Unlikely Angel

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Susan was awakened by the smells emanating from Alice’s breakfast preparations. The other’s were already up and had taken full notice of which bunk she was sleeping in and just let her be. Nearly all of them had known a time when they had clung to a place or object because of the person it reminded them of. And still there were times when Cora found herself in Pat’s bunk when he was away. It had nothing to do with the romantic nature of their relationship but because when the nightmares came the scent of him could hold them at bay.

Billy was the first to notice the little girl sitting up and blinking the sleep from her eyes.

“Well, good morning Princess Sleepyhead. How are you today?”

Susan opened her mouth unsure whether it would work or not. She had to be very at ease for things to come out the way she wanted them to. She knew how people interacted with each other. Joe had gone over and over it with her but when she was frightened nothing worked quite right at all.

“Ve-very well B-Billy, th-thank you. Ho-how are you?”

She tried to look him in the eye like Joe had told her she ought to do when she spoke to people. She didn’t understand the purpose of that but Joe had said it made people feel better about the person they were talking to. She managed to meet his gaze for a very brief moment. Susan glanced around at the stunned faces and wondered if she had said something wrong. She had been so sure that she said it right but now she just didn’t know. Susan wanted to just disappear until she heard Pat clear his throat to get her attention.

“It’s okay. We’ve just never seen him speechless before.”

Pat’s eyes were so kind and reassuring that she couldn’t help herself, she went to him and hugged him tightly.

“Did I say it right, Pat?” the words were spoken softly into his shirt.

He smoothed her hair and patted her back and Billy, realizing that it was his reaction that had caused her upset, crouched next to the pair.

“You said it just right Susan. I’m just not used to it is all. I’m sorry I made you feel bad, I didn’t react right.”

Tentatively Billy placed a hand on her back and she tensed for only a moment. She typically did not enjoy being touched and she especially did not like being touched without warning. Physical contact of even the most benign nature was near to painful for her. But there were exceptions and those had always been her family. Joe could scoop her into a hug whenever he wanted and it never frightened her and it never hurt. It was warm and safe. Her mother could hold her and kiss her head and her father could as well and all of this was home. She was now feeling that same way about these men and women. Their touches and hugs brought comfort, so she decided they must be family now too.

After breakfast Susan tried to busy herself with chores but found her mind and eyes wandering frequently to that patch of horizon where she knew Johnny would eventually appear.

“That’s not going to bring him back any faster, believe me, I’ve tried.”

Susan looked up from the sheet she was pinning to the line to see Pat standing near her.

“I still do it though. If Cora’s away, I find myself just standing and watching for her.”

“Mi-“Susan shook her head, determined to speak correctly, “I miss Johnny.”

“I know you do and he’ll be back before you know it. In the meantime, you want a hand with that laundry?”

The two of them hung the rest of the wash and talked. There were no earth shattering topics of conversation. Pat did most of the talking. He talked about places he’d been and adventures the group of them had, though he stayed intentionally away from any stories that might worry poor Susan. For the first time that day, Susan didn’t feel anxious and she had even stopped gazing off in the direction from which Johnny would be riding. Then they heard Tusk call out, “Johnny’s back!”