A/N: Okay, folks, here's the deal. This chapter and the next two sort of go together, but they'll be the last updates on this fic for about a week as I'll be away and not writing. BUT then I'll be back in full force and back on schedule after that.
I have not had a chance to reply to all of your lovely reviews from Ch 24 yet, but I will do so very soon. To all the GUEST reviewers, a special thank you!
My thanks to brenna-louise for proofreading services rendered, and also for listening to me ramble on endlessly about this fic.
Special shout-out to Hogwarts Duo, whose kind words have encouraged and motivated me this past week or so ... I hope this lives up to your "expectations." :) xxx
Cheers to you all -
ChelsieSouloftheAbbey
Elsie and Daisy arrived home just before midnight. As Anna turned her car into the long driveway, Elsie sighed, exhausted and overcome by how happy she was to see her little house; the light Anna had left on in the living room window mixed with the soft beams from the lamp posts and the light by the barn, and it all just seemed to be welcoming Elsie home.
"Daisy, we're here, love," Elsie said, reaching back between the seats to gently shake Daisy into wakefulness. The girl had dozed off on the short ride home from Portland, but woke quickly upon hearing Elsie's voice.
"You must be completely wiped out," Anna said sweetly, and Daisy nodded.
Elsie noted the wordless nod but said nothing, managing to keep her words in only by clamping her teeth down on her lip once again. She and Charles were both concerned that Daisy would withdraw into her semi-speechless state once back in the US, away from the comfort of being surrounded by only family and being in a safe, familiar place like the Crawleys' home.
Anna noted the unease and, wisely, didn't say anything else. She pulled up in front of Elsie's walkway and parked the car, then helped Elsie to retrieve the bags from her trunk.
"Daisy, just grab your carry-on, and then would you mind unlocking the door?" Elsie asked, handing her the key.
Daisy took them from her and nodded, then headed up to do as she was told. As she was sliding the key into the deadbolt, she heard scratching and whining coming from the other side of the door. She couldn't believe it, but amidst all of the anxiety she'd had about leaving her Papa, she'd forgotten about Max!
Maybe this won't be so bad after all …
As soon as Daisy opened the door, Max came flying out. He jumped on her and she pushed him down gently, but firmly.
"No," she told him, although unheard by either Elsie or Anna over the dragging sound produced by the suitcases' wheels. Max licked Daisy's hand before bounding off to greet his owner.
"Max!" Elsie laughed, reaching down to hug him and ruffle the fur behind his ears. "How's my baby? Were you a good boy?" she asked, shaking her head at him as he nuzzled his face in her neck. Anna smiled fondly at them both and laughed once Max started licking Elsie's cheeks and ears, his tail wagging a mile a minute.
"He was an excellent boy," Anna praised, and Elsie smiled at her. "I think you may have another fox running about, though … Max was awfully perky last night, and he even barked a few times in the wee hours. All looked well in the hen house this morning, but I wanted to mention it."
Elsie nodded. "Thank you, Anna - and Max," she added, and he wagged his tail even faster at the sound of his name. "It wouldn't have been good to have come home to news of lost chickens."
The women followed Daisy and Max into the house, where Elsie was grateful to see that the wood stove was still going. "Oh, Anna – I thank you even more for that," she said, pointing to the fire.
"Well, I know you stink at starting it up," Anna laughed, "and it wouldn't do at all to come home to a cold house."
"Everything went fine, though?" Elsie asked.
"Absolutely, although I will say that Scarlett seems to be under the weather. Jamie was here working with Star yesterday and I asked her to take a peek, but she thinks it's nothing major. Still, I think we should keep an eye on her. She's eating and drinking okay, but she seems awfully tired."
"Hmm … alright, thank you. Could just be the cold, I suppose."
"Or that you were gone, maybe?" Anna suggested. "She's moody, that one!"
"True. How did Star do?"
"Jamie said he's progressed along really well. She thinks the kids might be able to ride him around a bit on a lead, too. She had pretty good luck with him herself, as did I – she had me ride him yesterday. I tell you, Elsie, he's nothing like the crazy boy you took in two years ago. This is like a completely different Star from before."
Elsie beamed. "Excellent," she said softly. "I had a feeling about him, I just knew he'd come around eventually."
"Love and care are good for any creature, I'd imagine," Anna murmured, and Elsie looked at her fondly.
"How true," she said, a knowing look passing between the two women.
Daisy had been listening to it all intently, but didn't want to pry. It sounded like Anna was sad for a moment, but when Daisy looked at her, she couldn't be sure if she'd imagined it. No matter, though; Daisy was mostly focused on one thing in that conversation – it sounded like she'd be able to ride Star this week, and she was thrilled. He was so cuddly and sweet when she brushed and fed him during the times she was at the barn, and she'd been waiting ages for the trainer to approve him for therapy rides. She suddenly yawned widely, though, and decided to ask Elsie about it another time.
