After a week off of ghostwriting, I’m ready to post another two chapters of my historical romance, Sweet Liberty.

It’s hot here in Arizona, and I’m enjoying the snowy mountain scene. This was taken from our front porch (facing west) at sunrise.

Please enjoy reading the next installment of Sweet Liberty.

 

Chapter 8

 

Following the Conagree River, the travelers planned to cross it near the junction of the Catawba River. From there they would take a northward journey on the eastern bank of the Catawba until they reached Charlotte, North Carolina.

Following Nate’s instructions from the night before, Will determined the safest point to ford the river. After hastily making a raft, they transported the wagon to the opposite bank without mishap. Across the river, Will abandoned the raft as Nate had told him to. Now it would be easy for Nate to find their trail.

 

***

 

Long after Will returned from his nightly excursion, Flossie lured Ross into the woods away from camp. While Will and Libby slept, Flossie seductively disrobed for Ross. Then, as always, he quickly satisfied himself. Instead of returning to camp immediately like they always had before, Flossie insisted on talking for a while.

“We’ve been together a lot lately, Hiram,” Flossie said, not at all confident in her words. “Like this, I mean. I want you to know that the only reason I keep coming with you is because I love you.”

“You don’t love me. You just love the sex I give you.”

“No, I don’t. I’ve been with men a lot better at that than you are. I love you, and I want to marry you.”

“I don’t love you,” he said, “and I certainly don’t want to marry you. I followed your sister so I could convince her to marry me.”

“But you keep coming to me. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

“It means sex with you is good. It means that Libby would never let me bed her. It doesn’t mean that I love you. Now that I know that you think you love me, I won’t be coming to you anymore. You’re nothing but a child tramp, and I have no intention of marrying either a child or a tramp. Get dressed. I’m taking you back to camp.”

Immediately, Flossie started dressing. “You should have stayed in Charleston, Hiram, because my sister will never marry you.”

“Of course, she will,” he insisted. “I’ve always gotten what I want—like my medical schooling and my practice. There’s no reason I won’t get what I want now.”

“Medical schooling and a practice don’t have minds of their own,” she warned. “Liberty Woods does, and she always lives up to her name.”

 

***

 

While traveling the next day, Flossie drove the wagon while Libby sat beside her. Speaking tentatively, she asked, “Libby? What’s love?”

Abandoning her mending of Will’s shirt, Libby shot her startled gaze to her sister’s face. She hesitated to answer, though. What did she know of love? Nothing! But when she noticed the sincerity etched in Flossie’s expression, and Libby knew she had to reply—somehow. “I honestly don’t know, Flossie. I haven’t found love myself yet, so I can’t very well answer your question.”

“Then what do you think it is?”

“I imagine it’s a number of things combined.” Libby paused a moment to collect her thoughts. She hadn’t expected this question and needed a few seconds to think of a plausible explanation. But she could think of nothing. If only, she’d had some experience so she could explain the emotion.

To her amazement, words came out that Libby hadn’t even known were in her mind. “Two people should be friends to begin with—probably best friends. They should be able to tell each other everything. And they should enjoy being together. I imagine they should also have several things in common—like background and religious beliefs. No, Flossie. I don’t see how any one thing could possibly constitute love.”

“You mean it isn’t sex like it was with Mama and Papa?” Flossie asked.

“I think their love for each other came long before sex, Flossie. Sex is only a small part of love. At least, that’s my opinion. As you know, it’s possible to have sex with every man on earth, but it isn’t possible to love all of them. Do understand what I’m trying to say?”

“I think so.”

“I hope so,” Libby mumbled as she returned her full attention to her needlework.

 

***

 

After dinner Will approached Libby while she washed the dishes. “What do you think of Dr. Ross, Libby?”

“He’s a very helpful man—when he wants to be,” she replied, handing him a towel. “Here. You dry tonight. Flossie isn’t feeling well, so I told her to lie down. And before you ask, she didn’t want Hiram to check her. She said it’s only an upset stomach.”

“Do you like Dr. Ross?” he prompted, accepting the towel then picking up a cup to dry.

