Frontier Gift of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 5) (7 page)

Stephen couldn’t keep from laughing and lifted his son into his arms. Samuel wrapped his little arms around Stephen’s neck. “He’s getting heavier and taller,” he told Jane. “Don’t you think he’s big for his age?” Stephen’s chest swelled a little with pride once again.

“I suspect he’s going to take after his Uncle Sam,” Jane said. “In more ways than one.”

That suited Stephen just fine. He respected no man more than his brother, Sam.

Chapter 5

Highland Farm, near Boonesborough, Kentucky
,
Saturday, 17 December, 1799

B
ear dreaded telling Artis that he needed to leave. She would not be pleased. He urged his horse Camel from a walk to a trot as he started out on the road to his home—Highland Farm. He didn’t want to make his horse gallop because Camel would have a long day ahead of him. Bear planned to leave as soon as possible and ride the rest of the day and into the night.

He knew the way to Sam’s place well, having made the journey several times in the last two years. So traveling at night would not be a problem for him. This time of year, he preferred it to sleeping on cold ground.

The last time he made the trek, he’d set out for Boonesborough at the request of Colonel Logan to represent Fort Logan at a special meeting called by the Governor. Even before Logan asked him to attend the meeting, he had come to the realization that it was time for him to leave Sam and Catherine’s place and find a wife. Never in his wildest dreams would he have expected to find a woman as special and wonderful as Artis. Perfect for him, he loved her beyond measure.

Like him, Artis grew up in the Highlands of Scotland, but when a man named Steller murdered her mother and set fire to her village, fate forced her into indentured servitude on a Virginia plantation. Seven years later,
she received her freedom dues—land in Kentucky. The very land they lived on now.

As Bear neared Highland, it struck him once again just how beautiful their home was, especially now with patches of snow sprinkled here and there among the hardwoods and evergreens. And he recently bought the mostly cleared acreage adjoining their land to use as a side pasture for grazing the horses they would raise.

A born horsewoman, Artis adored her stallion, Glasgow, given to her by her former employer, a Virginia plantation owner. She’d named the horse after the city in Scotland from which both she and Bear, at different points in their lives, departed to sail for the colonies. During her seven-year indenture, she had helped to groom, train, and race the horse. Using the spectacular stallion as a stud would start their herd very well.

As he rode up, Bear watched the prized stallion graze on winter grass in the new side pasture beside Artis’ other horse, a good-looking mare she’d named Beautiful. He should have asked William to keep an eye on the horses too. But knowing his conscientious brother, William would anyway.

Glasgow glanced up and whinnied at Camel. The gelding lifted his head and nickered back at his pasture buddy. The mare continued to graze, paying no heed to Camel.

“I wish I could let ye out to graze with yer friend, Glasgow,” he told Camel, “but we need to go check on Sam and his family.”

He rode to their new stable and after dismounting gave the horse a generous portion of feed. Camel would need plenty of energy for their journey. Bear didn’t bother to unsaddle. He could pack in no time and be on his way shortly.

Unless, Artis tempted him beyond his control and lured him into their bed as she often did. Nay, he could not afford to delay—even for that.

As he entered through the back door, he called out to her. “Artis.”

“Back so soon? I thought ye said ye were goin’ to be in town most of
the day.”

“Aye, I was. Then I learned that three suspicious strangers are headin’ for Sam’s place. The three left Boonesborough yesterday.”

“What do ye intend?”

“I’m leaving at once. I need to be sure Sam and his family are all right.”

“Leaving?”

“Aye. There might be trouble. And if there is, I intend to be there. Ye can stay here at Highland if ye like, but I’d prefer ye to stay with Kelly and William for the next three days. They plan to leave early on the 20
^th
and ye can travel with them.”

“Bloody hell. I will na stay here. ‘Tis a shoddy plan ye’ve come up with.”

“I did na ask ye to stay here. I asked ye to stay with William and Kelly.”

“I meant I’m going with ye!” she declared.

“Artis, I need to travel fast,” he protested.

“Do ye think my Glasgow is na fast enough?”

“Aye, of course he is. I’ve na seen faster.”

“Then ye must be thinkin’ ‘tis I who could na keep up with ye!” She crossed her arms in front of her and shot him a penetrating stare.

“I know ye could for a while, my love. But I’ll be travelin’ the rest of the day and most of the night at a hard pace.”

Her face flushed and her eyes flashed in anger. “Hmph. Do ye forget I worked as a plantation laborer for the last seven years? I’m na some pampered noblewoman!” Her voice rang with indignation.

He gently clamped his fingers onto her shoulders and looked into her fiery green eyes. “Artis, love, I know well how strong ye are.”
And beautiful too
, he thought. Even when her temper flared. Perhaps especially when her temper flared because it made her green eyes sparkle like jewels. “However, I might be ridin’ into danger and ye’ve had more than yer share
of perils of late.”

“Aye, ‘tis true enough. But I vowed to remain by yer side in both good and bad times. And that I will do!”

Bear could see he stood little chance of convincing her to remain here without him. Still he hesitated. He’d vowed to protect her for the rest of her life. “Artis. I ask ye to reconsider this.”

“Nay, I will na. Whatever dangers we face, we face together. I feel safer with ye than with anyone.” She kissed the tip of her forefinger and then pressed it against his lips. “Besides, I do na think I could bear to be separated from ye, even for a few days, my big red-haired Bear.”

