Yesterday's Dead by Pat Bourke

Author:Pat Bourke [Bourke, Pat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781926920320
Publisher: Second Story Press
Published: 2012-04-16T04:00:00+00:00

“I’m too old to be up all night. Is there something to eat?” Forrest ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his eyes. “Looks as if you two could do with something yourselves.”

Meredith hurried to fill the kettle and set it to boil. “Did the doctor come with you?”

“No, lassie. I’m to check in here and let him know how you’re faring. He won’t be home until late.”

Meredith was certain Mrs. Butters was getting worse, but she’d just have to take care of the cook as best she could until the doctor returned. She removed the cheese from under the china keeper on the kitchen dresser and rummaged in the drawer for a knife. “Is it bad at the hospital?”

“Like the gates of Hell. Sick people arriving every minute, some sounding like poor Elvie there, others delirious with fever.” Forrest shook his head. “People shouting and moaning and crying everywhere you turn. The doctor says it’s the same at all the hospitals, and there’s not much they can do for the poor souls.”

“That’s dreadful!” Meredith exclaimed. “Those poor, poor people!”

“The doctor says the only way to stop the spread is for people to stay home,” Forrest continued, sounding angry. “He says people who go out when they’ve got sick ones at home should be locked up.”

“I…I should get back,” Tommy muttered. He turned and fled through the back hall. The screen door banged behind him.

Meredith rounded on Forrest. “That wasn’t fair!” she exclaimed. “You’ve been out all day and we’ve sick people here. He only came here to get help.”

Forrest sighed. “I’m sorry, lassie. I’m tired. I didn’t mean him. I forgot about his sister.”

“It’s not just one sister; it’s two—and his mother.” Meredith was tired, too, but no one seemed to think about that. She sawed some cheese off the block of Cheddar, dumped it onto a plate alongside some bread, and banged the plate onto the table in front of Forrest.

“You’ve a right to be peeved, lassie,” Forrest said ruefully. “I come in here belly-aching, not seeing you’ve had a long night of it, too.”

He reached for a piece of cheese. “Thanks for this. Elvie doesn’t sound good. How’s young Harry?”

Meredith described the events of the night, careful not to say too much about Parker or Maggie. “I haven’t been upstairs for a while,” she said. “I’ve been down here with Mrs. Butters.”

“You’ve had more than enough to do. I’m sure Parker has things well in hand upstairs.”

Meredith traced her finger around the wet ring her mug had left on the tabletop.

“Parker does have things well in hand, doesn’t he?” Forrest asked, frowning.

She didn’t know quite how to answer him. Even though she was sure Forrest would believe her, she didn’t want to get into trouble with Parker. “He’s been fine.”

“I’ll bet my last dollar he’s been anything but fine—leaving a slip of a girl to manage without a lick of help.” Forrest pushed his chair back. “I’m going to pay our friend Parker a visit.”

“He’s been fine! Really!”

It was too late.

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