Guardian Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

isn't it?"
    "Yup."
    "I remember Maisy," Snake said. "It's going to take your
    sister half the day to get to the wheat field. Just get me a pair
    of britches, would you?"
    The boy bit his lip, glancing from Snake to the dresser. "I
    don't think Summer w—"
    "August," Snake interrupted. He really didn't give a damn
    what Summer Austin thought. He had to get out of this bed.
    "Now that's an interesting name," he offered, noticing how
    the boy looked at him questionably.
    August grinned. "It's cause I was born in August." He
    nodded proudly. "September was born in September. My pa
    was born in July and my Ma in June. That's how we all got our
    names." He gave a slight shrug. "Summer was just born in
    the summer I guess, 'cause that's her name."
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    Snake nodded. His family had some unconventional
    names, but they were just nicknames, their given names
    were normal enough. "Good thing you weren't born in May,"
    he said. "To be a man named May would be tough."
    The kid giggled.
    The light carefree sound brought a smile to Snake's face.
    He winked. "How about you get me those britches?"
    August shuffled his feet and scratched at the back of his
    neck.
    Snake didn't say a word, just waited for August to make
    up his mind.
    With a shrug, August agreed, "All right." He walked to the
    dresser and tugged out a pair.
    "Thanks." Snake, keeping the sheet over his waist, swung
    his legs to the side of the bed. The movement sent flames
    ripping up his thigh, and the room spun. He clenched onto the
    sheet until his knuckles grew numb.
    "You all right?" August asked.
    "Yes," Snake groaned between clenched teeth.
    "Your face looks like you're mad or something. You want a
    different pair of britches?"
    The room no longer spun. Snake let out a breath and tried
    to sound friendly as he took the clothes. "No, these pants will
    do just fine. Thanks."
    August hung near the side of the bed. Watched.
    Snake tried several ways to get one foot into a pant leg—a
    difficult task with only one hand holding the waistband open.
    Huffing through the pain every movement caused, he flipped
    them out and tried again.
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    "You need some help?" August asked.
    "Yeah." He tucked the sheet tight across his midsection. "If
    you could just set them on the floor by my feet, I'll step into
    them."
    August did so, and by the time Snake had them pulled up
    to his waist, he was breathing heavily and sweating profusely.
    Unable to put any weight on his left leg, he plopped onto the
    bed. The mattress bounced. Another surge of pain took his
    breath away completely.
    "I better go yell for September. You don't look so good."
    Snake couldn't muster up a response. He laid back and
    wished the room would stop spinning again. The motion was
    enough to make him throw up. He closed his eyes, willing his
    stomach and the room to settle.
    When he came to, August sat near the edge of the bed—
    again, with big blue eyes staring at him—again.
    "Hi," August said.
    Something about the kid made him grin. A rough chuckle
    bubbled up his chest. "Hi," Snake replied.
    "You gonna be my pa?" August asked.
    "No." Snake ignored the stitch in his chest. "You already
    have a pa."
    August shook his head. "Not anymore."
    A chill raced over his shoulders, and Snake eased himself
    up to sit on the edge of the bed. He took it slow this time,
    and then positioned his feet on the floor, careful not to put
    any pressure on his left leg. "What do you mean?"
    "My pa died. The sheriff was here and told Summer."
    "When?"
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    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    "Day 'afore yesterday."
    A million subjects darted around in Snake's head. Who'd
    killed July Austin? Who'd shot him? How'd he get home? Had
    he really seen his father? Had that been some kind of
    mystical vision?
    August's sad voice filtered in amongst Snake's thoughts.
    "It's all right," the boy said. "If'n you don't want to be my pa.
    I was just thinking having a ma and a pa