Prairie Storm Read Free Page A

you’re up to, but you’d better hand over my baby. I’ve been given two jobs to do in this world. One of them is to preach the gospel. And the other is to take care of Samuel.”
    â€œSamuel?” Rosie and Caitrin said in unison. “Samuel?”

Chapter 2
    Y ES, Samuel. That’s my baby.” Elijah stuffed his hat back onto his head and took another step toward the pretty blonde-haired woman in the purple cape. What was going on here? “Who’re you?”
    She looked up at him with big blue eyes and tearstained cheeks. “Lily Nolan,” she said softly, holding Samuel out in her arms. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œWell, I reckon so.” He knelt on one knee and took the baby. The instant his big hands closed around the damp little bundle, Samuel’s eyes shot open and he let out a squall that could have shattered glass. Eli’s heart sank. “Aw, don’t start that again, fella. Come on, now, young’un, buck up.”
    He drew the baby close and awkwardly rocked him from side to side. Just like always, it didn’t do a bit of good. The baby kept on hollering, his little fists pumping the air in a rage.
    â€œPlease,” the woman said, reaching out. Before Eli could react, she took the baby, turned him sideways, and tucked him into the crook of Eli’s elbow. “This is the way to hold your son,” she said, “and put your hand under his bottom.”
    â€œHe’s wet!”
    â€œHe certainly is. Where’s his mother? She ought to have changed and fed him hours ago. It’s no wonder this baby’s been crying his head off. He’s miserable. He wants his mother.”
    â€œWe thought you were his mother, Mrs. Nolan,” the woman beside her said.
    â€œWhat’s going on here, Rosie?” Seth Hunter asked.
    â€œThis woman told Caitrin and me that she’d lost her husband and her daughter in Topeka three days ago. She said she could hear Abigail crying, and when we found this baby in the saddlebag, she started feeding him.”
    â€œYou fed Samuel?” Eli demanded of the blonde woman. He looked down at the baby, who had settled into a drowsy daze. As a matter of fact, this was the first time Sam had been quiet since Eli could remember. A miracle. “What did you feed him?”
    â€œShe nursed him,” the other woman said. “She told us the baby was her daughter, Abigail.”
    â€œNo … no, I didn’t.” Lily gathered her skirts and stood. “I said I had lost my baby. And I have. I’ve lost Abigail. Sometimes I think I hear her crying, but then I remember that she … that Abby is dead. My baby is gone … she’s dead….”
    Clapping her hand over her mouth, she fled. Eli frowned. A dead husband and a lost baby. A complete stranger nursing Sam.
    But the baby was quiet. Quiet for the first time ever. Sleeping.
    â€œWhoa, lady!” Eli bellowed. “Hold your horses there.”
    When she didn’t stop, he took off after her. Samuel jerked awake and went to wailing again, but Eli had gotten so used to the ruckus he hardly noticed as he loped through the tall prairie grass. God , his heart cried out, show me what to do here! You gave me this child, and I don’t want him to die. Maybe you sent along this gal, too. Please make her stop running away .
    Her purple cape billowing behind, the woman jogged on as if she had no idea where she was going. Eli easily caught up to her, snagged her elbow, and swung her around. To his dismay, he saw that tears were streaming down her cheeks.
    â€œMa’am,” he said over Sam’s screams, “listen, I didn’t aim to scare you. You don’t need to be afraid of me. I’m just a preacher, and not much of one at that. Look, I don’t know a thing about babies, feeding them or holding them or anything, and I’m real sorry to hear about your husband and your young’un passing on. Fact