Beneath The Texas Sky Read Online Free Page A

gently as if he had been her brother and not some Rebel deep in Yankee territory. He would never forget the woman’s sad eyes or her daughter Bethanie’s beautiful red hair.
    Now, as he studied the young woman before him, he knew why he’d had the feeling all day that he knew her. Her slight northern accent, her graceful way, her slender beauty, touched a four-year-old memory. She must be the same girl, placed in his path once by fate and now in desperation.
    At the point when Josh had given up, a woman’s silent courage and strength had pulled him back to sanity. Her daughter’s loveliness had reassured him that there was more to life than civil war. Three weeks later he had escaped, but he had sometimes wondered if he would ever see the two caring angels again. Even though he had seen Bethanie’s mother only once, Josh felt a sorrow at hearing of her death. He could see her gentleness living on in her daughter. Josh knew whatever Bethanie asked of him, he would grant. He wished she would untie her wonderful red hair so he could see it flowing down her back like the cascade of golden fire he remembered.
    Josh realized Bethanie would never recognize him. He must have been only one of hundreds she had seen during the war. Then he had been covered with dirt and blood. Now she was no longer a child, but a woman with wondrously expressive eyes like her mother’s.
    Josh fought a smile from his lips. “You haven’t told me why you want to leave. I’m not in the habit of aiding runaway girls.”
    “I have my reasons.” Bethanie lifted her head slightly.“I’m not a runaway. I’m almost twenty and old enough to decide for myself where I wish to live.”
    Josh could sense she would not beg or cry, and his admiration for her grew. She did not have to tell him the truth behind her request. He had seen the lust in the eyes of her uncle.
    “Where is it you wish to live?” he asked as he watched her slender fingers move nervously back and forth across the bumpy bedspread. He could tell by her manner that she had no answer to his question.
    “That’s not your problem,” Bethanie answered defensively. “I can take care of myself.”
    “If I say yes…” Josh’s eyebrows pushed together in thought. She was about as able to take care of herself as a leaf in a tornado, but he didn’t think it would do any good to argue the point. “How much is it worth to you?”
    “I’ll pay all I have,” Bethanie answered honestly, “but we must get out of town before I’m missed.”
    Josh understood her need for secrecy. If Wilbur suspected she might leave, he would simply lock her in a room until everyone was gone. Josh hated to think about her being left in this place with that disgusting excuse for a man downstairs. Even in the faded dress she was one of the most beautiful young women he’d ever seen. “I don’t want your rings, but…” he hesitated, a plan forming in his mind. He’d be willing to bet a month’s pay she had nowhere to go. Her stiffly held body told him she wasn’t looking for a handout, either.
    He reached over and lifted the largest ring from her hand. The gold slid easily onto his third finger. Josh examined the fine workmanship as he spoke. “Can you ride?”
    “Better than most men,” Bethanie answered without emotion.
    “Can you use a gun?”
    “If need be. During the war there were few men. I had to learn how to shoot.”
    Josh twisted the ring on his finger. “If I help you get away, will you agree to help me out for a few days? That is, unless you plan to stay with your aunt.”
    Bethanie chewed at the corner of her full bottom lip. “I’m traveling alone.”
    “Good,” Josh smiled. “Then you may have a few days free. My brother owns a ranch south of Fort Worth. If you’ll help out with the cooking for a roundup due to start soon, I’ll give you back this ring and consider us square.”
    Bethanie nodded agreement, but a touch of apprehension colored her eyes a darker shade of