Cora's Pride (Wilderness Brides Book 1) (8 page)

“I’d better get back to camp,” Anna said quietly. “She’ll be mad at both of us if she discovers you here and catches me talking to you. I just wanted to say thank you . . . from all of us, even if some don’t realize it.”

“Sorry I was eavesdropping,” he mumbled. “I came to tell you to keep your fire low and your voices down. I could hear you half a mile away. But I am glad I overheard her admit that she’s a bad shot.” Nathaniel grinned.

Anna inhaled loudly. “Cora’s a good woman. Her heart is in the right place. She’s been dealt an awful lot in the last few years. As the oldest, she feels responsible for taking care of her sisters and brother. In some ways, she already thinks she’s failed.”

Nathaniel stood straighter. He didn’t ask the questions that burned in his mind. What things had she failed at, and who was Ted?

“Then she should be willing to accept help,” he said instead.

“I hope she does soon, but it has to be on her terms. You’ll have to earn her trust, not demand it.”

Nathaniel stared at the faint features of Anna Porter in front of him. He couldn’t earn Cora’s trust if she chased him away at every opportunity, even before he had a chance to prove himself. “And how do I do that?”

“Anna?” Cora’s loud whisper came from the direction of the campfire.

“Thank you again for looking out for us, Mr. Wilder,” Anna said hastily. She hurried back toward the wagon. “I’m right here, Cora. I’m ready to get some sleep.”

Nathaniel stood, staring toward the woman by the fire. The flickering of the flames distorted her outline. Her light hair looked as if it was on fire in places. Fire, like what he'd seen in her eyes, and like the flame that steadily grew inside him.

He shook his head. What kind of crazy notion was that? He tore his eyes away from the woman and headed back to his own camp. With each step that took him further away from the women’s camp, determination built stronger inside him. Something was happening to him, and it was more than wanting to help a bunch of women who were lost in the wilderness. He’d do that for anyone. Somehow it made up for not helping his folks when they’d needed him.

No. Cora had gotten under his skin but good in a different way, and images of her standing at the edge of a creek, bravely pointing a rifle at him, hadn’t left his mind.

She had drawn his attention from the moment he first set eyes on her when he’d walked into her camp the first time, but that image of her, when she’d boldly told him to drop his belt, would be etched into his mind forever. Her feistiness and tough exterior had appealed to him right away. Now that he’d seen a glimpse of her vulnerable, feminine side, the draw to her was even stronger. Maybe in the morning, something would come to him about how to earn just a smidge of Cora Miller’s trust.

H
ot air blew
on his face. Nathaniel woke with a start and scrambled to the side. His hand reached for the rifle that lay next to him even before his eyes flew open. He stared up at the dark muzzle of one of his horses and relaxed. Touching a hand to the animal’s nose, he pushed the large head away and sat up with a groan.

He blinked to clear the fog from his head. Sunlight streamed in thin ribbons through the forest canopy, ending in circular patterns on the ground.

“You could have woken me sooner,” Nathaniel grumbled to the horse and stood. Two, no, three restless nights were taking their toll on him.

He’d come back to his camp last night, his head full of thoughts about Cora and the things he’d overheard at her camp, and it had kept him awake well into the night. When he’d set out on his journey from Harley’s Hole to Fort Hall several weeks ago, the notion that his path would cross with a woman who completely consumed his thoughts would have been laughable.

Even more amusing was the fact that she wanted nothing to do with him. Perhaps he’d simply lived in the wilderness too long with his brothers and Harley, and it didn’t take much for a woman to catch his eye.

Nathaniel shook his head. He’d seen plenty of women on the wagon trains that passed through Fort Hall and Fort Laramie over the years. He’d never wasted a second thinking about any of them. Besides, there were three other women in Cora’s company. Anna Porter was polite and appreciated him, yet she didn’t catch his eye the way her friend did. He hadn’t seen or heard much from the two younger girls to make a judgment about them, other than the one named Josie wanted to learn how to shoot. What was it about Cora Miller that held him captivated? She hated him.

He scoffed while gathering some twigs and branches for a fire. Stopping in front of his horse, he patted the animal’s neck and looked the gelding in the eye. “It’s because she dislikes me.”

The horse stared back at him, his ears pitched forward.

“I’m just trying to set her straight about me, that’s all.” Nathaniel bent to pick up a handful of twigs for tinder. When he straightened, he made eye contact with the horse again. “There’s nothing else I want from her.” The gelding shook his head and snorted.

Nathaniel leaned forward, glaring at the gelding. “What? You think I’m interested in her for a different reason? I didn’t make the trip to Fort Hall to find a woman, and absolutely not one as disagreeable as Cora Miller.” He turned to move away from the horse, abruptly stopped and looked at the animal again, pointing a stick at him for emphasis. “A woman like that can surely make a man’s life miserable as hell.”

The gelding took a step forward, stretched his neck to sniff at the stick, then lowered his head to crop at some grasses on the ground. Clearly, this conversation was over. Nathaniel’s trusted mount didn’t believe a word of what he’d said.

