Read Online Vow Unbroken by Caryl Mcadoo - Free Book Online Page B

his dog. He loved simple, and Widow Baylor was anything but. What a contrast she was, so beautiful, yet so hardheaded—downright stubborn to a fault. He looked back and stared into her eyes; she met his gaze.
    â€œI’ll get us there. It’s just as imperative to me that I get my own goods to market, but, Mis’ess Baylor, not at all costs.”

CHAPTER

SIX
    T HE NIGHT SONGS the crickets and locusts and frogs sang soothed Henry’s troubled soul. Been a long, hard day. He yawned and pondered what he had gotten himself into. He liked life on the trail: the crackling embers’ warmth, the night breeze in the trees, sleeping under the stars, working days like normal people.
    A hoot owl called, answered by a nightingale. The camp’s rhythmic sleep sounds settled over his heart, and he closed his eyes.
    A series of thumps shook the ground ever so slightly. Blue Dog crawled forward and licked his hand. Henry raised his head and scanned the darkness. Holding one ear closed, he turned his head. A twig snapped out in the trees. The foul odor of alcohol, sweat, and stale tobacco floated on the still night air.
    The breaking of more small branches fractured the silence. Plodding horse hooves sounded an easy rhythm, getter louder by the step. Henry quietly rolled to his knees, lifted his musket, then soundlessly stood on the dark side of the wagon.
    Blue Dog’s throat rumbled. Levi looked around, then spoke too loud into the darkness. “What, you mangy dog?”
    Henry gave Blue Dog the stay signal and then moved out into the woods. From the shadows, he glanced at the other wagon, where the two females slept.
    A strange man’s voice erupted in the night. “Ho the camp!”
    Blue Dog’s throat rumbled, but he stayed put. He stared intently toward the sound.
    Levi rolled and crawled from beneath the wagon on the fire side, facing the unwelcome visitor. Blue Dog joined the young man with the hair on his neck bristled. He stood, shoulders squared. “We’re bedded. You have no business here.”
    An unshaven drunk rode into camp. “Well, if you ain’t ’tween the hay and the grass, I ain’t soaked.” He slapped his knee and laughed, dismounting. “Speakin’ of being soaked, you got any shine, boy?”
    Blue Dog growled a soft warning.
    Henry circled around the drunk’s nag, searching the shadows between quick looks back to the camp. Seemed the man rode alone, but best to make sure.
    Sue’s head rose slightly.
    â€œYou the man of the camp? Where’s your ma, boy?”
    Levi glanced at the other wagon and betrayed the location of the girls. Blue Dog moved to stand between them and the stranger. He bared his fangs and stared at the interloper.
    â€œHa! There you are.” The man tried to whirl and awkwardly bent at his waist while removing his hat, but he got balled up and almost fell over. “Good evenin’, my lady. All you got’s this boy here? Hmm.” He staggered toward her. “Well, ain’t I the lucky one tonight? Guess I done got dealt the high ace!” He smiled, but Henry knew full well without even seeing them that the stranger had wickedness in his eyes.
    Blue Dog took a step toward him, daring him. The man had best take care, or Henry’s dog would rip his throat out.
    â€œCall off your dog, my lady, so as we can get t’know each other a bit bedder.” At first, he grinned, then got louder. “Go ahead, I said! Call him off.”
    In an instant, she moved out from under the wagon with her flintlock pointed at the man. “You are not welcome here, sir. Now get back on your horse and ride out while you’re still able. I’ll not hesitate for one breath to blow your head from here to kingdom come.”
    The little girl screamed, then scurried out and hugged her mother’s skirt.
    â€œRebecca! Get back under the wagon!” Sue never took her eyes off the man. “Either you