CHAPTER FOUR
Once at the house I went to check on the colonel and his daughter. From the voices, I could tell she had awoken. I as walked into the room, Mrs. Holmes come to me, "What do we do to warm her fingers, they are hurting her."
"Warm water, not hot but warm. Then place her hands in the water." I said walked over to her. Her eyes were wide in fear; she was a beautiful young woman. She was a woman about mid-thirties, she had light brown hair the fell about the middle of her back, and she had deep blue eyes, which were full of fear. "Hello, I am Doctor Watson; we need to warm for hands up. I have some warm water coming but give me your hands and I will keep them in mines they start warming up and the water will not be such a shock."
The colonel looked at me, "You are a friend of Sherlock Holmes."
"Yes," I said taking his daughters hands, but before he ask me anymore Mrs. Holmes came in with the water. "Good, now young lady will you place your hands in this water it may feel like it burning but it is just because your hands are cold. Now colonel, I want to look you over and make sure you are not frost bitten."
I had the colonel sit down next to the fire, he did not look like had any frost bite on him, but I wanted to be sure, as it is not something to play around with. I knew many good men that lost limps because of it. When I finished examining the Colonel I turned to go back to his daughter already he hands were showing signs of improvement. "Well you both are going to be all right. Mrs. Holmes if you need me please let me know." I walked back the ballroom, I knew if I stayed longer in the room then the colonel would start asking me about Holmes, or at least it felt he would. That was not a conversation I wanted to have.
When I entered the ballroom the squire stood up, "Well how are they?"
I smiled, "They will be just fine, no lasting effects." after I said this everyone we back to what they had been doing, Holmes came up to me, His head still had dried blood on it. "You need to wash you face, there is still a little blood." He smiled and pointed his head out the door; I got the hint, and followed him to the hall.
"The colonel knows who you are doesn't he?" Holmes asked leaning against the wall. I nodded, "Yes, I got out of the room before he started to ask questions." Holmes nodded, "Please leave him to me, I know he will come to talk to me. I just don't really know how angry he will be."
"Well for now try not to worry about it and let me clean that wound it looks really bad in this light." after cleaning my friends head we made out way back into the ballroom as we turned the corner to enter we saw the squire the colonel talking.
"I am sorry Siger I did not mean to spoil the evening for everyone," The colonel was saying.
"You did nothing of the sort,"
"But you son is not in the room I know things will not be easy for him after the whole ordeal with my brother."
"Sherlock is a strong man, I am sure he is just making sure that everything is ready."
Holmes stepped up, "I hope I am not interrupting," Both men turning to look at Holmes, "Good Sherlock, there you are," The squire said and cleared his throat uncomfortably, "Well I need to check on my wife," He turned and made his way to the room Mrs. Holmes was caring for the colonel's daughter.
"Well colonel, will you excuse my friend and me we have people to talk to?" Holmes said looking at the colonel, then to the ballroom. The colonel glared at my friend but let us pass. We made our way to Mycroft who was standing close to the fire. "Well Sherlock what do you make of him?"
"Well it is clear he does not like me. He is worried about upsetting father though so I do not think I have much to worry about it." Sherlock said looking toward the door.
"Well I do not think you will have too much to worry about." Mycroft said handing Sherlock a glass of wine.
"That may be but I still want to talk with him and try to smooth rough edges." Holmes said taking the glass his brother offered.
The next morning was a bright beautiful day. One could not have wished a better day for Christmas. I had awoken early to the finches singing, which added to the morning air. I watched the sunrise and was reminded of my time in India as the sun rises were the most amazing I had ever seen. However, while I enjoyed the morning my mind turned to Holmes. I had no idea how things were going to go today and hope it was for the best. The last thing we needed was a fight.
Around nine o'clock I made my way downstairs to the dining hall. There were only a few people sitting there. The whole Holmes family was there as was a few of the farmers and the colonel's daughter. It was good to see her up and about she was a beautiful lady she wore a dark blue dress , her dark brown hair fell down her back but she had the top pulled back away from her face giving her a professional look.
Holmes stood to greet me, "Good morning Watson. You have been awake awhile did you not sleep well?"
"No, I slept beautiful; I watched the sun rise this morning. I have not done that since my military days." I said taking my seat. "How is everyone less the wonderful morning?"
"Well, I agree this is a wonderful morning," The squire said looking around, "I was hoping for more people this morning but I cannot blame them for staying in their warm rooms."
I nodded and the addressed the young woman, "Good morning, how are your hand doing?"
She smiled, "They are doing really well, thank you for your help last night. I am sorry your friend was hurt. I am Molly by the way." I looked at Holmes he really did look bad this morning. The whole side of his face was black and blue with some yellow mixed in.
