Free Wilderness Trail of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 1) by Dorothy Wiley

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