His Two Miracles | Thomas Barrow

Chapter 70

When they finally arrived back at Downton, Thomas carried Ellie walking through the servants kitchen where Mrs. Patmore, saw them and rushed over. "Oh, my goodness, what happened?" she asked, looking at Ellie's injuries.

Thomas explained the situation to Mrs. Patmore, who shook her head in disbelief. "Those children should be ashamed of themselves," she said.

Ellie was whimpering in pain, and Thomas knew he needed to tend to her injuries. He took Ellie to his room and sat her on his bed. "Let me take a look, Ellie. We'll make it better," he said, his voice gentle.

Ellie extended her hands and showed her father her scraped palms and knees. Thomas saw the grit and dirt embedded in her wounds and knew it was going to sting when he cleaned them. "This might hurt a little, darling, but I promise it will make you feel better," he warned her.

Ellie nodded, tears streaming down her face. Thomas got a bowl of warm water and a clean cloth, and he began to clean her wounds. Ellie winced in pain, but Thomas was gentle, trying to make the process as painless as possible.

As he tended to Ellie's injuries, Thomas couldn't help but think about the cruelty of the children who had hurt his daughter.

He wished he could protect her from the world's cruelty, but he knew he couldn't, not always.

After cleaning and bandaging Ellie's hands and knees, Thomas tucked her into bed and lay down beside her. "Are you feeling better now, my sweet girl?" he asked, stroking her hair.

She nodded in response but her quiet cries filled the air, echoing the anguish that had settled deep within her. Her scraped hands and knees were painful reminders of the fall she had taken, and her young body seemed to ache from the impact of hitting the ground. Thomas knew all too well the physical toll it took on Ellie, as it amplified the pain she felt.

"It h - hurts so much, daddy," Ellie whimpered.

"I know, sweetheart. I know," Thomas replied, rubbing her back in a soothing motion. "But it's going to be okay. You're going to be okay."

Thomas wrapped his arms around her, gently holding her close. He could feel the tension in her small body, her muscles and bones aching from the ordeal. With infinite care, he continued to rub her back, his touch offering comfort and solace. Each stroke was filled with love, an unspoken promise that he would always be there to support and protect her.

In the quiet of the room, the outside world faded away, and all that mattered was the bond between father and daughter. Thomas knew that Ellie's journey through life would not be an easy one, but he vowed to be her rock, her pillar of strength.

"Shh, it's okay, my love," he whispered. "Daddy's here. I know it hurts, but I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

As Ellie's cries slowly subsided and her breathing became steady, Thomas stayed by her side, unwilling to let go. In this moment, he understood the depth of a father's love, the unwavering commitment to shield his child from harm. Despite any other possible challenges that lay ahead, he knew that their bond would be their greatest source of resilience.

In the darkness of the room, Thomas whispered softly to Ellie, "You are strong, my darling. And you are loved beyond measure. We will face every obstacle together, my precious girl."

~

A short while later Thomas knew that they had missed dinner, but he also knew that Mrs Patmore would have set some food aside for them. He carefully left Ellie's side and made his way down to the servants' kitchen. Mrs Patmore had indeed left them some dinner, and Thomas quickly retrieved it before heading back up to his room.

Once he was back in his room, Thomas lit a candle and gently woke Ellie up.

"Here you go, love," Thomas said, handing her a plate of food. "Mrs Patmore saved us some dinner.", he spoke softly as he helping her sit up and propping a pillow behind her back.

"Daddy?"

"Hmm?"

"Is it going to hurt forever?" Ellie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thomas knew that she was referring to the aching and pain she was feeling through her body, muscles and bones in all and not just her hands and knees.

"No, baby, it won't," Thomas said, kissing her forehead. "It'll get better, I promise."

Ellie smiled weakly and took a small bite of food, but was soon starting to struggle with holding the spoon.

"Do you want some help sweetheart?"

Ellie nodded, her eyes still heavy with sleep and pain.

She ate slowly, her appetite diminished by her distress and pain. Putting their now empty bowls to one side he tried to keep the conversation light, telling her about his day and the funny antics of some of the staff. She listened, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Ellie looked up at him and asked if she had to go to school tomorrow. Thomas replied softly, "No, my love. You don't have to go to school tomorrow. I'll be keeping you off for a few days after what happened, and to give your body time to heal."

Ellie smiled weakly and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of her father's love and care. Thomas sat there with her for a while longer, gently stroking her hair as she drifted off to sleep. He knew that it was going to be a difficult few days for Ellie, but he was determined to do everything in his power to help her heal and recover.

Ellie whimpered in her sleep and turned over. Thomas watched her for a moment before gently shushing her. He rested his forehead against hers and whispered softly, "It's okay, Ellie. Daddy's here. Daddy will always be here to take care of you."

Ellie's breathing slowed and her body relaxed as she drifted back to sleep. Thomas stayed by her side, watching over her as she slept.

Ellie continued to whimper softly as Thomas continued to rub her back. Eventually, though, she fell asleep. Her breathing deepened and became more even, and Thomas knew she was finally at peace.