Surrendered on the Frontier by Jane Henry Read Free Book Online Page A

provide for them. As for you, I’ll have you stay in bed tonight.”
    “I promise I’m fine,” she protested, but I heard Samuel come in behind me.
    “You mind your ma,” he said, with quiet rebuke, as he walked over to Hannah’s side.
    Hannah’s eyes widened, but she merely nodded up at him.
    He continued. “After a good night’s sleep, we’ll see how you’re doin’ tomorrow.” He gently stroked the hair back from her forehead, and I warmed at that. “You best get yourself better now, darlin’, if you want to go fishin’ with me and Matthew like we talked about. If you’re better tomorrow, we’ll decide if we’ll let you up out of bed.”
    We.
    The way he joined me in a decision having to do with my daughter’s well-being touched me. I closed my eyes momentarily, overcome with the emotion of the day. It had been such a very, very long day.
    As Hannah’s head rested back on her pillow, I saw how weary she was, too. She nodded to Samuel. “Yes, sir.”
    “I’ll fetch you some supper, sweetheart,” I murmured, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She nodded, and her eyes closed.
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Samuel joined me in the main area of the cabin. “Where’d Matthew go?” I asked as I scurried around, frying up eggs and slicing bread.
    “Dr. Gentry had to see Ma and return some of her empty jars,” he explained. “So he said he’d take Matthew home.”
    I nodded, pushing a plate of food in front of Samuel, and a second plate next to his. I went to Hannah’s room with food and a cool tin cup of milk, but when I got there, I heard her light snores and heavy breathing. I stood by her bed, watching her sleep for a moment, smoothing her hair back off her forehead and tucking her blanket a bit tighter around her. She’d have to remove her dress and prepare to sleep, but I didn’t want to wake her yet. I would let her rest.
    I wanted to put my arms around her and draw her to me, hold her tight, and not let anyone or anything ever hurt her again. I looked over at the nest still on the little table by her window, and the softly sleeping forms of the tiny little birds. I knew that one day, the day when those little birds would grow old enough to fly on their own, they would have to be set free. I looked at my little Hannah. Letting her fly alone meant she risked being hurt. I couldn’t bear to think about it. I needed her by my side, where I could watch and protect her.
    After smoothing the blanket over her one last time, I went back to Samuel. He was still sitting in front of his untouched food.
    “Land’s sake, Samuel, what are you waiting for? Tuck in,” I said.
    He lifted his brows to me. “Bossin’ me around, woman?” he said with a teasing lilt in his voice.
    “That I am. Now are you going to do as you’re told, or do I need to tell your ma on you?”
    He stood then, and I felt a tiny prickle of apprehension. But he merely pulled my chair out and gestured for me to sit. I sat.
    “Just bein’ a gentleman, waitin’ on you,” he said. “Now button up your lip and tuck in yourself.”
    I obeyed, happily this time.
    He nodded, and we ate in comfortable silence. When he was done eating, he pushed himself away from the table. “Hannah okay?” he asked.
    “Oh, she’s fine, just dozing off,” I replied.
    Crossing his arms, he gave me a sober look. “And how’s little Ruth?”
    I sighed and smiled sadly. Hearing him call me little Ruth, I felt I wanted to cry, or climb into bed and not get up again for a good long while. I remembered his hands on me earlier that day, and how he’d brought me to ecstasy in this very cabin. I remembered his stern look in the barn and how he’d waited for me until I woke up. I wanted more of him.
    Ever so slowly, he unfolded his arms and opened them up to me.
    “Come here, honey.”
    I felt the comfort in his voice, as warm and sweet as the name he called me, and I trembled as I crossed over to him. When I stood in front of him, he tugged me