“He’s nice enough, I suppose.” She paused to study him a moment then asked, “Why do I have a feeling that you don’t think I should?”

“Because I don’t. And I can’t understand why you like him after what he did to you the night you sent …”

Libby interrupted and returned to her chore. “I told you not to mention his name, and I meant it. As for what Hiram did, he simply got carried away. It happens to the best of men on occasion.”

“I don’t understand you, Libby. Can’t you see what kind of man Dr. Ross is? Can’t you see that he isn’t what he wants you to think he is? I don’t trust him, and I don’t think you should, either. And I don’t care what you say about using his name; I’m going to do it. Nate agrees with me.”

“That man isn’t with us now, Will,” she worded, hiding her true feelings. If Will realized how deeply she missed Nate, he would pester her about going back to find him. And she was afraid that she would eventually lose her resolve and relent to his request. “He injured Hiram in a fit of rage. I no longer care what he believes, because he’s a man who can’t contain his violence.”

“But you used to care,” Will insisted, “when he was with us. I know you did. And I know something else, too. You like Nate more than any other man you’ve ever met. I could tell by the way you acted while he was here, and I can tell by the way you act now. You hardly talk, and you hardly eat. You still like him, Libby, and I think you even miss him.”

“Nonsense. How could you possibly think that I miss such an arrogant, aggressive, hot-tempered, violent, opinionated man? I can’t believe that you would even entertain such a thought.”

“I think he misses you, too,” Will continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “I know he likes you a lot, or he never would have kissed you.”

Toying with the water, Libby responded absently. “Do you honestly believe that?”

“I sure do,” Will declared.

But when he tried to continue the conversation, she refused. She didn’t want to listen to anything more about what a young man with no experience thought about Nate’s interest in her.

Once Libby and Will finished the dishes, Ross drew her aside and spent a long time enumerating his reasons for them to marry. When he finally proposed, she turned him down and left, in no mood to go through that conversation, either.

 

***

 

A few nights later Will and Nate sat together, each smoking a pipe and sharing from a bottle of rye.

“You haven’t said anything to your sister about our little meetings, have you?” Nate asked after a long silence that he was reluctant to break.

“Hell no! She’d be furious if I did that.”

“Have you been using proper grammar like I told you to? You seem to be remembering quite well now.”

“Libby even commented on how well I’ve been doing the last couple of days.”

Nate’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name. If he didn’t want Will to know how much he missed her, he had to respond casually. “Oh? What did she say?”

“She told me that our having met you did have some good behind it.” He paused a moment then added, “I think she misses you, Nate. She isn’t the person she was before you came into her life.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“Why would you ask a stupid question like that?” Will asked in astonishment. “Libby would never admit to being attracted to a man. How can you think she’d admit that she actually missed one?”

“I don’t know her very well.”

“You’re not the same, either,” Will observed. “You’ve changed a lot since you left us.”

Even though he didn’t care what Will thought of any perceived changes in him, Nate shrugged and said, “I didn’t realize that. What makes you think so?”

“You don’t talk nearly as much as you used to. You used to go on and on, but now it’s hard to get you to say much at all—except ask questions about Libby. And you haven’t even said her name since you left. Do you know what I think? I think you miss her as much as she misses you. Hell, you can’t even make yourself say her name. Why don’t you come back to camp with me tonight so you two can patch things up?”

Nate studied the glowing tobacco in his pipe. Will’s suggestion was tempting. During his solitary travel, he often berated himself for not going to a city and finding release in the arms of a prostitute. Thinking of Libby every second was wearing on his nerves, and he spent many hours trying to rid himself of those thoughts.

But every time he considered paying for relief, he couldn’t. His need to hold a woman wasn’t the same as it had been. Before when he thought or dreamed of intimacy, the woman was always without facial features. Now all the women in his dreams had Libby’s face. The hair color could be blonde, brunette, bright red, black, brown, or Libby’s auburn. But the face was always the same—the one he could clearly see in the embers of his pipe at that very moment.

