Anna's Heart (Wilderness Brides Book 2) (14 page)

“Meant no harm to yer missus,” the woodsman said, then moved past Ethan without a backward glance. Ethan stared after him until he disappeared into one of the buildings inside the fort, then turned his attention back on Anna.

“Are you all right?” He reached up to touch her arm. His eyes ran up and down her dress, as if the contact with the trapper might have damaged her in some way, like the fire that had burned her dress the evening before.

Anna shook her head. She offered a smile that left Ethan with a pounding heart. He dropped his hand that was touching her and gripped his rifle tighter. The urge to protect her and keep her safe washed over him like a creek overflowing its banks. No. He couldn’t allow his heart to take over his thinking. He wasn’t ready to risk more heartache in his life.

“No harm done,” she said. “I’m sure it was just an accident.”

Ethan shot another glance in the direction the man had gone. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right,” he said absently. “Let’s go see about those supplies at the trading post and if Stan Moray, the trader, knows any of the men leading the wagons. You stand a better chance of a wagon master letting you come along if he sees that you’re well-outfitted.”

The thought of Anna leaving on her own made his stomach churn again, especially after the encounter with that woodsman. Who would look after her and protect her from men like that once she was on her way to Oregon? He worked the muscles in his jaw and mentally shook his head. It’s what she wanted to do, and it was best this way. He’d already started to care for her more than he wanted to admit.

Stan Moray, the trader, was haggling with an emigrant about the price of flour when Ethan led Anna into the building. The bearded man looked up, his eyes widening when he recognized Ethan. His gaze moved from him to Anna, then he returned his attention to his customer.

Ethan glanced around the store. As usual, prices for goods were extraordinarily high. Moray would bleed as much money out of the unfortunate travelers as he possibly could. The emigrant finally slapped some coins on the crude table made from planks of wood laid over a couple of barrels, and stomped from the store with his sack of flour.

“Ethan Wilder,” Moray called. “Ain’t it a little early for ya to be here? Woulda thought ta see one a yore brothers rather than you.” His eyes drifted to Anna. His beard twitched. “Seems to me yore brother Nate was in the company of a lady last season. Has old Harley got you boys hitched up now?”

Ethan scowled at the man. “The lady needs enough supplies to get her to Oregon, Moray. The usual staples and dry goods. And she’s not paying a penny more than what you’d charge me or my family.” He set his rifle on the counter and leaned forward to stare the trader in the eye.

“Sure, Ethan. A friend of yors is a friend o’mine an’ gets my special prices. Gotta charge them emigrants more, ya know. Gotta make a livin’ somehow.”

Ethan didn’t respond. Moray’s prices for the goods he sold to the emigrants passing through Fort Hall was downright robbery, but it wasn’t any of his business.

“Do you know anything about any of the outfits camped here?” Ethan glanced over his shoulder when a man walked into the store.

Moray shrugged. “Jes the usual types. Farmers lookin’ fer a better life or missionaries eager ta spread the gospel. Tired and sore o’ bein’ on the trail so long. Why ya askin’?”

“Miss Porter is looking to find someone who’ll take her along to Oregon.”

“Lost yore husband, did ya?” Moray looked at Anna. He rubbed at his bearded chin. “Seems like Nate had the same question fer me last summer. Ain’t that odd?”

“That would have been my friend, Cora,” Anna supplied. The trader’s eyes widened. He pointed at her.

“That’s right. That was her name.” He glanced back at Ethan. “What’s goin’ on with you Wilder boys? Operatin’ a business ta get women sent ta Oregon?” He laughed at his own joke.

“Get the supplies together, Moray. I’ll be back first thing tomorrow to pick them up.” Ethan reached for Anna’s arm. “Let’s get back to camp. Maybe we can talk to some of the outfits.”

Anna stayed close to his side as he led her to the door. The man who had walked in moments before stepped aside. He eyed Ethan, then Anna, then said, “Excuse me, I couldn’t help but overhear. If you’re looking for a way to get to Oregon, my company would be glad to take on another wagon.”

Ethan narrowed his eyes, taking the man’s measure. He was dressed in dusty trousers held up by suspenders over a wool shirt. The ends of his pants were stuffed in well-worn boots. The man reached out his hand.

“Jeremy Howell. I’m the leader of our group of families heading to the Willamette Valley.”

Ethan eyed the offered hand, then shook it. “Ethan Wilder.”

“A pleasure, Mr. Wilder. We lost several wagons in a river mishap about a week ago, and, God rest their souls, six members of our group died, including our scout.”

