The Sister Wife Read Online Free Page B

assured her.
    She watched as Brigham removed Coal from the gelding and placed his feet safely upon solid ground. The boy’s face had turned a fiery red, but she could see no evidence of tears. Rather, he seemed to swagger a bit as he walked toward her grandfather. As if he alone had saved them all.
    Her grandfather went to Brigham, shook his hand, and then heartily thumped the apostle on the back. “Saved the day, brother,” he declared. “Or as they say in America, ‘saved our bacon.’” He tweaked Coal’s ear. “And you, young man, nearly caused a severe loss of life and limb—and I daresay, not just your own. I have it in mind to send you to live with the green boys during the crossing. Learn proper behavior as well as what happens to young men who do not follow orders. Forty lashes, that’s what they get.”
    Her grandfather meant none of it, of course. The children likely didn’t even comprehend that a green boy was merely an inexperienced seaman, usually relegated to the lowliest jobs aboard a ship. But the twins began to bawl anyway. Brigham bent down, said a few words, then patted each on the head and stood again.
    Mary Rose stood to test her legs and found they seemed to have regained strength enough to hold her weight, shook the wrinkles from her skirt, looked around for her hat—which had sailed off to heaven knew where—and turned to step down from the landau.
    She looked up in surprise to see Brigham standing by the groom’s bench, his hand extended to help her.
    â€œIt’s good to see you again,” he said as if she’d simply been on a leisurely Sunday ride in the landau.
    When she was securely on the wharf, she smiled up at him. “Thank you for coming to our rescue.”
    â€œNo thanks necessary. Anyone would have done the same.”
    â€œBut no one else attempted it.” She winced as she lifted a hand to hook an errant curl behind one ear.
    Brigham frowned in concern as he took her hands in his, turned the palms up, and peered at the slashes in her gloves and the raw flesh beneath. Then he moved his gaze from her hands to her eyes, his admiration clear. “You were ready to give your life to save the boy. I could see it in your every move.”
    â€œI needed to get to Coal.” She gave him a wry smile as she repeated his words, “‘Anyone would have done the same.’”
    He smiled. “You’ll make a good Saint, Lady Ashley.”
    She gazed at him evenly for a moment. “Perhaps.”
    He lifted her hands to examine them more closely. “These cuts need to be cleansed and treated.” Before she could tell him about her honey solution, and that, yes, she had plenty, thank you, he rushed on. “In America we use a remedy developed by the fur trappers—sugar and soap made with beaver’s oil and castoreum. I have some already mixed into a salve, if you would like to try it.”
    She imagined the stench and tried not to shudder. “Truly, it’s not necessary.” She pulled her hands away from his and smiled. “I have deepest gratitude for all you’ve done—not only today but during these past weeks, while seeing us through our relocation—and especially for the hope you’ve given my grandfather. Just the thought of stepping on the soil of the wild frontier again has made him happier than he’s been in years.”
    His light eyes reflected his concern as his gaze moved from her face to her hands once again. “I will send the salve.”
    She fluttered her fingers. “Truly, you need not bother.”
    She glanced from Brigham to where the twins played aroundher grandfather, the two grooms, and three stevedores continuing to load trunks onto a cart. Pearl, loud and bossy, directed the operation, and Ruby tried her best to be understood. She’d turned red in the face and planted her hands on her waist, elbows sticking out like