As the Sparks Fly Upward (17 page)

“Is it turtle soup?”

“No, I haven't had any turtles lately, but I have some duck eggs and a fat, juicy hare.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“While I fix our food, tell me all of what you have been doing.”

As Meg prepared the meal, stoking the fire and stirring the contents of the large black pot, Colin told her what he thought might be fitting for her to hear. He did not mention Heather.

When he finally ceased, Meg turned and looked at him.

“What is it you are not telling me, boy?”

“Why, nothing! I've told you all.”

Meg came over and grabbed a handful of Colin's hair. She twisted her hand and put her face close to his. “I can see right to your brain, and farther than that to your heart. You've been through some kind of trouble.”

Colin was amazed. He tried to free himself, but her grip was firm. “It's nothing,” he protested. “Turn me loose!”

“I will when you tell me. But I vow I already know. It was a woman, wasn't it?”

Colin blinked with surprise, and with her eyes burning into him, he knew he could not lie. “Yes,” he whispered. “It was a woman, and I made a stupid fool of myself!”

“Of course you did! Now tell me all about it.” Meg released his hair, pulled up a three-legged stool, and sat beside him. “I want to hear. So tell me all.”

“It's not fit for you to hear,” Colin protested. “I haven't even told my parents.”

Meg didn't speak. She simply leaned forward and pursed her lips. Her eyes seemed to glitter, and suddenly Colin found himself pouring out the whole story. He related how he had met Heather and how she had been too much of a temptation for him. He didn't go into details, but he did say in a broken voice, “I loved her, and she was just playing with me.”

“Of course she was! She made a fool out of you, all right.”

“That will never happen again. Wise men learn from their mistakes.”

Colin started to see the memories as vividly in his mind as if they were happening right in front of his eyes. Anger burned inside him. “I will not be made a fool of ever again! I'm through with women forever!”

Meg laughed. “That is just a young man talking who's had his feathers singed. You'll find a woman who will be good for you. You just have to learn how to tell a good woman from a bad one!”

Colin felt relieved that he had shared his guilt with someone.
He knew Meg would keep his secret. He had his meal, and when he rose to go he put his arm around her. “I see you're wearing the earrings I got you.”

“Wearing them! Like I said, I'll be buried in them,” Meg said with a smile. She reached over and patted his cheek. “Go back now. I'm proud of you, and your parents are, too. They probably talk about you all the time.”

“Oh, Meg, Adam is the one they should be proud of.”

“No, not Adam, you! Go back to London, and get me another present.”

“I'll do that,” he said. He hugged her and felt the lean strength of her frame. He also saw tears in her eyes, which surprised him. “I'll be back for a visit soon, and we will have more time.”

“Go with God, boy!”

Summer had gone, fall passed, and the winter now brought its bitter chill to the land. It was on December the tenth when a heavy snow fell, muffling the sounds of the wagon wheels and iron hooves of the horses. Phineas Teague was startled when a knock came at the door of his home and office. “Who would be out in this weather?” he grumbled. Getting out of his chair, he opened the door and looked at the couple who stood there. “What is it?”

“My name, Doctor, is Jude Tanner, and this is me wife, Kate. She needs a doctor's care.” Tanner was a tall, bulky man with thick hands and a rough visage. His wife was a small woman, with black hair and well-shaped features.

“Well, come in, come in.” Teague led them back to the living area that he and Colin had converted into a proper place to see patients. Their instruments were there, as well as an examining table. The smell of herbs and other medicines was strong in the room.

“What's the trouble, Tanner?”

Tanner looked down at the floor and removed his hat. He pushed his thick fingers through his tow-colored hair and mumbled something.

“What is that you say? I can't hear you, man.”

“If you don't mind, Doctor, my wife would like to see your young assistant, Dr. Winslow.”

Teague stared at the man, and anger began to grow in him. “Why do you want to see him when I'm standing here?”

