Page 101 of Always to Remember
Dr. Martin shrugged. “I don’t know. I stitched it up as best I could. Fortunately, the knife went between the bones so nothing in his hand is broken. Only time will tell how much permanent damage was done. But he has a quiet determination unlike any I’ve ever seen. He’s sleeping now, so I reckon I’ll head on home. Want me to escort you home?”
Meg shook her head. “No, I’ll be staying for a while.”
“Reckon your pa don’t know you’re here.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
Dr. Martin picked up his bag. “Well, he won’t hear it from me.”
“If you knew how they treated Clay,” Meg said quietly, “why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because I’m a doctor, not a gossip. People have to know that they can trust me not to repeat what I learn when I’m treating them. Besides, the hatred around here is so thick, I didn’t think it’d make any difference.” He ruffled the twins’ hair. “Clay told me he’s never seen anyone as brave as you boys were tonight.”
The twins’ eyes widened. “He did?”
“Yep. Reckon he’ll tell you himself in the morning.” Smiling sadly, he tilted his head toward Meg. “Good night.”
Meg held the twins close until she heard the door close. “I don’t know if I’ve ever known a night so long. I need to put you to bed.”
“Can we have a lantern in our room?” Joe asked. “Lucian don’t like having a lantern burning in the room, but seein’s as how he ain’t here …”
“I’ll leave the lantern in your room,” she promised.
“And could you leave the door open?” Josh asked as he slipped away from her.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Yawning, the boys shuffled to their room, their bare feet dragging along the floor. Josh stopped in the doorway. “Wait here, Miz Meg, and we’ll holler when we’re undressed and under the covers. We know it don’t bother you seein’ our backsides since you’re a widow and all, but it’d sure bother us … even though you’ve seen ‘em before. We kinda like to keep ‘em to ourselves.”
Meg bit back her smile. In the worst of circumstances, these boys held a view of the world that charmed her. “You take the lantern, and I’ll wait here.”
Taking the lantern, Josh ducked into the room. She heard the scuffling, the whispers, and a small laugh.
“We’re ready, Miz Meg!”
She walked into their room. Josh had set the lantern on the table beside their bed. With angelic faces, they peered at her. She pulled the quilt to their chins. She wanted desperately to lean over and kiss each and every freckle dotting their cheeks and noses, but they weren’t accustomed to having a woman in their life, and she didn’t know if they’d welcome the affection she wanted to bestow upon them.
Tonight, they’d grown up more than any child of ten should ever have to.
“Miz Meg?”
“What, Josh?” she asked.
“How’d you know it was me talking?” Josh asked.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ve just been around you for so long that you don’t look the same to me anymore.”
He grimaced. “I got the most freckles.”
She smiled. “I know, and I love every one of them.”
“Miz Meg, would you mind terribly if we was to give you a hug?”
Sitting on the edge of their bed, she shook her head and held out her arms. They bolted upright and flung into her embrace. She held them close, inhaling their scent of dirt, leaves, and bats at twilight.
“We love you, Miz Meg,” one of the twins rasped.
She didn’t know which one had spoken, but she knew it didn’t matter. “I love you, too.”
