Shadow of Dawn Read Free

He
is not…recognizable.”
     
    Catherine could not conceal her horror. She
turned quickly away, clutching the curtain at the window. After a
moment she said, “Is he not healed? Is that why you tend to
him?”
     
    Again Mrs. Shirley paused before answering,
but this time there seemed to be a hint of sympathy in her voice.
“Captain Kelly’s wounds are fresh in his mind, madam. They may ever
be so. He trusts me. I am a good nurse. He will of course take
meals in his room and I will assist him. He does not have good use
of his hands. He requires assistance to dress. His burns are mostly
healed, but there is always a chance for infection.”
     
    Catherine swallowed and faced Mrs. Shirley
again. “How long do you think it will be necessary for you to
stay?”
     
    A sparse black eyebrow went up. “That is
difficult to say, madam. He is dependent on me. If he wants me to
stay for the remainder of his life, considering my own continued
good health, I will do so.”
     
    “I see.”
     
    “And there is something else. His memory has
been somewhat affected.”
     
    “Do you mean…he doesn’t remember me?”
     
    “He remembers you and most of the important
people in his life, but there are details, things he has forgotten.
He hopes you will understand.”
     
    Tears came to Catherine’s eyes. “But why
weren’t we told, Mrs. Shirley? I could have been with my husband
all this time. I don’t understand this long delay.”
     
    “There was nothing you could have done,” the
nurse said quietly. “And when he became aware of who he was and
what had happened to him, he did not wish you to see him.”
     
    “I want to help him,” Catherine said, her
hands tightly clasped in front of her. “But I don’t know how. I
hardly know what to say to him. I don’t want to hurt his pride. You
probably know him better than I do, by now. Will you help me…to
help him?”
     
    “Of course, madam. At this time he desires
nothing more than privacy. He must become accustomed to this thing
that has happened to him. You must not feel neglected if he stays
in his room a great deal of the time. I believe that eventually he
may be able to return to a normal life.”
     
    “What’s this?” Martin and Sallie entered the
room. Mrs. Shirley’s head turned on her shoulders, though the rest
of her body remained motionless.
     
    “Did I hear you say Andrew is to be kept in
his room?” Martin asked, releasing Sallie’s hand as she took a seat
on the sofa.
     
    “I said that he prefers to stay in his room
and will be taking all his meals there. Of course he wants no one
present when he removes his head covering.”
     
    “But why does he wear that thing?” Sallie
asked, in her lilting, little-girl voice—which for some reason
always irritated Catherine.
     
    Mrs. Shirley continued looking at Martin.
“Captain Kelly has been burned. I’ve explained everything to Mrs.
Kelly.”
     
    Sallie gasped.
     
    “I suspected as much,” Martin said. “Of
course we’ll do everything we can to make him comfortable. As you
probably know, Mrs. Kelly is my niece and has made her home here
since the death of her parents several years ago.”
     
    Mrs. Shirley inclined her head.
     
    “And as to your, er, payment—”
     
    “Captain Kelly provides adequate compensation
for my services, Mr. Henderson. You needn’t concern yourself.”
     
    “Ah. Of course.”
     
    “If you will excuse me.” Mrs. Shirley did not
wait for permission, but with seemingly no effort propelled her
long body from the room.
     
    “You’re all right, my dear?” Martin said
anxiously.
     
    Catherine started to answer but saw he was
looking at his wife. Sallie smiled a little, her eyes downcast, and
nodded.
     
    “Then I shall go to my office. Catherine, I’m
sorry about Andrew. This war…well, none of us knows what will
happen, but as long as I’m able I shall continue to take care of
both of you.”
     
    Catherine stiffened her spine. “Andrew does
have a