Recruits (Keeper of the Water Book 2) Read Online Free

hands. Another surge rushes through me but for the first time in my life I feel empowered. All it would take is the slightest nod of my head and I’ll be free, my baby will be free, my husband will finally pay for his cruelty and the pain he’s made me suffer. Mr. Lewis and the rest of the soldiers treated me like an object so why shouldn’t I think of them the same way?
    But not Mr. Clark. Thinking of him and the kindness he’s shown makes me feel ashamed for even considering the offer.
    “Thank you but that won’t be necessary,” I say.
    The woman with the blades sighs. “I was looking forward to some action.”
    “And I’m supposed to be the bloodthirsty pirate?” the short-haired woman asks her partner. She turns back to me. “Your decision shows courage and selflessness, even though you are doing it for a bunch of lowly men…”
    “I believe what they’re doing is noble and will one day benefit this young country, make it a better place for my son,” I say. “So do I have permission to pass through your lands without trouble?”
    The short-haired woman nods. “As long as you do so quickly and remain on the path.”
    “Stay on the path,” the other woman reiterates. “Because we’ll be watching; you won’t see us but we will see you. If anyone tries to veer off the path and locate our tribe, we will attack. And there’s no promise you won’t get caught in the crossfire.”
    I look to the kinder woman to suppress her partner’s veiled threats but she merely nods her head in agreement. Though she’s been friendly, it’s not hard to imagine why she’s not a person to take lightly. I don’t know how many are in their tribe but that’s something I don’t want to discover any time soon.
    “Thank you, both of you, for your kindness,” I say. “I’ll be sure to explain the importance of staying on the path to the men.”
    “You better,” the bladed woman says and already turns to head back into the forest. But the short-haired woman hangs around long enough to offer me her hand.
    “You are stronger than you think, don’t forget that,” she says.
    “I won’t,” I answer, though I’m not exactly sure I agree with her. Still, I take her hand and feel the slightest tingle of energy where our skin meets.
    “You’re a special girl and I have a feeling this won’t be the last time I see you,” she says. “Good luck on your journey.”
    The woman turns and grabs the long spear leaning against the nearby tree. She takes a few steps into the heavy woods. I know she’s only a few feet away but I barely see her as she blends into her surroundings; no wonder they’ve been able to keep an eye on the expedition without us noticing.
    “My name is Anne by the way,” she calls out, the voice of a ghost. “What’s yours?”
    “I am called – ”

CHAPTER THREE
    “I’m Sacajawea,” I yell excitedly, wondering how it took this long to figure it out. The van swerves around another big truck that honks its horn the same time I make my revelation. I’m so eager to tell Celeste about my memory returning that I lean my head into the van while continuing to balance my body in the window frame. “I remember who I am. I’m Sacajawea!”
    The rush of speeding air and the police siren’s wailing behind us still make it hard to hear but Celeste looks at me in shock.
    “ Now you remember?” she calls back.
    A gunshot explodes louder than all other noises and the passenger side-view mirror explodes. The bullet must’ve missed me by inches, the thought of which immediately makes my focus on the present instead of the past. If I let the police officer fire another shot and they hit me, it won’t matter who I really am.
    I raise the bow and fire, barely taking time to aim. But that doesn’t matter. As usual, my aim is tried and true. The arrow pierces the tire of the police cruiser, causing them to swerve off the side of the road and into a sign for the interstate. The crash doesn’t look to be