So he continued to follow the travelers, continued to kill their food, continued to be near in case of trouble, in case Libby wanted him to come back.

“There are times,” Nate said, “that I can be a damned fool.”

“Why do you say that?” Will asked.

“Because I stay with you and your companions when all I succeed in doing is torturing myself.” Nate paused then gazed over at Will as he changed the subject. “Is that bastard still bedding Flossie?”

“Not that I know of, but I don’t think either one of them would admit it if he is.”

“I hope not. He hasn’t bothered your other sister, has he? Because, if he has …” Nate fell silent for a few moments, unsure he should make his admission. After taking another sip of his rye, he sighed. “Let’s just say I’ll wait until he’s away from her, hunt him down, and finish the job I started the other night.”

Will studied him. “I doubt he’s bothered her, because Libby doesn’t pay much attention to him. But then again, she doesn’t pay much attention to any of us anymore. She mostly stays by herself.”

Nate sighed again. He would like to think that was a good sign, that she missed him and wanted him to return; but his heart would break if he allowed himself those thoughts and they didn’t come to fruition. He’d left without complaint because he’d wanted to make Libby happy, to give her the one thing that only he could—his absence when she needed it. But from the things Will said, he had failed. The irony tore his heart. He wanted her to be happy by doing everything she wanted, but she was apparently miserable.

To take his mind off his distressing thoughts, he said, “You’ve been doing pretty well at poker these past few nights. I think it’s high time for you to learn how to lose money like a man now that you can play cards like one. Go get the deck out of my saddlebags, and we’ll play for small stakes tonight.”

 

***

 

Still upset over Ross’s rejection, Flossie asked to take a walk after they made camp instead of helping with the chores. To her surprise, Libby gave Flossie the time alone and collected firewood for her sister.

Wandering aimlessly, Flossie broke a tree branch or otherwise marked her trail each time she made a turn. She was already a good distance from camp when she heard a snarling sound from a rocky ledge nearby. Glancing up, she saw a large mountain lion crouching for its deadly leap onto her. She opened her mouth to scream in terror as the cat slumped to the ground with an arrow piercing its throat.

Pivoting quickly, she noticed a man a little shorter than Nate but equally muscular standing behind her with a bow in his hand. He was about Will’s age and wore buckskin leggings with no shirt. His long, black hair was loose, and he had a beaded headband around his forehead. Her mind spun. What would this Indian do to her? Would he carry her away as his captive? Would he abuse her? Worse yet, would this brawny Indian take her captive so she never saw her family again?

That was her last thought before blackness overcame her.

When she woke, he knelt beside her. She started to scoot away, but he stopped her by gently grasping her upper arm and spoke with a thick English accent. “It’s all right, miss. I won’t hurt you.”

Startled by his vocabulary and accent, she exclaimed, “You speak English!”

“Yes. My father was a British officer, and I was educated in England. Are you all right?”

“I think so. You saved my life.”

“Possibly.” He examined her, obviously pleased by her appearance. “My name is Wild Bear—the son of a Cherokee woman and a British officer. Who are you?”

“Flossie Wood.”

“You’re very dark—skin, hair, eyes. But you don’t look Indian. Is one or both of your parents of Spanish descent?”

“Mama was.”

“Was? Did she die?”

“Mama and Papa were both murdered,” she explained, studying him with interest. “Do you think I’m pretty?”

“Very.”

“Then may I kiss you?” she asked. “To thank you for saving my life?”

When he bent over her, his mouth captured hers in a kiss filled with desire. His hands roamed over her body slowly, lingering at her breasts. She’d been with many men, but none had ever made her feel like this—not even Ross. To show her acceptance, she slid her fingertips up his arms and across his broad shoulders to his smooth, bare chest. His muscles rippled under her light, taunting fingernails as she drew them down his hard stomach to the waistband of his buckskin leggings.

“Goodness, Flossie,” he whispered hotly as he gazed down at her. “You may be young, but you certainly know how to make a man happy. There’s nothing I’d like more than to show you how much I want you.”

