To Picture The Past by Paige Mallory Read Free Book Online

Gail took was nowhere to be found in the beautiful home, and I knew of no way to communicate.
    My birthday arrived, and I knew I wasn't fit company for anyone. I went to the barn and was pleased that it was so early that none of the hands were around. I quickly saddled my horse, mounted by myself and took off, completely ignoring Robert's rule about riding alone. Being alone was exactly what I wanted. It wasn't what I got, however. My mind was on my family, and I was feeling sorry for myself. I wasn't paying a bit of attention to what was happening around me, and the next thing I knew three men surrounded me, asking me what I was doing out there all alone.
     
    * * *
     
    "Have you seen Gillian this morning?" Robert asked of his sister when she hurried into the dining room for breakfast. "No. I was going to ask her to go riding with me, but she isn't upstairs. I waited around for her for a while, and then decided I was starving!" Nellie grinned. "Maybe she asked one of the men to go riding?"
    "Perhaps. I'll go and check with them. I want to make today special for Gillian," he said, smiling.
    "If you intend to do that, then best you tell her you love her."
    "Well, of course I love her!" Robert stated, giving his little sister an exasperated look.
    "She doesn't know that you do," Nellie informed him.
    "How could she not know?"
    "Maybe because you haven't told her yet!" She sighed. "Robert, a woman needs the words. I've seen the way Gillian looks at you. She thinks the sun rises and sets in you, and she keeps waiting and hoping for some kind of acknowledgement."
    "I married her. I gave her Mother's wedding ring."
    "She doesn't know that it was Mother's wedding ring. You haven't told her that, either."
    Robert got to his feet and headed for the doorway before turning to face his giggling sister, "I hope that David sets your bottom on fire every day and twice on Sundays, brat!"
    "He won't have to; he has already told me that he loves me. He is just waiting for you to decide I am old enough to get married."
    "Not one day before you are twenty," he stated firmly. "That is almost two more years!" she wailed, and this time it was his turn to smile.
    He headed for the barn, and talked to two of the hands, asking if they'd seen Mrs. Gillian. One of the men looked at the other, shifted from foot to foot, and then blurted, "I saw Mrs. Stanhope ride out real early, Boss."
    "Who was she with?" Robert asked.
    "She wasn't with no one, Boss. I thought it was strange, but then I thought maybe you rode on ahead and was waiting for her up yonder."
    "Which way did she go?" Robert asked, mounting in one graceful, fluid movement. When he found his errant little redhead, he was going to give her a birthday spanking to remember for the rest of her life. Shorty pointed him in the right direction and Robert took off at a fast pace, anxious to find Gillian before something happened to her.
     
    * * *
     
    "I am minding my own business, and I suggest you do the same," I told the oldest of the men. He was obviously the leader.
    "Miss, please don't take that tone," the man beseeched me. "We need help, and real fast."
    "What is wrong?" I asked.
    "My sister is havin' a babe, and she's got no one to help her," the youngest of the three answered. "Can you help?" he practically begged me.
    "I will try, but you must go for the Doctor," I told him.
    "I sure will if you can' tell me where to find him."
    I quickly gave directions and then rode along with the other two men to find their wagon camped a couple of miles away. I could hear a woman's moans, and I climbed inside the wagon to see if there was anything I could do. An even younger boy was with her, his freckles standing out clear as could be on his white face. "Are you gonna help us, ma'am?" he asked me.
    "I'll try. Now I know you aren't this woman's husband…?" I asked teasingly, trying to lighten the mood, but it had just the opposite effect when the young woman started crying.
    "Elly's man was killed a