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up his lips.
    “It’s only been a few weeks since your wedding. Are you enjoying married life?”
    “I admit, I’ve fallen in love again every day since we married. I am love-struck, smitten, infatuated, head-over-heels, in love with the lass.”
    “You are indeed a lucky man. I’ve never seen a bride as stunning.”
    “I know I must sound like a besotted young fool, and I guess I am,” Bear chuckled, “besotted, I mean. I expect ye think I’ve misplaced me wits.”
    “No, it’s plain to see that you’re just deliriously happy.”
    “I’m na likely to disagree with ye.”
    “I’m glad I could come to your wedding at your new splendid home.”
    “Aye, I am richly blessed.”
    “By the way,” Breedhead said after he finished wrapping the gifts, “I met those friends of yours from back in New Hampshire yesterday.”
    Bear’s brows creased. “What friends?”
    “Three men. They said they were friends of your family and that your brother Edward told them that Captain Sam, Stephen, William, and you had all moved to Kentucky. They came in here and wanted to know where Sam lived now.”
    “What else did they say?”
    “They asked me not to tell anyone they were looking for Sam. They wanted to surprise the Captain with a visit. I figured I’d tell you or William anyway the next time I saw either one of you. After all, that wouldn’t spoil their surprise. By then, they would likely already be there. ”
    “Did they have families? Do ye remember their names?”
    “No, I watched them leave and I saw no families. It was just the three men. Yes, I think I still have their names. I wrote their names down on their orders—they each bought mostly coffee, bacon, and powder and ball. And one bought ink, quill, and paper too. While I filled their orders, they went to the tavern and were well in their cups by the time they came back to collect their purchases. One of the three, the rowdy one, was so soused he could barely stay atop his mount. Let me see, I think I have those orders here somewhere on my desk.”
    While Breedhead rummaged through his disorderly array of paperwork, Bear pondered what this might mean. Why would three men travel without families all the way from New Hampshire to talk to Sam? He didn’t remember three single men who were friends of Sam. At least not friends close enough to have come this far. Since the war, Sam pretty much kept to himself. When he wanted company, it was with family. What aroused Bear’s misgivings the most was that they’d ask Breedhead not to tell anyone. He raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Something about this didn’t add up. In fact, he suspected it would likely only add up to trouble.
    “Here it is!” Breedhead declared holding the paper up.
    No longer in the mood for gift buying, he told Breedhead he would stop by another time to find Artis a gift and paid him for the toys. Then he wrote down the names of the strangers, grabbed his packages, and headed straight for his brother William’s office, towing his horse Camel behind him through the busy street.
    A multitude of shops had sprung up to furnish arriving settlers with necessities and desired services. On the main road—thronged with men, horses, and mules—incessant hammering and banging rang out from ahalf-dozen blacksmiths' sheds, where wagon wheels and axles were being repaired, and horses and oxen shod. A train of emigrants’ wagons passed by him as he walked. Bear waved to the multitude of dirty but healthy children’s faces peeking out in wonder from under the wagons’ covers. After maneuvering his way around wagons loaded with freight of all kinds he passed through the fort’s gates.
    As Boonesborough’s sheriff, William’s office and the jail were located in the northwest blockhouse at the fort.
    “William, I must speak with ye,” he announced as he threw open the door.
    William looked up and stood. The reflected light from the hearth fire glimmered over his brother’s handsome face and