“Then show me,” she returned, “because I didn’t learn how to make a man happy without practice. I can make you even happier, too. If you want me that much, it’s all right.”

“No, Flossie,” he said, “we aren’t married. What we can do, though, is sit and talk for a while.”

Intrigued by this young man who showed so much restraint, she rose then sat down on a nearby log and watched as he sat down beside her.

“Men don’t usually want to talk to me,” she said. “They’d rather do other things.”

“I’m not like most men.”

A long time passed before Flossie announced that she should return to camp before someone came looking for her. Escorting her most of the way back, he kissed her passionately once more before they parted.

 

***

 

The following evening, Flossie again requested some solitude. This time Libby made her wait until after dinner and dishes, and she insisted upon joining Flossie for a while. Libby wanted to ask Flossie about her strange behavior that afternoon, and it seemed like the most appropriate time and place for her to do so. Unfortunately, Flossie refused to discuss what was bothering her, so Libby returned to camp alone.

When Flossie hadn’t returned by nightfall, Libby was frantic. Ross was of little help. He constantly told her to relax, that Flossie would be back any minute. Will also did little to relieve her anxiety. Although he seemed as worried as she, he continually spoke of what Nate would do if he were there. Not wanting him to disappear as well, Libby refused to let him leave camp when he asked to. Finally, Will took her aside to talk with her.

“You’ve got to let me go, Libby,” he pleaded. “I can get Nate and bring him back within an hour. I know exactly where he is. Let me go get him. He’ll know what to do.”

“You know where he is?” she asked, unable to believe his words. “How?”

“He never really left us, Lib. I’ve been visiting with him every night after everybody’s asleep. When I’m out hunting for food, he’s there, too. In fact, he’s killed most of the food we’ve eaten since you sent him away. What do you say, Libby? Will you let me go get him?”

Libby paused. It would be nice to have Nate back, but she doubted the advisability of it. She was almost terrified that he would try to kiss her again, because she didn’t think she could resist him any better now than she could several days ago. She didn’t feel she could trust herself with him.

But Will was right. If anybody could find Flossie, it was Nathaniel Payne, Jr. After a heavy sigh, she said, “All right. He does know the country better than we do, and he certainly knows a lot about tracking.”

“Thanks, Libby,” Will said as he grabbed up his saddle and started toward his horse. “You won’t be sorry. I promise.”

Following him at a trot to keep up, Libby waited until he was cinching the saddle before she spoke. Her normally soft voice was so filled with distress that he halted abruptly to stare at her. “And, Will? Please tell him that I’m sorry.”

“I will, sis.” Will smiled reassuringly and patted her shoulder, “but you should probably tell him yourself when he gets here. I’ll be back as soon as I can. And don’t worry. I know exactly where to find him. I won’t get lost like Flossie did.”

Hoof beats in the distance attracted Libby’s attention. They were coming quickly, and she prayed it was Nate and Will. Scrambling from her seat beside the fire, she watched the trees in the direction of the sound anxiously.

“Dear God, please, let it be Nate,” she prayed under her breath. He would know how to find Flossie. His violence against Ross made no difference now. Nate could beat him to death, and it wouldn’t bother her. All she cared about was getting her sister back safely, and Nate could do exactly that.

When she saw the men, tears sprang to her eyes. Despite what she’d said to him, despite the horrible way she’d treated him, Nate had come back. Now she knew that he didn’t hold a grudge. He hadn’t even dismounted yet, but she could already feel his strong, muscular arms around her as he comforted her and promised that everything would be all right.

The thought brought a sudden realization to her. All this time she’d hidden the depth of emotion that she felt for him not only from the others but herself, as well. How foolish she’d been to send Nate away! She’d missed him more than even she had imagined possible. And the closer he got, the heavier her heart became, the more ravaged her uncontrollable sobs of relief and expectation.

 

Chapter 9

 

Even from a distance, Nate could tell that Libby was crying hysterically. But where was Ross and why wasn’t he comforting her? Quickly dismounting, Nate handed his reins to Will with instructions to walk the horses for a while before rubbing them down.

