Read Online Edge of Time (Langston Brothers Series) by Melissa Lynne Blue - Free Book Online
Authors: Melissa Lynne Blue
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the gaze of the patient with the horrible wound. His gray eyes had held such deep pain , they belied the youthful features that told her he could not be more than fifteen.
How could she not care?
Too cold to continue avoiding the other occupant of the farmhouse out-of-doors Marissa turned to wander back to the house when a glint of light caught her eye.
God! Those damn haunted woods never failed to put her heart in her throat!
But realization dawned that it was not silly superstition causing her fear but the illuminated form of a man digging in the woods. A ghost? Or more realistically a lantern flickering through the mist, but… The old legend burned in her mind. Breaking into a run, Marissa fell flat on her face when Genie’s old rooster began to crow. Piling the heavy layers of her skirts over an arm, she clambered breathlessly up the stairs and into the house.
“Genie!” Marissa sucked air into her lungs and rushed across the sitting room to the window facing the woods. “There’s a ghost,” she gasped. “I n the woods! Look!”
“A ghost?” Genie rose in surprise, peer ing through the window at the poorly lit figure in the woods. “That’s no ghost. It’s a man. How long has he been digging out there?”
“I don’t know.” Marissa’s shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I just noticed the light of his lantern and came right in to tell you.” Even as the words left her mouth the lantern light began to move and disappeared into the depths of the thicket. “You don’t think that could be a gho — ”
Genie raised a dismissive hand before Marissa could finish the thou ght. “I don’t believe in ghosts . Do you know how to handle a gun?”
“Yes,” Marissa replied without hesitation.
“Good. ” Genie crossed the room and bolt ed the door. “We’ll keep Jim’s hunting rifles close tonight and it may be a good idea to stay in town with Carolyn for a few days.”
“Is there a sheriff we can talk to tomorrow?” Marissa swallowed the nerves wrapped securely about her windpipe.
Genie nodded before ushering her charge off to bed, advising a good night’s sleep.
I wish I could sleep, Marissa thought, twisting and turning, tangling the covers. If she wasn’t haunted by visions of being murdered in the dark of night she was haunted by visions of the hospital’s miserable occupants. The huge gray eyes of that one boy… He, especially, haunted her.
Tiring of the futile quest for sleep Marissa left her bed long before sunrise. It was raining again. Flipping the lid of the old steamer trunk she began sifting through the contents in search of suitable clothing. What did one wear to work in a 19 th century hospital? Longingly she fingered the scrubs — her only link to the future — tucked carefully into the side of the trunk. The airy, easily washable garments would have been exceedingly preferable to the heavy gowns she was required to wear. What a stir she would cause if she did show at the hospital wearing her ER scrubs. Then Craig Langston would really have a reason to fire her on the spot… Tempting .
In the end she donned a simple brown skirt and tan blouse.
After a quick breakfast, and a few chores , they embarked on the exceedingly muddy trek to Charleston. Just before leaving, Genie instructed Grace and Fredrick to report any sign of trespassers. Thus reminded, Marissa couldn’t help but glance nervously over her shoulder at the spooky woods from tim e to time. Fortunately Genie’s insistence that she learn to handle the cart served as a more than sufficient distractor.
“ Next time you’re driving,” Marissa grumbled , stretching fingers sore from clutching the reigns.
“Nonsense.” Genie replied breez il y. “You’re doing just fine and eventually you will need to do this by yourself.”
Once they reached the hospital Genie bustled into a corner room and returned carrying a basket filled with pens, ink, writing paper, and books. After assuring Marissa that she would be
How could she not care?
Too cold to continue avoiding the other occupant of the farmhouse out-of-doors Marissa turned to wander back to the house when a glint of light caught her eye.
God! Those damn haunted woods never failed to put her heart in her throat!
But realization dawned that it was not silly superstition causing her fear but the illuminated form of a man digging in the woods. A ghost? Or more realistically a lantern flickering through the mist, but… The old legend burned in her mind. Breaking into a run, Marissa fell flat on her face when Genie’s old rooster began to crow. Piling the heavy layers of her skirts over an arm, she clambered breathlessly up the stairs and into the house.
“Genie!” Marissa sucked air into her lungs and rushed across the sitting room to the window facing the woods. “There’s a ghost,” she gasped. “I n the woods! Look!”
“A ghost?” Genie rose in surprise, peer ing through the window at the poorly lit figure in the woods. “That’s no ghost. It’s a man. How long has he been digging out there?”
“I don’t know.” Marissa’s shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I just noticed the light of his lantern and came right in to tell you.” Even as the words left her mouth the lantern light began to move and disappeared into the depths of the thicket. “You don’t think that could be a gho — ”
Genie raised a dismissive hand before Marissa could finish the thou ght. “I don’t believe in ghosts . Do you know how to handle a gun?”
“Yes,” Marissa replied without hesitation.
“Good. ” Genie crossed the room and bolt ed the door. “We’ll keep Jim’s hunting rifles close tonight and it may be a good idea to stay in town with Carolyn for a few days.”
“Is there a sheriff we can talk to tomorrow?” Marissa swallowed the nerves wrapped securely about her windpipe.
Genie nodded before ushering her charge off to bed, advising a good night’s sleep.
I wish I could sleep, Marissa thought, twisting and turning, tangling the covers. If she wasn’t haunted by visions of being murdered in the dark of night she was haunted by visions of the hospital’s miserable occupants. The huge gray eyes of that one boy… He, especially, haunted her.
Tiring of the futile quest for sleep Marissa left her bed long before sunrise. It was raining again. Flipping the lid of the old steamer trunk she began sifting through the contents in search of suitable clothing. What did one wear to work in a 19 th century hospital? Longingly she fingered the scrubs — her only link to the future — tucked carefully into the side of the trunk. The airy, easily washable garments would have been exceedingly preferable to the heavy gowns she was required to wear. What a stir she would cause if she did show at the hospital wearing her ER scrubs. Then Craig Langston would really have a reason to fire her on the spot… Tempting .
In the end she donned a simple brown skirt and tan blouse.
After a quick breakfast, and a few chores , they embarked on the exceedingly muddy trek to Charleston. Just before leaving, Genie instructed Grace and Fredrick to report any sign of trespassers. Thus reminded, Marissa couldn’t help but glance nervously over her shoulder at the spooky woods from tim e to time. Fortunately Genie’s insistence that she learn to handle the cart served as a more than sufficient distractor.
“ Next time you’re driving,” Marissa grumbled , stretching fingers sore from clutching the reigns.
“Nonsense.” Genie replied breez il y. “You’re doing just fine and eventually you will need to do this by yourself.”
Once they reached the hospital Genie bustled into a corner room and returned carrying a basket filled with pens, ink, writing paper, and books. After assuring Marissa that she would be
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