Free MM02 - Until Morning Comes by Peggy Webb Page A

except for one thing—her parents.
    She had two brothers to share the responsibility, but being a daughter was different. She felt a need to personally oversee their care. Rick had hired full-time help, of course. And they were good. There was no doubt about that. Rick's wife, Martha Ann, was more than willing to let Silas and Sara stay with them, but she had three rowdy boys who were more than a handful, all the same age, triplets. And she was pregnant again. Jo Beth couldn't ask her to take on more responsibility.
    There was her brother, Andrew, of course, but he hardly had room for himself and his bird dogs at his little cabin in Boguefala Bottom. Anyhow, Andrew wasn't exactly the stabilizing influence Silas needed. He'd probably have Silas riding wild horses and chasing wild women.
    Jo Beth wrapped up her day's work and headed back to the cabin. There was only one thing to do—break off with Colter before it was too late.
    o0o
    She didn't wait for the night; she drove straight to his camp. He came to the opening of his tepee. Jo Beth fought the urge to run straight to his arms, but she knew that if she went into that tepee, she wouldn't have the willpower to leave.
    Hanging one arm over the side of the Jeep, she called, “I need to talk to you. Colter.”
    He walked toward her, his moccasins moving silently in the dust and his bare chest gleaming in the late-afternoon sun. He didn't speak until he was standing beside her Jeep.
    “I'm listening, Jo Beth.” He put one hand on her arm.
    “Don't.” She pulled her arm away. His face gave away nothing, neither surprise nor anger nor hurt. “I can't say what I have to say if you're touching me.”
    “Not touching you is pain, Yellow Bird.”
    “For me, too.” She looked at him standing beside her Jeep and was sorely tempted to change the nature of her visit. “I've been doing some thinking today, out in the desert by myself.”
    “It sounds serious.”
    “It is. First I want you to know that you've made me change my mind about falling in love.”
    He merely smiled, waiting.
    “If there was ever a man I could fall in love with, Colter, it's you. I want to thank you for that.”
    “I liked the way you thanked me in the porch swing.”
    “So did I, but you don't have a porch swing.” She tried to keep her voice teasing, but the tears kept showing through. Her throat was scratchy with emotion.
    “Jo Beth, tell me what's wrong.”
    “You always know, don't you?”
    “Only because it's you.” He propped his arm on the Jeep and leaned toward her. “Tell me, Yellow Bird.”
    “This is not going to work.” She made a sweeping gesture toward his tepee. “I can't turn my back on my responsibilities and ride off into the sunset with you... as much as I'd like to.”
    “There is never a problem that can't be solved with two good minds working together. We can work it out, Jo Beth.”
    “No. It's best this way—a quick, clean break.” She turned the key, and the Jeep's engine roared to life.
    “Jo Beth...”
    “Don't come for me tonight, Colter.” She stepped on the gas, and he jumped out of the way. The Jeep's tires stirred the dust as she backed quickly out of his camp and turned toward her cabin. She never looked back.
    o0o
    It was midnight when she heard the call of the turtledove.
    She lay in her bed, willing him to go away. The call sounded once more. She balled her hands into fists and rammed them against her mouth to keep from crying out.
    From the darkness came the third call, closer this time. The sound pierced her heart. She threw back the covers and ran from her bed, trailing bedspread and bed sheets across the wooden floor in her haste. She didn't even stop to think about clothes. All she knew was that she had to go to Colter.
    He was waiting beside the porch when she came out. He didn't go directly to her but sat on his stallion, watching as she stood in the doorway, the moonlight shining through her filmy gown and gilding her with silver.
    She