The Captive Heart Read Online Free PDF

other.
    “No!” Did that raspy cry belong to her? Eleanor slapped her hand to her mouth.
    Biz sank to the wagon’s bed. “I thought…. Well, I hoped….” She lifted glassy eyes to Eleanor. “I can see it ain’t to be no better here.”
    The dullness in Biz’s gaze choked Eleanor as tangibly as the brute had squeezed the little boy’s neck. Yet how to impart encouragement from an empty well? She sucked in a breath, praying for wisdom on the exhale. “You do not have to be a victim of circumstance, Biz. This is your opportunity to change the course of your life. You are a housemaid now. There is dignity in such a position.”
    “A new life, eh? There’s a thought.” Drawing her knees up, Biz wrapped her arms around her legs and lowered her head.
    Molly groaned, twisting on Eleanor’s lap. Though her hair clung to her temples, it was hard to tell if the fever returned. Eleanor’s own shift stuck to her skin beneath the Charles Towne sun.
    Balling up her shawl, she eased Molly’s head to the bundled fabric, then scooted to the front of the wagon, where Mr. Beebright held the reins.
    “Mr. Beebright, it would be to Molly’s benefit if we spent a night or two at an inn. I feel sure she would regain her strength and—”
    “Pig’s teeth, woman!” Beebright scowled at her over his shoulder. “This t’aint a pleasure ride. I’m on a schedule, and erring on the hide-tanning side of being late. Greeley will see to that.”
    “And how will Greeley feel when you pull into town with only two women instead of three and discovers he paid for nothing?” She lifted her chin, though the bumping of the wagon made her teeth grind.
    Beebright’s good eye squinted. “She that bad off?”
    “I fear so.”
    For a moment, he rubbed his lower lip with the pad of his thumb. Oh, how lovely it would be if they all might rest their heads on a pillow—or even a simple cot—beneath the roof of an inn this night.
    Beebright leaned to the side and spit off the edge of the wagon. “See to it she lives, then. I’m holdin’ you responsible, missy.”
    He faced forward, apparently finished with the conversation.
    But she wasn’t. “I am no nursemaid, sir.”
    “You are now. You just signed a contract for it.”
    “You can hardly expect me to—”
    The wagon jerked to a stop. Beebright turned. If he’d possessed two good eyes, she’d have been dead on the spot from the rage darkening his gaze. “If you don’t learn to keep yer trap shut and do as yer told, ye’ll have a far worse time of it with Samuel Heath than I ever will with Greeley. Yer not in England anymore.”
    She swallowed, the truth of his words an ugly reminder of her situation. It was easy to tell Biz she didn’t have to be a victim of circumstance—but quite another thing to live out those words in her own life.

Chapter 5
    B reaking the cadence of stone shushing against metal, Samuel set down his tomahawk and whetstone, then reached to work out a knot in his shoulder. Even after his trek with Inoli last week and several days of hunting on his own, all he had to show for it were sore muscles and a skinny rabbit sizzling outside on the spit. Next to him, Grace slept soundly in her crib, and why not? She’d had the ride of her life strapped against his back, bouncing up and down, scaring away prey with her happy squeals.
    He peeked over at her, dark eyelashes fanning against her pink cheeks, a wet thumb hanging half out of her mouth. In spite of himself, half a grin tugged his lips. Though he’d wanted a son, he wouldn’t trade his sweet girl for all the lads in the whole blasted South Carolina colony.
    A late afternoon cross-breeze sallied in the open door. He shot to his feet, sniffing. There, almost imperceptible, hiding amid the waft of fat and smoke from his supper, he inhaled something musky. Maybe even a little tangy. He cocked his head. A blend of earth, sweetness—
    And danger.
    He strode to the door, schooling the urge to utter a curse as he