Deborah Camp Read Free Page A

child of eight years.”
    Elise could see the fancy crest of the Society at the top of the parchment as Mr. Charles snatched it from Lonewolf to study it for himself before giving it back. Meanwhile, Penny inched closer to the Indian and slipped two fingers across one of his wide palms. Elise gritted her teeth and edged forward. She’d grab Penny and run, she thought.Maybe they’d stop her; maybe she’d get away. She had to try …
    The Indian looked at Penny and tender emotion warmed his brown eyes. Elise paused, her fear eased by the big man’s gentleness.
    “Are you a weel Injun?” Penny asked.
    “Yes.” Lonewolf’s smile was wide and heart-winning. “I’m part Apache.”
    Apache! Elise edged closer, determined to make a grab for Penny. She couldn’t leave her poor, innocent sister in the hands of an Apache warrior! She’d read about them. How could the Society allow this man to take an innocent child?
    Mr. Charles craned his neck to look around Lonewolf. “I don’t see your wife, sir. Didn’t she come along to welcome this little angel into your family?”
    “My wife is dead.”
    No wife
. The words swam in Elise’s head. Her sweet sister living alone with this Indian! She opened her mouth to protest, but Mr. Charles stole the words from her.
    “I’m sorry. You can’t have this child.” The pinch-faced escort snagged the bow at the waist of Penny’s dress and pulled her backward and behind him, shielding her from Lonewolf.
    “But I have the papers. I paid the money.” Lonewolf waved the parchment in Mr. Charles’s face. “She’s mine.”
    “No, sir. These children are to go to husbands and wives, not to bachelors and old maids. The contract you signed states this in no uncertain terms.” Mr. Charles peered at him through his thick glasses. “You can read, can’t you? English, that is.”
    Lonewolf’s withering scowl stifled some of Mr. Charles’stestiness, but the escort kept Penny anchored behind him.
    “Shall I place her back on the train, Mr. Charles?” Mrs. Gadstone asked.
    “Yes, unless …” Mr. Charles glanced around at the dozen or so people still milling around. “Anyone want to take this child? You can pay the money today and I’ll draw up the correct papers. Anyone? She’s a pretty thing.”
    Elise held her breath, her gaze flitting from one bland face to the next. No one came forward. No one cared about a little girl from Baltimore. But if no one adopted Penny in Crossroads, then where would she be taken to? Maybe to the next whistle-stop. That wouldn’t be so bad. Elise could still visit Penny and Adam, as long as the distance wasn’t too great.
    “Very well, back on the train she goes.” Mr. Charles flinched from the anger radiating from the Apache half-breed. “I’m sorry for your loss …”
    Lonewolf glared at the small man. It was obvious he was barely holding himself in check. “I
will
take the child. I promised my wife I’d give her a good home.”
    “Yes, yes, but that’s quite impossible now, isn’t it?” Mr. Charles glanced behind him at Penny, who had begun to struggle and weep.
    Elise placed a finger to her lips, motioning for Penny to calm down. The redheaded child sniffed pitifully, but stopped slapping at Mrs. Gadstone’s hands.
    Poor angel doesn’t understand that this is a blessing, Elise thought, relieved that her sister wouldn’t be placed in the care of the imposing Indian. There was still hope for Penny to have a solid, loving home where Elise could visit her and keepthe family ties strong. She’d be near Adam, too. They’d all be together as much as possible.
    “You must understand, sir, that your wife was the only reason we allowed this adoption to go through. She was white, yes? Well, there you have it.” Mr. Charles spread his hands in an appeal. “You wouldn’t have been allowed to adopt if it hadn’t been for your white wife. We don’t allow breeds to have the children. Now that your wife is gone, the contract is