Frontier Gift of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 5) by Dorothy Wiley
Authors: Dorothy Wiley
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he would ask Sam if he could invite Lucky to join them next year.
He hurried to the general store and, as he entered, he delighted in the store’s unique fragrance. A blend of spices, leathers, grains, coffee, gunpowder, and at least a dozen of other scents. Breedhead still had several customers and would likely have to stay open past the store’s normal closing time. Like most men, Rory dreaded shopping and had procrastinated until the last minute. He quickly selected an assortment oftoys and even found a pretty hair comb for Kelly. After all, she would always be his little girl, even if she was married and had a child of her own.
After he paid, he retrieved his horse from the livery, loaded his packages, and hurried over to the fort to meet up with William. On the days he worked at the apothecary, he and William normally rode to and from Boonesborough together. Kelly would have a nice meal prepared and he didn’t want to be too late. She’d scold them both if her meal got overcooked.
William’s horse, Smoke, stood saddled and waiting outside the office.
“Ready?” William asked him as he entered the sheriff’s office.
“Indeed. It has been a particularly long day.”
“Good night, Dr. McGuffin. Have a safe journey and pleasant visit with your family.”
“Good night Deputy Wallace,” Rory said as he turned to leave.
Speaking to William, Wallace added, “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Don’t worry sheriff, the judge will be here while you’re gone if I need help with anything.”
“I’m not worried,” William said, “I know I’m leaving the town in capable hands. And Judge Webb and Colonel Byrd are here to assist you if needed.”
Wallace stood a little taller and shook William’s hand. “Thank you, Sir. And please have a wonderful time with your family. You’ve earned some time off.”
“Thank you Deputy. I’ll be back in early January, right after the Twelfth Day race.”
“That’s twelve days starting on Christmas, right?”
“Yes,” William said. “The twelve days are 25 December to 5 January. So we should be back home around the seventh or eighth.”
“We’d best be on our way,” Rory said. “You know how your wife gets when we keep her dinner waiting.”
“You mean how
your
daughter gets!” William laughed and snugged his tricorne onto his head. “I do know. Let’s hurry!”
“Gwaaanpa,” Nicole said as Rory opened the door to Kelly and William’s cabin. Not quite two years old, the pronunciation of some words still eluded Nicole.
William’s long legs swept past him and his son-in-law lifted Nicole into his arms before McGuffin could reach her. Whenever William and he arrived together, they’d both race in to see who could pick Nicole up first. The game seemed to amuse his granddaughter.
“Your Father got you first tonight,” Rory told her. “But I’ll win next time!”
“Kiss mama!” Nicole commanded her father and pointed a tiny finger at her mother.
William carried his daughter over to Kelly and gave his wife a big kiss. Riley, their big golden dog, wagged his tail furiously, as he romped next to them. It was another game they all played. As soon as he got home, Nicole would tell her father to kiss her mother and Riley would escort the two over to Kelly. McGuffin suspected that it was William’s favorite of the many games they played.
“How’s my daughter? Did you have a good day helping your mother pack for our trip?” William asked Nicole. He gave Riley a vigorous pat or two and then sat down at the table with Nicole balanced on one leg. Riley instantly jumped up and planted his front legs across William’s other leg. William gave both a big hug.
“She did have a good day,” Kelly answered for her. “We are all packed up and ready to go.”
“Go,” Nicole repeated, “see Unc’ Bear.”
“And have a wonderful family Christmas!” Rory told her. He missed celebrating Christmas with his family at his childhood home on their
He hurried to the general store and, as he entered, he delighted in the store’s unique fragrance. A blend of spices, leathers, grains, coffee, gunpowder, and at least a dozen of other scents. Breedhead still had several customers and would likely have to stay open past the store’s normal closing time. Like most men, Rory dreaded shopping and had procrastinated until the last minute. He quickly selected an assortment oftoys and even found a pretty hair comb for Kelly. After all, she would always be his little girl, even if she was married and had a child of her own.
After he paid, he retrieved his horse from the livery, loaded his packages, and hurried over to the fort to meet up with William. On the days he worked at the apothecary, he and William normally rode to and from Boonesborough together. Kelly would have a nice meal prepared and he didn’t want to be too late. She’d scold them both if her meal got overcooked.
William’s horse, Smoke, stood saddled and waiting outside the office.
“Ready?” William asked him as he entered the sheriff’s office.
“Indeed. It has been a particularly long day.”
“Good night, Dr. McGuffin. Have a safe journey and pleasant visit with your family.”
“Good night Deputy Wallace,” Rory said as he turned to leave.
Speaking to William, Wallace added, “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Don’t worry sheriff, the judge will be here while you’re gone if I need help with anything.”
“I’m not worried,” William said, “I know I’m leaving the town in capable hands. And Judge Webb and Colonel Byrd are here to assist you if needed.”
Wallace stood a little taller and shook William’s hand. “Thank you, Sir. And please have a wonderful time with your family. You’ve earned some time off.”
“Thank you Deputy. I’ll be back in early January, right after the Twelfth Day race.”
“That’s twelve days starting on Christmas, right?”
“Yes,” William said. “The twelve days are 25 December to 5 January. So we should be back home around the seventh or eighth.”
“We’d best be on our way,” Rory said. “You know how your wife gets when we keep her dinner waiting.”
“You mean how
your
daughter gets!” William laughed and snugged his tricorne onto his head. “I do know. Let’s hurry!”
“Gwaaanpa,” Nicole said as Rory opened the door to Kelly and William’s cabin. Not quite two years old, the pronunciation of some words still eluded Nicole.
William’s long legs swept past him and his son-in-law lifted Nicole into his arms before McGuffin could reach her. Whenever William and he arrived together, they’d both race in to see who could pick Nicole up first. The game seemed to amuse his granddaughter.
“Your Father got you first tonight,” Rory told her. “But I’ll win next time!”
“Kiss mama!” Nicole commanded her father and pointed a tiny finger at her mother.
William carried his daughter over to Kelly and gave his wife a big kiss. Riley, their big golden dog, wagged his tail furiously, as he romped next to them. It was another game they all played. As soon as he got home, Nicole would tell her father to kiss her mother and Riley would escort the two over to Kelly. McGuffin suspected that it was William’s favorite of the many games they played.
“How’s my daughter? Did you have a good day helping your mother pack for our trip?” William asked Nicole. He gave Riley a vigorous pat or two and then sat down at the table with Nicole balanced on one leg. Riley instantly jumped up and planted his front legs across William’s other leg. William gave both a big hug.
“She did have a good day,” Kelly answered for her. “We are all packed up and ready to go.”
“Go,” Nicole repeated, “see Unc’ Bear.”
“And have a wonderful family Christmas!” Rory told her. He missed celebrating Christmas with his family at his childhood home on their
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