Cora's Pride (Wilderness Brides Book 1) (18 page)

Her eyes widened. “What things?” she whispered.

A slow grin spread across his face. “Some images are fuzzier than others, but I sensed that you were hovering like a mother hen. I think at one time you kicked Travis from the wagon when he came to talk to me, and I heard you tell both him and Trevor to watch their mouths at some point.” He chuckled. “Wish I could have been awake enough to see the looks on their faces.” He paused and smiled down at her.

“Travis wanted to wake you so that you could tell me you were well enough to travel,” Cora huffed. “I wasn’t going to allow him to do that.”

“There were other things, too.” Nathaniel raised his hand to her face, touching his fingers to her cheek. He leaned in closer. Cora didn’t back away. The pounding in his heart brought a dull ache to his wound.

“You kissed me and you told me that you loved me.” He cupped her cheek with his hand and stared into her wide eyes. “Cora, I need to know that I didn’t dream it.”

Her chest rose and fell faster than if she breathed normally. She didn’t say anything for what seemed like an eternity. Then she leaned into his touch.

“You didn’t dream it,” she whispered and reached her own hand to touch his face. “I know you said this marriage isn’t permanent, so I don’t want to burden you with my feelings. I won’t hold you to anything.”

Nathaniel released her hand and curled his arm around her waist to draw her fully up against him. Warm sensations started in his chest and moved quickly throughout his body and to his limbs. The ache from his wound became stronger in response, but it didn’t matter.

“Cora, I made a promise to you, but it’s not what I really want. I love you.”

He leaned forward. The hand cupping her cheek snaked around to the nape of her neck, bringing her closer until his mouth touched hers. The contact was soft and light, and Cora sighed as she leaned up to accept his kiss.

“You are the most honorable man I have ever met, but I don’t want you to honor that promise,” she murmured against his lips.

“
I
really don’t have
to sleep in the wagon anymore. I can sleep outside by the fire.”

The flickering shadows created by the flame from the lantern inside the wagon made Nathaniel’s stare seem even more intense than he’d probably intended.

Cora secured the bandage around his chest and held his gaze. “Your wound looks good.” She smiled tentatively. Her hands trembled slightly. “As for sleeping outside, you’ve been in this wagon for the last three nights, and everyone else is settled into their new sleeping arrangements.”

With the wagon occupied by Nathaniel, and then Trevor and Travis showing up in camp, Cora had helped Anna erect a tent using several bed sheets and blankets to give her sisters and Anna some privacy. Patrick had built his own little tent next to the bigger one. The Wilder twins had preferred to spread their bedrolls further away from camp.

“Where have you been sleeping?” Nathaniel’s voice dropped to a low rumble.

Cora swallowed. “I’ve lain next to you,” she whispered. She doused the lantern but the darkness did little to ease her nerves. The look of love and passion in Nathaniel’s eyes had only grown over the last few hours after their feelings for each other were laid out in the open.

Cora’s chest had swelled with happiness. There hadn’t been a time in recent years where she’d been this happy or at ease with her life. Not a shred of doubt remained in her about Nathaniel’s sincerity. She’d finally found someone whom she could trust and love completely.

They’d remained away from camp until the sun had nearly set, holding hands, kissing, and talking. Nathaniel had told her more about his valley and convinced her that she would love it there more than she would have liked Oregon.

“How can you be sure? You’ve never been to Oregon,” Cora had teased.

“But I’ve lived half my life at Harley’s Hole, and I know it’s a place like no other.”

After they’d returned to camp and eaten supper that she’d reheated, he’d gone to the creek to wash away the sweat, grime and dried blood from three days of being laid up.

She slipped out of her dress, then crawled under the blanket and eased up next to him as she’d done every night since he’d been shot. Except this time, he was no longer feverish and delirious. Her heart pounded against her ribs when Nathaniel slipped his arm under her and tucked her head against his chest.

“I was really hoping this part was real and not just a dream,” Nathaniel murmured against her hair. Cora’s skin tingled to life at his words.

“How would it look to your brothers if I didn’t share your bed?” she added to justify sleeping next to him. “They would have called me a liar, that I wasn’t your wife.”

Beyond the wagon’s canvas, crickets chirped their rhythmic cadence and frogs croaked their nightly songs. The fire outside had long since died down. Somewhere along the creek, one of the horses snorted contently. The camp was quiet, but Cora was wide awake.

“I certainly don’t mind having you next to me every night from now on.” The smile on Nathaniel’s face was unmistakable in his words, even if it was too dark to see.

Cora lowered her head fully into the crook of his left arm, her palm resting on his chest. Her pulse increased when his hand connected with her bare arm. He ran his fingers along her skin, caressing her arm until it reached the fabric of her chemise along her shoulder.

