Read Online A Shattered Wife by Diana Salyers - Free Book Online Page B

anywhere."
    "You could sit out in the yard."
    "With my luck, I’d probably fall into another groundhog
hole and paralyze the rest of me. No thanks!"
    Paul felt especially good today and his laughter came
easily. He had good news for Bill.
    Martha knew she looked bad. Lack of sleep had left dark
circles under eyes and she was always on the verge of tears. Whether the tears
were caused by exhaustion, nervousness or just plain fear she wasn’t sure.
Whatever the cause, her eyes were swollen and red. Her hair continued to slip
from its confining bun and the fine silvery strands hung limply against her neck.
    Listening to the men talking and laughing on the porch, she
thought about how close they had become - almost like father and son. The
thought intensified her anger toward Bill and even brought on an unreasonable
surge of anger toward Paul. While setting the table, she came to a decision.
Today she would tell Paul about Bill’s recent behavior as soon as the
opportunity presented itself. As Bill’s doctor, he especially needed to know
about the incident with William.
    After they had eaten, Martha jumped up from the table and
followed him outside. He was returning to the house, medical bag in hand, when
she reached him. "I have to talk to you." Her whisper sounded
desperate to her own ears.
    A frown flicked across his face. "What is it?"
    She looked around to make sure Bill had not followed her. "Bill’s
been doing some pretty strange things. I thought you should know."
    "Like what?"
    "He can’t sleep for one thing."
    "I’ll ask him about it and give him a prescription,"
Paul said off-handedly and started toward the house again.
    "No," Martha shook her head and put a hand on his
arm. "He mustn’t know I’ve talked to you."
    Paul frowned again and then he looked toward the house.
    "He made a chart."
    "A sleep chart?"
    "A chart to keep track of the animals he kills. Didn’t
you see it hanging on the wall?" Martha’s hands flitted to smooth her
apron.
    "He’s just trying to stay busy," Paul patted her
arm reassuringly and took another step toward the house.
    Martha’s frustration mounted. How could he have not noticed
the chart? "That’s not all."
    "What else?"
    "Our son came to visit last Sunday."
    Paul felt a stab of jealousy. William had no idea what a
wonderful family he had. If Bill was his father he would be out here every day.
He was someone to admire; someone to laugh and talk with.
    "Bill attacked him."
    "What?" Paul thought he’d heard her wrong, then
almost immediately wondered if she was overreacting.
    "If you could have seen his face…" Martha broke
off and shook her head. "I was never so scared in all my life. I was glad
when he passed out."
    "Passed out! Why didn’t you call me?" Paul
demanded.
    She finally had his attention. "I tried to, but Bill
came to and wouldn’t let me."
    Paul paused to consider her last statement and then said. "You
should have called me anyway. Promise me you will if it ever happens again."
    Martha nodded feeling tired, drugged. "There’s
something wrong. I know it!"
    Paul studied her closely and realized how tired and frail
she looked. "Look, I think you’re blowing this whole thing out of
proportion. I’m going to give you a sedative to help you get some rest."
    Martha could hardly believe what she was hearing. She shook
her head. "No…"
    "If you don’t feel better in a few days, come in to the
office to see me."
    "But, Bill…he…"
    But Paul was moving, taking long strides toward the house
again, leaving her behind.
    "Let me show you the chart. It’s hideous," Martha
said, hurrying after him. Managing to get to the door first, she clutched his
arm tightly when they got inside. "He keeps it hanging right there."
Closing the back door, she turned her head and pointed. "I can’t even
stand to look at it."
    There was nothing there but a blank wall. Paul shook his
head and gently patted her shoulder. "There’s nothing there."
    "What!" she whirled around. The wall was