Bride of the Wild by Carré White

Author:Carré White [White, Carré]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Love Lust Story
Published: 2014-11-16T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

I hardly slept at all, being far too excited about the hunt in the morning. Pa and I packed all the supplies he thought I would need, which consisted of a rifle and ammunition, a heavy winter coat and boots, a man’s fur lined hat, and a hunting knife and flint. Since it was September, the weather felt rather warm still, the nights cooling, but there hadn’t been a hard frost yet. This would change at a higher elevation, and a freak snowstorm in the middle of summer was not unheard of for these mountains.

“All right, Saffron.” Pa tossed the bag into the back of the wagon. “That should do it.”

Amelia came out to see me off, standing on the front porch, while squinting in the sunlight. “Good luck.” Tom appeared then too.

I prayed the night before, getting on my knees by my bed, asking God for guidance. With my deciding to tempt fate and face an unseen foe, there was a possibility I might not return. The mountains held risks far greater than the elements and wild life. There were bands of Indians, who thought nothing of scalping and murdering settlers or kidnapping women. I had heard stories—things that would make your toes curl, but I would face these fears and trust the Lord would not lead me astray.

“Good luck yourself, Amelia.” I said, glancing at the house, which now sported boarded up windows on both floors. “You might still be attacked. Nothing is safe yet at all.” I glanced at my brother. “You watch over her, you hear?”

“I can manage just fine.” He had been upset at not being allowed to join the hunt.

“I won’t be long.” Pa stepped onto the wagon, untying the line from around the brake. “You ready, honey? If you’re late, they’ll leave without you.”

I hurried to the seat. “Bye, Amelia! Bye, Tom!”

“You’re mad for doing this, but I hope you kill the bear,” said Amelia.

“I’ll be back by tomorrow or sooner.” I felt certain we would find the animals quickly. “You won’t even have time to miss me.”

“Ha!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I expect everything to go wrong and worse.”

Pa snapped the lines on Bonnie’s rump. “Yaw, girl.”

“That’s an optimistic way of looking at things,” I grumbled, hoping she wasn’t right.

“You best come back safe,” she called, as we ambled past the barn. “If you die, I’ll never forgive you!”

Tom waved.

I giggled at that, turning and waving. “Oh, Pa. Do hurry. I don’t want to miss them. I’ll be awfully cross if I’m left out.”

“They might’ve gone extra early, honey. A part of me wonders if none of ‘em want a woman along. I’d brace yourself for that outcome.”

My spirits sank. “Do you think they’d really leave without me?”

“I don’t know, but don’t be all upset if they did, all right? You’ve been warned.”

I pouted, mulling over those words. “I feel in my heart that everything is as it should be.”

“If you say so. I’m still not certain why you need to go and risk life and limb on this errand.

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