"Alright," Anna said, yawning herself. "It's after midnight, and you ladies need some sleep. My bag is in the car, here are your spare keys," she said, sliding them off of her key ring and dropping them into Elsie's hand, "and the ones to the Carsons' place are in the dish on the kitchen counter, next to your mail."
"You are a lifesaver, Anna Smith," Elsie said, hugging Anna tightly. "I'll see you soon. We're skipping church tomorrow, I think – too much to unpack and wash, and we need to get Daisy over to her own place to drop off vacation things and pick up school stuff."
"I'm sure you have more than enough to do! I'll tell everyone you're back safely, then."
"Good – thanks. Oh, Anna?"
Anna turned in the doorway, one hand still on the knob. "Yes?"
"I hope things are going well with John," Elsie said softly.
Anna blushed, but smiled brilliantly. "They are, actually," she answered.
"Good. Maybe you can come for dinner once Charles is back?"
"I'd like that, and I'm sure John would, too. Good night, Daisy!" she called, waving into the house.
"Good night," Daisy said softly, but only Elsie heard her.
Elsie closed and locked the door behind Anna, then turned to face the girl in front of her, her charge for the next several days.
Well, here goes nothing …
"I'm really tired, Elsie," Daisy said. "Can I just go to bed and take a bath or shower in the morning?"
"Of course. Are you hungry at all?"
Daisy shook her head. "No, thank you."
Elsie took a deep breath. "Alright, then – let's show you to where you'll stay." Elsie led Daisy to the larger of her two spare rooms, the one with an attached bath.
"I hope this is okay," she said gently. "I asked Anna to make up the bed for you, and I think you'll be warm enough as the wood stove heats this room pretty well."
"It's far away from yours," Daisy noted, looking across the open-living area and down the hallway to Elsie's bedroom, and Elsie tilted her head in acknowledgement.
"It is, but as the other one is next door to this one, there's not much of a choice, I'm afraid. I think that if you leave the light on in the bath and the door to the room half-open, you'll be more comfortable. That way, if you wake in the middle of the night and aren't sure where you are, you'll at least be able to see."
Daisy nodded. "Okay."
"Good. Alright, then … Your toothbrush and toothpaste are in your suitcase, I saw your Papa pack them. Pajamas, too," she added, walking out to retrieve the bag in question. She lifted it and plopped it on the bed, then motioned to it with a flick of her finger. "You pick out what you need, and then you can use the loo and get ready. I'm just going to feed Max and empty my own suitcase, and then – when you're ready – we can call your Papa quickly before bed, okay?"
Daisy smiled. "Sounds good, Elsie." She turned toward her bag, and Elsie exited the room, pulling Max out along with her so that Daisy could ready herself without distraction.
"C'mon, boy – are you hungry?" She laughed softly as Max's ears flew up, and she reached down to scratch them.
"I'm counting on you to keep Daisy company when she's here, Max," Elsie murmured in his ear. "How about we put your bed in her room, hm? Would you like that?"
Max pricked up his ears and gave Elsie another kiss, then padded over to his dish and sat beside it expectantly.
"Food, then cuddles. Deal?"
Max barked, and Elsie just shook her head and laughed.
"Deal," she answered for him.
Daisy rolled over in bed and her eyes flew open, her heart beating furiously as she tried to figure out where she was. She calmed when she saw the light coming from the sink in the bathroom, and she remembered that it had been Elsie's idea to leave it on.
Breathing deeply, she clutched Fred tightly in her arms and kissed his head, drawing comfort from his familiar scent and the feel of him next to her.
Something moved then, startling her, and she looked down by her leg.
"Max?" she whispered, and his tail starting tapping gently on the bed. "How did you get up here?" she asked. She leaned over to pat his fur and kiss his head, and that's when she spotted his bed on the floor. "Oh, did Elsie move your bed in here?" The thought made her very, very happy indeed, as she knew Max wasn't allowed in Elsie's room.
"Daisy?" Elsie's soft voice came from the doorway, and Daisy looked up to see her standing there in her nightgown and slippers. "Are you alright, dear? I thought I heard you shout out."
"I think so," Daisy said. "I had a dream, but can't remember now what it was. I'm sorry if I woke you up," she added.
"Oh, you didn't," Elsie assured her. "You've only been asleep about an hour, and I was just finishing up talking with your Papa. I'm surprised you were even dreaming already."
"Max got up here," Daisy giggled.
"So I see," Elsie said, smirking at her dog. "And he knows better, but I think we'll allow it – only in your room, mind you. That is, if you like him being here?"