Holmes smile at her, "Please to do not worry about my injury, I have received much worst." I laughed remembering the cases Holmes would come home bleeding, or the time he was murderously attacked.
"Really Sherlock," the Squire asked his son, "how much worst, because you really do look bad this morning."
"It really is not a good morning topic," Mrs. Holmes said, "Besides you read his cases you know the wounds he come back with."
We all laughed at the look on the squire face, he was not glaring at his wife but it was more shock that now Sherlock knew his father read his cases. "Well, father I think it is about time you rang for the food." Mycroft said hiding a smile.
I enjoyed the light heartedness of the morning; everyone was joking around and having a good time. A little before lunch the other guests made their way down from their rooms. The colonel was one of the last down and it was clear he did not have a good night. He looked extremely tired. The squire greeted him and they left for a walk. I noticed Holmes pacing again. "What is the matter old fellow?"
He looked at me, but kept pacing, "the colonel is not able to rest with me here. I have nothing against him. He is a good man. However, I can understand his discomfort. If someone was trying to tell the world the Mycroft was a criminal I would not be at ease around them."
"Holmes, the professor came after you. You did not really have a chose; you work to stop crime that fact that he came to you and demanded that you stand back should tell anyone that."
Holmes looked at me, "When you published the case what was the colonel saying?"
I thought back, "It was after the gang members were tried, he was angry that we were bringing his brother name into. The members of course never really said it was the professor that led them but it was clear enough with the few that wanted out."
Holmes looked out the window, "He is still talking with father I really should talk to Colonel Moriarty. Maybe it would help him relax."
I nodded, "You going to talk with him when he returns from a walk with your father?" Holmes nodded. He stood at the window waiting for the two men to return to the house, which was a long wait. After an hour Mycroft talked to Holmes, it was getting close to lunch and he wanted his brother to eat. I had made my way to the other guests knowing Holmes would like to think on his own. After talking to the famers about their harvest this year (which had been excellent, as I understood) I made my way over to Molly. She had been (like Holmes) watching the windows for her father to return.
"May I join you?" I asked her, she nodded so I took the seat across from her. "I know things are not easy for you here. Your father must be quit up tight with Holmes here."
She gave a smile, "You have noticed. Father was angry that his brother's name was being destroyed. Or he was till we moved into the house my uncle owned." I looked at her. "Oh yeah he had records. We moved in about the time you published your account of, The Final Problem, as it was called. Father read it, and did not believe it. Then we moved into the house. He had left it to my father. As we started to clean it up, we found papers that did not make sense. Well being a friend of Sherlock Holmes I am sure you know what was in the papers."
"So, your father feels ashamed if I understand correctly?" she nodded. "I know Holmes wants to talk with your father. Do you think it will help?"
"Yes I do. Father needs to know Mr. Holmes does not whole hate for what my uncle did to him." I nodded and stood up, "Well it looks like they are coming up to the house let us hope we are right so everyone can put the past behind them."
Holmes had also seen the men returning and stood up to greet them at the door, but Mycroft made him sit down then started talking with him. Molly saw this as well and stood, "Maybe I should talk to Mr. Holmes he look just as tight as father does." We both walked over to the brother.
"Sherlock you need to eat something and why do you not wait it is likely father is going to call for you to hear what you have to say. You know that." Mycroft was saying.
"My father was not going to bad mouth you. I think he is ashamed of his brother." Molly said.
"What makes you say that" Mycroft asked.
"The papers in my uncle's office."
Holmes looked around, "You saw his papers?"
"Some, I mostly saw letters he wrote about you to his gang." She half smiled, "I do not believe I have ever heard use a colorful vocabulary come from any mouth, even that of a sailor." We all laughed.
Holmes looked at the door, "I really want to put this all behind me. I want to forget the whole business with the professor and just move on."
Mycroft looked at his younger brother and placed a hand on Holmes shoulder, "It will be over soon enough, missing lunch will not help and I would hate to think of what would happen if Mary heard you weren't eating again."
Having meet Molly I knew she would sit Holmes down and force-feed him if she had to. "Mycroft is right. You need to eat then talk." Holmes slowly stood up, "Fine, let's go eat the main in walking in now."
Lunch was nothing like the small meals we had been having, we had some of the birds Holmes and I had hunted the day before. All through the meal, Holmes keep looking at the colonel talking with the squire. It made me uneasy to watch him I had never seen him so nervous. I knew after lunch would be the moment we all were waiting for. One of two things would happen the colonel and Holmes would be on friendly terms or at least understand each other or there would be harsh words said and the day would be dramatic. There was nothing to do at this very moment so I was going to enjoy my lunch.
I am not sure how I want to do the next chapter so be patent with me.