Racing to Libby’s side, he embraced her. Her arms slid around his back to return his hold. Being able to comfort her like this, having her accept his comfort, was the most satisfying moment of his life, and it gave him hope that she would someday forgive him for having lost his temper the other night.

“It’s all right now, Miss Liberty,” he said. “You’re not alone anymore. Where’s that no-good, blundering idiot, anyway?”

“Gone,” she said, sobbing against his chest. “I told him that … Will went for you. He said that … we didn’t need you … to find Flossie. He said he could. Then he left.”

“That damned bas…” he growled. “What the hell’s wrong with him? He can’t find her in the dark. We have to wait until morning. So, what does he do? He leaves you alone. If there are Indians around here, you could have been killed—or, worse yet, kidnapped. I’ll never forgive him for leaving you here alone. Never!”

In his embrace, her sobs began to subside. “What about Flossie, Nate? Hiram had to go find her.”

“He can’t track her at night, Miss Libby. He’d never find a trail. The best thing to do is stay put and pray she can find her way back.”

“You can look for her at night, can’t you?” she asked hopefully. “You know how to do things like that. You know how to do everything.”

“Not everything, I’m afraid,” he replied. “Honest, Miss Libby. Nobody can track at night without a torch or lantern, and that draws attention to yourself. Even Indians don’t attempt it without a full moon. And with an overcast night like tonight, we wouldn’t have a chance of finding her. It’s best that we stay here and wait. But first thing in the morning, I’ll try to find her for you—if she doesn’t wander into camp during the night, that is.”

“What if Hiram doesn’t come back?”

“Damn! For such a little runt, he can sure cause a hell of a lot of trouble. If he doesn’t come back, I’ll find him, too. I’d rather not because he was so damned stupid to leave in the first place, but I’ll do it because it will make you happy. I’ve told you all along that he’s a blundering idiot, and this proves it.”

“Just because he doesn’t know much about traveling doesn’t mean he’s an idiot,” Libby said in the doctor’s defense. “He knows medicine, or he wouldn’t be a doctor.”

“If he knows so damned much about medicine,” Nate shot irritably, “why the hell didn’t that fool know that you have to boil water and strain it before you drink it if it smells the least bit odd?”

“That’s something you would only learn on the trail,” she said in Hiram’s defense.

“Is it? Do you know where I learned it, Miss Libby? I learned it at the University of Pennsylvania—when I was taking courses to be a doctor.”

Libby stared up at him in disbelief. But before she could say anything, he smiled down at her. He ran his finger along her jaw, around her chin, and up to her ear on the opposite side. She shivered under his light touch.

“That’s right, Miss Libby,” he said in a deep, husky voice filled with desire. “I was planning to be a doctor. My father thought that I, as the eldest son, should make an example of myself. I was supposed to be a doctor and my two younger brothers were to be a lawyer and a banker. He had everything planned—even the type of men my sisters should marry.”

“Then you know something about medicine.”

“I also know about law and financing. When I realized that I didn’t want to be a doctor, I studied each to see if I might be more interested in either of them. Obviously, I wasn’t. I’m much more suited to some type of outdoor work. That’s one reason I took up trapping. I enjoyed that for quite a while and did quite well with it. I have enough money in the bank so I can start farming tomorrow if I want to. I already have the land, too. But before I could start working it, I wanted enough money available to support myself in case of bad weather. I’ve done well enough trapping that I can take a loss for about three years straight before I have to worry about how I’ll live. That kind of bad luck is unlikely, so I think I’m ready to start a new career.”

Before Libby could respond, Ross returned. Infuriated by what he saw, he demanded, “What are you doing here, Payne? And why are you holding Libby like that? Let go of her, and get out of here. You aren’t needed or wanted.”

Not wanting to upset Libby further by encouraging an argument, Nate released her. She turned so her back was to him. Then, to his amazement, she grabbed his wrists and crossed his arms around her ribs. His first instinct was to kiss her hair, but he stifled it. His second instinct was to tighten the embrace a little—to let her know that he supported her. Again he held himself back. This was Libby’s argument, and she was obviously determined to fight it herself. Even the soft tone of her voice relayed that as she spoke to Ross.

