The Tracker Read Free

sprang to mind but Ellie kept silent. Miss Adeline dealt with any kind of rebellion harshly. “Jade doesn’t have much time left. You may want to interrupt him. If there are any last words to be said, they’d best be spoken now. I doubt Jade will live through the hour.”
    Miss Adeline nodded. “This is the last thing I needed today. The way my luck’s running, Monty will shoot up the place when he finds out and I’ll never see my share of the gold.”
    “What gold?”
    “Never mind,” Miss Adeline snapped. She started from the room and then stopped. “Is the child a boy or girl?”
    “A girl.”
    She sighed. “Monty’s not going to like that, either. He’s been talking about having a boy—Monty Junior is what he was going to call him.” She left, her full silk skirts swishing as she moved down the carpeted hallway.
    Ellie closed the door, shutting out the noise and the smell of whiskey and tobacco. Lantern light flickered on the lilac-colored wallpaper. With a heavy heart, she faced the bed. Jade’s face was deathly pale. Her long black hair fanned out on the white pillow.
    “Ellie,” Jade whispered.
    Ellie sat on the small stool beside the bed. She leaned over and checked the baby, who lay sleeping next to her mother. “Shh, you must rest.”
    Her eyes opened. “Where is the baby?”
    “Right beside you.” She brushed the damp hair off Jade’s face. She and Jade had never been friends while Jade had lived in this house.
    Jade didn’t have the strength to lift her head. “I can’t see her face.”
    Ellie picked up the baby and, folding back the quilted blanket, held her up so that Jade could see her face. “She’s a beauty.”
    “Is she all right?”
    “Yes. A fine set of lungs. She’s got all her fingers and toes, and your black hair.” Ellie tried to keep her voice light.
    A faint smile curled the edges of Jade’s lips. “As long as she doesn’t have her father’s nose.”
    Ellie’s throat tightened. It frustrated her she couldn’t do more. “Have you thought of a name for her?”
    “Rose. It was my grandmother’s name.”
    The baby stirred and yawned, unmindful of the turmoil around her. “The name suits her. She looks like a little rosebud.”
    Tears pooled in Jade’s eyes. A tear trickled down her hollow cheek. Two years ago she’d been surrounded by men and laughing as if she were holding court like a queen. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
    “You did real well, Jade.”
    Another tear rolled down Jade’s cheek. “I can’t believe the Lord blessed me with such a beautiful baby. I’ve done a lot of bad things, Ellie. I don’t deserve such a precious child.”
    “You shouldn’t worry about the past, Jade. None of that matters now. You need to get strong so you can take care of Rose.”
    Jade swallowed. “I’m dying, aren’t I?”
    As ever, Jade was sharp as a bowie knife. Fooling her was next to impossible. “You’re very tired and need rest.”
    Jade met her gaze. Her watery blue eyes possessed an intensity that shook Ellie. “Ellie, please don’t lie to me now.”
    Unshed tears burned in Ellie’s eyes. She hesitated, unsure her voice would be steady when she spoke. “Yes,” she said, her voice a hoarse whisper. “You’re dying.”
    Jade closed her eyes and a heavy silence settled between them. For a moment Ellie thought that Jade had slipped into unconsciousness.
    “Take care of Rose for me,” Jade said weakly.
    “Of course I will.”
    Jade lifted her hand and grabbed Ellie’s wrist. She squeezed. Her grip had surprising strength. “I mean forever, Ellie. Don’t give her to Monty or Adeline. He doesn’t want a daughter. And Adeline will turn her over to an orphanage or sell her.”
    Ellie didn’t argue with Jade’s assessment. “Jade, I don’t know anything about children. I’ve lived my whole life above this whorehouse.”
    Jade moistened her full, pale lips. “You’ve always had a good heart and you do what’s right.