LAND OF STARS: The Texas Wyllie Brothers (Wilderness Dawning Series Book 2) Read online

  Land Of Stars

  WILDERNESS DAWNING SERIES, Book 2

  Dorothy Wiley

  Contents

  Other Titles by Dorothy Wiley

  Praise For…

  Verse

  List of Characters

  Author’s Note

  Part 1

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Part 2

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  Facts and Inspirations

  Also by Dorothy Wiley

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  LAND OF STARS

  WILDERNESS DAWNING SERIES, Book 2

  Copyright © 2019 by Dorothy Wiley

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any form, printed or electronic, without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials, in violation of the author’s rights.

  Print ISBN: 9781693884856

  Imprint: Independently published

  Cover Design and Interior Format by The Killion Group, Inc.

  Other Titles by Dorothy Wiley

  WILDERNESS TRAIL OF LOVE

  NEW FRONTIER OF LOVE

  WHISPERING HILLS OF LOVE

  FRONTIER HIGHLANDER VOW OF LOVE

  FRONTIER GIFT OF LOVE

  THE BEAUTY OF LOVE

  LOVE’S NEW BEGINNING

  LOVE’S SUNRISE

  LOVE’S GLORY

  LOVE’S WHISPER

  RED RIVER RIFLES

  Praise for Dorothy Wiley’s books

  “Dorothy Wiley weaves a historical tale with wilderness romance like no other author today! Loved every single one. Five-stars!” – S.B. Rohr

  “I have purchased all the Wyllie books so far. I am on my second time reading them now. I love this entire series. It’s just my most favorite EVER!” – D.M. Christensen

  “If you love a good historical series, this is it! My absolute favorite. A must read.” – P. McGinnity

  “One of the best series ever!” – D.O. Howard

  “Your books are awesome, haven’t read one I didn’t love!” – C. Sikorski

  “I’ve read these books three times! I rarely read a book twice. Best books you will ever read!” – G.M. Lewis

  “The best books anyone can read. Read all of them!” – B.W. Davis

  “The only thing I don’t like about Dorothy Wiley’s books is that at some point I finish them.” – J. Collis

  “I am in LOVE with Dorothy Wiley’s novels! Amazingly believable and heartwarming tales. BRAVO, Dorothy!” – L. Ratterman

  “This book is so beautifully written it’s hard to believe it’s actually fiction! Wonderful, heart wrenching, and honest this book is amazing!” – C. Nipper

  “I love this series! It’s about time to reread them all” – T.C. Herrera”

  “Dorothy puts it all down on paper—love, sorrow, fighting for your rights. My very favorite author.” – J. Bailey

  “Wonderful story and series. I LOVE her writing! You can’t put it down.” – G.P. Lewis

  “Five-star book from start to finish, as ALL her books are. My FAVORITE author!” – K.S. Williams

  “Every single page was packed with great reading. I stayed on the edge of my seat from the first page until the very last. I’ve read thousands of books in my lifetime, but these rank right up there with the best I’ve ever read.” – J. P. Meeks

  “Absolutely the very BEST historical romance series ever—and I’ve read hundreds of them! I highly recommend this series! Excellent!” – J. Blaylock

  “Like stepping into a time machine, this book swept me back to the American wilderness from page one. Beautifully written, well-searched, and riveting.” – A. Hughes

  “The people in these books are as real to me when I read them as they are on any drama series on TV!” – S. Vestal

  “There are a lot of writers out there, but few great ones like Ms. Wiley.” – A. Foster

  “This author and series deserve 20 stars! The writing and the storyline are outstanding.” – PJSM

  “I absolutely enjoyed both series! Every free moment and late into the night I read your books because I could not put them down. Your storytelling captivated me and made your characters so real I felt like I personally knew them all.” – K. Smith

  “I just finished reading LOVE’S NEW BEGINNING and absolutely loved it. Your characters were perfect and I fell in love with all of them.” – N. Copeland

  “Another great book in a great series. I’m loving these books. Each one grabs my attention from the beginning and I don’t want to put it down until I’m finished.” – M.J.

  “Dorothy combines history, romance, love, honor, integrity, grit, strength, compassion, forgiveness, faults and strengths to create believable characters in a true period of history. This author also adds a religious aspect without a religious specific bent or being preachy or judgmental just thoughtful and inclusive. Hard to put down, clean reading. Excellent author.” – J. Learning

  “Dorothy portrays romance as no one else can. She focuses on the importance of love and the love of family in all her historical novels, making her characters come to life on the page.” – G. Buff

  “Must read all! Love these books! My favorite author!” – L. Burch

  “Crazy about this writer! I’m SO hooked now! I have finished 7 of Dorothy Wiley’s books now and I’ve ordered more! She is so amazingly talented!” – Amazon Reader Review

  “For years I have looked for well written historical fiction books that include a smattering of real history and a little romance. Dorothy Wiley, you have nailed it! I am so smitten I have bought three more books since this one and will read every book written by Ms. Wiley!”– J. H. Rohr, Amazon review

  To my husband Larry,

  on the occasion of his 70th birthday!