He reached for her and hauled her against his chest. “Then ye must promise me ye’ll be careful and do exactly as I say. I’ve spent many years in the wild and ye must listen to me always if ye’re to stay safe.”

“Aye, I’ll listen Bear. Ye can be sure of that.”

Reluctantly, he released her. Since there was no talking the woman out of it, he decided they should leave at early dawn instead. He didn’t want to risk Glasgow stumbling in the dark and Artis taking a fall. “Ye know, I think we should leave at dawn. We can travel faster and safer in the daylight. We can pack our bags tonight.”

“Aye, that does sound wiser.”

“I’ll go get Glasgow from the pasture and get him fed and stalled and unsaddle Camel. Will ye pack up our bags and enough food and coffee for at least three days?” He believed in always taking at least an extra day of provisions in case of unforeseen delays. “I’ll only need my spare buckskins. Oh, and perhaps my nice clothes for the Christmas or New Year celebrations. And my clan badge, of course.”

“Of course. Should I bring anythin’ else?”

“Blankets for sleepin’ a wee bit. I do na want to stop at Fort Logan for the night. I’ll want to press on until dark. And take yer dirk and pistol.”

“Will it na be cold sleepin’ on the ground this time of year?”

“We’ll build a nice fire and take but a short rest. And, of course, ye’ll have me big body to keep ye warm.”

“Aye, ye’re warmer than any fire,” she said, with a smile.

“’Tis ye that makes me so, wife,” he said. He strode toward the door to retrieve Glasgow, but stopped and turned around. “Oh, I asked William to stop by to check on ye on the way home. He should be here soon. When he does, I’ll let him know ye decided to come with me. And after William’s family leaves, Lucky McGintey will stop by to check on our places and feed the stock for us.”

“Did you tell him to take good care of Beautiful?” she asked.

“Aye. Your mare’s in good hands with Lucky.”

As he hurried toward the pasture, Bear’s heart beat faster than normal with both anticipation and foreboding. Hopefully, nothing would be amiss with the strangers and their trip would just mean he would see his family sooner than planned. Most of all, he couldn’t wait to wrap his arms around his nephew, Little John, and give the lad a huge hug.

Artis hastily closed and latched all the shutters and then locked and barred the front door, since Bear always came in the back door. In no time, she finished packing the bags she’d set on their bearskin covered bed, cramming as many clothes and toiletries into the traveling cases as she could fit. After she dressed in the morning, she would need to remember her brush, comb, and silver hair clasp too. With her long wavy hair, forgetting those would be a disaster.

News of the strangers disturbed her too, but perhaps ‘twas all a misunderstanding and they posed no threat to Sam or his family. She prayed it would be so.

She couldn’t wait to meet Bear’s oldest brother. After all the stories she had heard Bear tell of his brother, a former captain in the Continental Army, she realized how much Sam meant to Bear. And, how much he admired Sam for his bravery and high standards.

Bear described Catherine as an elegant, nearly regal woman who loved fashion and fine things—far different from Artis. She owned only one truly fine article of clothing—her wedding dress—and she wasn’t about to stuff that beautiful gown into the little bag. Generally, she preferred plain gowns and sturdy boots, but she recently purchased a fashionable but simple royal blue gown and matching slippers that she thought would work for Christmas. She added two of her plain everyday gowns. They would just have to do until she found the time to have more new gowns made. For traveling, she laid out her olive green riding habit because it was her most comfortable.

When she could think of nothing else to pack, she sat their bags on the floor against the wall and smoothed out the bearskin blanket covering their bed. Just last night, Bear had made love to her beneath that warm haven for their passion. Her face warmed with the memory of the ecstasy of being wrapped in his strong arms and the way he’d made her cry out in pleasure. He was so gentle, loving, and tender. Yet each time they made love, he released a fury of intense lust and fervent feelings that burst from deep within her.

And, when needed, he could also release an entirely different kind of fury on an enemy. Shortly after they were married, she had witnessed that terrible ferocity first hand.

She hoped she would never have to see it again.

Bear woke Artis with a kiss. “Time to rise my love.”

She opened her eyes to a room still dark, without even a hint of dawn. Excited about their first trip together, Artis didn’t mind the early hour and came instantly awake.

After quickly dressing, Bear left to go saddle both horses.

While he was gone, she washed up, brushed and secured her long hair with her silver clasp, and tugged her woolen hose over her cold toes. After securing the warm stockings with garters, she donned her riding habit over
her shift and pulled on her leather boots. Then she attached the sheaths for her dirk and pistol to her wide leather belt, strapped it on, and stuck the weapons in place. She slipped the strap for the bag containing her powder and ball over her head and beneath her hair. Next, she grabbed the gold wool traveling coat that Bear bought for her recently. It would be warm, practical, and durable. And the vented back of the coat allowed movability, always desirable when riding a powerful steed.

She was ready. For what, exactly, she didn’t know. But she guessed it would be an exciting adventure. She loved the thought of that. As long as she was with Bear, she would be happy.

Carrying her traveling coat, brown leather gloves, and her favorite dark green bonnet, Artis hurried to the kitchen. Setting the warm clothing aside, she found a sack to put their food in. She included a miniature pot of butter, four apples, and a half-block of cheese. After wrapping it in a towel, she added a bottle of wine. She didn’t want to arrive empty handed. After all, it was a Christmas celebration. Lastly, she tossed in the two large loaves of bread she had baked yesterday afternoon. She smiled, pleased that she had finally mastered how to make a decent loaf of bread.