Whispering Hills of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 3) (21 page)

Home. He liked the sound of that and he couldn’t wait to get her there. Just looking at her sent hot gusts of desire through him. He’d always wondered what it would be like to have a house with a wife to come home to.

Maybe someday, even a family.

“I would love a hot meal and an even hotter cup of coffee,” she answered. “What’s more, I’d truly love to get out of this chilly wind.”

“Well then, let’s go fill you up and warm you up,” he said. Later, he would cradle her in his arms and warm her from top to bottom.

Kelly’s body shivered with chill and fatigue, yet excitement and trepidation engulfed her mind. Her thoughts kept returning to what it felt like to be in William’s arms and she hungered for the taste of his mouth on hers. His kisses left a burning imprint on her. Yet, her own insecurity and inexperience made her anxious about the evening to come.

As they dismounted and entered the inn, William held her elbow and guided her through the door. It felt good to have him next to her, and her unease seemed to subside somewhat.

The dining area of the inn’s parlor was noisy with the hum of conversation and nearly full, but a round table in the corner by a blazing hearth was open and William and the others quickly moved toward it. The smell of fresh bread, roasting meat, and pies baking made her stomach growl. She’d been too preoccupied to think about food, but now she was suddenly ravenous. And the welcome heat from the hearth penetrated all the way to her chilled bones.

They sat down and ordered food and coffee and then Kelly glanced around the room. She was glad she didn’t recognize anyone because she was in no shape to be sociable. She needed a bath, fresh clothes, and a good night’s sleep.

Pensively, as the men discussed local politics, she wondered just how much sleep she would be getting tonight. The thought was another of the ceaseless, endless questions chipping away at her confidence. She began to wonder if she should feign not feeling well and put the inevitable off.

But she couldn’t start their marriage being dishonest with William. She never wanted to lie to him or deceive him. Her thoughts drifted back to the day she’d met him. As she looked back, she recognized it for what it was—both the worst and best day of her life. She doubted she would ever have another experience as bad as the rape. And meeting William, who immediately became a caring friend, was the best thing that ever happened to her.

“Mrs. Wyllie,” Colonel Byrd said. “Could you please pass the bread?”

“Kelly, he’s speaking to you,” William said gently.

“Oh, my pardons,” she said quickly, “I guess I’m not used to being called Mrs. Wyllie.”

“You’re a Wyllie now,” Sam said. His expression was inscrutable, but his keen probing eyes revealed he’d seen more. Sam was a well-honed observer of human behavior.

She always thought she was as well. She seemed to be able to figure out everyone but herself. But then, she had figured it all out sometime during last night. She needed to remember what she’d decided. She’d chosen to be strong.

She had no reason to fear. None.

William reached under the table and took her hand. His secret contact rekindled the desire simmering slowly within her. She wondered if she should feel guilty for the extreme pleasure those feelings brought her. Then he rubbed one of her fingertips with his thumb. The small quick movements sent extraordinary sensations through her entire body. How did he do this to her?

“Would you like dessert?” a young lady asked them.

William eyed Kelly and smiled roguishly. It was the hungry fox again. Plainly, the fox craved dessert. She could feel a hot flush creeping up her neck.

“Aye, Miss,” Bear answered for them. “We’ll have one of everything ye have.”

The young woman snickered and winked at Bear, then said, “I’ll be right back with those, Sir.”

Kelly had to laugh too. She adored Bear. His protective spirit was generously applied to her as well as all the Wyllies. She could well imagine him thinking of all of them as his clan. He’d left his own Scottish clan as a young lad and was orphaned on the long sea voyage to the colonies. William’s parents later adopted Bear, treating him like one of their own. Stephen was the closest in age to Bear and the two were nearly inseparable until Stephen married
Jane.

Now, Bear lent a hand to whatever Wyllie needed helping or defending. A formidable hunter and fighter, much like Sam, she knew Bear would defend any member of his family to the death.

“And a round of ales to toast to the bride and groom!” Colonel Byrd ordered as the woman turned away to retrieve the desserts.

All of them, except Byrd, looked at her father.

“Excellent idea. After all it is a wedding feast,” McGuffin said. “But I’ll be toasting with my coffee. Give my ale to my new son.” He sounded resolute and sure of himself, and enormously proud of William.

Kelly nodded her head in approval and smiled at her father.

When the desserts arrived, carried by three women each bearing two or three plates, Kelly’s eyes widened. She’d never seen so many sweets in one place. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten anything sweet. But now, the table nearly overflowed with luscious temptations—apple and chess pies, bread pudding, apple tansey, gingerbread, custard, and apple dumplings. The smell of nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon, along with the tantalizing aroma of fresh pie crust, made her mouth water.

“Ladies first,” Bear said, “as long as ye don’t pick the apple dumplings.”

“I won’t, Bear,” Kelly reassured, “but I simply can’t choose. They all look delicious. Why don’t you gentlemen take your pick and I’ll just take what’s left.”

“Good heaven’s no. You’ll have first pick, my bride, including the apple dumplings,” William said, giving Bear a reproving glance.

With a mischievous grin at Bear, she reached for the apple dumplings, then at the last second, moved her hand to pick up the gingerbread.

“Ye had me frettin’ there lass,” Bear teased.

The men all found something they couldn’t resist and when he quickly finished off the apple dumplings, Bear took a second, and then a third dessert. It seemed as though the giant’s belly was bottomless. William only ate a small custard sprinkled with nutmeg, but seemed to relish each spoonful.

“Kelly, do you know how to make custard?” he asked after finishing the last bite.

Kelly swallowed a mouthful of gingerbread. “Well no, but I can learn easily enough. But you need to have chickens to have eggs and a milk cow.”

