Frontier Highlander Vow of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 4) (28 page)

“Indeed,” William agreed. “Several locations responded to my letters of inquiry and confirmed what I suspected—that the four robbers
committed numerous murders during their raids of the other settlements.”

“I’m glad Artis wasn’t among them,” Webb said.

“She very nearly was,” William said.

Bear took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe how close he came to losing her. He suddenly needed to find her and excused himself from the conversation. When he located Artis, he locked his hands against her spine and drew her close. Without speaking, he rested his head on hers, just wanting to hold her like this forever.

While the others continued to celebrate and inspect the new candlelit home—one of the finest in the entire Boonesborough area—Artis took Bear’s arm and they strolled a short distance away.

The soft poignant notes of the violin drifted through the thick trees surrounding them. “Bear, the beauty of our home and our land exceeds everythin’ I could have hoped for. I could never have imagined this when I stepped onto that ship and left Scotland,” Artis said.

“Nor I, love,” Bear agreed.

“But here we are and we’re about to be married.”

He reached for her hand. “My heart married ye the very first time I beheld your face.”

“And my heart dreamed of ye when I was but a young daydreamin’ lass walkin’ the Highland hills.”

“Speakin’ of the Highlands, what do ye say we call our new home Highland?” he asked.

“That’s perfect!” she declared. “May we always feel at home at Highland.”

“Are ye ready to be married my love?” he asked.

“First I must tell ye somethin’.” Her courage floundered, but she forced
herself to continue. “It grieves me to reveal this to ye, but I feel that I must before we say our final vows.”

“I will na have ye grievin’ on yer weddin’ day, so whatever it is, save it for tomorrow.”

“Nay, this is somethin’ I must tell ye now,” she pressed. “I should have told ye before now. But I have done my best to forget it ever happened. And, I confess, I thought that perhaps I would never have to tell ye. ”

His gaze searched her eyes. “All right love.”

“But while Kelly was helpin’ me get ready, she told me that ye would know.”

“I do na understand what ye are tryin’ to say.”

“Bear, when I was on board the ship on the way to the colonies, the Captain began lookin’ at me in a way that was too familiar. He kept doin’ that and I kept tryin’ to avoid him. I had na family or close friends to confide in. After about two weeks, he caught me and forced me into his cabin. I fought him with all that I had, but he was a large burly man and he threw me onto his bed. He gagged me and had his way. It was my first time and I bled on his sheet. Afterwards, he told me he would have me thrown overboard if I dared to tell anyone. So, to my shame, I kept quiet about it and stayed in my quarters for the remainder of the journey.”

“Oh my dear Artis, what a bloody bastard. I wish I could get my hands around his neck right now,” Bear swore.

“I know that a woman who is na longer pure is not as desirable to a man, but I hope ye can find it in yer heart to overlook that I have been soiled by another man.”

“Nay! Na man could ever soil ye. Yer soul is sinless and untainted. Yer heart is pure and virtuous. Yer body is beautiful and innocent.” He drew her against him and his mouth grazed her earlobe. “I love ye,” he whispered into her ear. Then he kissed her. His lips felt warm and tender against hers.

Tears of joy slipped down her checks as her smile broadened. He had
not let her down. He accepted her as she was. Her relief was so great her heart felt light and ecstatic. “Now, I can marry ye.”

He gently wiped the tears from her face with his big hand. “Let us both think no more about the past—let us think only on our future. Especially tonight.”

“Aye.”

They strolled, arm in arm, back to the others.

Artis glanced up at the stars popping out, one by one, with each step she took. If she lived to be a hundred, she swore to herself that she would try to never look back again. She would always try to look forward.

And, she would waste no more time looking down at her feet. During the day, she would let the light of the sun shine upon her upturned face. And at night, she would gaze at the stars that light the streets of heaven.

She would also look up to Bear—not just because of his size—but because he was a good man. He’d just proven that to her once again. She gave him a smile of thanks.

“Are you ready to become husband and wife?” William asked as they reached him.

“Aye!” they both said at once.

Bear had spent weeks dreaming of the moment Artis would become his wife. And now the time was nigh. He was marrying an angel and he knew it for a certainty. She was a wee bit of heaven he could hold in his arms. Created just for him. He wasn’t sure what he had done to deserve such a blessing, but he thanked God for it.

She looked like an angel too. An angel who was a particular favorite of heaven, for on his last visit, the doctor had pronounced her fully healed with no permanent damage. With every day that passed since her injury, she’d grown stronger and seemed healthier than ever. And now, she radiated such grace and beauty she nearly glowed.

And if he wasn’t mistaken, based on the way her beautiful gown showed off her figure, she was able to wear a corset again too. The corset made the soft curves of her bosom peek out from the top of her gown and made him yearn to run his fingers across them. In truth, his fingers ached to caress her entire body. A quiver surged through his veins at just the thought.

He’d fully recovered too from all his scrapes and scratches from the horrendous battle with the bear. And all the work on their house had left him feeling brawn and hearty.

He gazed at Artis and, completely enthralled, he had to fight the urge to go kiss her before the ceremony even started. There would be plenty of time for kissing, and a whole lot more later, so he forced himself to behave.

He caught the eye of Lucky McGintey. His friend’s face held a look of amusement. Lucky winked at him as though he knew exactly what was going through his head.