His eyes widened and he held up his hand, as if he was worried that he’d said the wrong thing. “But not to worry. I already hired on a couple of men who said they could scout for us. They’re very familiar with the territory.” He chuckled as if something was funny. “One of them may look a bit off-putting with his eye patch, but the other man assured me he was completely trustworthy.” He glanced from Ethan to Anna. “Did I hear you say only you were looking to go to Oregon, Miss? If you’re in need of a husband, my cousin is in need of a wife.”

Ethan stepped forward before Anna could respond to the question. The mention of a man with an eye patch sent a rush of apprehension down his spine. The man who’d nearly knocked Anna over outside the fort immediately came to mind. If his intuition was correct, there was nothing trustworthy about that woodsman.

Jeremy Howell seemed much too trusting. Regardless, the mention of Anna needing a husband made the pulse throb in his ears as his body tensed. Ethan cursed silently for what he was about to do, but there was no other way around it if he was going to make sure that Anna was safe on her way to Oregon.

“My sister and I would be glad to join your outfit, Mr. Howell.”

Behind him, Moray coughed loudly, and next to him, Anna gasped.

“
E
than
, what are you doing?”

Anna hastened her steps to keep up with Ethan’s long strides as he rushed out of the trader’s store and toward the gate leading out of the fort’s yard.

“Heading back to camp,” he said without looking back.

Anna grabbed his arm to slow him down, but he didn’t budge. She hung on, trying to keep pace with him. She glanced at his profile, and the taut muscles of his cheek and neck.

“I meant, what did you do at the trading post, telling Mr. Howell that I’m your sister?”

“I’m taking you all the way to Oregon. Pretending to be your brother saves your reputation.” He still didn’t look at her. Dodging several men on horseback, he continued out the gate toward their camp beyond the outpost’s adobe walls.

“What? But why?”

Anna collided against his hard body when Ethan stopped abruptly. He turned to stare down at her. The darkness in his eyes softened, as did the rest of his features. He still didn’t look happy, however.

“Because you need someone to look out for you, and you shouldn’t have to marry a stranger just to get to Oregon.”

“But, you can’t go with me to Oregon . . . as my brother,” she stammered.

Why would he make such an impulsive decision in the first place? Protecting her from an unwanted marriage couldn’t be his reason. The Ethan Wilder he tried to portray to the rest of the world wouldn’t care if she had to marry someone or not. Anna leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. Her heart beat wildly against her ribs, and it wasn’t due to exertion from trying to keep up with him.

He glared at her. “Taking you to Oregon is the responsible thing to do.”

Anna didn’t back away from his dark stare. The small glimpse of desperation and longing in his eyes was enough to realize that Ethan was fighting a battle with himself. He still guarded his feelings too much to say what might really be on his mind.

“But what about taking supplies back to Harley’s Hole?”

Ethan chuckled. “If I’m not back home in a couple of weeks, Travis and Trevor will come looking for me. I’ll leave word at the trading post where I’ve gone.”

“You don’t want to go to Oregon. Why would you do that for me, Ethan?” Anna pressed. He seemed to have thought of everything, yet his decision had been made at the spur of the moment. “You should return to your family. Besides, you already said I was dangerous to your health.”

Ethan continued to stare at her. Her eyes widened when a slow grin spread across his face. Her limbs went weak at the instant transformation to his features. This was the true face of the man she’d slowly grown to care for over the weeks, much more than she dare admit to him, at least until she had less conflicting responses from him. More and more, he’d behaved in some way or said something that had made her wonder about his feelings, yet he was either too closed-off or too stubborn to admit it.

“You may be dangerous, but if I can survive you, Miss Anna Porter, I can survive anything,” he drawled slowly.

“Even a trip to Oregon?” she challenged.

“Yes, ma’am, even a trip to Oregon.”

Anna curled her toes inside her shoes to stop the urge to step closer and touch his face. Her cheeks flushed and she couldn’t hold back a slight smile.

“I can’t figure you out, Ethan Wilder. Do you realize you may have to drop your gruff façade and be cordial?” she teased. “Folks on a wagon train are friendly for the most part, and come together like family. I learned that on the journey from Independence to Fort Laramie last year.” She inhaled a breath for courage, then pressed on. “Someday everyone is going to see the man you truly are. You won’t be able to hide behind the pretense of being a coldhearted oaf any longer.”

Ethan’s smile faded. “Don’t be so sure about that, Anna.”

He dropped eye contact and resumed heading in the direction of their camp, retreating once again behind his veil of ice. Anna fell in step beside him. Boldly, she hooked her hand through the crook of his arm. She smiled when he shot her a quick look of surprise.

