Five Sisters (A Romantic Suspense Novel)

by Leen Elle

  "I didn't think John and Betsy would mind another guest and I . . ."

  "They don't mind but that's not the point, Gail. You can't just write a letter telling your newfound guardians that you're bringing a young man home with you so they'd better be prepared."

  "That's not what I said, I just wanted them to know so . . ."

  "Shall we return to the letter then? Let's skip over all the little cordialities and get to the meat of the letter. Here we are: 'I ask forgiveness for being so late and hasty in the matter, but I thought you should know that I'm bringing Nathaniel home to Brighton with me. Not all at once, I'll be coming first, I think, but he'll follow shortly. I do hope you'll be able to spare him a bed, Betsy. He won't take up much space, I promise. He's as thin as a stick. Unfortunately, the matter is not yet approved by the hospital. They think it's a bad idea, but I'm doing my best to convince them and if Nathaniel wants to go he'll be able to change their minds. And even if he can't, I assure you the event will be taking place. The doctors here are liars and the food is terrible and we're both just very tired of this hospital. He'll be coming to Brighton. No matter what. I'll find a way.' You can't write letters like this, Gail! It's completely absurd!"

  "I told them I was sorry. I still don't see what . . ."

  "You can't just inform them that you'll be bringing this man with you. You have to ask them! It's their home!"

  "You needn't get so upset over my letter-writing skills and my politeness. Betsy said she'd be happy to have him! And the spare room downstairs is already nice and set up for him. He'll be here any minute! Aren't you excited?"

  "Of course I am, Gail, but you can't just go stealing invalids out of hospitals. What exactly did you have to do to get him out anyway?"

  "Nothing, nothing. It's no matter now anyway. I had a few talks with the administration, Nathaniel offered to yell a bit if it would help but he was too weak so I did most of the yelling, it wasn't so hard really."

  "And how is he supposed to be getting here? If he had surgery he must not be doing so well."

  "He's gotten a bit better since the surgery though. He's weak, very, very weak, but he assured me he was well enough for travel. If he wasn't I would never have insisted he come. One of the nurses is bringing him in a carriage. And they're moving really slowly too, that's why he's coming so much later than me. I almost went with him but I thought I'd better arrive first, make sure everything was in order."

  Sara raised an eyebrow, "Well at least you did one thing right," she sighed and sat back down beside Gail on the sofa, "All I can say is that you'd better take care of him while he's here. If you make Betsy do all the work, you'll be getting another lecture from me, Gail St. James."

  *****

  Gail sat upon the bench on the porch, her legs swinging and her hair lifting gently off her back with a gust of chilly, December wind. Although she asserted that it really wasn't that cold outside, because Betsy had insisted, she'd dressed in her warmest knit socks, her thickest wool coat, and a long green scarf. Her eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of a carriage. She'd been waiting for Nathaniel to arrive for nearly an hour, refusing to go back into the house until he was there, and she'd become very anxious and very impatient for that moment to arrive.

  Nora popped her head out of the kitchen window, her apron covered in flour and the scent of fig pies rushing past her towards Gail.

  "No sign of him?" she asked.

  Gail shook her head, "Not yet. I do hope they're not lost."

  "Well why don't you just come inside for a bit and sit by the fire with John and Sara? You must be frozen by now."

  "It's not cold at all," said Gail, "And I'm staying right where I am."

  "We have fresh dough in here too," Nora said with a lopsided smile, "It smells lovely. Why don't you come have a bit? Just to warm off your toes."

  Gail shook her head again, "I can wait."

  With a reluctant sigh, Nora closed the window and Gail was left in silence.

  She began to swing her legs back and forth again and then finally, feeling far too excited to sit down any longer, she jumped up from the bench and began to walk the length of the front porch, back and forth, back and forth, with constant glances towards the countryside. Then, when there was still no Nathaniel, she began to walk up and down the far sides of the porch as well as the back. She'd walk quickly around three sides, the ends of her scarf flying behind her, and then travel very, very slowly in the front so that she had plenty of time to search for the carriage. After she'd walked the square porch numerous times though, this became dreadfully boring. Instead of jogging three sides of it, she walked all four, lazily gazing towards the distant countryside with a disappointed sigh.

  And then, after walking so many squares she thought she might be dizzy, she saw it. A small white dot in the distance with a light cloud of dust surrounding it. Gail stopped on the corner of the porch, setting her hands upon the railing and squinting for a better view. It had to be Nathaniel. It just had to be. Unless, of course, Brook and Emy were already home. But no, it couldn't be. It was Nathaniel. Why else would the carriage be white? A carriage was rarely white unless it came from a hospital.

  As it came closer, she slowly walked inward towards the steps, pausing just before them and placing her hands upon the railing again.

  By this time the carriage was near enough that she could read the text upon its side, reading in very blunt, black letters Wickensville Hospital.

  Everyone inside the house could hear it now as well. Mary and Nora gathered at the kitchen window, Betsy behind them, and all three carried figs or dough in their hands. Ethan looked downward from his bedroom upstairs and John and Sara came to the front window in the parlor. Everyone waited for the carriage to stop and once it did they saw two figures appear.