Bear shrugged his shoulders and gave Lucky a sheepish smile. There was no sense denying it.

Kelly handed Artis a bouquet of fall wildflowers that she and Nicole had picked together and tied with a ribbon that matched Artis’ gown. Artis patted Nicole on the head and thanked her.

William said he’d written a ceremony just for them and Bear was anxious to hear it. A tremor of excitement gripped his heart as his brother began.

“Put your right foot forward to symbolize that you will willingly walk together in life and come to the aid of the other when needed,” William instructed.

Bear put his right foot forward, and smiling, she did the same.

“Now, join your right hands to signify that tonight you gladly merge your lives together into one with all your heart, mind, and soul,” William instructed. “And that when your vows are spoken, your hearts will beat only for each other.”

Bear took Artis right hand in his and smiled down at her. His heart felt like it truly was merging with hers. His mind could think of naught but her and making her happy. And tonight, his soul would forever be joined with hers.

“Please repeat after me,” William said.

“I, Daniel McKee, now take you Artis MacKay to be my wife. In the presence of God and before these witnesses, I promise to be a loving, faithful, and loyal husband to you,” William said.

Bear repeated what William said, but preceded the words with, “Because I believe God has brought us together…” He also added at the end, “And I now change my surname from MacKee to MacKay, as that is the traditional spellin’ of our noble clan’s name. I vow that we will both remember our Highland heritage and teach our children to be proud of the Scots blood than runs in their veins.”

Artis gave a genuine exclamation of delight.

Repeating after William, Artis said, “I, Artis MacKay, now take you Daniel Bear MacKay, to be my husband. In the presence of God and before these witnesses I promise to be a lovin’, faithful and loyal wife to you, for as long as we both shall live.” She winked at him. “And maybe a wee bit longer.”

William pronounced them married, and there under the brilliance of the stars, they became one.

Crushing her to him, Bear kissed his angel.

Chapter 35

W
ith his arm around her shoulders, Bear and Artis stood on their front porch waving goodbye as all their guests left. The wedding merriment lasted far too long as far as Bear was concerned and he was glad to see them all leave. He couldn’t wait to begin their private celebration.

They stood there, arm and arm, on the porch for a moment, gazing heavenward. But even the majestic beauty of the heavens could not keep his eyes off Artis. “Ye made a stunningly beautiful bride my angel.”

“Thank ye, my braw husband. Thank ye for helping me truly find freedom. For helping me to see the beauty in life. And in the future. And in love.”

“And speaking of love…I’ll go put that fire out and meet ye…”

“…in our bedroom,” she finished, touching his cheek with her finger.

With a mysterious smile, Artis turned and went inside.

Bear suspected she had no idea how seductive she was.

He nearly jumped off the porch and raced toward the fire. He poured a bucket of dirt over the flames and waited until he was sure the fire was out.

He grabbed an opened bottle of wine from the beverages table and the two crystal wine glasses they’d received as a gift, and he went inside, blew
out all the candles, and locked up.

Taking long strides, he headed for their new bedroom. He was glad he’d finished stretching, preparing, and washing the two bear hides well. When they’d dried, he’d carefully sewn them together with rawhide strips and mended the cuts. Before the wedding ceremony, he’d snuck into their bedroom and covered their bed with the beautiful fur blanket. He was looking forward seeing her pale body against the dark furs.

He nearly dropped the wine and fine glasses when he entered, for that was exactly what he beheld—Artis lay stretched out on the bear hide blanket in her sleeveless shift, a flimsy soft fabric he could see through. It revealed every curve of her erotic young body—her full breasts, her narrow waist, her shapely hips, and long pretty legs. Desire made a burning ache grow within him.

He could not stop staring at her. She was the very image of beauty and love. The dim candlelight made the gold in her long unbound hair glimmer. Her soft pink lips seemed to beg for a kiss. Her long throat looked warm and alluring. For a moment, he felt as if he were dreaming.

As he continued to enjoy just looking her, her sparkling intelligent eyes watched him eagerly. Yet, her eyes also spoke of her innocence and inexperience. She’d suffered the ugliness of a man taking her, but never enjoyed the beauty of a man loving her.

Tonight she would learn how different the two were.

He sat the wine glasses down and poured them both a half glass. He handed the glass to Artis and, without taking her eyes from him, she took a sip. He could see a drop resting on her lower lip and he instantly wanted to lick it off. But she removed it, running her tongue across her lip.

The simple act made desire surge through his veins.

He suddenly felt hot. He took a long sip of the wine, letting it cool his heated throat and began removing his clothing. First, he laid his clan badge next to the luckenbooth in a small pewter plate he’d put in the center of their bedroom table for just that purpose. They would rest next to each
other, just as he and Artis would.

With Artis’ watching him intently, he hastily removed the rest of his clothing until he stood before her in only his long black shirt.

“Please take that off too,” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Would ye like me to snuff out the fire and candle?” he asked. “I do not want the sight of me to scare ye.”

“I do na scare easily.”

“If ye insist wife,” he said, and tugged the shirt over his head.

Artis gasped and then swallowed. If he wasn’t mistaken, her faced paled a bit. She shot him a look of utter bewilderment. Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “Oh my.”