A Love of Her Own Read Online Free Page A

of the coach in order to lighten the load while Morgan struggled with the stagecoach up the steep road. April sighed. At this rate, she would be surprised if she made the wedding at all. Her clothes were covered with dust and grime, and she dearly needed a bath. But at least she was in good company. The rest of the group didn’t look any better than she.
    Billy walked up to baby Anne and touched her hand. “Hello, little one,” he said, and she jabbered something unintelligible and drooled down the front of her dress. Billy looked at April. “I think she likes me.”
    April smiled at the young lad. “Of course she does. She’s like all females—we love attention,” she said, casting a knowing look at Beth.
    “Some of them do, but not all,” Beth said demurely as she shifted the baby to the other hip. There was a slight frown creasing Beth’s brow. “I need to change her diaper, but my bag is in the coach.”
    April stood watching with her hands folded. She knew nothing whatsoever about babies, except that they demanded plenty of attention.
    Leon scurried up to the group. “I’m afraid you’re all going to have to walk the rest of the way to the crest of that hill. Once we reach the top, we’ll board again for a short ride to where we’ll stop for lunch. Follow me and stick together.”
    “Just what I paid for. A chance to walk part of the way to Lewistown!” April sputtered as she lifted the hem of her skirt in aggravation. The ladies followed the men up the uneven road with Billy offering to carry Anne. The baby snuggled in his scrawny arms. A half-grown man in an adolescent body , April thought. She couldn’t help but notice how Billy seemed to like everyone and was always cheerful despite his bad fortune.

    Morgan had reached the top of the hill and was standing in the road, giving the horses a brief respite, when the group finally made it to the crest. “Folks, I’m sorry you had to walk that last stretch, but it was necessary. Our next stop is about twenty-five minutes away, and we’ll stop for an hour.”
    Beth walked up to the coach where Morgan stood. “Please, before we leave, I need to change my baby’s diaper. It’ll only take a moment.” Billy trudged up the last few yards, lugging Anne on his hip.
    Morgan looked at the young woman and her baby. There was something pitiful about her that he couldn’t put his finger on. He wondered why she was traveling with a baby and who she would be meeting.
    “By all means, for the sake of the rest of us . . . do let her have a few minutes to clean up the child,” April pleaded.
    Morgan turned to give April a sharp look. Probably never had to lift a finger to do anything in her young life. He nodded at Beth. “I was just about to say yes, Mrs. Reed. We’ll still be able to keep our schedule.”
    Beth reached inside the coach and grabbed her small traveling bag, then took Anne from Billy’s arms. “Thank you, Billy. You were a great help carrying the baby up the hill for me. I don’t know if I could have made it.”
    Billy beamed at her. “Aw . . . it was nothin’.”
    Beth swept past April without looking at her. Willard and May struggled to join the rest, huffing and out of breath. “Whew! That was some hike,” Willard said, supporting May by the arm. Her chest heaved in and out until Morgan thought the buttons on her shirtwaist would pop.
    “I’m just glad it wasn’t a hot July day,” May said between gasps of air. “I really shouldn’t have to do this, you know, with my health like it is.”
    “Yours is no worse than mine now, sweetie.”
    April walked up to the front where the team was being attended by Leon. “Some nice horseflesh, but they are looking tired.”
    “Yes, ma’am. They are, but we’ll be changing them out at the next stop.” Leon paused to look at her. “You like horses?”
    April laughed. “Yes, I do. Especially riding them. My father has a cattle ranch, so I grew up around them.”
    Leon scratched his