“Nate came back as soon as he heard that Flossie’s missing. He’s going to find her for me. That’s why I say that he’s welcome to stay with us. Now I expect you to apologize, Hiram. You reacted like a spoiled child when you saw him.”

“Apologize?” Ross repeated in a rage. “I’ll do no such thing! He only came back because he wants you in his bedroll. Why else do you think he won’t let you go?”

“Because I’m holding him,” Libby declared. “Now apologize.”

Ross’s eyes narrowed in anger then spoke grudgingly. “I’m sorry.”

Libby turned in Nate’s arms and rose on her toes to kiss his cheek lightly. “Thank you for coming to our rescue again, Nate. I appreciate it.”

“As always, Miss Libby, you’re welcome.” Oh, how he wished he could show her exactly how much he’d missed her. But he couldn’t—not with Ross watching him. Maybe he could have a few more private moments with Libby after the doctor went to sleep. Then he could tell her, and possibly demonstrate how he felt. No, that would only prove to Libby that Ross was right.

To avoid his thoughts, he said, “I like helping you and your relatives.”

She smiled up at him softly. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go to bed now. With you here, I know everything will be all right. Good night, everyone.”

As the men echoed her words, Libby wearily strolled to her bedroll.

 

A few minutes later, Ross began a verbal confrontation. Nate glanced over at Libby, who didn’t even stir.

“Answer me!” Ross demanded. “What makes you think that you can wander back in here and take control of Libby?”

Nate drew back his fist but thought better of hitting the smaller man. If he started another fight, Libby wouldn’t even consider forgiving him. His hand dropped back to his side as he replied, equally angry. “I didn’t wander back. Libby invited me through Will—and you know it. She told me that you left when she mentioned that she’d sent Will to get me.”

“That child has been trying to keep Libby and me apart since I first met him.”

“I ain’t no child!” Will protested vehemently. “I’m a man, ‘n’ I aim to prove it!”

As Will passed him to attack Ross, Nate grabbed him around the chest to restrain him. “Don’t bother, Will. It’s not worth a fight.”

“But that bastard called me a child.”

“I realize that. But you know how Liberty feels about fighting. Of course, you’re insulted. I don’t blame you. He insulted me, too. But I didn’t hit him—despite how badly I wanted to. Come on now. Relax.”

When Nate felt Will relax in his arms, he released him. Immediately, Will propelled himself through the air, knocking Ross to the ground and hitting him twice in the face. Nate pulled him off and slapped him with a backhand across the side of the head. Will sprawled to the ground on his back, then Nate quickly straddled him. Will stared up in at Nate astonishment.

“What’d you do that for?” Will asked, rubbing the side of his head.

“I told you no fighting, and I meant exactly that. Learning to restrain yourself when you’re insulted is part of becoming a man.”

“Look who’s talking,” Ross exclaimed. Pausing he spat blood into his hand along with part of a tooth. “You broke my tooth. I’ll see you pay for that.”

Nate stepped over Will to glare at Ross. “If I were you, I’d shut up, Ross. Next time I might not see fit to stop him. In fact, if it weren’t for Miss Libby’s loathing of violence, I wouldn’t have stopped him this time.”

“I’m surprised you did—considering you didn’t even give me a chance to fight back the other night.”

“That was different. You were acting like the bastard you are, and I was protecting Miss Libby’s honor. If you hadn’t assaulted her, I wouldn’t have attacked you.”

“So that’s what they call blind jealousy now—protecting a woman’s honor.”

“I wasn’t jealous!” Nate denied. “Liberty is a lady and deserves to be treated like one. No man can come to her one night and kiss her like you did the next without me taking matters into my own hands. I won’t have you—or anybody else for that matter—taking advantage of Liberty or her hospitality. Do you understand?”

Ross glared up at him. “Oh, I understand, all right. You plan to beat any man who even looks at her with a little interest.”