  Nurse Maureen stepped out of the door and headed towards the back, where she couldn't be seen. From there, she rolled out a wheelchair with a clean, wooden frame, four wheels- two very small and two rather large, and a crosshatch of thin wooden boards for the siding. The soon-to-be occupant of this wheelchair was first heard rather than seen. As Gail was walking down the steps, her hands in her pockets, she heard him shouting. The other figure they'd seen, the carriage driver, had jumped off his platform and entered the carriage to help Nathaniel out.

  "Careful! Careful!" came Nathaniel's screams, "Couldn't you warm up your hands or something? They're as cold as ice!"

  The driver's voice returned, "I'm sorry, sir, but that's what happens when you're driving a carriage in winter."

  "Well hurry up then! But don't you dare drop me! If you even come close I swear I'll . . ."

  Gail smiled as soon as she saw him, being carried out in the arms of the driver. And as soon as Nathaniel saw her he stopped yelling for a moment and gave a little wave, "Hello there, Gail."

  He was set into the carriage and Maureen came forward with a blanket, but before she could set it on him Nathaniel gave a grin and looked at Gail, "Can you believe it?" he said, "I'm wearing clothes, Gail! I'll bet you never thought you'd see the day! Frankly, I didn't either. I haven't had on a shirt and trousers since I was a kid. Only pajamas. But I sent Maureen out to buy me some new things. I didn't think it'd be proper to arrive only in my sleep clothes."

  Gail laughed, "You look wonderful Nathaniel. Honest, you do."

  "And I'm not in a bed!"

  "I see that," she giggled again.

  "You've never seen me out of a bed before, have you?"

  "Only a hospital stretcher . . . And you don't look so sick anymore either. Are you feeling much better?"

  "I'm feeling much better, yes," Nathaniel nodded, "Still weak, very weak, but it's not so bad."

  Nathaniel finally allowed the blanket to be set over his legs by Maureen and then the young nurse scurried back inside the carriage to retrieve Nathaniel's luggage and medication. The driver was patting his horses and all the Lindseys and St. Jameses were still gathered at the windows.

  Indeed, N
athaniel looked far healthier than he had in Wickensville. His eyes weren't quite so dark, his hands were no longer trembling, he hadn't a fever, and his skin was back to its normal paleness. Although his legs were now hidden beneath a red plaid blanket, the bottoms of his tan trousers could be seen as well as shiny black shoes. Over a simple white shirt and black tie, he wore a gray sweater and a dark charcoal peacoat. His hands were bare, just like Gail's, and chilled in the cool air. Upon his head was a flimsy gray newsboy cap and tuffs of very light brown hair came out from beneath it. Gail didn't think she'd ever seen him look as happy as he did at that moment.

  As soon as Gail had finished her greeting, everyone else in the house came down to meet him themselves. He recognized all the other sisters, though he wasn't able to recall who was who, and gave a nod to each; for he really was quite weak and wasn't able to give a proper handshake. Then, he was introduced to Ethan and John and finally to Betsy, who assured him most animatedly that his room was all ready and that she did hope he would like it. Nathaniel nodded, "I'm sure I should like anything after that plain white hospital room." Betsy smiled.

  At once, Ethan and John asked if Nathaniel should like his wheelchair carried up the steps to the house, for Betsy insisted he must have a nice tour and Nora said she wanted him to try a bit of their fig pies. But, much to everyone's surprise, he said he'd rather stay outside for a bit, if they didn't mind. He hadn't been out in the fresh air in years and although it was quite cold, he did wish to stay out longer.

  "Of course, of course!" Betsy exclaimed, "Stay out as long as you like. I'm sure Gail would be happy to oblige you and as soon as you return we'll have tea and biscuits ready for you, for I'm sure you must be very hungry after that long trip."

  Nathaniel smiled, "You're very kind, ma'am. That sounds wonderful."

  And so, while everyone else headed back indoors, the hospital's carriage rolled back into the distance and Gail began pushing Nathaniel's wheelchair out behind the house and into the countryside where Nathaniel could finally view the rolling hills, flowering shrubs, and dry wildflowers. He couldn't fail to overlook any of nature's beauty after being separated from it for so long.

  Sitting beside one of the back windows with a book, Sara watched them disappear. She'd never seen much of Nathaniel aboard the ship, for he'd always been lying downstairs in his room, but she'd heard plenty about him. Despite the initial yelling, he seemed a very nice sort of fellow and she was glad to see Gail so joyful and welcoming of her new companion and guest.

  John joined her at the window, "He's a little pale, bitter sort of thing, isn't he?"

  Sara laughed, "I suppose so. But Gail likes him well enough and he does seem awfully glad to be here. I'm just happy he's feeling so much better. The last time we saw him aboard the ship, you know, he was so near death we didn't think we'd ever see him again. And now look at him! I never thought I'd see him looking so well."

  "Betsy'll be able to fatten him up, that's for sure," John smiled.

  "And at least Ethan's here," Sara commented, "In case of emergency."