“Well, sir,” Kate said in a frightened voice, “my sister Irene was very sick and came here. You were gone, so Dr. Winslow treated her and made her all well, he did. I'm very much afraid and would really like to see him. If you don't mind, sir?”

“No offense, Doctor,” Tanner added quickly.

“Well, by heaven, there
is
an offense! I've been practicing medicine longer than that pup has been alive! Sit down! I'll go get him since you think he is the only physician in the world!”

Slamming the door behind him, Phineas went down the hall and into the dissection room where he and Colin worked on their stolen bodies. “Well, Dr. Colin Winslow, you have a request.”

Colin was bending over a cadaver, but he straightened up. “What is it, Phineas?”

“Some idiot woman who doesn't think I'm fit to treat her. She wants you.”

Colin suddenly laughed. “Don't tell me you're jealous, Phineas!”

“Jealous! Not at all! Why would I be jealous of someone who was my student not six months ago?”

“You don't have to be,” Colin said quickly. “You're a better doctor than I can ever hope to be.”

“You're getting arrogant!”

“I don't think so,” Colin said. He put down his instrument and laid his hand on Phineas's shoulder. “I owe everything to you, Phineas. Don't be upset.”

Teague grew calm from Colin's words. “Well, blast it all, I'm shocked to discover that I have all this foolish pride.”

Colin started out the door. “I'll see the woman.”

“Wait a minute. I want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Are you over that woman who made a fool of you? You told me about that, and I told you to put it behind you—a young man's folly.”

“I was a fool, but you can be sure that will never happen again. All women are fickle.”

“Is your mother a bad woman?”

Colin blinked with surprise. “Of course not!”

“Well, do you think she's the only good woman in the world?”

“No, of course I don't think that. I spoke too hastily.”

“That you did. Now go see if you can help that woman out there.”

Two days had passed since Kate Tanner had been treated, and both she and her husband were relieved that her ailment was not serious. They were very happy with Colin and left singing his praises. The weather had grown colder, and Phineas had gone to visit an old friend of his at the university. Colin found himself walking back and forth in the house and thought,
I'm lonely. I need to do something
. He hesitated for only a moment, then made a decision.
I know what I'll do. I will go home for Christmas. It'll be good for me, and it will please my parents.

Putting on his heavy coat and fur cap and a pair of thick gloves, he left the house. He took with him thirty pounds that he had saved from the bag his parents had given him on his last visit. He had spent little of it after giving some money to Meg, and now he was glad he was able to buy nice gifts for Adam and his parents. A pang came to him when he realized that this was the first Christmas that he wouldn't buy a present
for Adara. He tried to ignore that thought and decided to buy a gift for Meg.

As he left the house, the bitter cold seemed to grip him with an iron hand. The snow was not falling heavily, but in tiny fragile flakes. Only a few people were out, so the streets were not crowded. He visited several shops but found no gifts that seemed appropriate. He was very cold and decided to come back earlier the next day. As he started walking home, suddenly the door of a shop burst open to his right and a girl came running out. A big, burly man was right at her heels, cursing and reaching out for her. He caught her in his large hands and began to beat her, a thing that Colin could not tolerate.

The girl cried out for help. Her eyes lit on Colin. “Please help, mister!”

Colin stepped forward, saying, “Sir, you don't have to beat the child.”

The man turned to him. He was bald except for a small fringe around his skull. His eyes were cruel. “Mind your own business! She's none of your concern.”

“She's only a child!”

“I bought 'er, and she's bound to serve for seven years. I'll do as I please with 'er!”

He started to drag the child back inside, and she begged, “Please, mister—help me!”

Colin moved without thinking. He tried to stop the man by grabbing his thick arm, but that didn't faze the brute. Before he could move, Colin was struck on his forehead and driven backward. The snow was so deep that it cushioned his fall, but he felt blood running down the side of his face. He started to get up, but a heavy boot struck him in the side. He had never felt such pain! It was like fiery lightning running through him. The man cursed and shouted, “That'll teach you to mind your own business!” Colin tried to get to his feet, but the pain in his head and
side was tremendous. His eyes were fixed on the girl, and the look of terror on her thin face caught him.

