In Too Deep Read Online Free

safe.” Ethan looked around the mountain valley Rafe had chosen for his home. It was beautiful. Sheltered from the harsh winds by the mountain walls surrounding it. A flowing stream teeming with trout. Fertile soil and already a good-sized herd of cattle grazing in the belly-deep grass. Rafe had found a hidden valley no one had known existed. Well, honestly, Seth found it. But Rafe had tracked Seth in here and seen the value of the place and wanted it.
    â€œWe can put up gates to block the tunnels.” Julia’s brow furrowed. “Maggie’s getting older now and we do need to be careful with her.”
    â€œI was being careful,” Audra snapped. She clamped her mouth shut and breathed in and out slowly. Then she spoke more calmly. “But the mountain walls are honeycombed with tunnels and caves. We haven’t begun to find them all, let alone explore them and know which ones are dangerous. No, it’s not a safe place to raise a child.”
    Audra turned to Julia. “Not yet. You and Rafe have time to explore and make it safe. But it will take time. Months, maybe years. You have years. I don’t.” Her slender shoulders squared. Her spine straightened. She didn’t mention Seth. Julia and Rafe had years to make sure he was all right, too. They intended to have children, and they intended to raise them right here.
    â€œI need to leave, Julia.”
    â€œNo. Absolutely not.” Julia crossed her arms, stubborn and bossy as ever.
    â€œAnd you need to stay. I need help to get to town and the price of a ticket to take a stagecoach back East. I’ll find my f-father. The children and I will move in with him.”
    Her father, who had as good as sold her to Wendell Gilliland to settle a gambling debt.
    â€œYou’re not going back to him.” Julia came over and relieved Audra of the baby. She probably didn’t mean it that way, but it looked for all the world like Julia was planning to hold the month-old baby captive so Audra couldn’t leave.
    â€œYes, I am. This is no place for me. I’ve been a burden to you long enough.”
    â€œYou’re not a burden, Audra. I love you. You’re my family. Maggie and Lily are my little sisters. No, you’re not going.”
    Ethan itched to join Julia in refusing to let Audra go. But Julia was doing fine by herself.
    â€œIf you won’t help me, I’ll go alone. I don’t have a penny to my name. If you don’t want to help me with the ticket, I’ll get a job in town. Take in laundry and mending. See if there’s a diner in town that needs a cook. Or, come to think of it, didn’t Wendell own some small business in town, Rafe?”
    â€œHe did, but it wouldn’t be worth much.”
    â€œI don’t need much. I’ll sell that and use the money to go back East. Or I’ll live in it while I work. I told Wendell I was leaving the night he collapsed.”
    â€œBut the main thing you needed to get away from was my father.” Julia’s voice rose. “He’s gone. You’re staying.”
    â€œThis isn’t a decision you can make for me.” Audra reached over to fold down the corner of Lily’s blanket. The baby was still sleeping, having slept through the whole trauma of losing Maggie.
    Ethan sort of wished he could have slept through it, too.
    â€œIt will be easiest to travel right now. The weather is good. Lily still sleeps a lot. That will leave me free to watch over Maggie.”
    â€œWho never sits still for two minutes,” Julia reminded her. “Let alone days and maybe weeks in a cramped, uncomfortable stagecoach and in a rough train car filled with strangers.”
    â€œMaggie running off is what started this whole thing.” Ethan wished he hadn’t spoken when Audra’s eyes shot flaming arrows at him before looking back at Julia.
    â€œYou’ve got a new life now, Julia. And I’m happy for you. But we’re part