Matthew: The Circle Eight by Emma Lang

Author:Emma Lang [Lang, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp
Published: 2012-01-31T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Shuffling sounds pulled Hannah out of her slumber. She’d gone to bed early, exhausted, and was still alone in the bed. She cracked one eye and realized there was a small figure standing beside the bed.

“Catherine?”

The little girl leaned down to whisper in her ear. “We need you in our room, Hannah. Um, Rebecca needs help.”

Hannah was on her feet in seconds, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “Is she okay?”

Catherine took her hand. “Yeah, she’s okay. She just ... needs help.”

The two younger girls shared a small bedroom with two narrow cots. The two boys slept in a room at the end of the hall, while the two older girls had a room next to the master bedroom. Eva rounded out the house in the room across from the master. Matt’s old bedroom stood empty.

When Hannah walked into the girls’ room, she recognized the smell of urine immediately and understood why Rebecca needed help.

“I brought Hannah.”

“Aw, Catherine, why’d you do that?” Rebecca sat on the edge of the bed, clutching her white nightdress.

“I can help.” Hannah felt bad for the girl. Wetting the bed at the age of nine was embarrassing, especially when her seven-year-old sister knew about it. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

Rebecca fiddled with the fabric bunched in her hands for a few moments. “Okay. I’m not a baby though.”

Hannah sat beside her. “No, I don’t think you’re a baby. You and your brothers and sisters had a bad thing happen to your family. Sometimes that makes people do things they normally don’t.”

“I don’t wet the bed. Never.” Rebecca sniffed.

Hannah squeezed her shoulder, remembering how it felt to wet the bed. The cold wetness and the stench were unforgettable.

“Then let’s get you cleaned up so you can go back to sleep.” She turned to Catherine. “Are there extra sheets?”

“Uh-huh. Eva keeps ’em in the chest in her room.” Catherine seemed to know everything.

“Can you get in there without her knowing?” The last thing Hannah wanted to do was betray her promise to Rebecca.

Catherine nodded. “A’course. I’m good at sneaking.”

“Not a big surprise.” Hannah pointed her toward the door. “You get the sheets while I go get some warm water.”

Catherine scampered out of the room, leaving Hannah alone with Rebecca. “I’m going to get some water to wash you up. Do you have another nightdress?”

Rebecca shook her head.

“I have something that will work. Stay here and I’ll be right back.” Hannah went into her own room first and found an old blouse that didn’t fit her bosom any longer. She had planned on making handkerchiefs with it, but now she had another use.

There was a hot water reservoir in the big stove in the kitchen. Hannah quietly filled a bowl with water and took a bar of soap and a clean towel with her to the girls’ room.

She had almost made it to the door when a big shadow appeared, scaring the life out of her. Part of the water spilled down the front of her own nightdress when she jumped.

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