Lost Patrol by Morgan Hill

Author:Morgan Hill [Hill, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-77967-0
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2011-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

As the sun was setting on the afternoon of July 18, Linda Locklin carried Stevie out the front door of the house and walked across the neighbor’s yard to the north. Seventy-year-old widow Maude Stillwell was sitting in her rocking chair on the front porch of the large two-story house. When Stevie spotted the gray-haired woman, he pointed and jabbered indistinguishable words excitedly.

Mrs. Stillwell smiled from ear to ear, clapped her hands, and rose from the chair. “Oh, there’s Granny Maude’s boy! Let me have him.”

Stevie gladly went to the widow, hugging her neck. To Linda she said, “I suppose it’s too near suppertime for my boy to have a C-O-O-K-I-E.”

Linda laughed. “You grandmas! If we mothers didn’t watch you close, you’d spoil our children rotten! Yes, Granny Maude, it is too near suppertime for your boy to have a you-know-what. But supper is why I’m here. I noticed day before yesterday that a young woman moved in with you. Is she an army wife?”

“Yes,” said Maude, carrying Stevie to her chair and sitting down. Gesturing to an identical rocker next to her, she said, “Take a seat, dearie.”

Linda obeyed. “Where’s she from?”

“Albany, New York. Her name’s Anna Nelson. Her husband is in the war, just like yours.”

“They don’t have any children?”

“No. Anna works as sort of a nurse, taking care of that rich banker, Harvey King. He’s retired now, but he still owns controlling stock in the Penn Bank and Trust here in York. He needs special care, and for that matter, his wife Althea isn’t too well either. Mr. King’s all stove up with arthritis. Althea’s still able to get about, but time’s gonna catch her one of these days. She’ll soon be eighty-four.” After a pause, she added, “You said supper is why you’re here. I don’t understand.”

“Well,” replied Linda, brushing a fallen lock from her forehead, “I noticed yesterday evening that your new tenant came home about this time and I thought I’d come over and invite the two of you for supper. I’d like to meet her since we both have army husbands and army loneliness in common.”

Maude grinned. “That’s very thoughtful of you, dearie. I’m sure Anna will appreciate that. She does talk a lot about missing her husband. But you two girls don’t want an old widow boring you. I can fix my own supper.”

Linda reached over and patted Maude’s arm. “Now we’ll hear no more talk like that. Stevie and I want Granny Maude for supper, too.”

At that moment, Linda saw the pretty brunette coming along the street. “There she is now.”

Maude introduced the two young women and they liked each other immediately. Maude explained to Anna why Linda was there, and Anna quickly volunteered to help her cook supper. Maude said she would keep Stevie with her and bring him over when supper was ready.

After freshening up a bit, Anna entered the Locklin house and pitched in with supper preparations. While they were working, Linda asked, “Where is your husband stationed, Anna?”

“Ken is in northern Virginia.

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