Texas Angel, 2-in-1 Read Online Free PDF

Rowena’s welcome voice.
    Elise scrambled from her hiding place.
    “Don’t do no good to hide if you got a wailing baby waking up the entire countryside,” said the man standing next to Rowena.
    “Hold your tongue, Wade!” Rowena hissed. “She can’t help it.”
    “I’ve got to feed her,” Elise tried to explain. “It’ll be the only way to keep her quiet.” Elise looked from Rowena to Wade. Even in the darkness she could see sympathy emanating from Rowena, a pretty girl with a round face and plump figure. Wade, on the other hand, was tall and gangly, and his eyes were two sharp scowling bits of white in the night.
    “Get on with it, then!” Wade said.
    “Turn yourself around,” Rowena snapped at her brother. “The poor girl don’t want the whole world to gawk, you know.”
    Wade obeyed. Elise squatted down by the stump and took the thin blanket she’d used in the slave quarters. Then tucking it discreetly around the baby, she quickly began feeding the hungry child. With his back still turned, Wade started to talk.
    “Soon as you’re finished there,” he said, “we’re gonna head north.
    I can get you to the border. That’s about a hundred miles.”
    “What will I do then? That’s still in the South, isn’t it?”
    “I’m taking a mighty big risk doing that much.” Somehow Wade did not seem as enthusiastic as Elise had hoped.
    “But how will I know the way?” Elise was beginning to despair before she even began her perilous escape.
    “Honey,” interjected Rowena’s kindly voice, “there’s folks along the way who’ll help you. Wade has a couple names. It’s risky, but wouldn’t you rather do that than end up a . . . well, you know?” Dear Rowena had no more accepted Elise’s fate than she had herself.
    “I suppose so. It wouldn’t be so fearsome if it wasn’t for Hannah.”
    “You can do it, Miz Elise.” Rowena sat beside Elise and put her arm around her thin shoulders. This was the only friend Elise had in the world. Then Rowena said something that truly surprised her. “You know, Miz Elise, I always knew you were a strong woman. That’s what I admired about you.”
    “Me?” Elise could not believe she had heard right. “I’ve been pampered and cared for all my life. I really never had to do anything for myself. Even when my father was flat broke, I had a maid. Rowena, I’ve never done a brave or courageous thing in my entire life.”
    “Well, now you got to be brave—for Hannah. I know you can, too.”
    “You are a good friend, Rowena. Mere thanks aren’t good enough.”
    “You was decent to me when everyone at the big house treated me like trash, Miz Elise. You don’t need to say nothing about thanks. We’re even.”
    Wade was pacing about anxiously. “Ain’t that kid done yet?”
    “Just another couple of minutes.”
    Wade rambled on about their journey, what towns they should avoid, good places to find food, and what difficulties they might encounter. The things he said were very sketchy, and Elise wondered how often he had made the trip. From the way he paced so skittishly, it appeared possible he had never done it. Perhaps he had never aided a runaway slave either. But Elise didn’t have the courage to ask him. At least he was willing. No sense ruining that with too much scrutiny.
    Finally Hannah stopped sucking and dozed off. Elise stood. “We’re ready.”
    Rowena held out a bulging flour sack. “It ain’t much, just enough food for a couple days. It’s all I could spare. There’s a dollar in there, too, from my egg money.”
    Overcome by sudden emotion, Elise threw her free arm around her friend. She couldn’t speak.
    “Now get on with you.” Rowena kissed Elise’s cheek.
    “I’ll . . . never see you again,” Elise finally managed to say through her tears.
    “I hope not!” Rowena’s voice was choked as well. Smiling, she added, “We’ll see each other in the Hereafter.”
    Elise shrugged and tried to return the smile. Then she gave