  John nodded, still peering off into the distance towards the sight of the wheelchair, growing smaller and smaller as Gail pushed Nathaniel further into the hills and toward the far-off lake. John looked upward and gave a grim smile, "They shouldn't go out so far, you know. Or not for so very long at least. Surely Gail's spotted those clouds overhead. It's bound to rain at any moment."

  Sara, too, watched as the storm headed towards them, dark clouds sitting above the countryside and the wind growing fierce, "They'll come back before then. It's too cold to stay out for too long or they'll both end up frozen. You don't think it'll snow though? It is December."

  John shook his head, "Not yet. The temperature's been hovering around the freezing point all week but I doubt it's dipped below already. Give it another week or so."

  "They'll be back soon," Sara repeated, watching their small figures fade further and further away, "They'll be back before the storm."

  *****

  But Nathaniel and Gail were too far engaged in the conversation and in nature that they hadn't glanced upward but once or twice. There were hills to climb and large beech trees to sit beneath, flowers to admire and birds that sang joyful little tunes. The few times they had looked to the sky, while Gail said it looked as though it may storm soon and they'd best be heading back, Nathaniel shook his head and said it was only a bit of dark clouds and he still wanted to see the lake.

  They hadn't even made it to the lake, however, before a small drizzle began.

  "Oh, I knew it would rain," Gail moaned, holding out her hand and watching as two lone drops hit it, "I knew we should have headed back sooner."

  "It's no matter," Nathaniel said brightly, far too happy with arriving in Brighton to be downcast by a few drops of rain, "We'll simply head back now, see the lake tomorrow, and beat the storm back to the house."

  Gail moaned again and slowly turned around the wheelchair, "But we'll never make it back before the storm hits."

  "Nonsense!" shouted Nathaniel, "Hurry back now! We'll make it!"

  Gail sighed but followed his instructions and began to walk faster and faster, pushing the wheelchair as quickly as she could but careful to avoid dips in the land and branches in their path.

  But despite her efforts, the storm arrived before they were even halfway back towards the house. First there was a flash of light, as lightning could be seen in the distance, and there a large boom sounded as the thunder clashed overhead. And then, all at once, the downpour began. The rain came down so hard upon them that within moments both were completely soaked, from Gail's knit scarf down to Nathaniel's shiny new shoes.

  "We have to get back!" Gail shouted above the pounding rain, "Why didn't I ever insist we go back sooner? Why did I listen to you? You'll become ill!"

  "As will you."

  "Nathaniel!"

  Nathaniel shrugged, "I can't grow too much more ill than I already am!"

  "You can die!"

  "I welcome the thought!" Nathaniel laughed, holding out his weak and feeble hands and watching them fill with water.

  "I told you we ought to have gone back earlier but you insisted and . . ."

  "Don't worry," Nathaniel assured his fretful friend, "I can see the house from here. We'll be back in no time."

  "I can't push any faster," Gail sighed, "My arms are far too tired."

  "It's alright. We're already so wet we can't grow any wetter. What's there to fear? You don't honestly think we'll be hit by lightning, do you?"

  "No, no," Gail shook her head, brushing tangled, wet hair from her eyes, "But it's freezing out here and we're soaked and we'll probably both become sick when we get back! And just when you were feeling so well too!"

  "A little cold is nothing," said Nathaniel, as he rolled along beside the side of the house, "I've been through far worse, I'm certain."

  Gail began to run, her shoes covered in mud, "Almost there! Almost there!"

  As soon as they'd reached the front steps Ethan and John came dashing out wearing their rain slickers and hats. While Gail ran up the front steps and into the warm house, the men lifted Nathaniel up the stairs and pushed him inside as well.

  "Have a nice walk?" Ethan laughed, brushing the water from his eyes.

  "Fine, fine," replied Nathaniel, wringing his newsboy cap upon his lap and watching with embarrassment as the rainwater covering himself and his wheelchair dripped upon the Lindsey's hardwood floors, "I'm sorry about all the water though. Is there somewhere I can go to dry off?"

  John stepped beside Nathaniel again and pushed him to the right and into the parlor, where Gail was already shivering in a towel beside the fire.

  Betsy rushed forward from the other room and handed another towel to Nathaniel.

  "Oh I should have known better than to let you two go out when it was bound to rain," she said worriedly, "I've already got dinner on the stove, so once you're all dried off it should be time for supper. Stay by the fire until
you're nice and warm though. I wouldn't want anyone getting sick. Especially so soon after your arrival, Mr. West."

  Nathaniel nodded, "Thank you, ma'am. I wouldn't want to keep you from your cooking though. We'll be fine if you want to head back."

  "Oh, alright," Betsy nodded, "But if you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

  As soon as she'd left the room Gail turned to Nathaniel with a frown, "This is all your fault, you know," she murmured, "If you hadn't insisted that we go for a walk, this never would have happened. And if you'd only listened to me when I told you we ought to go back sooner, this never would have happened. So if you get sick, don't blame me."

  "I won't blame anyone," said Nathaniel, "I promise."

  Gail sighed again.