Whispering Hills of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 3) (33 page)

“It was a spectacular experience. Do you suppose we could have conceived a child? It was truly that special.” They had never discussed parenthood but the possibility thrilled him.

“No,” she said simply.

“No?”

“No,” she repeated, her face a mysterious mask.

He couldn’t understand. “Do you have some womanly problem you’ve never told me about?”

“No, she said again, this time with a coy look on her face.

Then her lovely eyes started to shine with moisture and her almost lustrous face blushed.

Did she not want children? “Then why?”

“Because you cannot conceive when you are already with child.”

He stood and nearly knocked the table over. Dishes clattered and one of the candles tipped over. He quickly reached for it, setting it aright. His suddenly buoyant heart felt like it had jumped out of his chest. He threw his napkin down, the rest of his dinner forgotten.

Breathless, he gawked at her, letting her news sink in. For a moment or two, they just stared at each other, too overcome with emotions to do anything else. Her eyes sparkled like the sun bouncing off glassy blue water. She held her hands together, as if praying, waiting for him to respond. When he was finally able to breathe, a smile broke across his face.

Intense satisfaction shone through her eyes and her grin broadened.

Joy bubbled out of him into a laugh and then he hollered with pleasure, feeling the glory of the moment. He’d been wrong earlier. It was possible for him to be happier than he’d been just moments ago. In fact, he was so overjoyed he felt like singing, humming, whistling, playing his fiddle, all at once. Or skipping, leaping, running, shouting, bouncing on his toes—anything to express his overwhelming pleasure.

He picked Riley up by his paws and danced with the young dog, who barked joyfully.

Kelly sat back in her chair and watched with smug delight, laughing.

He tried to find his voice, to invite her to dance with them, but couldn’t. Deciding a hug was more in order anyway, he held his arms out wide, and went to her. He wrapped his arms around her in an embrace so heartfelt that it heated the clothing between them.

Feeling exhilarated and light-hearted, he lifted her straight up, and twirled her in a circle.

She looked down at him with a brilliant smile.

He finally found his voice as he sat her feet on the floor. “I’m going to be a Papa!”

“He’ll be calling you Papa Sheriff.”

“He’ll? Maybe she’ll be calling me Papa Sheriff,” he said, elated by either possibility, and hearing his voice crack a little.

Joyful tears filled his eyes as he held his wife and child tightly against his heart.

Life is a beautiful thing.

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR

Like her compelling heroes, who from the outset make it clear they will not fail despite the adversities they face, this author is likewise destined for success. Called a “deft new writer of intelligent romantic fiction,” award-winning historical romance author Dorothy Wiley enjoys writing big, action-packed romantic adventures set in the American wilderness when it was still a frontier. In her exciting American Wilderness Series Romances, Wiley breaches the walls of time, bringing readers to a young America, where romance and danger are as powerful as the wilderness.

Readers describe Wiley’s writing as fresh, unblinkingly gritty, and highly enjoyable with well-portrayed characters. In 2014, her first romance novel, WILDERNESS TRAIL OF LOVE, was a Central Florida Romance Writers of America Touch of Magic Finalist and her second book, NEW FRONTIER OF LOVE, was selected as an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarterfinalist. WHISPERING HILLS OF LOVE is a finalist in the 2015 BookBzz's Prize Writer Competition.

Wiley received a Bachelor of Journalism degree, with Honors, from The University of Texas. After a distinguished 35-year corporate career in marketing and public relations, she is living her dream—writing historical romances.

She would enjoy connecting with you:

Website:
http://www.dorothywiley.com

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Dorothy M. Wiley

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We hope you enjoyed reading

Book Three

of the American Wilderness Series Romances

WHISPERING HIILLS OF LOVE

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

Coming soon…

Book Four

The story of Bear and ? We will just have to see what happens.

Please tell your friends...

Thank you for reading my novel. 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, if you particularly liked the experience of reading William and Kelly’s story, I’d be extremely grateful if you posted a review on
http://www.Amazon.com
. Just enter WHISPERING HILLS OF LOVE in Amazon’s search box and it will take you to the correct page. Then just scroll down on the page where you can write a customer review.

Please visit
www.dorothywiley.com
for the release date for the fourth book in the series. Thanks for your support.

All the best,

Dorothy

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

As I did in the first two books of the series, I would like to thank the daring and brave first-wave pioneers of early America. Their hard fought struggles for a place in the vast wilderness gave us the majestic country we enjoy today. Their stories must be remembered. Although this is a completely fictionalized and romanticized story, it still reflects some of the many challenges our ancestors faced. My husband’s brave ancestors, who actually did travel through the frontier and eventually became some of Texas’ earliest settlers, inspired this series of novels. There are many stories I would like to write about those amazing journeys and their life on America’s frontier.

Secondly, I would like to thank my husband (also my muse) and my wonderful sister for their help in polishing this manuscript. Thanks 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.

Third, my thanks to my cover designer Erin Dameron-Hill whose creative talent transformed my vision for the books’ covers into a beautiful reality.