White Nights by Susan Edwards Read Free Book Online Page B

children rested squarely on her slim shoulders.
    How could she do this? She had some money stashed away in a hidden compartment beneath the floor of the wagon—not nearly enough, though. Birk had dug into it, spending a good amount of it on the trail to purchase liquor from anyone willing to sell it to him.
    Now she was glad she’d risked Birk’s fury by taking some of that money herself every time he got into it, tucking it into her sewing basket. She’d also kept a portion of the payments she received for doing laundry for some of the single men in her wagon party. She would really be in desperate straits if she hadn’t. Luckily for her, Birk had believed he’d spent more on his drink than he truly had, which kept him from depleting their resources further.
    But even by adding the two stashes of cash together, the funds wouldn’t last long setting up a farm in Oregon. Things would be tight until the first harvest. By her calculations, there wouldn’t be anything to spare.
    So what was she going to do? A hard knot of dread formed in her throat. She swallowed, fighting panic. No. She would not give in to her fears. Closing her eyes, she slowed her breathing by taking a deep breath, feeling the air flow clear down to her toes. Then she released it, imagining all her fears and worries leaving her as she exhaled slowly and completely. She continued to breathe consciously until she felt her heartbeat calm and the tightness in her throat ease.
    “Life goes on,” she whispered under her breath. She thought of Sofia and the woman’s determination to carry out her husband’s dreams. Then she thought of Jessie. Nothing stopped her young friend from going after what she wanted.
    Eirica struggled to her feet, determined to prove to herself and everyone else that she was strong and in control. She’d survived this far: she’d taken the steps to free herself and her children from Birk’s violent nature before he’d drowned. Love for her children had given her the courage then, and that same love and determination to give them a better life would give her the courage to make it to Oregon and find a way to survive once there. Her babies would have what she hadn’t had as a child: happiness and laughter and all the love they could ever want.
    A gentle rolling movement came from inside her womb, as if her unborn child was trying to reassure her that everything would be all right. It made Eirica smile. She patted her stomach. This infant, helpless at birth, would be dependent on her for warmth, nourishment and love. This child would grow, learn and someday be ready to face life on its own.
    And like her unborn child, Eirica was a babe in the woods when it came to survival. She’d been thrust into a harsh situation, an unfriendly world, but she’d learn. She’d grow. She’d survive. And like those baby clothes she had yet to go through, she’d salvage what she could from her life and start anew.
    Doling out cold bacon and slabs of hot, buttered bread, she sat down with Alison and Lara. As they ate, she asked her daughters about what they’d seen that day. Each night for the last two weeks, she’d gone through the same ritual and slowly, her girls had started to talk openly and voice their thoughts.
    But tonight brought forth a wondrous milestone and tears to Eirica’s eyes when her girls’ shy, hesitant giggles turned to uncontrollable laughter.
    White Wolf rode into the wagon circle, tired, dusty and hungry. But it wasn’t food that led him to where Rook, his longtime friend, prepared supper. No, he hungered for the sight of his wife.
    His wife.
    Would he ever get used to those two words? He hoped not. The thrill that filled him each time he saw Jessie, thought of her and realized they were husband and wife, partners in life, made him feel alive as never before. No other man could be so lucky or happy as he was. He dismounted and tied his black stallion to the back of a supply wagon.
    Jessie, with both hands immersed