“We’ll get both and anything else you’ll need. It’ll be good to have some chickens around again. I’ve missed having eggs every now and then. Sam, do you remember what Uncle Toby used to say about eggs?” William asked, laughing.

“Yes, indeed, I do. He would eat eggs every morning, but they had to be from chickens that had a rooster with them. He said that’s what kept lead in his ‘pistol.’ He was about ninety when he told me this,” Sam answered.

“Maybe we should think about what he was saying,” Colonel Byrd said with a chuckle.

“He also smoked a pipe and chewed tobacco till he was ninety-five, and he drank spirits all his life,” William added.

After the good meal, delicious gingerbread, and the hearty ale, Kelly was feeling much more like herself.

“Can I join you gentlemen at your camp tonight?” her father asked Captain Sam and Bear.

“Indeed, you are most welcome, Sir,” Sam answered.

“Did ye bring a good wool blanket with ye?” Bear asked. “I fear ye will need it tonight.”

“No, I’ll need to buy one before we leave for your camp,” McGuffin answered.

“We’ll take our leave and visit the general store then,” Sam told William. “But first, may I have a word with your lovely bride?”

“Of course,” William answered. “Why don’t the rest of us get a breath of fresh air? Bear, you can smoke your pipe.”

The men all stood and then promptly left, leaving her and Sam at the table. She eyed him quizzically. What did he need to say to her?

“Kelly, I just wanted you to know how pleased I am that William has married you. As his oldest brother, I look out for him and I want to be sure he remains happy. I think marrying you is the best thing he’s ever done.”

Kelly lost her breath at the compliment. She tucked his words away in her memory, wanting to remember them forever.

She started to say something and he said, “Please. I have more I need to tell you.”

She became instantly alert, wondering what exactly was on Sam’s mind.

“Kelly, I also believe your marriage to my brother William is the best thing you will ever do. He is a man of honor and principle. A man of high virtue who will do everything in his power to keep you safe. He is nothing, nothing, at all like the men
who attacked you. And nothing like that Harpes bastard. It’s like night and day. Darkness and light. Goodness and wickedness. Let William share his goodness with you. You’ll be safe, I promise you. He would never do anything to hurt you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. But they were tears of joy. She was so happy she could barely speak. Kelly appreciated Sam’s brotherly advice, especially now that he really was her brother. She made herself say what was on her heart. She had to admit the truth graciously and honestly. “I love him very much. More than I thought a person could love another. I admit I harbored some misgivings about a physical relationship and that made me behave strangely for a while. But I’m no longer afraid. I realized, just as you say, that William is nothing like those men who attacked me. And he is not anything like that slick Harpes. William loves me and treats me with kindness and respect. Almost from the day we met, I found myself strongly drawn to him. Pardon me if I’m being too bold or inappropriate. I don’t want to appear brazen.”

“No, we’re family now. And after what you went through, your fear was perfectly understandable.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t feel fear anymore. I just don’t know much about…I just want to be able to show William how much I love him.”

“Do you trust him?”

“Yes, completely.”

“Then focus on your trust. On your love for him. Keep trust and love in your mind and your concerns will disappear like the setting sun.”

Kelly straightened her shoulders and stood. As Sam paid for their dinner, she strode out of the inn to her husband, then with
William’s arm wrapped around her shoulder, watched as the sun set in the west beneath a cloud-free rose and amber sky.

CHAPTER 20

T
heir horses laden with the bare essentials they’d picked up at the general store before leaving town, Kelly and William arrived at the cabin in the soft, almost black, purple of twilight. Before dismounting, Kelly once again admired the view of the rolling hills spread out before her. Thousands of majestic trees, silhouetted against the sky, joined together in a dark curling ribbon that stretched across the horizon. It was too late to see much of it now, but the many splendors of nature she’d seen yesterday—a canopy of trees flashing brilliant fall foliage, late blooming wild flowers, the brisk creek, and the wide open landscape—made her think she would never tire of being here.

And living here with William would make her life a dream come true.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she felt at home. But her boots had barely landed before William swept her up into the cradle of his arms. “Welcome to our home,” he said with a gentle softness in his voice and eyes.

“I can hardly believe it’s true,” she whispered. She laid a hand against her chest. “It is our home.” She placed an arm across his
broad back. As he held her close, she could feel his uneven warm breaths on her cheek.

Jauntily, William inclined his blonde head to one side. “Are you ready?”

Her heartbeat raced, but she gave firm a nod of consent.

He bounded up onto the porch, somehow managed to open the door without dropping her, and stepped across the threshold. After shutting the door with the heel of his boot, he looked down and caressed her with his eyes.

She buried her hands in his thick hair and drew his mouth to hers. His kiss was slow and so gentle it was soul soothing. She quivered at the sweet tenderness of it. When he pulled his lips away, she dropped her cheek to his chest, and with a sigh of pleasure, relaxed, sinking into his cushioning embrace.

For a moment, he just stood there quietly. He seemed to be savoring the moment. Then, he lowered her feet to the floor, took her hand above her head, and spun her around in a small circle. “Our first dance, my lady,” he said gallantly. “As husband and wife,” he added.

She had to chuckle, remembering how they’d enjoyed dancing together when Sam and Catherine married. At the wedding, William held her for the first time as they’d danced. It was also the first time desire stirred within her. Now, after twirling her around a time or two, her need for him swelled within her. And, as he pressed her body to him, her heart called out to his.

He gazed down at her, his eyes brimming with tenderness. “We’re home,” he said, his voice somewhat husky. “We should get settled. I’ll go tend to the horses and bring in our supplies.”

“And I’ll get a fire going in the hearth,” she offered. “I see
kindling in that bucket and some wood was stacked on the front porch.”