Just Between Friends (22 page)

     He walked back to his granddaughter, and questioning her once more, asked, “Are you sure, honey?  Are you absolutely sure that this is the man that took care of you?”

     Sarah was becoming frightened, and seeing this, Sam said to her father, “Papa, I know you’re not meaning to, but you’re scaring her. I understand you’re excited, and so am I, but please, let me ask the questions, alright?”

     Realizing his daughter was right, he nodded his head in agreement.  She took the portrait from his hand and turned her attention back to Sarah.

      But Sarah began to speak before she had a chance to ask her anything.  “Mama,” she began, “I wasn’t supposed to say anything.  He didn’t want me to.”

     Samantha could feel the butterflies skittering around in her stomach, but did her best to remain calm.  “Honey, are you saying that this man took care of you, but didn’t want you to tell anyone?”

     She nodded and answered, “He was nice, Mama.  He fed me and everything.”

     Miranda couldn’t keep silent any longer.  “Sarah, did that man look exactly like the one in the picture?”

     She looked at it and nodded. “Yes, but now he has long hair.”

     Miranda continued, “Did he seem hurt in any way, Sarah?”

     “Well,” she stammered, “He carried a big stick with him and he walked funny.”

     “Sarah,” Arthur cut in, “do you think you could show us where he’s at?  We would like to thank him for taking such good care of you.”

     She thought for a moment before she responded, “No grandfather, I don’t know where he’s at.  When Alec found me we had been playing a game.  He said he was going to take me where mama could find me, but he put a scarf over my eyes and told me to guess what all the sounds were I was hearing.”

     Arthur knew the real reason he had covered her eyes was so she wouldn’t be able to find the place he had taken her.  He had disguised it as a game so as not to frighten her.

     “So,” Alec spoke, “that’s how you got so far away from home.  He’s found you and took you there.”

     “I don’t remember him taking me there.  All I remember is falling and hitting my head.  When I woke up, I was there lying on a blanket.  Please, don’t tell him I told you.  I don’t want him to be mad at me.”

     Samantha gathered her in her arms.  “He’s not going to be mad at you, sweetie.  He loves you very much, but we have to find him.  He belongs here, so we can take care of him.”

     Arthur was pacing the floor trying to decide what to do.  Suddenly he burst out, “Alec, son, I know you’ve went out of your way for us already, but would it be too much to ask for a little more of your help?”

     “Ask away,” Alec replied.  “I’ll help any way I can.”

     Arthur then continued.  “Do you remember approximately the location you found Sarah?”

     “Yes, sir, I think so.”

     “Well, do you think we could ride out there and look around?”

     “Sure, that’ll be no problem.”

     Miranda stood then and announced, “I’m going with you.  I know you’d probably rather I’d not, but if Steven is out there, I have to go.”

     Understanding how she felt, they both nodded.  After assuring himself that his wife was alright, Arthur only said, “Let’s go find my son.”

***

     The closer they came to their destination, the more anxious Miranda became.  She was so nervous she felt sick.  She had decided to sit in the back of the buggy and let the men have the front.  She needed time to think. 
They were all taking the word of a child.  What if, after all this, it wasn’t Steven after all, but only someone who resembled him?  But no, she couldn’t allow herself to think like that.

    
It was Steven, she knew it was.  Who else would have told Sarah she looked like Sam and had hair like her when she had been younger?  But if he had come back this close to home, why was he hiding?  Didn’t he want her and his family to know he was alive, so they could stop grieving?

     She was still reasoning all sorts of things when she felt the wagon come to a stop.  Arthur and Alec jumped down and walked to the back of the buggy.  Alec extended his hand to her, and taking it, helped her descend.  They walked in the direction where Sarah had been found, no-one saying a word.

     When they reached the area, Alec stopped and pointed to the house where he had found Sarah.  They had walked to it, and glanced all around.  The place seemed deserted.  Arthur spoke, “I don’t see anywhere in this area where he could be living.  Let’s walk a little further down that way.”

     They continued on and noticing a few dilapidated buildings, promptly began searching through them, but found nothing that showed evidence of anyone occupying them.  They searched the entire area, but still nothing.

     Miranda was so disappointed.   “He has to be around here somewhere.  Sarah couldn’t have just made all this up.  He knows we’re here, and he’s hiding.  He doesn’t want to be found.”

     Arthur walked over and put his arms around her shoulders, and tried consoling her. “Now Miranda, let’s not jump to conclusions.  Maybe we’re not looking in the right area.  I know you’re anxious, but so am I.  We just have to keep on looking.”

     But their search proved to no avail.  They had searched all afternoon and evening, but still no sign of him.  As they prepared to return home, Alec walked up to Miranda and remarked, “Miranda, I hope we find Steven.  I’ve been selfish.  The kind of love the two of you share doesn’t happen often.”

     Running his fingers through his hair, he grew silent, as if in thought, then added, “I’ve decided to stay.  Sarah needs me right now.  I know she’s not my child, but I love her just the same.  I can’t just walk out on her after all this.  Everything is going to turn out fine, Miranda.  I have a feeling.  I hope we can at least still be friends.”

