Wilderness Trail of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 1) (8 page)

“Aye, I did say that.”

“And you were right as rain,” Sam said. “Now it’s even more
right.”

Stephen scrubbed his fingers across his tired eyes and gritty face. Lack of sleep made it difficult to think clearly. Had they considered everything? One thing still bothered him. “What will keep them from following us?”

“If they did, I think they would only follow as far as the Merrimack River. Once we cross at Manchester, we should be safe. Natives are rarely seen past there,” Sam said. “After we cross the Merrimack, we’ll turn south towards Springfield. Of course, we could go to Pittsburgh and then take a flatboat down the Ohio, but we would be unable to take much with us. I think we would be better off going over land so we’d have more provisions when we get to Kentucky. This way, we can take food, tools, extra horses and a few of your best cattle.”

Stephen knew that for Sam a trip to Kentucky would be a glorious adventure, despite the dangers. Sam often talked about moving on. Most of the area’s tribes had relocated to Canada or high into the White Mountains and life did not challenge him as it once had. Since the Revolution, Sam made his living as a hunter, tracker, and sometimes a mapmaker. The work provided a reasonable livelihood, but he could tell it did not light a fire in Sam’s soul. The fire within his big brother was cold, smothered by some buried pain Sam refused to acknowledge, even to him.

Stephen gently stroked George’s face and scratched under his forelock. Touching his horse made him feel somewhat calmer.

“I agree, and a wagon will provide shelter for the children. After Springfield, where would we head?” Stephen asked Sam, already anxious to plan the trip. Sam had studied maps all his life and would know the route to Kentucky from memory.

“South through Hartford towards New York, then Philadelphia, skirting around larger cities as much as we can.”

This was no surprise. Sam hated large cities, especially Philadelphia with more than 30,000 people and New York with some 25,000. He’d often said these bustling places made him feel like he couldn’t think clearly. Cities held too many distractions and too much potential for trouble. The few times business or the need for supplies forced Sam into a large city, he got in and out as quickly as possible.

“Then we would turn southwest on The Great Indian Warpath, taking us through southern Pennsylvania, the eastern edge of the frontier. After that, we’d continue south through Virginia all the way to Bristol. At that point, we’ll pass through the Cumberland Gap and head north into Kentucky. I don’t know much about the route after that, but we can find out more from the locals.”

“How soon do we leave?” Bear asked.

“We can’t ask you to go,” Stephen said. “This is our problem and I don’t expect you to leave everything behind.”

“Ye did na ask me. I want to make the trip. I did some thinkin’ on my way here about our conversation at the tavern. I decided that I wanted to go with you if you went west. Your family is my only family. Your problems are my problems,” Bear said.

Stephen had known for a long time that Bear felt that way. As a young man, Bear had traveled from Scotland to the colonies with his father and mother, but both parents died in route on the ship. Buried at sea, they left their orphan son a modest sum of money. With no family in the colonies, Bear had become a hunter and trapper, using the skills his grandfather had taught him as a boy in the Scottish highlands to rid the area of the threat of predators.
Stephen’s father befriended the young man, often buying fresh meat from him for his large family. Their mother would insist that he stay with them from time to time to attend church and receive schooling with her own boys. They had both been like parents to Bear.

“Besides, there’ll be more bear for me to hunt there. These woods are gettin’ picked over, are they not?”

“Sam and I would welcome your help. Then it is settled. You’ll join us, of course.” Stephen closed the barn door. Had he just closed the door on his old life?

They started back towards the house.

“But what about Jane? Is she of a mind to leave?” Bear asked. “If I know her, she’ll na let Bomazeen run her from her fine house.”

“Indeed. In fact, she’s so stubborn she would probably stay just to prove he couldn’t. Before this happened, I wanted her to feel the same way I do about the Kentucky. I didn’t want her to go out of loyalty to me.”

“Does she?” Sam asked.

“I haven’t asked her yet,” Stephen begrudgingly admitted, rubbing the stubble on his chin.

Sam and Bear, both looking incredulous, stared at Stephen, making him feel more than a little foolish.

