 18th-century American wilderness. Her books celebrate the rich historical heritage of the frontier and the courageous settlers who shaped America.

Like Wiley’s compelling heroes, who from the onset make it clear they will not fail despite the adversities they face, this author is likewise destined for success. In 2014 and 2015, her novels won five awards, notably an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-finalist, a Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal, and a Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choice. Her books continue to earn five-star ratings from readers and high praise from reviewers.

The daughter of a talented artist, Wiley inherited her father’s creativity. Raised in southern California, she attended college at The University of Texas in Austin, Texas. She graduated with honors, receiving a bachelor of journalism, and grew to dearly love both Texas and a 7th generation Texan, her husband Larry Wiley. Her husband’s courageous ancestors, very early pioneers of Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas, provided the inspiration for her novels.

After a distinguished career in corporate marketing and public relations, she is living her dream—writing historical romances. On their ranch in central Texas, Wiley is currently at work on a new book.

Follow Dorothy Wiley on Amazon
www.amazon.com/author/dorothywiley
.

To see trailers for each of her books, enter Dorothy Wiley in YouTube’s search box or go to
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE7DLH6XkByxWPJewaud45Q

Wiley’s official author website is
www.dorothywiley.com

She would enjoy connecting with you through social media at:

Facebook
:
Dora May Wiley

Twitter
:
@WileyDorothy

Goodreads.com:
Dorothy Wiley

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:
Dorothy M. Wiley

Acknowledgments

Although this is a fictionalized story, the heroic stories of America’s pioneers must be remembered! By remembering, we express our gratitude for their sacrifices. We owe our country to America’s daring and brave first-wave pioneers. Their hard fought struggles for a place in the vast wilderness gave us the majestic country we enjoy today.

One of the most difficult trials for pioneer women was childbirth. Many things could go wrong. My own son was breech and I experienced the same pain that Catherine describes—his head pressing against my right ribs. Fortunately, after a Caesarian, my beautiful baby was delivered safely. Today, some physicians will attempt to reposition a breech baby by manipulating the mother’s abdomen. There are several videos on YouTube that describe this procedure. So, not only was it possible in Catherine’s time, it could have been a life-saving option. Caesarian deliveries did occur during those times, though rarely and typically only to save the baby’s life.

I would like to thank my patient husband (also my muse) and my dear talented sister for their help in polishing and formatting this manuscript. I love you both so much and thank you for your continued faith in me. And my thanks to my fellow author and friend Deborah Gafford, a wonderful writer, for her suggestions and support. If you get a chance, check out her books at
www.amazon.com/author/deborahgafford
. Also, my thanks to designer Erin Dameron-Hill, the artist who created the stunning covers for all five of my novels.

And finally, and very importantly, a huge thank you to all my loyal readers. I am so grateful for each and every one of you. I especially want to thank those of you who took the time to write such kind reviews on Amazon. They truly inspire me! And your reviews help other readers find and enjoy my books. Your ratings and reviews, no matter whether they are just a couple of words or several paragraphs, are enormously appreciated.