She leaned toward him and whispered, “It’s perfectly acceptable, since you’re my brother.”

Ethan’s jaw muscle twitched when she laughed to cover up the turmoil racing through her. Teasing Ethan became easier all the time, and as much as he tried to conceal it, it was obvious in his smiles that he enjoyed it, too, to the point where he’d teased her on occasion.

Leaving Harley’s Hole and pursuing something unknown in an unfamiliar land had been on her mind all winter. Running away from the memories and guilt of her past had become less and less important the closer she was to her goal, and the man walking beside her was the reason.

Coming to Fort Hall today had left her nerves a jumbled mess, and rather than looking forward to finally heading for Oregon, she was nervous and unsure about her decision. Ethan’s kiss the night before had changed everything, at least for her. It was still too difficult to read whether he had feelings for her, or whether the kiss truly had been an impulsive accident.

You’re not bold like Cora to come right out and say what’s on your mind, Anna.

What if she mentioned it and he didn’t feel the same? It would be humiliating to ask him if he could ever consider courting her. Every time she’d even approached a personal subject, he’d closed himself off. It was best not to back a bull into a corner.

Anna released his arm once they reached their camp. The young boy sat on a tree stump, whittling a piece of wood with a small knife. He jumped up when he saw Ethan.

“Thanks for taking good care of the horse and mules,” Ethan told the boy, who nodded and eagerly accepted the penny from the man. He ran from camp, back to his wagon that stood with a group of other wagons a short distance away.

“You made a little boy feel important and very happy.” Anna came up beside Ethan, smiling as the boy disappeared from view.

Ethan looked at her, then frowned. “I’m just glad he stayed in camp and did what I asked.”

“I can start supper if you get a fire going,” she said, the awkwardness back now that they’d returned to camp. “You can still change your mind, you know.” She raised her head to gauge his reaction.

His forehead wrinkled in a deep frown. “I ain’t changing my mind. At first light, I’ll pick up your . . . our supplies from Moray and find out when Howell’s outfit is leaving.”

“You might find out this evening.” Anna nudged with her chin toward a man and woman heading their way, skirting around a few other wagons.

The man was Jeremy Howell and next to him walked a whip-thin woman about his height. Blonde curls poked out from under her bonnet as she bounced along. Her hands and arms flailed through the air as if she was waving off a swarm of hornets. Even from a distance, it was evident that she chattered non-stop.

The woman glanced in their direction at that moment, and a wide, toothy smile formed on her lips. She hopped up and down like a little schoolgirl, and waved enthusiastically. She grabbed Mr. Howell’s arm and rushed him along.

“You know her?” Ethan frowned, looking at Anna, then back to the woman.

“Never seen her before in my life.” Smiling, Anna raised her hand to return the wave.

Long before the couple reached the camp, the woman called out to them in greeting while she continued to wave her hand in the air. Anna suppressed a laugh when Ethan groaned. There was no time for him to walk away, if that had been his intention. Jeremy Howell approached, the woman next to him squealing in delight. If he’d spoken, his words had been drowned out by the loud woman.

“You must be Anna Wilder. It is so nice to meet you. I’m Marybeth Howell,” she screeched, opening up her arms. To be polite, Anna raised her own arms for a quick embrace.

“Jeremy, my husband, told me all about you and your brother,” she continued. Her eyes darted to Ethan, and her smile widened. “And what a handsome man he is.” She flicked her wrist at him, smiling broadly while appraising him from top to bottom. “You won’t have any trouble at all finding a wife in Oregon, Mr. Wilder, but women might be scarce out west from what I hear.”

She turned her attention back to Anna, who waited to greet her guest.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, Mrs. Howell. I’m so glad that your husband –”

“Call me Marybeth, Anna. No need for formalities. We’re gonna be such good friends in no time. You must come to supper at our camp.” She flicked her wrist in front of her face. “I make the best corn chowder. Everyone always raves about it. Of course, back in Virginia, when we had fresh corn, it was much better.” Her eyes sparkled, darting from Anna to Ethan. “The rest of the families are anxious to meet you. When Jeremy told us we were going to have another wagon join us, we were delighted.”

“That’s very kind of you, Marybeth. Is there something you’d like –”

“Supper’s cooking over the fires right now. I told Jeremy we needed to stop by and invite you before you fixed your own, didn’t we Jeremy?” She turned to her husband, then back to Anna without waiting for a response. “I’m always aware when new folks arrive, and make sure to invite them their first night. To be neighborly, you know. Back in Virginia we always had dinner guests nearly four times a week. Say you’ll join us. We’re camped right over yonder.” She pointed at a group of wagons that were within easy sight.