“How could you have gone this far in your thinking without talking with her?” Sam asked.

“You’re asking for a storm by keeping this from her,” Bear added.

Bear was right. Jane’s temper could ignite quicker than dry leaves.

“I wasn’t keeping it from her. I planned to talk to her after I had reached a decision. Until I knew for a certainty that I wanted to go, there was no point in worrying her about it. Besides, she’ll support what I want to do,” he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He admitted to himself that he should have raised the possibility with her before now, but the right moment never seemed to present itself.

“We’d best wait out here and have a smoke before dinner,” Sam said.

Bear quickly nodded his agreement.

“Cowards,” Stephen muttered. He swallowed hard, then turned toward the house.

CHAPTER 9

A
s Stephen reached his porch, the aroma of the cooking meal greeted him, but did little to stimulate his lack of appetite. He heard the girls playing upstairs, laughing now. Again, he thanked God silently for sparing his daughters.

Jane swung the door open, about to toss out some dishwater, and nearly collided with him. She studied his eyes, but said nothing, then stepped back, letting him take the dirty water before turning back inside.

He pitched the water and stepped back on the porch. “Give me the right words,” he whispered aloud.

His boot crushed a tiny broken piece of Jane’s teacup and the feel of it against his boot sole, made him bite down hard on his lower lip, trying to keep his anger in check.

He watched Jane bustle about her kitchen making stew and biscuits, enough to feed three hungry men, growing girls, and her own healthy appetite. The recipe, used by her family for generations, was one of his favorites and equally good for all kinds of game. As she peeled wild garlic and potatoes, he slid his arms around her waist and gently pressed his lips to the back of her head.
She tilted her head forward and he pushed her long hair aside to softly kiss the back of her neck until he felt her quiver.

“That’s what I needed,” she said, and sank back against his embrace.

Stephen managed a slight smile. Jane’s obvious physical reaction to his affection warmed his heart, making him even more determined to protect her.

He turned her around to face him and tenderly traced the line of her jaw. “Jane, I am so grateful that you were able to protect yourself and our girls. I’m proud of your courage. But unfortunately, that was not the end of danger.”

“Why?” She stared at him, her eyes wide with concern.

He hesitated and swallowed hard, searching for courage. “Sam tracked Bomazeen. The devil headed toward the Pennacook village in the mountains, but tracking him is next to impossible and he had a long head start. The tribe will probably heal his wound. But you also wounded his pride. That won’t heal. He’ll come back and try again.”

Jane unclenched her fist and put the kitchen knife down. “Stephen, I admit this was a close call, too close. This event shook us all, but you must have faith that God will keep us from harm.”

She moved to the table and lit some candles, brightening the room considerably, but not Stephen’s mood.

“It’s not that simple. Savages have butchered many people of faith,” he said.

“Then we’ll be ready for them. Men around here have fought the natives before. What’s different now? I know you’re not afraid of them.”

“The difference is that in the past they only stole horses or cattle during a raid. But now they’re stealing women, and Bomazeen wants to capture
you
. The natives need wives to replace their women who died from smallpox and they need slaves to tend crops. Bear says they have started raiding again from here to Canada. Bomazeen is helping them. It is nearly impossible to rescue a woman or child once stolen. One of the girls stolen recently, Lucy, was just sixteen.” Stephen almost choked on the words. He pitied the poor young woman. His heart twisted in his chest when he thought about how close Jane and Martha had come to the same fate.

“Sam and Bear agree you are in grave danger. Our girls are also in peril. I’m not afraid to fight, but it is my responsibility to keep you safe. I believe the best option is to leave.”

There, he’d finally said it.

Jane froze in her tracks. “Leave? But this is our home.”

Stephen started to pace. “This farm is remote and isolated. When we built here, no one thought the natives would again be a threat. And they probably wouldn’t be now if disease hadn’t wiped out their wives. I would die fighting to keep anyone from taking you. But I cannot always be here to stand watch. And if, Lord forbid, I were to die in a fight with Bomazeen, I could no longer protect you and the girls. I
won’t
let you become a slave. To be certain that does not happen, I have to keep both of us safe. I had been thinking about heading west, to Kentucky, before this happened. Now, I’m certain it’s what we need to do. Sometimes it takes courage to make a wise decision. We need to make a wise decision now.”

