Freddie by Margaret Tanner

Author:Margaret Tanner [Tanner, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Next morning when Freddie woke up Nick was gone. It was becoming easier to get out of bed now. She still wasn’t fully recovered. If she took it slowly, she might be able to do a few chores for him as inactivity was something new for her.

She nibbled at a slice of buttered bread washed down with a cup of water. He had told her she could have any of Li’s clothes that fit, if she wanted to. There was no other choice.

Returning to the bedroom, she searched through the dresser and took out the skirt and blouse. She lifted out a pair of bloomers and a chemise. At least I’ve got my own boots now.

She had to wash her hair as it was full of dirt and congealed blood. How she survived such a vicious attack was a miracle. Changing out of the nightgown was easy enough, getting into the clean clothes was a struggle. Finally, the feat was accomplished

Tugging on her boots, she decided to go outside and see if she could heat up some water. Her hair would be washed even if it was in cold water. She couldn’t stand it a minute longer.

The fire was merely a bed of glowing embers. She picked up a log and placed it on the hot coals before adding a couple of smaller pieces, then fanned it with a towel.

In the closed in section of the back porch sat a hip bath. Nick must sometimes bathe fully. What would he look like without clothes? The shock of such wanton thoughts nearly felled her. She snatched up a square of soap and dashed outside.

What was wrong with her? Men as such had never bothered her in the past. One day in the future she planned to get married and have babies if the right man came along.

Flames licked at the wood now, time to fill the large pot with water and set it on to boil. This was the hardest part of all, carrying a bucket from the porch to top up the pot so she could fill up the battered tin dish she had found.

Maybe she could wash her clothes as well. Then she could at least wear her own undergarments.

By the time she filled the pot she was exhausted and had to rest in the old rocking chair. Gazing out over the paddocks she wondered where Nick was and what he was doing.

Several horses grazed in a fenced off paddock next to the corral. Everything was well built and cared for. He obviously put the welfare of his animals above his own, an admirable quality.

“I like him.” She said out loud. Was he still mourning Li, or was it the bitterness and sadness caused by the way she died. How frightened the poor woman would have been. What kind of evil people would do such a thing to a woman whose man was away fighting in a war? It was so tragic Freddie felt like weeping at the injustice of it all.

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