Read Online Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Catherine Anderson
Ads: Link
child with an affliction—well, just the thought makes me run scared.’’
The doctor conceded the point by inclining his head. Then he delivered the killing blow. “And if I’m not wrong and the child is normal? It’ll spend its entire life in an orphanage, with no hope of being adopted.”
The doctor mounted his horse, laying his coat over the saddle horn. “Just you think about that, young man. If you can turn your back, more power to you. I hope you’ll be able to sleep nights.”
With that, the good physician spurred his horse and rode down the drive toward the road.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Feeling as though someone had kicked his feet out from under him, Alex stepped to the porch and sat down. Crickets sang in the darkness. The moon hung like a gigantic silver dollar over the mountains, its glow frosting the distant treetops. From inside the house came the muted sound of Edie Trimble’s weeping.
Closing his eyes, Alex tried to sort his thoughts, but the doctor’s last words hung foremost in his mind.
How could he turn his back on his brother’s child and sleep nights? He had the financial resources to hire a live-in nurse to care for Annie, and the doctor was probably correct that in his monstrosity of a house, he probably wouldn’t even realize the girl was residing there. The child could be born in wedlock. It would have the Montgomery name, as was its birthright, and all the advantages that came with it. Though it might take Annie a few days to adjust to living in a different home, she’d eventually settle in, and it would be much easier on her, not being entirely separated from her family and all that was familiar to her.
After circling the problem for several minutes, Alex pushed to his feet and climbed back up the steps.
Not bothering to knock at the front door, he let himself inside and traversed the dimly lit corridor to the judge’s study. The Trimbles looked up in surprise when he reentered the room, Edie with bleary, swollen eyes, her husband with bewilderment.
“I thought you’d gone,” the judge said.
Feeling unaccountably nervous, Alex raked a hand through his hair. “Yes, well, I had a long talk with Dr.
Muir, and I’ve been thinking that there’s another solution to this problem.” Alex met the judge’s gaze.
“Despite what you mentioned earlier, sir, I’ve decided the best thing for everyone concerned is for me to marry your daughter.”
Before either of the Trimbles could protest, Alex rushed on.
“I’ll hire a competent live-in nurse to care for her. On occasion, she’ll be able to come here for visits, and both of you would be welcome at my place any time. The child will have my name.” Alex waved a hand. “It’s the perfect situation, if you think about it.”
All the color had drained from Edie’s face, and she pushed unsteadily to her feet. Alex expected her to agree with him wholeheartedly. Instead, she cried, “No!”
It was the last thing he expected her to say. “Why, for God’s sake?”
“Because,” she cried, turning to the judge. “I won’t have it, James. After the baby is born, I want Annie to come back home where she belongs. I don’t want strangers caring for her the rest of her life. She’s my child and my responsibility.”
Alex was too exhausted to argue. “Shortly after the child is born, Annie and I could separate. We could put it out and about that there were difficulties within the marriage that couldn’t be resolved. She could return home. I’d raise the child.”
Edie pressed the back of her wrist to her forehead and started to pace, her agitation apparent in every rigid line of her body. The judge watched her for several seconds, then he looked at Alex, his gaze filled with questions. Well aware of what he must be thinking, Alex softly said, “I’m aware of the risks, Judge.
I’m willing to take my chances. If it should happen that there’s something wrong
The doctor conceded the point by inclining his head. Then he delivered the killing blow. “And if I’m not wrong and the child is normal? It’ll spend its entire life in an orphanage, with no hope of being adopted.”
The doctor mounted his horse, laying his coat over the saddle horn. “Just you think about that, young man. If you can turn your back, more power to you. I hope you’ll be able to sleep nights.”
With that, the good physician spurred his horse and rode down the drive toward the road.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Feeling as though someone had kicked his feet out from under him, Alex stepped to the porch and sat down. Crickets sang in the darkness. The moon hung like a gigantic silver dollar over the mountains, its glow frosting the distant treetops. From inside the house came the muted sound of Edie Trimble’s weeping.
Closing his eyes, Alex tried to sort his thoughts, but the doctor’s last words hung foremost in his mind.
How could he turn his back on his brother’s child and sleep nights? He had the financial resources to hire a live-in nurse to care for Annie, and the doctor was probably correct that in his monstrosity of a house, he probably wouldn’t even realize the girl was residing there. The child could be born in wedlock. It would have the Montgomery name, as was its birthright, and all the advantages that came with it. Though it might take Annie a few days to adjust to living in a different home, she’d eventually settle in, and it would be much easier on her, not being entirely separated from her family and all that was familiar to her.
After circling the problem for several minutes, Alex pushed to his feet and climbed back up the steps.
Not bothering to knock at the front door, he let himself inside and traversed the dimly lit corridor to the judge’s study. The Trimbles looked up in surprise when he reentered the room, Edie with bleary, swollen eyes, her husband with bewilderment.
“I thought you’d gone,” the judge said.
Feeling unaccountably nervous, Alex raked a hand through his hair. “Yes, well, I had a long talk with Dr.
Muir, and I’ve been thinking that there’s another solution to this problem.” Alex met the judge’s gaze.
“Despite what you mentioned earlier, sir, I’ve decided the best thing for everyone concerned is for me to marry your daughter.”
Before either of the Trimbles could protest, Alex rushed on.
“I’ll hire a competent live-in nurse to care for her. On occasion, she’ll be able to come here for visits, and both of you would be welcome at my place any time. The child will have my name.” Alex waved a hand. “It’s the perfect situation, if you think about it.”
All the color had drained from Edie’s face, and she pushed unsteadily to her feet. Alex expected her to agree with him wholeheartedly. Instead, she cried, “No!”
It was the last thing he expected her to say. “Why, for God’s sake?”
“Because,” she cried, turning to the judge. “I won’t have it, James. After the baby is born, I want Annie to come back home where she belongs. I don’t want strangers caring for her the rest of her life. She’s my child and my responsibility.”
Alex was too exhausted to argue. “Shortly after the child is born, Annie and I could separate. We could put it out and about that there were difficulties within the marriage that couldn’t be resolved. She could return home. I’d raise the child.”
Edie pressed the back of her wrist to her forehead and started to pace, her agitation apparent in every rigid line of her body. The judge watched her for several seconds, then he looked at Alex, his gaze filled with questions. Well aware of what he must be thinking, Alex softly said, “I’m aware of the risks, Judge.
I’m willing to take my chances. If it should happen that there’s something wrong
Similar Books
