The Purple Nightgown by A. D. Lawrence

Author:A. D. Lawrence [Lawrence, A. D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781643528946
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2021-05-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Stella clasped her hands behind her back and plodded along the walking trail, passing cabins and breathing in the scent of evergreen. She cast a glance over her shoulder. Mount Rainier stood majestic in the distance, its snowy cap standing in contrast to the shades of green surrounding her. As she pressed forward on her forced march for health, twigs snapped beneath her shoes. The setting sun cast pink and orange streamers across the sky. It was later than she thought … than she’d hoped. A band cinched around her lungs, cutting off her oxygen.

Henry hadn’t come. Her vision blurred.

Was he so angry with her for the way she’d deceived him that he’d ignored her plea for help? Her shoulders sagged. She deserved it. The way she’d lured him, led him to believe he’d have the final say when all along her plans to check in at Wilderness Heights had been determined.

No. She swiped the tears off her cheeks. He’d only been delayed. Maybe the motorcar had some difficulty. But he’d be here. He had never let her down before.

She recited every cruel word she’d said to him when she insisted he bring her to Washington. Her sharp tone and condescending words burned her cheeks as a weight settled on her chest.

He’d deserted her and for good reason.

Fear frothed and churned like a stormy sea. She turned and started for the main house. Without Jane or Henry—or even Uncle Weston—she was alone. How could she survive this place, Dr. Hazzard, on her own?

Emotion scalded her throat. What if she died alone as Sue had? A sob rose in her chest, but she swallowed it. Crying would do no good. She blinked the stinging tears from her eyes.

Jane must have read Henry’s feelings wrong. If he really cared for her, wouldn’t he come to take her home? A fleck of purple peeked from a grassy patch beside the trail. She stooped for a better look. A delicate violet turned its face toward the setting sun. An image of Henry giving her a flower at the beach sprang to mind, and her heart constricted. Had it meant nothing to him?

She eased onto the grass and plucked the violet. The petals were perfect, smooth as silk beneath her fingertips. How could it grow in this place? So much fear and death resided here, the blossom had no business showing its face.

I’m alone, and Henry isn’t coming.

Hope shriveled within her. She glanced at the flower in her palm and curled her fingers around it, crushing it in her fist. A tear warmed her cheek, then another. She fanned her fingers. The blossom lay mangled in her hand, much like her wishes for perfect health lay in a broken heap at her feet.

Perfect health. She sniffed. What had become of Sue’s hopes for perfect health … or Wendell’s? Now, both were dead.

Her stomach gurgled, begging for food. If only the doctor kept food in the icebox. But Stella had checked when no one was watching.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.