What had Proud Elk told him? A woman like Cora was good for a warrior. Nathaniel ran a hand through his hair. Talk at Harley’s cabin had often turned to women, and he’d hinted that it might be time for Ethan to find himself a wife. Nathaniel’s older brother had always responded with a silent glare.

Even Nathaniel always left the table as quickly as possible whenever Harley started rambling about women and
his boys
needing to find someone to settle down with. Trevor had chimed in once and told Harley that they all liked living in the remote valley they’d christened Harley’s Hole. What woman would want to live like that?

Cora is just the kind of woman who is suited for that kind of life.

Nathaniel gave the horse a final pat, then stoked his fire back to life and brewed some coffee. He ate a couple of pieces of hardtack while he saddled the gelding. Hobbling his pack animal so it didn’t wander off, he set out into the forest.

Before he’d finally fallen asleep last night, he’d spent a good amount of time thinking about what he might do to get into Cora’s good graces.

Anna had told him that it had to be on Cora’s terms. She loved her siblings. Her brother wanted something else to eat besides the usual trail fare.

He patted his horse on the neck. “Let’s go stir up a deer.”

Nathaniel guided his horse in the opposite direction from where the women had spent the night. Even if they broke camp early, he’d catch up to them after his hunt. It didn’t take long to reach the creek he’d crossed the day before, where he’d seen fresh deer tracks and droppings. Leaving his horse to graze, he crouched behind a tree and waited. No more than an hour later, he hoisted a gutted doe over the gelding’s back.

“Even if she’s not pleased, her siblings will be,” he muttered with a satisfied nod. “There’s more than one way to snare a hare.” Harley’s favorite saying brought a grin to his face. In this case, the hare was a feisty woman, and if she didn’t go for his bait, perhaps her brother and sisters would.

After butchering the deer at his camp and loading his supplies on his packhorse, he set out to follow the wagon again. Perhaps he’d try and catch up with them and offer the meat before they stopped for the night. In two days, they should reach Fort Hall and it would be better if Cora had accepted his help by then. A wagon full of women was easy pickings for the sort of riff-raff that tended to congregate at the trading outpost.

Nathaniel nudged his horse into a trot. If he hurried, he could catch up with the wagon before they needed to cross the river up ahead. He’d had no problems a week ago, but a wagon might present a challenge. There was a safe place to get across where the water wasn’t deep and the current not quite as strong, but it looked like the wagon was heading in a direction that would put it further downstream.

A short while later, loud, high-pitched shouts reached him, mixed with the rushing sound of flowing water. Nathaniel urged his horse forward. When the river came into view, the reason for all the yelling became obvious.

The wagon was stuck in the middle of the river. It appeared as if the wheel that had busted before was damaged or broken again. The wagon leaned precariously to the side. All the yelling and shouting at the mules to pull wasn’t helping. Cora rode her gray gelding through the water, slapping at the mules with a lasso.

Nathaniel’s lips pressed together in a tight line. He should have insisted on checking the broken wagon wheel two days ago after the encounter with the Shoshone.

Cora’s efforts to get the mules to move proved successful. They jumped forward, making the wagon lurch violently. The boy, Patrick, who sat in the driver’s seat next to Anna, lost his balance and fell into the water. He instantly went under. His head surfaced and he frantically flailed his arms. Nathaniel cursed. He kicked his horse into a run, leaving his packhorse behind.

Anna yelled Patrick’s name. Cora must have realized what had happened. She urged her horse through the water to reach him. Instead of going around the wagon, she maneuvered her horse forward in front of the team, putting her in deeper water. The gelding stumbled, causing Cora to lurch forward and tumble over her horse’s neck. Nathaniel lost sight of her behind the mules while her horse scrambled for the riverbank. Anna and the other two girls screamed her name in panic.

Nathaniel leapt from his horse before the animal came to a stop at the edge of the water. He didn’t hesitate and plunged into the river. Once he reached the wagon, he grabbed for the boy, who struggled to keep his head above water. Anna reached down from the wagon, pulling Patrick to her when Nathaniel hauled him out of the water.

“Where’s Cora?” he shouted.

“She’s on the other side of the wagon. I lost sight of her between Gray and the mules. Please, you have to find her.” Anna’s eyes were wide with fear.

Nathaniel’s pulse pounded at his temples. She could have been struck by her horse, or one of the mules when she got thrown into the river.

“Cora,” he yelled.

Nathaniel pushed through the waist-deep water, making his way around the back of the wagon. His eyes scanned the river. He caught a glimpse of yellow hair bobbing in the water further into the river where the current was much stronger. Nathaniel rushed forward and dove into the current. He used the force of the water to sweep him along, while pushing forward with long strokes.

“Cora,” he called again. She seemed unresponsive as the current carried her away. He renewed his efforts to reach her.

Her body disappeared under the water and Nathaniel surged forward. When he was finally close enough to reach her, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, bringing her head above water. A bloody gash marred the side of her temple. Wrapping one arm around her to keep her head above water, he fought the current with his legs and other arm. Her lifeless body became heavier with each stroke.

