~ It is I, the slightly demented authoress. I am not quite sure where this story idea came from. I hope it doesn't leave as suddenly as it came. If I don't receive any feed back I'll drop it. I have posted several stories already in other categories and have not received much attention or feed back. If this one sinks as well I might just stop posting entirely. Let me know if there is any reason to continue.~

PS~ I own nothing except my imagination and my soul.

Katlin Martin had been a serving girl for her whole life. Ever since she was able to work work was all she had known and then she came to work in the Turner residence. All of the other homes she had been servant in held no true joy or signs of love. This home, and these people were much different from any she had known in her seventeen years. Will and Elizabeth Turner did not hesitate to show their love openly regardless of who was in their home. To Katlin this was unheard of as well as unseen before. She loved it all. The house itself seemed to glow with their happiness which they shared with all around them.

Elizabeth announced she was pregnant not two months after Katlin's arrival. The Turners had yet to be married six months and already they were starting to build a family. Seven months later Elizabeth became ill. The doctor was sent for and the diagnosis was Scarlet Fever. Katlin was put to caring for Mistress Elizabeth when she fell ill and never left her side, neither did Will. One day Katlin decided enough was enough.

"Master Will, sir," she asked as she stepped into Elizabeth's bedroom with a new bowl of cool water. The sponge baths seemed to be the only way to keep her fever down. Will had been setting in a chair with his eyes downcast gently stroking Elizabeth's had and murmuring to her softly. Will had raised his head to look at Katlin but didn't answer.

"Ye don't look well yer-self sir," she said as she sat the bowl on the night-stand and dipped a clean rag into it. She was squeezing out the access water when Elizabeth went into a coughing fit. Quick as lightening Katlin had her propped up in her arms and was thumping Elizabeth's back to try and breakup some of the congestion. Will let out a shuddering breath as his wife's choking came to an end.

"We'll lose her," he whispered as he ran a shaky hand through his hair. Katlin's heart was breaking for him. He was a kind man and neither he nor Elizabeth deserved this torture.

"Aye sir, it may come ta that. It ain't yet though sir and that speaks hope." At her words a soft smile momentarily lighted his face before tears filled his eyes.

"I will lose her and our child."

"Ye don't know nothin' fer sure and certain sir," she argued as she kneeled before him. Gently she took his chin into her small hand and forced him to look into her eyes.

"Ye ain't doin' no one no good by killin yer-self like this Master Will. She wouldn't be wantin ya doin this ta yer-self. Ye know it sure as the sun rose this mornin," she admonished with a fire in her eyes that he had never seen there before. He heard her words and knew their truth but what if he left and Lizzy slipped away without him being there to say good-bye? How would he ever forgive himself? His thoughts were interrupted by the bedroom door banging open against the wall. He looked up to find an old friend in the doorway.