Cora's Pride (Wilderness Brides Book 1) by Peggy L Henderson

women to keep their fire burning low and their voices down. He shouldn’t be privy to this conversation, but he couldn’t walk away from it, either. He was no better than a peeping tom. Learning more about Cora kept him from doing the honorable thing - walking away.
    “I don’t know,” Cora stammered.
    Nathaniel smirked. She didn’t have a good reason, because she was wrong about him.
    “He already stole Gray once,” she said quickly. “He sees us as an easy target – four women alone in the wilderness. Just like Ted took advantage of me in Independence.”
    Ted
    Nathaniel’s fingers curled tighter around his rifle. He didn’t even know the man, but an intense dislike grew in him to where the muscles along his back hurt.
    By the fire, Anna giggled. “If I didn’t know any better, Cora, I’d say that Mr. Wilder has gotten to you, and that you’re –”
    “I’m going to bed now.” Patrick skipped into view, stopping just short of the fire. Cora raised her head to her brother, then back to her friend. The two women looked at each other in silence before Cora stood.
    “I need to check on something,” she muttered, and followed the boy to the wagon.
    Anna held her hands to the fire. She sat quietly for a minute, then raised her head and peered into the darkness. Nathaniel took a hasty step backwards, pressing up against the tree. Anna stood and headed directly for him. Damn.
    She came to a stop a few paces away from him, out of the light of the campfire. She turned in his direction, hugging her shawl tightly to her.
    “Mr. Wilder, I hope you’re hiding behind this tree for a very good reason,” she whispered. “Please don’t let me be wrong about you. I hope you have honorable intentions.”
    “How did you know I was here?” he asked.
    “Don’t you know it’s not polite to sneak up on people? You were so busy eavesdropping that you forgot to remain hidden.” There was a smile in her words.
    “You’re a lot more trusting than Cora. Don’t tell her I’m here,” he grumbled. He’d successfully snuck up on hostile Indians more times in his life than he could count. He’d never live it down with his brothers that he couldn’t sneak up on a bunch of women without being found out.
    “I consider myself a fairly good judge of character. You could have left with Cora’s rifle the other day when those Indians surrounded us. Whatever you said to them made them leave.” She paused, as if searching for the right words. “Cora has her pride, Mr. Wilder. I won’t tell her that you’re following us,” Anna reassured him. “Although I’m sure she suspects it. The truth is, I’m glad that you are here. It eases my mind to know that you’re nearby, and I thank you for it.”
    Nathaniel chuckled. “Just want to make sure you women get to Fort Hall in one piece.” He rubbed at the back of his neck, silently cursing himself for having been so careless to be seen, and now he looked like a fool.
    “I’d better get back to camp,” Anna said quietly. “She’ll be mad at both of us if she discovers you here and catches me talking to you. I just wanted to say thank you . . . from all of us, even if some don’t realize it.”
    “Sorry I was eavesdropping,” he mumbled. “I came to tell you to keep your fire low and your voices down. I could hear you half a mile away. But I am glad I overheard her admit that she’s a bad shot.” Nathaniel grinned.
    Anna inhaled loudly. “Cora’s a good woman. Her heart is in the right place. She’s been dealt an awful lot in the last few years. As the oldest, she feels responsible for taking care of her sisters and brother. In some ways, she already thinks she’s failed.”
    Nathaniel stood straighter. He didn’t ask the questions that burned in his mind. What things had she failed at, and who was Ted?
    “Then she should be willing to accept help,” he said instead.
    “I hope she does soon, but it has to be on her terms. You’ll have to earn her trust, not