“Dammit,” he growled. Her waterlogged skirts were weighing them both down.

While he continued to kick with his legs in an effort to get them back to shore, he fumbled with her skirt underwater. She was going to be mad as hell when she found out that he’d ripped off part of her dress, but it was the only way to get her back to dry land. The strong current of the river gave him no other choice.

The instant he tore away her skirt, the burden became lighter and Nathaniel renewed his efforts to get her to the riverbank. When his feet touched the rocky bottom, he heaved himself forward, and swept her into his arms.

“Hang on, Cora, I’ve got you,” he murmured. Breathing hard, he carried her to shore.

He shot a hasty glance upstream. The wagon still stood in the middle of the river with the women stranded inside. He focused his attention back to Cora. She was his immediate concern. Scrambling up the riverbank, he lowered her to the ground. Water streamed off his hair and shirt as he leaned over her and brushed strands of her wet hair from her face. The gash on her head wasn’t as bad as he’d first assumed. It bled, but it wasn’t deep.

Nathaniel’s hand trembled. Her pulse beat strong at her throat and he sucked in a deep breath in relief. His fingers stroked her cold cheek as he leaned over her. One hand rested at her waist.

“Cora,” he murmured. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”

A low moan escaped her lips and she coughed. Nathaniel turned her body to the side and supported her head as she coughed up river water. When she was done, he eased her onto her back. Her eyes twitched as she opened them. Nathaniel smiled in encouragement.

“I told you . . . not to follow us,” she murmured nearly incoherently, her voice raspy. Her eyes were unfocused, but she stared up at him for a moment before her eyelids dropped shut again.

Nathaniel smiled. If she could tell him to go away, she was going to be just fine. He gathered her into his arms, holding her cold body close to his as he carried her back to where he’d left his horse. When she started to shiver, Nathaniel tightened his hold on her. His heart beat wildly against his ribs. He’d almost lost her.

He shook off the awful thought. This time, he hadn’t stood by while someone’s life was in danger. He wasn’t going to lose her. Not now, and . . . not ever. Right now, he needed to get her wrapped in a blanket and warmed up. He still had to get the women off that wagon, and then across the river. He glanced at the limp woman he carried.

“Sorry, Cora,” he whispered against her cheek. “But I can’t do what you’re asking and stay away.”

H
er head pounded so hard
, it might split in half. Cora groaned and raised her arm. Heavy weights like anchors seemed to be attached to her, keeping her from touching her head. She forced her eyelids open, but stared into darkness. The flickering of a campfire played with her mind, and she closed her eyes again.

“Patrick, stop shouting.” Her lips moved, but had she even spoken the words or simply thought them?

Patrick!

Cora’s eyes flew open and she rolled to the side before raising her upper body off the ground. Patrick had fallen into the river.

She hissed. Her head pounded even more, making her stomach churn. Dizziness unlike she’d ever experienced threatened to pull her back into the black void she tried to escape.

“Cora? Lie down.”

Anna’s voice pierced her ears, even though it sounded far away.

“Patrick,” Cora mumbled.

“Patrick’s fine. You took a hit to the head. You shouldn’t get up.” Anna’s hands pushed against her shoulders.

Cora blinked, but the darkness remained. Faint shadows flickered around her, illuminated by the orange glow from a fire.

“What happened?” She’d barely asked the question when the memories returned. Patrick had fallen into the river, Gray had taken a bad step in the water, and she’d lost her seat in the saddle. She shivered as if the cold river water spilled over her again. She’d been dragged under, and then something hard had hit against her head. Strong arms had pulled her back from certain death and held her close. Nathaniel Wilder’s image came to mind.

“Everything’s all right, Cora. Patrick is safe, we got the wagon and mules across the river, and you’re going to be fine after some rest.” Anna touched her forehead. She pushed her fully against the ground and tucked a blanket around her.

“Where are we?” Cora blinked to focus her foggy mind.

“We set up camp early. Mr. Wilder got the mules and wagon across the river after he saved you, and he’s fixed the wheel that broke.” Anna laughed softly. “He’s fixing supper right now with Patrick and Caroline. I’m not sure you’re up to eating anything just yet.”

Cora forced her eyes open. She stared at her friend. Nathaniel Wilder was here, in their camp? As if in answer to her question, his voice drifted to her. He laughed, and Patrick joined him. Even Caroline giggled.

“What’s he doing here?”

Anna smiled. She patted Cora’s arm. “He saved your life, for starters. You would have drowned in the river if he hadn’t been nearby, Cora. He managed to get the rest of us safely across the river, and he’s provided meat.”

Cora squeezed her eyes shut. Her worst fears had come to pass. Something had happened that had rendered her useless and unable to take care of her family. Then, Nathaniel Wilder had to come and take charge. For the last two days, she’d had a suspicion that he’d been following them. He certainly didn’t seem like the kind of man to simply take no for an answer, and she’d obviously been correct.