Guardian Bride Read Online Free PDF

here. The
    children are safe here, and we'll put out some posters for
    Wainwright. We just had to come and tell you the news. I
    know it doesn't sound like much, but I'm sorry Summer. So
    very sorry."
    "Thank you," she said. "All of you, for riding out, for telling
    me." She squared her shoulders, and her gaze went to the
    house. "I best go talk to the children now."
    "Do you want me to come with you?" Stephanie asked.
    35

    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    Summer stood and let out a shaky breath. "No, thank you.
    This is something I have to do myself."
    [Back to Table of Contents]
    36

    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson

Chapter Three
    This time when he woke up his mind wasn't quite as fuzzy,
    at least that's what Snake thought when he first opened his
    eyes. Moments later, the nagging suspicion of being watched
    made him twist his neck. Two bright blue eyes gazed at him.
    The child—a boy—knelt beside the bed with his chin on the
    edge of the mattress.
    "Hi," the kid said with a grin that showed his front two
    teeth were surprisingly large.
    "Hi," Snake responded, somewhat cautiously. He glanced
    around the room, taking a double check that it was in fact his
    bedroom. The curtains, the dresser, the bed, all were familiar.
    It was his room, but who was the kid?
    "You awake?" the kid asked.
    Snake took a moment to contemplate, making sure he was
    indeed a wake. "Yes." His voice crackled like a bullfrog's.
    "'Cause I'm supposed to holler for Sissy if'n you wake up."
    A thick blanket of blond hair hung around the kid's round
    face. It was somewhat disheveled and reminded Snake of his
    own hair when he was growing up. Ma had forever been
    greasing it down. He could still remember the stench of the oil
    she used.
    The kid spoke again, and Snake turned to him. "What?"
    "Should I holler for Sissy, or are you gonna go back to
    sleep?"
    "Sissy?" Snake asked. "Who's that?"
    "My sister. September."
    37

    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    Memories hit Snake like a spring flood. The card game.
    Summer Austin and her little sister and brother. The ride to
    Dodge. He glanced down. A thick, white bandage held his left
    arm across his chest. With his other hand, he lifted the sheet.
    His left leg had a bandage wrapped around it. The glance also
    let him know he was as naked as a newly hatched bird.
    He laid the sheet back down and scowled at the boy who'd
    been peering underneath the covering as well.
    The boy grinned. "So, you awake?"
    "Yes, I'm awake." He tried to swallow, but his mouth was
    drier than straw. He pointed to the glass sitting on the table.
    The boy handed it to him. Snake downed the water in one
    swallow. "Thanks." He handed the glass back.
    The boy set it down. "I'll go holler."
    Snake snatched his arm. "Not so quick there fella. Where's
    my mother?"
    "She and Summer are out in your garden."
    He stretched to see out the window on the far side of the
    room. The movement hurt, but he strained harder. Little
    more than the tops of far off trees could be seen through the
    glass. "The vegetable garden out back?"
    The boy shook his head.
    He plopped back down, flinching with pain. "The flower
    garden out front?"
    "No, your big garden. The one that's got all the wheat
    growing in it."
    "What are they doing out there?"
    "Thrashing."
    38

    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    "Thrashing?" He breathed past the pain his new
    movements caused. "How long have I been asleep?"
    The kid shrugged.
    He pointed across the room. "Get me some britches out of
    that dresser over there."
    The boy frowned. "I don't think I'm supposed to do that.
    Summer said if'n you woke up I was supposed to holler at
    September, and she'd take Maisy and go get Summer."
    Snake used his good arm to scoot into a sitting position.
    Pain poured down his arm and leg, and though he imagined,
    it had lessened some since the shooting, it hurt like hell. He
    clenched his teeth until the knife-stabbing throbs eased a
    mite.
    "August?" he asked, "You're name's August,