Part 17 (2/2)
Seemed like I'd never get shut of wearing dead father duds.
After rolling the sleeves and trouser legs out of my way, I joined up with Sarah in front of the stove.
It looked like she only had enough ham and eggs in the skillet for two.
”Where are Mable and the General?” I asked.
”I suppose they're sleeping. I heard Grandpa prowling about the house last night, and he probably didn't turn in until after sunrise.”
”It appears I came along on a false alarm,” I told her.
”Perhaps you were led here by Providence.”
I gave that notion some pondering, and judged she might be right. Taken all around, I was mighty lucky to still be alive. So maybe the Lord had plans for me. Likely, He aimed for me to send Whittle packing south for h.e.l.l.
If that's what He had in mind, though, He could've done it Himself easy enough by sending the True D. Light True D. Light to the bottom of the sea. to the bottom of the sea.
I would've gone down with her, of course.
So maybe there was more to all this than met the eye.
CHAPTER NINETEEN.
The Yacht and the Horse We ate a splendid meal of ham and eggs and rolls, all washed down with hot coffee. It was better than anything I'd tasted in a long time, considering we'd run out of eggs and fresh meat on the yacht after just a couple of weeks at sea. After that, we'd had only flour and potatoes that didn't come out of tins. I'd gotten a mite tired of it all.
I still had my mind on Providence, and was glad He'd sent me here for such a breakfast. I thanked Him in my head. While I was at it, I let him know I'd appreciated the bed and bath, as well, and allowed He'd done a good job sending me to these people.
When we were done eating, I helped Sarah clear things. Then we stood at the sink together, her was.h.i.+ng while I dried. Back home, Agnes had taken care of such matters. I didn't mind helping, however, and Sarah seemed to enjoy the job.
We'd no sooner finished than the General and Mable showed up. The General, he clapped me on the shoulder. ”That killer of yours must've known better and stayed clear of us,” he said.
”We were quite fortunate, then,” I told him.
”Fortunate.” Mable huffed. ”Never was was such a scoundrel, in my opinion.” such a scoundrel, in my opinion.”
If she wished to take a hike through the snow, I thought, I could show her a couple of bodies that might change her tune on that account. But I kept mum.
”We ought to alert the authorities,” the General said, ”so they can keep a lookout for him.”
”Trevor and I might take care of that while we're in town. He's in sorry need of new clothes, and we want to cable his mother in England so she'll know he's safe.”
”Nonsense!” Mable blurted. ”Send him off. We've got no use for him.”
”He's a child, dear,” the General told her.
”He's all alone in this country,” Sarah added, ”without a soul to look after him. Except us. The Lord guided him to our door.”
”Don't you go Lording Lording at me, girl.” at me, girl.”
”Trevor did us a fine service,” the General said. ”He came here to give us a warning. Besides, he seems a fine fellow to me.” He gave my shoulder another slap. ”Young man, you're welcome to remain under our roof for as long as it pleases you. So long as you behave yourself.”
”Thank you, sir.”
”I'll be switched switched if I'll have this rascal...” if I'll have this rascal...”
”And you'll treat him friendly friendly, dear, or I'll have to put you out in the snow.”
Well, she sank down on a chair and glowered at me.
Sarah took to fixing breakfast for the two of them.
By and by, I escaped and went upstairs. The General's talk about notifying authorities had unsettled me some. What with a couple of bodies in the yacht and n.o.body around to blame but me, I feared I might find myself in a spot of trouble.
At the end of the hallway was a window. I peered out. Down below were the rear grounds of the house, along with the trees and gazebo and such I'd roamed through last night, and the wall. Everything was piled high with snow. The sun had gotten itself swallowed by clouds, so the snow wasn't glaring white any more, but gray and gloomy.
Off beyond the wall, the land sloped down to the sh.o.r.e of the bay. I didn't see foot tracks anywhere. I looked to where the skiff should have been, but couldn't spot it. Likely as not, the snowfall had buried it.
Then I scanned along the beach to the right and braced myself. My heart took to pounding up a storm. I didn't much want want to see the to see the True D. Light True D. Light, but that's what I'd come to the window for. I rather expected to find her crawling with local folks and constables.
The snowy beach stretched alongside the waves for about half a mile that I could see. n.o.body was there.
The yacht wasn't there, either.
I stood peering out the window, searching this way and that, puzzling over the mystery, and then I spotted a s.h.i.+p far out on the rough, slate-colored water.
The sight sent a cold wind blowing through my bones.
I knew she was the True D. Light. True D. Light.
It must've been low tide when I beached her.
I hadn't bothered to drop anchor or reef the mainsail.
So now she was flying along with her sail full of wind, carrying Trudy and Michael on a journey to nowhere.
I got gooseb.u.mps all over.
Quick as I could, I rushed downstairs to the warm kitchen and live people.
We left the General and Mable to their breakfast. Sarah fetched me a pair of boots and leather gloves, a heavy coat and a hat. More of her dead father's things. She got bundled up, herself. Then we went out the front door and trudged across the snow to the stable.
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