Colin was often a man of impulse. He struggled to his feet. “You say you bought the girl?”

“Fair and square. I paid twenty guineas for 'er.”

The girl cried out, “'e only paid fifteen!”

“I'll give you twenty-five for her.”

The man grinned, his thick lips turning upward, revealing brown teeth. “Why, a swell gentleman like you I'm sure could pay more. She's scrawny now, but later she will be more interesting, if you knows what I mean.” He smiled and winked crudely. “Once she gets a few years and puts on a few pounds, she'll be a juicy wench! I'll take thirty quid and not a farthing less.”

Colin nodded. “Get her papers and you'll get the money.”

“That's a deal. Don't you try to run away, girl! I'll find you and give you a few good ones!”

Colin closed his eyes, for the world seemed to be revolving from the pain in his head and side. He moved over to lean on the outside wall of the shop, barely able to breathe. The man quickly came out and handed him a paper. “I done signed it. This makes 'er your bound girl for seven years. You can do whatever you want with her. I'm glad to be rid of her. Now let's have the money.”

Colin, moving slowly, fished the leather purse out of his coat pocket. He counted out the coins and handed them to the man, who laughed and went back into the shop.

The girl cried, “I'm gonna get my things!” When she came out with a bundle, she said, “'e tried to put his 'ands on me!”

Colin tried to straighten up but could not. “What's your name, child?”

“Twyla Hayden.”

“How old are you, Twyla?”

“I dunno. Maybe twelve or thirteen, I reckon.”

“We have to get out of this cold. I'm Dr. Winslow.”

He moved away carefully, walking like an old man, and the girl walked beside him. “He tried to put 'is 'ands on me, 'e did! You bought me, but you better leave me alone.”

Colin was hurting too much to say anything. He knew the blood was freezing as it ran down his cheek.

The girl asked, “Where we goin'?”

Colin could only gasp, “Home!” And he made it the goal of his life to reach that haven.

Teague heard the door open and looked up from his book. He was shocked to see Colin stagger in, his face covered with blood. Leaping from the chair, he caught the younger man as he began to fall. “What in the world happened to you?”

“Got beat up—”

Teague stared at the child and demanded, “Who are you, girl? What are you doing here?”

The girl looked up at him and kept her distance. “My master was a-beatin' me, and the doctor, 'e tried to stop 'im, and 'e got all beat up.”

“And you helped him get here?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Well, here is half a crown. Now get out of here.”

“I won't! I belongs to 'im now 'cause 'e bought me for thirty guineas.”

“You are too scrawny to be worth that.”

“I belongs to 'im!” she insisted.

“Well, you can stay until I get the truth.” He looked at the wound on Colin's head and said, “That is going to leave a scar. But you never were much to look at anyway. Come on. I'll sew you up.”

Colin had the taste of laudanum still in his mouth, and he remembered vaguely that Teague had dosed him until he was
practically unconscious. He tried to move, but there was still a sharp pain in his right side.

“You want somefin' to drink?”

Opening his eyes, Colin saw a girl, but his vision was still blurred. “Who are you?”

“I'm Twyla.”

“What are you doing here?”

“You brought me 'ere. Don't you remember nothin'?”

Indeed, Colin's memory started to come back, and he said, “Water, please, Twyla.”

He waited until she brought back a cup of water and drank it thirstily.

“That man sewed up your 'ead as good as any woman could sew up a shirt.”

“More water, please,” Colin croaked.

He waited until she brought more water, and then Dr. Teague came in. He looked at Colin with disgust. “You're making a career out of being a fool! You ought to have more sense.”

“This fellow was beating the child,” Colin argued weakly.

“What business is that of yours? You should've let him do it.”

Twyla cried out and stepped forward. Her eyes were violet, a color that Teague had never seen before. “You got no 'art! You don't!”