“That’s not true. Miss Libby is perfectly free to be with any man she pleases. It’s only those she doesn’t want to be with that I intend to protect her from. And that, doctor, includes you.”

“Are you insinuating that she doesn’t want to be with me?”

“I’m not insinuating anything, you damned idiot! I’m telling you! Keep your bloody hands off Liberty as long as I’m traveling in this party. She’s a lady. If I have to fight you to the death to defend her honor, I’ll damned well do it. And another thing, you little bastard, don’t you ever try to tell me that I’m jealous again, because I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life if you do.”

Holding his handkerchief to his mouth, Ross got to his feet and glared at Nate. “Don’t threaten me, Payne. It could be your undoing. Libby sees you as an aggressive, arrogant boor, and it wouldn’t take much effort to assure that she hates you forever.”

With those words, Ross stalked away from them, leaving Nate and Will alone. Sighing, Nate dropped to his knees and sat down cross-legged on the ground. As Nate doodled in the dirt with his finger, Will joined him, waiting several seconds before he spoke.

“Why did you lie to him, Nate?” Will asked.

“What do you mean?” Nate replied, his agonized tone again betraying his calm exterior.

“You are jealous of Ross. If I can see how you feel about Libby, he sure as hell can. Why did you tell him that you aren’t?”

“Because I’m not,” Nate insisted. “I’ve never been jealous of another man over a woman, and I’m definitely not jealous of that little bastard. I don’t even believe Miss Libby sees anything worthwhile in him.”

Will shook his head. “You don’t know my sister, Nate. She can find something worthwhile in everybody. She looks for it until she does. In fact, she’s probably already spotted something in him.”

“You can’t be serious. She’s too intelligent to be fooled by that obnoxious bastard. She’s already proven that I don’t fool her, so she could never fall prey to Ross’s feeble attempts to sway her. Don’t forget, she already thinks I’m arrogant, conceited, and quick-tempered—not to mention aggressive.”

“But you’re also gentle, understanding, and the most attractive man she’s ever met.”

“You’ll get in trouble if she hears you putting words in her mouth like that.”

Will grinned sheepishly. “It’s a good thing those exact words came out of her mouth.”

Unable to believe they were having this conversation, Nate shook his head. “I know you’re trying to play matchmaker with Liberty and me, Will, but it won’t work. And it’s not that I don’t appreciate what you’re trying to do. I had a lot of time to think after Miss Libby sent me away, and I’ve come to a very serious decision. We aren’t meant to be together. We have totally different personalities and ideals. I’ve accepted that. Now you need to, too.”

“Did you know,” Will asked with a hint of laughter in his voice, “that my sister talks in her sleep?”

Nate was so taken aback by Will’s abrupt change in conversation that he stared at the young man in astonishment. “What? Why you mentioned something like that?”

“Because of something she said when I came back to camp the night before last.”

“Just tell me what the hell she said, Will,” Nate said impatiently.

“I checked on her before I went to sleep like I always do. This time she must have been dreaming about you, because she said your name. I decided to see if she’d say anything else. And she did!”

Again Will paused, forcing Nate to prompt him on. “What was it?”

“She said something about how you probably already knew it because you were so conceited, but that she missed your kisses.”

“She said that? Even in her sleep?”

“Does that sound like something I’d make up? Of course, she said it. Do you still think you two aren’t suited for each other?”

Shrugging to hide his conflicting emotions, Nate explained, “It’s hard to say. She was asleep when she said it. Some people say that dreams reveal one’s innermost feelings, but I don’t know. This sounds like something I should give some thought. I think I’ll go to sleep now. Good night, Will.”

 

***

 

Will slept lightly that night and got up the following morning when he heard Libby moving about. Trailing her to the river as she began her day, he stood by silently while she filled the bucket. When she turned around and saw him, she started at his unexpected presence.

“Morning, Libby,” he said with a grin. “May I carry the bucket for you?”

“Thank you,” she agreed, surrendering the heavy pail. “I didn’t expect you to be up so early.”

“I didn’t sleep very well last night. Did you?”

“I slept like a rock. What kept you awake?”

“I don’t know. Nate, I suppose.”

