The One Who Waits for Me Read Free Page B

woman stirred, coughing.
    â€œShe’s going to be fine.” Pierce gently lowered the first girl back to the ground. “You’ve eaten a lot of smoke, but you’re going to be fine as well.” When Pierce realized she hadn’t yet said a word, he frowned. Could she talk? “Where are your folks?”
    She broke his hold and reached to cradle the other woman to her chest.
    â€œShe’s okay.” After pouring more water on his handkerchief, he gently wiped the coughing girl’s face again. She was young—late teens or early twenties—and jackrabbit scared. “Is she your sister?” The observation seemed a likely connection. The two women favored each other—same blond hair streaked by sun, petite build, and fragile bone structure. The younger girl’s hacking breaths went far beyond smoke inhalation. Pierce recognized the struggle taking place in the girl’s lungs. “She has asthma.”
    The older sister nodded and then latched tightly to his hand, looking up at him with pleading eyes. The coughing sister managed, “Please, sir, take us away from here.”
    Pierce glanced away. “Is anyone else here? Your family?”
    She shook her head. “Only Beth and me. Ma and Pa are dead. Died this week.” She turned and focused on the flames. “The fire started in the shanty…and it took over so quickly. Before we knew it, the flames were burning the field.”
    Piece swiped off his hat, respectfully observing the women’s great losses. The countryside swarmed with rebel bands intent on doing harm. He figured the raids and destruction would continue for a while and that he was likely looking at the evidence of this violence. He turned to glance at the shanty’s blazing inferno, his eyes searching the area for signs of brewing trouble. There were bound to be many types of lowlife looking for ill-gotten gain.
    Turning, he gently lifted the coughing woman, who introduced herself as Joanie, into his arms even as another spasm wracked her frail frame. Preach, who had come back empty-handed, stepped up. “Sir? If you’ll allow me. My family suffered the same affliction.”
    Joanie’s strangled breath sucked in the smoky air when the captain handed her over. Her frantic wheezing filled the silence. With the gentleness of a caring soul, the black solider smoothed hair back from the girl’s oval-shaped face.
    â€œCan’t breathe—”
    â€œHold tight to my hand.” Preach glanced at Pierce. “We have to get her away from the smoke, sir.”
    The captain motioned for Preach to take the lead. Lifting the other girl in his arms, Pierce carried her to his horse and asked, “What’s your name?”
    She spoke for the first time. “Beth”
    â€œWell, Beth.” He gently set her on Sue and then mounted up in front of her. “Looks like we came along at the right time.”
    â€œI want to be with Joanie.”
    â€œPreach has your sister. She’s in good hands.” He fell in behind the other two men.
    â€œWhere are you taking us?” He recognized stark fear in her tone, and he realized she had every right to be afraid. Three strange men on a deserted road. Any woman with good sense would be frightened.
    â€œWe’re not going to harm you. Right now we’re getting your sister out of the smoke.”
    The young lady shifted to peer around him to Joanie, who was lying in the black man’s arms across his saddle. “Is she breathing?”
    â€œShe’s breathing. And once she’s out of the smoke she’ll rest easier.” Pierce had fought alongside men with the affliction. He even had an aunt who suffered with the ailment.
    Beth settled herself behind his back again, her small frame breaking into heaving sobs. “I have to get help for Joanie,” she said, her tone muffled.
    â€œMa’am?”
    She cleared her throat. “I have to get