“I can’t think of a better way to fall asleep at night than with you next to me,” Nathaniel drawled, keeping his voice down. He shifted to his side and leaned over her. His fingers continued to slide along her arms, then up her neck and along her jaw. He explored her face, the soft curves of her waist and hips, then down along her legs, as if he tried to see her in the dark with his hands.

“Nathaniel,” Cora breathed. She squirmed in response to his touch. “Your injury. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

He chuckled softly. “I don’t feel a thing, except you in my arms,” he murmured, dipping his head to her neck. He kissed her below her ear, then lower. Cora shivered in response and wrapped her arms around his neck, careful to stay away from his wound.

“You’re a liar, Nathaniel Wilder,” she breathed into his hair.

His lips grazed her cheek. “You’ve already turned me into a dishonorable man who doesn’t keep his promises. I might as well keep going and be branded as a liar.” A quiet laugh rumbled in his chest.

Perhaps sleeping under the same covers with him hadn’t been such a good idea. If he re-injured himself, it would be her fault again.

“I think Travis is right,” he murmured, his lips traveling from her neck to her mouth, sending shivers of delight down her back. “You’re coddling me too much, Mrs. Wilder. What was it that you promised Father Morris?” He paused, presumably to give her time to think. “Oh, yeah,” he finally said as if the answer had just occurred to him. “You promised to comfort your husband whenever he desires.”

Cora opened her mouth to speak and let him know that this was not a good time to bring up that detestable preacher. Nathaniel brought his lips down on hers, giving her no chance to respond. He intensified the kiss while his hand stroked along her waist.

He drew back slightly and whispered in her ear, “I desire my wife right now.”

Cora melted against him. She couldn’t respond any other way. Her body went limp in his arms and to his touch. He leaned heavily on his good side while he explored her with his right hand.

She sighed. “Who am I to disobey Father Morris?” she whispered against his shoulder. Cora squirmed beneath him, taking care not to press against his injured side. If he was in any pain, he didn’t show it. Nathaniel chuckled.

His mouth moved against hers while his fingers tugged at the chemise, loosening the ties that held it together, and slipping the material from her shoulders. The touch of his calloused fingers along her skin sent hot waves of desire through her. Her breathing became more labored with each tender stroke of his hand.

“I think you’re the one who might be getting feverish,” he mumbled against her neck. “Your skin is as hot as mine.”

“You might be right,” she purred while her hands found the ties that held his britches to his hips.

Freeing herself from the rest of her clothing, Cora molded herself to Nathaniel’s hard body, skin to skin. Her fingers traced the contours of his muscles along his arms and back. His skin was smooth and warm to the touch, lean and hard, sending tingles of awareness through her fingers and to the rest of her. Soon, there would be no bandage in the way to explore him fully, and no worries about his injury.

Nathaniel shuddered beneath her touch. He brought his mouth down on hers, his lips exploring and tasting. His hand brought her thigh across his hip and Cora rolled to the side so that his weight rested on his good shoulder. She straddled him as their bodies joined together. Love exploded in her for this man as he slowly, tenderly and truly claimed her as his wife.

Nathaniel’s mouth found hers as they moved as one. “Don’t ever lose your fire,” he murmured against her lips. “I won’t have you any other way.”

T
he trail
they’d followed for two days led along a meandering river. Lush meadows and green foothills stretched as far as the eye could see. A snow-peaked, jagged mountain range rose majestically into the heavens to the east. Nathaniel had called the mountains the Tetons.

“Joseph and Lucas Walker live on the other side of those mountains,” Nathaniel had told her earlier that day. “They insist they have the better view.”

Cora sat next to Anna on the wagon as it lumbered along, taking in the scenery, while her thoughts drifted to Nathaniel. She’d given up trying to conceal the smile she’d worn the last two days. With each passing hour, her love for her husband grew and her good mood had certainly not gone unnoticed by Anna or her sisters.

“I guess this means you’ll want to remain at Harley’s Hole and not continue on to Oregon,” Anna teased and glanced at her with a knowing smile. She snapped the leathers against the mules’ backs, urging them up a grassy incline.

Cora hadn’t brought up the conversation about what would happen come next spring and the plans they’d made. She’d only told her friend that she loved Nathaniel and would remain married to him. Lying in his arms at night, the thought of going to Oregon had been the furthest thing from her mind.

“You’re going to stay with us, aren’t you?” Cora closed her fingers around Anna’s hand.

Anna turned her head and smiled. “I’ll make up my mind when we get there. I’m happy for you, Cora. I’m glad you and Nathaniel have finally realized that you belong with each other. You deserve a good man and a good life. I’m not sure yet what I want to do, but at least I have time to think about it.”