  You keep me reaching for the stars.

  My father’s favorite verse:

  “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”

  ~ Psalm 8:3-4

  Characters

  Stephen Wyllie – One of the first settlers of Texas and father of six, age 57 (hero of WILDERNESS TRAIL OF LOVE)

  Stephen Wyllie’s sons:

  Samuel – owner of Red River Cattle Company, age 27 (hero of RED RIVER RIFLES)

  Thomas – age 25

  Steve – Hero of LAND OF STARS, age 22

  Rebecca Tyler – Heroine of LAND OF STARS, age 19

  Jason ‘Baldy’ Grant – Ordained minister and physician, age 54 (a major character in LOVE’S GLORY)

  Melly Grant – Baldy’s wife, age 46

  Louisa Wyllie – Samuel’s wife, age 24

>   Little Stephen – Samuel and Louisa’s infant son

  Adam Pate – Louisa’s brother, age 16

  Abigail Wyllie – Thomas’ wife, age 21

  Charles S. Tyler – Rebecca’s father, age 51

  Amelia Tyler – Rebecca’s mother, age 45

  Hollis Connally – Wyllie Cattle Company foreman

  Cowhands – Billy, Pete, Zack, Nate, Jack, Ray, Hunter, and Shane

  Pecan Point Settlers and Others:

  Ian Watson – Plantation owner

  Alex Wetmore – Trading Post owner

  William Mabbitt – Trading Post owner

  Mathew Hardin

  Elijah Johnson

  Bobby Stewart

  Jonathon Anderson

  Carlos Soto – Bandido Supremo

  Taynay – Watson’s slave and Amos’ father

  Amos – Son of Taynay, age 5

  Cuffee – Taynay’s mother

  Nacogdoches residents:

  Mariano Procela – Alcalde

  José Antonio Navarro – Solicitor or lawyer

  José Cosio – Comandante of the Mexican military garrison

  Jim ‘Deacon’ ‘Killer’ Giller – hired assassin

  John Tunstall – Manager of Tyler Sugar Farm

  Colette – French housekeeper from Louisiana

  Animal Characters:

  Missy – Rebecca’s white mare

  Stardust – Steve’s bay gelding

  Samson – Samuel’s sorrel gelding

  George – Stephen’s black stallion

  Texana – Louisa’s chestnut mare

  Caddo – Adam’s dog

  Author’s Note

  LAND OF STARS is Book Two in the Wilderness Dawning Series. red river rifles, the poignant and thrilling story of Samuel and Louisa, is Book One. When I started this book, it seemed that Samuel and Louisa’s story needed further telling. LAND OF STARS, Part One, continues their story for a time in a short sequel. Then, in Part Two, Samuel’s brother, Steve, and Rebecca, pictured on the cover, become the focus of this book.

  With historical fiction, authors are allowed to speculate and to fill gaps, as long as it is done plausibly. My first ten novels, entirely fictional, were “inspired” by my husband’s ancestors and required a great deal of speculation and research. This latest series, Wilderness Dawning, goes beyond the first two series (American Wilderness Series and Wilderness Hearts Series) and incorporates more actual family history and people into the stories—blending the real and the imagined.

  Although this series is also largely fictional, it is based on the real-life of Samuel Wiley (born about 1805, likely in Kentucky or Louisiana, and died 1890 in Wilson County, Texas) and his younger brother Steve (born about 1810 and died circa 1884 in Wilson County). The books in this series are based on both my research and my conjecture on what their heroic lives might have been like in the Province of Texas.

  Like the characters of Samuel and Steve Wyllie (character spelling), the first Wileys in Texas were men of honor and strength who survived on the edge of the West. Here, in the Wilderness Dawning Series, the reader can experience what it might have been like to be one of the first families to settle in the wild and fresh land that would become Texas! If you enjoy historical fiction and want to read the story of the Wyllie’s from the beginning of their long journey, see WILDERNESS TRAIL OF LOVE and my other books about the family at www.amazon.com/author/dorothywiley.

  Enjoy your wild ride with the Wyllies!

  ~ Dorothy

  Part I

  RED RIVER RISING

  Samuel and Louisa,

  Pecan Point Settlement

  Chapter 1

  South of the Red River, Pecan Point Settlement

  Spring 1824

  Sunday afternoon, Red River at twenty feet

  It wasn’t the rain that scared Samuel Wyllie, it was the river. With each small raindrop that fell here and upriver, worry crept into his heart as steadily as the water that crept up the steep banks of the river.

  “It’s risen fifteen feet in as many hours,” his father, Stephen, said from atop his powerful black stallion, George. Even though Father was thirty years older than Samuel, he was still tall, powerful, and black-haired too.

