The One Who Waits for Me Read Online Free PDF

reined up.
    â€œWhat is it?” Gray Eagle called. Smoke rolled from the fields.
    â€œChange of plans!” Pierce said.
    Grumbles rose as the two men rode back. “What now?” Preach asked. “We have to get the girl out of this smoke. She can barely draw a breath.”
    â€œThere’s one more waiting up ahead.”
    The men turned incredulous looks to peer through the thick haze. Gray Eagle spoke first. “One more what?”
    â€œWoman.”
    Heads swerved back. Pierce’s eyes switched to Beth. “She says there’s another women waiting up ahead. They’re all running away together.”
    Into the brief but tense silence that followed that announcement, Preach voiced the obvious, “This complicates the situation.”
    Pierce shook his head. “That’s an understatement, but obviously we can’t leave them here. As soon as the uncle and cousin come around, they’ll be after them.” He appeared to weigh the situation, one Beth was certain he didn’t welcome. How far did one go to be a Good Samaritan? As far as rescuing three women?
    Shaking his head, he said, “We don’t have a choice. We take them with us.”
    â€œTo the first settlement we come across,” Gray Eagle clarified.
    â€œTo the first settlement.”
    Beth wilted with relief. Pierce glanced down. “To the next town,” he confirmed. “Then you and your friends are on your own.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Pierce picked up the reins. “You don’t have to call me sir. My name is Pierce.” His teasing mood had vanished with the latest delay.
    â€œMister,” she corrected nicely. He might have saved her neck, but she wasn’t going to be beholden to “Pierce.” Any man worth a grain of salt would have done the same. Other than with Walt and Bear, she had never referred to a man by his given name, and she wasn’t about to start now.
    â€œAnd your last name?”
    â€œCall me Beth.” When she left here she never wanted to hear the name Jornigan again.
    He tested the name. “Beth. Pretty name, Beth.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Miss Beth,” she said primly. Nobody had ever called her “Miss” before, but from now on men were going to show some respect.
    â€œMiss Beth? Then you can call me Pierce Daniel Montgomery the Third.”
    She bristled at the formal title. He was true Arcadian. The soft French tones came through loud and clear. “I thought you said to call you Pierce.”
    He flashed another grin, and she knew without a doubt that while this man was more efficient with his fists than a canon, he’d also be hard to best in a verbal squabble as well.
    â€œIf you stay close and don’t cause any more trouble, we’ll get you where you need to go.”
    Nudging Sue’s flank, he set his horse in motion.

Four
    F ace it, Pierce. Trouble’s got you cornered . A mile up the road another woman waited. A young black girl writhing on the ground immediately caught Pierce’s attention.
    Reining up, he slid off his mare and then helped Beth down from her mount. They quickly approached the moaning girl. “Is she having some sort of seizure?” he asked.
    â€œNo,” Beth said briefly.
    â€œShe’s ill?” That’s all he needed. Three females, two of them ailing.
    â€œNo, sir.”
    Beth knelt by Trella as her own panic rose. She’d feared this. Could nothing go right today? She looked up at Pierce. “She’s having a baby.” She turned back to the young woman lying on the ground and tried to soothe her. “It’s okay, Trella. We’re here.”
    We’re here? Pierce mouthed. Baby? The woman was having a child? The situation was fast getting out of hand.
    The girl’s round dark eyes focused on Beth. “The baby’s comin’ early, Beth. I’m sorry. I’ve tried to hold it in—”
    â€œShush…how