Savage Spring Read Online Free PDF Page B

it a bright scarlet.
    “N…no, Tag, do…not weep…for me. The baby! Save my baby!”
    Tag laid his hand on her stomach and could feel the contractions that were tightening her stomach muscles. He could see that the bullet wound was high enough that it had not hit the child. Tag was fighting to put his grief aside to help his wife deliver their baby.
    “The baby is fine, Morning Song. Try not to talk…save your strength.”
    She reached out her hand and touched his face. “I…must talk, Tag. Do…not grieve for me…go back to the white…world and reclaim…what belongs to you.”
    Tag realized it was an effort for her to talk. He tried to hide his grief from her, but he could tell from her her eyes that she knew she was dying.
    “P…promise me that you will go back, Tag…Promise me!”
    “I will go back, my dearest love. I promise.”
    “The…baby comes, my husband. Give her to…Joanna, she will love…”
    At that moment a pain ripped through Morning Song’s body, and Tag didn’t know if it was from the bullet wound or from the birth of the child. He watched Morning Star twist as if she were bearing down hard. He wanted to help her, but he didn’t know what to do.
    Morning Song gripped his hand so tightly he could feel her nails digging into his skin. He wanted to scream out at the injustice of it all. Someone would pay for what they haddone to her! Why would someone want to hurt sweet, gentle Morning Song who had never harmed anyone? His thoughts were wild in his grief, but he had no time to think, because another pain shot through Morning Song’s body.
    “Tag, you will have…to help, the…baby…comes,” she whispered.
    He raised her gown and saw that the head of the baby had already appeared. Tears were blinding him so badly that everything was a blur. Taking the small head in his hands, he guided it as it was expelled from Morning Song’s body. Knowing the child could die from exposure, he quickly removed his coat and wrapped the baby in it. Holding the child upward, he heard it take its first breath. The cries from the newborn baby seemed to echo through the mountains and reverberate down into the valley.
    “T…Tag, you must cut the cord and bind it tightly so the baby will not bleed to death…do it quickly!” Morning Song whispered urgently since she knew her strength was waning.
    Tag was in a daze as he ripped his shirt from his body and cut a strip with his knife. He then cut the cord that attached the baby to its mother and bound it tightly. When that had been accomplished, he laid the baby down and turned all his attention to Morning Song. Lifting her gently in his arms, he cradled her to him.
    “I love you, Morning Song—don’t leave me,” he cried as deep sobs tore from his lips.
    “Tag, I am so cold…hold me,” Morning Song whispered weakly. She looked upon the grief-stricken face of the man she loved, wishing she could bring him comfort.
    “I will hold you forever, my love. I won’t allow you to die!”
    “Tag…I…love…yo…”
    Tag felt Morning Song go limp in his arms, and he knew she was dead. An agonizing animal cry arose from his throat as he cried out in his grief, “God, don’t take Morning Song! I cannot bear to live without her!”
    Looking down into her face, which was still beautifuleven in death, he cradled Morning Song to him while hot tears washed down his cheeks.
    Tag was never to know how long he sat there rocking Morning Song in his arms. He couldn’t accept her death—it had come too suddenly! One moment she was happy and laughing, and the next she had been mortally wounded.
    Tag was unaware that the baby had ceased crying and the weather was growing colder. Dark clouds had passed over the sun, and it had begun to snow lightly.
    Tag was brought back to the present by the sound of approaching riders. He could tell by the sound of their shod horses that it was two white men. Gently laying Morning Song down, he closed her eyes and picked up the baby,