The Promised Land (Destiny's Dreamers Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

accept the lessons of the Indians and mountain men before them.
    Maggie, with her husband’s assistance, was further occupied in cleaning the skin of the huge old bull he’d singlehandedly killed. Johnny had given the other skins to Max and Sam for their part in the affair. As Maggie scraped she couldn’t help but notice the knife rents in the skin. She fingered each of them speculatively, her mind filled with images of Johnny inflicting the wounds.
    She hadn’t been present at this particular exhibition of his newfound skills~or was it newfound madness? But she had been there the last time as he vanquished Snake. He hadn’t spoken of yesterday to her yet and she was waiting for him to unburden himself.
    Doubt crossed her mind as they worked silently on opposite sides of the skin. Would he speak, or continue to ignore this episode, another little piece of himself unshared with her? She fervently prayed for his voice, for his willingness to bring her back to him where she belonged.
    “Do you think I should stitch these holes together when the skin is ready?’’
    “What? Oh. If it pleases you. It would be sort of like stitching the history out of the thing, though.’’
    “I hadn’t thought of it that way, Johnny. I was only thinking of the skin in terms of a blanket. A very warm one like the Indians use. It seemed as if the holes would let in cold air.’’
    He continued scraping with a preoccupied air. “Do as you think best.’’
    “Johnny, I’m asking what you think best.’’
    He raised his head to her. “I suggested what I thought already. If the holes and what they represent do not appeal to you, by all means make them disappear.’’
    “I don’t want to make it all disappear, Johnny. It’s part of you now, isn’t it? I just want to be allowed into your mind and heart so I can understand.’’
    He glanced away, saying nothing.
    “Johnny. Don’t do this to me. Please. I’m begging, Johnny. This is worse than when you went off each year with your father. I was left to another twelve months on the farm, wondering what new things you would be doing that I would never see, would never understand. Wondering if you’d ever really return to me! It’s hard being the one left waiting, Johnny . . . I know it’s mostly a woman’s lot, but I thought we had something different together than other men and women, other husbands and wives. We always shared, Johnny. Everything.’’
    He stopped his work. “What is it you really want from me, Meg? My soul? How can I give you what I no longer understand?’’
    He was in pain. Maggie dropped her tool and reached a hand across to his face.
    “I’m not God, Johnny. And I’m not the devil, either. “I’m your wife, the mother of your children. I’m the one human being who cares enough, loves enough, to want to help. Don’t push me away.’’
    His own tool fell unheeded from his hand as he grasped hers in it, rubbing it across his rough cheek. “I’ve wanted to talk to you Meg, God knows I have. But the words, the words that always came so easily are no longer there. Be patient with me a little longer while I try to work it out, try to regain them.’’
    Maggie sighed. “I’ll try, Johnny.’’
    “The baby!’’ Jamie came screeching up, excitement bursting from his whole body.
    “Charley!’’
    Maggie and Johnny both jumped up.
    “What’s the matter?’’
    “Did something happen to Charlotte?’’
    “She’s started in to walk!’’
    Maggie fell into Johnny’s arms, and felt their hearts pounding together. “Dear God,’’ she whispered into his shoulder, “I don’t think I can handle any more drama.’’
    Johnny’s arms tightened, then eased. They followed Jamie. Their red-headed daughter was hanging onto a wagon spoke, standing on wobbly legs, crowing with joy.

THREE
    Laramie.
    Maggie built up the fort in her mind as a respite from the worries and fears that had beset her since the Red Eagle incident. She was counting on it to