“We’ve been together so long, Anna, I never thought we’d be apart. If you truly want to continue on to Oregon, I’ll make sure you get there. I have no doubts that Nathaniel will agree to take you if that’s truly what you wish to do.”

“I’ll have to wait and see.” She looked straight ahead again and clucked to the mules. “I’ve told you before, Cora. I don’t think I’m cut out to live a life in the wilderness.”

Cora fell silent. She had Nathaniel, but could she lose her best friend? Hopefully Anna would love where they were going and would want to stay. Her eyes roamed the vast distance. She’d never seen country this beautiful before, and it was exhilarating. Over the last couple of days, they’d seen moose and elk in abundance, as well as several bears in the distance. The land was as rugged as Nathaniel and his brothers, and they fit into the land as if they were born to it.

Trevor and Travis were constantly riding ahead to scout the area. She rarely even saw them. The only times they came near the wagon was during meals and at night. Cora had kept a close eye on Caroline, who seemed to have formed quite an attachment to Trevor. The young man sat with her at every opportunity during meals.

“We’re just talking about the books we’ve read,” Caroline had assured her when Cora had asked what she found appealing about Trevor. At least it hadn’t been Travis she’d latched onto.

“Trevor has a collection of books by the Grimm brothers, as well as Hans Christian Andersen. He’s also going to let me read
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
when we get to the valley.”

Cora had frowned. “I don’t think those are books you should be reading.”

Caroline had smiled. “Why not? Have you read them?”

Cora cleared her throat. “Well, no. I’ve just heard that they’re violent and provocative.”

Caroline had giggled. “Don’t worry, Cora. My mind won’t suffer from it. I promise.”

“Cora, we’re here, we’re here.” Patrick’s excited voice reached her, pulling her from her thoughts. Gray galloped toward the wagon. Nathaniel had stopped his horse up ahead and waited.

Sloping, tree-covered hills, which steadily grew in height, had gradually closed in on them until a narrow passage opened to another valley. Cora’s eyes widened.

Mountains lined the small valley on the east side, the snow-capped peaks of the Tetons in the distance rising even higher into the sky. A wide stream meandered through the lush grasses. Nestled up along the foothills a short distance ahead were several structures and corrals. Smoke rose from one of the chimneys.

Josie and Caroline peeked out from inside the wagon.

“It’s so beautiful,” Josie said, her eyes round with awe. “And there are no other people here?”

Cora glanced over her shoulder and patted Josie’s hand. Her sister looked genuinely relieved. “No one except Nathaniel’s brothers and Mr. Buchanan.”

“You mean Harley?” Caroline asked.

Cora laughed. “Yes, but you should call him Mr. Buchanan, since that’s his given name.”

Anna drove the wagon toward the cabins, following Nathaniel. Trevor and Travis’ horses already stood in front of one of the dwellings. No doubt the twins had been eager to be the first ones to bring news of the arrivals.

Nathaniel brought his horse up alongside the wagon and offered a wide smile that made Cora’s insides melt. He reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.

“Welcome to Harley’s Hole.” His eyes rested on her. She nodded.

“It’s beautiful.”

The cabin door opened and the twins emerged, followed by another man who looked to be a few years older than Nathaniel. After him came a short, old man dressed in buckskins and a tattered fur coat that appeared to have seen better days. His head was covered in a cap that looked to have been the hide of a wolf or coyote. The ears were still attached. His long, bushy beard concealed most of his face.

“Well, I’ll be,” the old man croaked and rushed up to Nathaniel, who’d dismounted his horse. Despite the beard, his wide smile was easily noticeable. He hobbled past the younger man to come closer. His round eyes swept over the wagon with great appreciation, resting on the driver’s seat and darting between Anna and Cora.

“I’m tickled to death. Those boys weren’t pullin’ my leg after all. Which one of you is Cora?”

“That would be me.” Cora climbed down from the rig and held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Buchanan. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She walked up to the old man and held out her hand. He erupted into boisterous laughter.

“It’s Harley, girl. Just Harley.” He took her hand in his and gave it a hardy shake while appraising her with his bright eyes. Peering around her, he yelled. “Ya done good, Nate. Sure surprised this old man when I heard the news. Still can’t hardly believe it.”

For his grandfatherly appearance, Harley had a kind of energy about him that was much more fitting of a younger man. His warm eyes and delighted smile made him immediately likable. Not to mention that he’d been the sort of man to take in four young boys who’d lost their parents and raised them as his own.

Nathaniel strode up next to Cora. He held his hand to her waist and smiled. “She caught me by surprise, too, Harley, but I’d have been a fool if I had let her get away.”

Cora offered Nathaniel a warm smile at his words.

The old man laughed again. “Right you are,” he said.