  “It came up so fast,” Baldy said. Their friend, Dr. Baldy Grant, was more like a family member—as close as a brother to his father and like an uncle to Samuel and his brothers. As his nickname implied, Baldy was completely bald. But his intense dark eyes, filled with the light of intelligence, and muscular build made him appear spry for his age.

  The three of them stared through the steady rain into the mighty thousand-mile-long river that separated them from the U.S. territories to the north and the states to the east. The strip of land they’d occupied for six years ran alongside the Red River and just south of the Arkansas Territory. The river and its branches of creeks brought them the water of life. But if the Red River continued to swell, it could bring death and destruction.

  His family was among the first Americans to settle in the Province of Texas, on the fringe of Comanche country. After he and Louisa married in 1818, they built their sturdy cabin, with the help of his father, three brothers, and Baldy. Even Melly, Baldy’s wife, had helped.

  Baldy shook his head. “This is not good. Not good at all.”

  “How far can it rise before…?” Samuel couldn’t bring himself to say it. The growl of thunder in the distance said it for him. “I thought we were safe here.”

  “We all thought we were safe here,” Baldy said. “We built far enough back that the river should never have posed a threat.”

  “There were no signs of flotsam or other leftover debris from a previous flood line anywhere near where we built,” Samuel said.

  “Mother nature has a way of fooling us,” Father said. “And humbling us.”

  Samuel moved Samson, his sorrel gelding, closer to the bank and peered down. Churning, muddy water whooshed by him looking more like an unappetizing brown soup than water. It was the very same spot that he’d first seen Louisa and her little brother attempting to cross the river. The moment he saw her, his life changed forever.

  He turned his horse and faced Father and Baldy. “How long before we’ll have to leave?” he asked, raising his voice above the sound of the rushing water. “I won’t wait until Louisa is in danger. I want her well away before the Red gets out of its banks and threatens our homes.”

  “We have no way of knowing how much more rain is coming,” his father said. As Father spoke, rain dripped from the brim of his hat onto his broad shoulders. “Or if it will stop raining within the hour,” he added with a measure of hope in his voice and his blue eyes.

  “Or if the flood of the century is about to happen,” Baldy said. “If this rain continues, it could get dangerous.”

  Samuel’s jaw clenched in defiance. It had taken all of them months to build the fortress-like cabin that his father lived in with Samuel’s youngest brother, Steve, as well as the house that Melly and Baldy shared. And his own fine home. And that didn’t count Baldy’s clinic, the spring house, horse shed, bunkhouse, corrals, pens, and other improvements like their garden and orchard. They’d shared many memories in those three homes over the last six years—some good and some bad.

  “We’ve fought Indians, Mexican bandits, American crooks, wild animals, recovered from a hurricane, and have endured a good many bloody struggles with mosquitoes. And so far, at least, we’ve kept Mexico off our backs. We can survive this too,” Samuel said. “Even if we lose…”

  “Everything?” Baldy finished. “Because that’s what could happen. I’ve seen it happen. Rivers have wiped out entire communities.”

  “Yes,” Samuel said with dogged determination. “We can fight this too.”

  Father shook his head. “The only battle strategy there is against a flood is retreat. And if a flood happens once, it will happen again.”

  The two older men gazed at him with the stubborn fierceness that had kept them all alive in
wild and dangerous places—at the edge of the frontier in Kentucky and later here in the westernmost part of the West, an area claimed by both Mexico and by the United States.

  If they lost everything, it would be harder for the two of them and Melly, Baldy’s wife. Starting over when you’re in your fifties had to be harder. But he knew they could do it. They were tough, resilient, and far smarter than most folks. And he would be there to help them. So would Thomas and Steve, his younger brothers. And Adam, his wife Louisa’s younger brother. Their other brother, Cornelius, and his wife both lived at the Arkansas Post now.

  A powerful bolt of lightning exploded across the sky and made them turn their horses back toward the homeplace. He dreaded the prospect of telling Louisa that if it kept raining this hard the river might sweep away their happy home.

  The large cabin he shared with his wife was a home of rare beauty among the great woods of northeast Texas. He’d made sure it was perfect. With the money his Wyllie Cattle Company generated by buying and selling cattle, he’d installed costly windows to give Louisa a view of sunrises and sunsets, ordered planks for a floor, and added a room when he’d learned they were going to become parents.

  But that baby never got to live there. It had taken them six years before Louisa could carry a child to term. The child’s well-being and Louisa’s safety would always be his first priority. But how could he ask her to leave? Now of all times.

  She was due to give birth in a month.

  As Samuel, his father, and Baldy dried off their soaked saddles in the horse shed, the rain grew stronger, pouring from a riotous blend of wind, lightning, and thunder. The scent of wet leather, drenched horses, and their rain-soaked clothing filled the large tidy shed. In silence, they wiped down the dripping horses with fresh straw.