Anna stared at the woman, then glanced at Ethan. His face was impassive, but a warning flashed in his eyes and there was a slight shake of his head. He looked as sick as he’d appeared that evening after drinking the vile tea she’d given him.

“If you’ll be kind enough to give us a few minutes at our wagon, we’ll –”

“Lovely. I do hope you like corn chowder. People always say mine is delicious.” Marybeth clasped Anna’s hands between hers as if she was trying to squash a pesky fly. “We’ll see you in a few minutes. “Come along, Jeremy.”

Abruptly, she turned and reached for her husband’s arm, dragging him out of camp.

Anna’s hand went to her mouth. She snorted, then laughed.

“You go. I’ll find some jerky in the wagon.” Ethan turned away from her and headed for his horse.

Anna reached out and grabbed his arm before he had the chance to walk away. “Oh, no. This was your idea. I’m not going to meet the rest of the people with whom we’ll be traveling and make an excuse why you’re not with me.” She smiled up into his scowling face.

“Are you ill?” He did look rather pale all of a sudden. “I promise, I didn’t feed you any puke weed, but you look sick to your stomach.”

“I’m starting to feel that way,” he grumbled.

Anna held his arm. “I think it’s time to meet the folks with whom you’ll be traveling, Ethan.” She laughed at the growing displeasure on Ethan’s face. “You said you could survive anything if you could survive me, remember?”

“You’re not like that woman,” he grumbled. “Is it too late to change my mind about going?”

Anna paused. A rush of dread came over her and the lighthearted mood she was in disappeared. Was he serious? The slight twitch in the corner of his mouth and the twinkle in his eye gave her the answer she needed.

“You have every right to change your mind, Ethan,” she whispered, then held her breath.

He shook his head. “For some reason, I must hold you in high regard, Anna
Wilder
. Being around you is either gonna make me stronger, or it’ll kill me.”

He nudged his chin in the direction the Howells had gone, a clear indication that he was ready to face Marybeth Howell again.

“Let me grab my shawl.”

Anna rushed to the wagon, raising her hand to her chest. She trembled when she reached for her shawl. Ethan had called her Anna Wilder, and that he held her in high regard. It didn’t mean anything. He’d said it as a joke since Marybeth had called her by that name, but it had a nice ring to it. She mentally shook her head. Could she go through with this charade of being Ethan’s sister? Could he?

“We’d better go now, or I’m gonna get cold feet.”

Anna sucked in a surprised breath. A slight thrill raced down her spine at Ethan’s deep voice so close behind her. How had he approached so quietly? He took the shawl from her hand and draped it around her shoulders, his hands lingering for a moment too long.

Anna gripped the front of her shawl, and nodded. She reached for his arm, allowing him to lead her to the other camp. Nothing about this felt as if she was his sister. Ethan’s mixed signals continued to be confusing and aggravating. The man probably wasn’t sure himself what it was he wanted.

They passed several camps of travelers, most of them looking trail weary. Oxen and mules appeared skinny, eagerly feeding on the grasses growing along the creek. They still had a long journey ahead of them, with some of the most unforgiving land yet to cover, from what she remembered folks saying last summer. The hot desert was still ahead of them, as well as impossibly steep mountains further west. Anna gripped Ethan’s arm tighter.

“Thank you, for all you’ve done for me and continue to do, Ethan.” She glanced up at him as they walked.

His steps faltered for a moment as their eyes met. Whether he was about to say something or not was lost when Marybeth’s shrill greeting pierced the air.

“I’m so glad you’re here. Come and meet the rest of the families.” Her arms spread wide as if she was going to embrace them both, but she stopped short and simply stood in front of them like an eagle hovering over prey. Her sharp eyes went from Anna to Ethan, then lingered on Anna’s hand gripping Ethan’s arm.

Marybeth moved aside, and with a sweeping motion of her hand led them among a group of families who stood or sat around several fires within the circle of their wagons. The men stood, waiting their turn to shake Ethan’s hand while Jeremy Howell made the introductions. His wife pulled Anna away from Ethan and toward the women.

“That brother of yours sure is protective,” Marybeth proclaimed. “Doesn’t want to let you out of his sights, does he?” She laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a brother look at his sister the way he looks at you. I declare, I think I’d swoon if my own husband looked at me that way.”

Anna groped for the right words as her pulse throbbed in her ears. What was Marybeth talking about? “Ethan’s a very intense man. He’s always been rather –”