Jane put her hands on his arms to stop him. She stared at him, her face flushing. “How can you be so ready to give up our home? Leaving won’t keep us safe. There are countless dangers on the trail
to Kentucky. Probably worse hazards. Have you considered that?”

“That’s all I’ve thought about lately. My brothers and Bear will be joining us so we will have five men—six if Edward comes—not just me to protect you. And we won’t be sitting here waiting for danger to come to us. I’ll not live here with your life in jeopardy or with us worrying about the girls disappearing every time they go outside to play. Why should we when so much opportunity waits for us there? Daniel and Squire Boone call Kentucky a second paradise. Boone’s axe men cleared a trail all the way to the Kentucky River. They say the grass there is lush beyond belief.”

“Pastures—so that’s what this is all about. I should have known.” Jane threw down the towel in her hand.

“No! It’s not just about land. It’s about opportunity.”

“What about Indians in Kentucky?”

“The Shawnee, by terms of the truce, agreed not to harm white settlers. Once we reach Fort Boonesborough it will be safe.” He truly believed that was true. He stayed informed on the news of the frontier, reading everything he could get his hands on and Sam’s contacts with the military and other hunters and trappers provided reliable information. They also learned a good deal from newspapers. He removed a newspaper clipping from his writing table drawer. “I was going to show you this even before Bomazeen came here. It’s from the
New Hampshire Gazette
, December 15, 1796.” Stephen read it aloud to her, “
‘The Wilderness Road from Cumberland Gap to the settlements of Kentucky is now completed. Wagons loaded with a ton weight, may pass with ease, with four good horses. Travelers will find no difficulty in procuring such necessaries as they stand in need of on the road; and the abundant crop now growing in Kentucky, will afford the emigrants a certainty of being supplied with every necessary of life on the most convenient terms.
Joseph Crockett, James Knox, Commissioners.’”

He put the clipping away and then continued. “Everywhere I go, Jane, men are talking excitedly about the beautiful grass in Kentucky, so rich in color, settlers call it Bluegrass.”

He remembered the plentiful grass his father had cultivated on their home place, but a massive mountain slide of rock, mud and snow buried his parents’ entire three-story brick home and most of their property. Tragically, his father, mother and sister all perished, buried forever at the base of what people would later name Wyllie Mountain.

Jane turned back to making dinner, shaking her head from side to side. “I’m more concerned about the safety of my daughters than a plenitude of pastures.” She smacked the biscuit dough with more force than needed.

“I am too. That’s why I want to leave,” he persisted, fatigue making him even less patient than normal.

“Well, I don’t. I can’t believe your brothers agreed to this madness.”

“They all see the potential and agree it is time for a move. Well, all but Edward,” he said tersely, admitting to himself that he wanted his stubborn brother to come. The five brothers, despite their differences, had always been close and he wanted it to stay that way. He still held out hope that Edward would change his mind. He put a log on the fire and stoked it repeatedly.

“We need to think about this. You’ve waited this long, it can keep until we’re both sure.”

“Damn it, I am sure. I’m sure we need to leave
now
.”

“Well I’m not!” She stomped her foot and glared up at him. A
flush of red crept up her throat as her anger flared.

He was running out of options. He had to make her understand. “If we stay, and that devil’s spawn grabs one of our girls, will you be able to live with that? This is just a house. We can replace it. We cannot replace one of them. If he comes back, what do you think he is going to do to you? I promise you rape would be the easiest part.”

“Don’t threaten me with what Bomazeen might do. I
know
what he’s like. I felt his hot stinking breath on my face and my breast still bears his filthy mark. He nearly killed my baby,” she screamed. “But I won’t turn tail and run like a frightened rabbit. This is our home.” She choked back a sob.

“Settle your temper. The girls will hear you. They’ve been through enough. And so have you. I don’t want you to go through that again.”