My New Family

Chapter Sixteen: Father!

      I break away from Evelyn, because I see something in the distance. Suddenly I come across Catherine lying across the path. She looks injured, so I leave Rosemary behind on the path, walk to Catherine, and roll her over. She is unconscious and has what looks like a bullet hole in her left shoulder. Her hands are near it like she was trying to stop the bleeding when she fainted. Poor girl! I am about to pick her up and try to put her on Rosemary's back when the horse bolts. Hearing loud sounds on the path, I hide in the bushes with Catherine's limp body and watch as horsemen ride by. I recognize their badges-they're German soldiers! Carefully lowering Catherine to the ground, I check that my rifle's loaded, just in case. The men are coming from the direction of our house! I watch motionless, as their silent ranks pass by. Suddenly, at the back with a few other prisoners, I recognize someone. It's Stepfather! He is walking between two Germans. I want to jump up and try to rescue him, but that would be stupid. Very stupid! So instead I watch him go by, count one hundred after I see the last rank go by, and put Catherine on my back, piggy-back style. She moans, but otherwise remains limp.

     When we get to the house, Mama is as worried as. But, when she sees us, she is still very worried. "Oh, Pauline! Where did you find her?" I tell Mama the story, and her eyes fill with tears. "Philomena, come here!" Philomena carries Catherine to the Nursery, which hasn't been occupied since Joseph burnt his foot two weeks ago. We lay her on the bed, and then sister Rachel Marie comes in! I smile at my Godmother-I haven't seen her in two weeks! She gets right to business in her usual way. "Madame, please find some clean sheets. Philomena, go get me a basin of hot water. Pauline, fetch some scissors, ointment, and a drink." We all rush off, even Mama, to do our jobs as sister starts brushing Catherine's pretty hair aside. I bump into Evelyn in the hallway, and there is an awkward silence. "Where's Catherine?" she asks. I point to the nursery, then continue on my way.

     Fifteen minutes later, Catherine's eyes flicker open. Sister gives her some water, and she opens her mouth. Mrs. Lory and Mama both have looks of intense relief on their faces, and I can't blame them. We've been so worried! Sister immediately resumes cleaning the wound, and asks Catherine some questions. "Okay, how do you feel?" "Okay, I guess..." "What happened to you?" Mama inquires. "I was weeding the garden, near the road, when I heard clanking noises. I saw some soldiers so I tried to run to the house, but I was hit in the shoulder. That's all I can remember. How did I get here?" Evelyn told her the story, in her own sweet, gentle way. Sometimes I almost like her because of that.

     I happened to look back at her, and I saw that her fists were clenched.

     I guess she's not as sweet as she seems!