New Frontier of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

girls,” he and Stephen both yelled at once.
    He looked over at John who was just finishing unsaddling the horses. John had spent most of his free time on this trip fishing and continuing to miss his deceased wife. Lately, the architect had had no luck fishing and had broken his best pole. John had spent the previous evening repairing it, and then tried fishing again, only to bring back dozens of mosquito bites. Sam grinned as he noticed John scratching himself in several places as he led several of their horses, including Sam’s, to the river to water. Walkingbeside his father, six-year old Little John, John’s only child, led his beloved horse Dan. Before long, the boy would carry a real weapon not his toy rifle. Kentucky would likely force the child to become a man before his time. When that time came, he would be sure Little John was prepared. John had already asked Sam to teach his son how to use a knife. Soon, the boy would begin lessons on shooting as well.
    As she was now, Kelly was often quiet, no doubt spending her private thoughts sorting through turbulent feelings. Jane told Sam that after the rape, feelings of guilt and anger, and often nightmares, still plagued the eighteen-year-old. Jane said Kelly wanted nothing to do with men for the rest of her life. Maybe if his family showed her enough kindness, she could learn to trust men again. He decided to try to serve as a brother to the young woman. Here, she would need a big brother to look out for her.
    He strode over to help Kelly unload her chicken crates from her pack mule.
    “Is this one Genesis, Exodus, or Leviticus?” he asked. She’d cleverly named the chickens after the first few books of the Old Testament.
    “No, that one’s Deuteronomy,” Kelly said, bringing a hand up to stifle a giggle.
    Good, at least he’d managed to make the young woman chuckle.
    “Now that we’re here in Boonesborough, I need to acquire a rooster,” she explained, letting several chickens loose.
    “My guess is he’ll either be named Joshua or Samuel,” he offered.
    “I think I just might name him Sam,” Kelly said, tilting herhead at him as she smiled.
    Barely able to keep the laughter from his voice, he said, “Then he’ll be a mighty fine warrior, protecting all your hens.”
    Surprising her, and himself, he promptly did his best rooster imitation, which wasn’t all that good, but it sent Kelly into hysterics. Soon everyone gathered around them and joined in sharing the young woman’s amusement. Then Bear tried to imitate the crow of a rooster. Martha and Polly liked Bear’s animated version the best and begged him to do it a second time. Good naturedly, Bear complied, while chasing one of the chickens around in a circle. Catherine burst out laughing. Her laugh was marvelous, catching, and a ripple of mirth flickered through Sam. He suddenly felt ten-years younger than his thirty-nine years.
    Sam guessed it was fatigue and relief making them all so silly, but whatever the reason, it felt good. They needed a few moments of merriment after the rigors of their journey.
    After the amusing diversion, he felt more elated than tired. Light-hearted, he took a deep breath, enjoying the feel of the fresh air expanding his lungs. Even dead tired and stinking dirty, he was exactly where he wanted to be. Before they left New Hampshire, he had come to realize that the war had extinguished the fire within him just as surely as blowing out a candle snuffed out its light. After he had left the Continental Army and returned to his home in New Hampshire, life held little meaning or purpose. As a mapmaker and sometimes guide through the wilderness, he managed to make a decent living. But, it was just work. It made him feel unfulfilled, empty, and oftentimes lonely. Like a shadow of his former prewar self.
    But now his life would change. Although he felt the physical burdens of constant travel and little rest, his mind and heart hadgrown stronger with each passing mile. Every