“He can snore quite loudly at times, can’t he,” she agreed with a knowing smile.

“It wasn’t his snoring, Libby. He talks as much in his sleep as he does when he’s awake.”

Libby stared up at him in surprise. “He does? I’ve never heard him.”

“I never heard him before, either, but he did a lot last night. He must have had the same dream over and over, too, because he kept saying that he missed your kisses. I got tired of hearing about it.” Although Libby avoided his scrutiny by gazing at the ground, Will could tell that she was pleased. “Why does he do things like that, Lib? All he seems to think about is you, and I know you’re his favorite thing to talk about. And after last night, I think you’re his favorite thing to dream about, too. Why does he act so stupid like that?”

“I don’t know, Will. That’s something you’ll have to ask him.” They strolled silently for several steps before she asked, “Did Nate honestly say that he missed my kisses?”

“Does that sound like something I’d make up?” he asked. “Of course, he said it—at least three times.”

“Hmm,” she said thoughtfully, like Nate would have done under similar circumstances.

Will gazed down at his sister with a smile. Now that both of them had nibbled at his hook, maybe they’d take it upon themselves to decide they like the bait and swallow it. His plan had worked well on Nate. Will was positive of that. But Libby’s reaction was a little harder to comprehend. He thought that the couple would seek one another out by bedtime and have a long, private talk, but he wasn’t positive. All he had to do now was keep Ross and Flossie from interfering. As concerned as he was about his missing little sister, he was glad she’d disappeared so he could reunite Libby and Nate.

 

During breakfast the four discussed the incidents leading up to Flossie’s disappearance. Libby, Will, and Ross all agreed that Flossie had seemed nervous the day before. She’d often glanced around expectantly. When Nate questioned them on which direction she left camp, Libby gave him a starting point, explaining that she and Flossie had taken a short walk the previous night. Since Flossie had been so nervous, Libby had eventually let her have the privacy she wanted. Libby explained how, when Flossie hadn’t returned by dark, she’d gone to where they’d parted. By then Flossie had already disappeared. The longer she’d been missing, the more anxious the rest had become. Finally, Will had convinced Libby to ask Nate for help in finding her.

“At least, I have a place to begin,” Nate said when everybody had finished explaining what they knew. “Miss Libby, I’d like for you to take me to where you last saw Flossie. Would you like to chaperon us so you can assure yourself that I don’t accost the lady, Ross? Or will it be all right if Will goes with?”

“I don’t want to go, Nate,” Will said. “I wanted to do some target practice—since we’re stopped here for the day, anyway.”

“Go ahead. It certainly won’t hurt your marksmanship—only improve it,” he added with a wink. “What about you, Ross? Are you going to come with to see that I don’t molest Miss Libby?”

“Don’t I have any say in the matter?” Libby asked with only a slight note of indignation in her voice. “After all, I’m the one who’s going with you. Maybe I should be the one to decide if I need a chaperon.”

Nate stared down at her, stunned. It was the first time she’d ever spoken in anything other than a calm tone. As he’d suspected all along, he would be the one to bring out the fire within her. And he knew in his heart that this was only the beginning. Smiling inwardly, he reminded her, “The last time we were alone together you said that you were afraid of me. I don’t want you to be alone with me if you don’t feel you can trust me.”

“I was upset the last time. I realized later that I never believed you would hurt me. I want to show you that I trust you implicitly by going with you alone.”

Rising, Nate extended his hand toward her and continued in a voice filled with tenderness. “Shall we leave now, Miss Libby?”

Laying her hand in his, she let him gently pull her from the log on which she sat. As they left camp, Nate announced that he would bring her back before he followed Flossie’s trail. They strolled away with his left hand casually lying on her left shoulder, while Ross ordered Will to collect more firewood.

“Get it yourself,” Will said defiantly. “I don’t take orders from you anymore. Now that Nate’s back, I do what he says.”

“You’ll do exactly as I say, or you’ll find yourself in serious trouble with Libby. Now get that firewood.”

“I’d sooner take my chances with my sister.”