     Reaching out for him, she hugged him.  “Friends forever, Alec.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

                                           ***

     He watched from afar as they had searched.  He had known they would come.  In all the time since he had returned, which by his calculations had been around three months, he had lived in one of the
ramshackled buildings they had looked through.  He had been careful not to leave evidence behind, for if they were to discover anything, they would only intensify their search.

     After Sarah had been found, he had packed up what little he possessed, and moved a little farther away.  He guessed he had walked about a quarter of a mile when he chanced upon a house that had mostly been destroyed, but parts of it were still livable.  What a grand house this must have been once.  Such a shame, he thought.  Finding it deserted, he had promptly moved in.

     He had been determined one day he would walk back into Miranda’s life, but now he wasn’t so sure.  He had watched them when they were unaware, and how close they had become.  Many nights when they hadn’t known they were being spied upon, he had seen their embraces, and their kisses.

     Miranda deserved someone like Alec, someone who could take care of her, someone who wasn’t a cripple. But still, something had kept him holding on.  Once, he had about given up and had decided to move on, but he just had to see her one last time, to be as close to her as possible.

     It was Christmas day, and no-one had been home.  He had sneaked into her house and had hid in an unoccupied room across from Miranda’s.  He had known he shouldn’t.  It was a risky thing to attempt, but he just had to see her one last time.  He had heard them arrive home, and he waited until everyone had retired.

     He had heard Miranda enter her room, and saw the beam of light filter through under the door to where he was hiding.  He waited a while after he saw the light go out, then quietly opened the door and softly crept to her room.

     As he entered, he saw her.  She looked like an angel, as the moonlight shined across her face, and her long-dark hair spread across her pillow.  He had felt such longing he could barely stand it.  He wanted to wake her and take her in his arms and never let her go.

     He knew his intentions had been to leave, but after seeing her, he knew he couldn’t.  So, he had softly whispered to her that he was coming home, and to please wait for him.  He had spoken it so softly that he was surprised when he saw her jump.

     As quickly as possible he had made his way into the shadows of the hallway.  He watched her as she had run to her window.  He crept closer and as she had begun to speak, it was all he could do to keep from going to her.  She was staring out into the night begging him to come back to her.  She was breaking his heart.

     Then he had heard her say she was betrothed to Alec.  So, he had decided to keep his secret.  He could never saddle her with what he had become.  It wouldn’t be fair.  After all, what kind of husband could he possibly be to her, or what kind of father to the children they could have?  No, he must remain dead, and if he were ever to regain full use of his legs, then maybe he would come out of hiding.

     He had also missed his family very much, and had also spied on them when they hadn’t known he was there.  The first time he saw Sarah since he returned, he couldn’t believe his eyes.  She had been only a wee baby when he had left for the war, but still he would have known her anywhere.  She looked so much like Sam, but also Michael.  Sam had done a wonderful job raising her.

     It had been such a shock to learn of Michael’s death.  He hadn’t known until he had returned.  But, he had been pleased to see that both Alec and Ben had come home safely. 

     Then the day he had found Sarah lying on the ground, it had been growing dark. Hurrying to her as best he could, he had stooped down and rolled the child on her back.  He was stunned to see that it was Sarah. How had she gotten so far from home?  Fearing her dead, he pushed her hair aside and laid two fingers to her throat, all the while praying for a pulse.  He had been relieved to find she was still alive.  She had a huge lump on her forehead, and knew she had gotten it by tripping and hitting her head on the log that lay before her.  No-one would ever think to find her here, he reasoned.

     Knowing how worried his family would be, he was in a quandary, but he had no choice.  It was too far for him to carry her home.  It may have been possible without a need for a cane, but with his legs the way they were he knew it would be impossible, and he couldn’t leave her alone.  So, doing the only thing he could do, he picked her up and laid her as gently as possible against his shoulder, while taking his cane in his hand and proceeding on.  Having cleaned her wound, he waited for her to regain consciousness.  When she had, she was frightened, but after explaining what had happened, she grew calm.

     He thoroughly enjoyed the time he had with her, to get to know his niece, and almost didn’t want to take her back, but he knew he had to.  He couldn’t let his family go on thinking she was dead.

     So having started out, they had only walked a few hundred yards when he heard someone approaching.  He had removed the scarf he had tied around Sarah’s eyes, and had told her to stay where he put her, that someone was coming for her.  Hiding among the trees, he watched as she ran to Alec, feeling a little envious. But this was the way things were supposed to be, he guessed.  So after they had left, he packed up everything he owned, and moved a little farther on.

     He determined to himself that he would work with his legs every day, and one day he would no longer need this cane.  Then he would go home.  Until then they must not find him.

                                              ***

     Miranda had returned to her house.  It was now too dark to search.  Her parents had been almost as shocked as she when they found out.  They were all seated around the kitchen table, when her father asked, “Miranda, what do you think the reason is that Steven won’t come out of hiding?”

     Deep down Frank had been wondering if maybe the boy was suffering from mental incapability’s, but hadn’t wanted to say anything, for fear of putting any more stress on his daughter.  But she must be ready to accept all possibilities.  He needed to find a way to get her to realize this could be the situation.  She had to be ready for what she may find.