Read Online Captive Eden by Brenda Williamson - Free Book Online Page B

immediately. He paced the perimeter,
vigilant with his thoughts on Charlie recovering. Eden’s screams dragged him
back inside.
    Charlie lay in her arms, convulsing. His body stiffened and
jerked. Brant unfastened his knife sheath, tossed the steel blade to the
ground. He forced the leather between Charlie’s teeth to prevent him from
biting his tongue or choking. Pressing a hand on his son’s chest and one on his
forehead, he held Charlie down until the fit passed.
    “It’s over.” Brant took the leather from Charlie’s mouth and
picked him up.
    “Let me have him.” Eden’s extended arms shook.
    “I’ll hold him in case it happens again. Come sit next to me
to be close to him.”
    Eden scooted around the pallet of furs without protest and
sat alongside him. He lifted his arm and placed it around her shoulders,
letting her lean her head against him as she put her hand on Charlie’s chest.
    “It’s a good sign he has made it this long, isn’t it?” Eden
suddenly asked, not a hint of anger in her voice.
    “Yes,” he replied, giving her the same hope he needed.
    Her relieved sigh let her relax against him and he pressed a
kiss along her hairline.
    “Tell me about him,” he said, eager to know all there was
about his son as well as distract her from her worries.
    “He’s like you were as a boy.” A note of happiness rang in her
words.
    “You gave him my name.” His heart beat harder with such
pride in that fact.
    “And my uncle Charles.”
    “Does Charlie like anything special, something I could do
with him?”
    “He likes books.”
    “That is nothing he got from me.” Brant laughed. “I hardly
did well when you taught me to read.”
    “You did well when you put your mind to it.” Her respect
restored hope in him for salvaging their relationship. “He even knows how to
read a little. But mostly he likes me to read to him.”
    “What does he like you to read?” Brant looked down at Eden’s
fingers stroking Charlie’s arm.
    “His favorite book is about the west and Indians.”
    “You said he didn’t know about me.”
    He felt her take a deep breath and let it out quickly.
    “I would have said anything to stop you from taking him from
me,” she confessed.
    “Then you should have said he was not mine.”
    “But he is and I wanted you know that.” She turned her face
against his chest and cried. “I always wanted you to know him. Ever since he
was born, I told him every story there was that was fit to tell about you. I
intended on bringing him here to meet you. I just didn’t know how you’d feel
about having a son when you didn’t want me.”
    It was his turn to go silent as he contemplated just how
much of the past he wanted to rehash. But to face a future together, they had
to learn not to keep secrets.
    “Your father ordered me to stay away and I didn’t want to do
anything that would make things difficult for you. When I got the courage to
try, you were gone. He told me then that he sent you away to have my child.”
    “I’m sorry, Brant. I didn’t know.”
    “It no longer matters.” He kissed her temple.
    “Mama?” Charlie groaned.
    “Yes, my sweet boy, I’m here.” She put her hand to his
forehead.
    Brant put his hand there at the same time and she weaved her
fingers with his.
    “I’m thirsty,” Charlie said.
    Eden moved out of Brant’s circling arm. He felt a breeze
drift over his skin and a coolness touch his heart with self-sacrifice. He
couldn’t keep her if she didn’t want to stay. She made living in the east sound
as if it was a safe place and he wanted what was best for her and their son.
    Eden poured water into a small wood bowl and held it to
Charlie’s lips. Brant held him up while she fed the liquid into his mouth.
    “Papa, am I going to die?”
    “Not today, son. It is not a good day.”
    “Good, ‘cause I’m hungry,” Charlie complained.
    “I’ll get you something to eat.” Eden brushed Charlie’s hair
from his forehead.
    Her wet face