Daisy nodded quickly. "Oh, yes, please let him stay."
"Alright."
"Elsie?"
"Yes, love, what is it?"
"Can you stay? Just until I fall asleep again?"
Elsie smiled at her. "I can, indeed," she said, already wondering in the back of her mind how in the world she was going to function in five hours when the animals would wake her and want to be fed. "Just let me fetch my book," she added.
Elsie returned swiftly, book and reading glasses in hand. She kissed Daisy's forehead and brushed some stray bangs from the girl's face.
"That's for sweet dreams this time," she said, and Daisy smiled and nodded hopefully.
Elsie took the armchair in the corner and settled herself in underneath an afghan, then clipped a book light to her paperback.
"Will the light bother you?" she asked, and Daisy shook her head.
"No, I don't think so."
"Alright, then," Elsie said softly. "Sweet dreams," she reminded Daisy.
"You, too."
Elsie woke to the sound of the rooster, and winced as she moved her neck the wrong way.
"Oh, you didn't," she muttered to herself as she realized that she had, in fact, fallen asleep in the chair in Daisy's room.
She extracted her body from the blanket and got up as silently as she could, her neck and lower back groaning in protest with every step she took. She turned to close the door behind her and smiled as she heard Max's soft snores emanating from under the blanket, where he'd tucked himself right up against Daisy's side. She left the door ajar enough so that he could paw it open if he needed to go out, but she didn't expect she'd see him until Daisy woke.
Having dressed quickly and donned a barn coat and gloves, Elsie made her way to see the rest of her crew. She started with the horses, spending a few extra moments with Scarlett and noting that, as Anna said, she appeared tired.
"You seem fine otherwise, though," Elsie muttered, kissing Scarlett's snout. "But I'm taking your temperature later, so be prepared." She swapped the horse's blanket for a clean one, and then headed over to see Star.
"Well, well, Star. I hear you've had an excellent week!"
Star whinnied and flicked his tail in reply, and Elsie laughed.
"And are you ready for our special girl, my dear?" she asked him. "She's been waiting months to ride you, you know. Be sure you're well-behaved." She filled the water trough and made sure they had enough hay, then checked the setting on the barn heater before making her way to the chicken coop.
Just as Elsie reached the top of the basement stairs, having deposited her barn boots and jeans in the washer downstairs, the door to Daisy's room opened and Max scurried out. Elsie sent him straight out the doggie door to take care of business, then filled his food dish before retrieving some clean clothes and heading into the shower.
Twenty minutes and one hot shower later, Elsie was feeling less achy and much more like herself. She put on water for tea, popped some bacon on a baking sheet and put it in the oven, and started mixing up some batter for waffles. If they were going to have a nice, quiet morning in, unpacking and doing chores, then they might as well indulge a bit. Elsie started humming and singing a bit to herself, albeit quietly lest she wake Daisy.
I'm getting her up in half an hour if she hasn't woken on her own, though, she thought. Otherwise she'll never sleep tonight.
As if telepathically bidden, Daisy emerged from her room five minutes later, rubbing her eyes and dragging her slippered feet across the floor.
"That smells great," she mumbled, and Elsie smiled. "I heard you singing. What's the name of that song?"
Elsie thought for a moment, trying to remember which one Daisy would have heard. "It's called I've Got A Crush on You. Frank Sinatra."
"Yeah, that's it. Papa likes that one."
Of course he does.
"Would you like some juice? There's also tea, and the waffles are on … Do you like bacon?"
"Oh, yes!" Daisy nodded, suddenly seeming much more alert at the promise of food. "That all sounds good - I'm starving!"
Elsie handed her a glass of juice and finished preparing breakfast. She made up two plates, handing one to Daisy.
"Here?" Daisy asked, indicating the counter where she was already seated.
"Sure," Elsie said. "I often eat here in the morning, it's just easier."
Just then, Max bounded through the doggie door. He pressed a cold nose to Daisy's leg, causing her to squeal in surprise.
"Go eat," she told him, laughing still. "Your nose is freezing!"
"It's pretty cold out today," Elsie warned her. "After breakfast, Daisy, I'd like you to shower while I clean up and get some laundry started. I'll just empty your bag and wash your things here, then we can bring them back to your place later on, and grab whatever you need for school."
"Okay," Daisy said around a mouthful of waffle.
"We also need to get to the grocery store, as I have precious little here, so we'll have to chat about what you'd like. Do you bring your lunch to school?"
A nod, then a swallow. "Soup, usually," Daisy offered. "I've got a Thermos at home that Papa puts it in so it stays hot. Can we get that?"
"Of course," Elsie answered, jotting that down on a pad of paper by her plate. "Think of some more things, and we'll write them down as we go."
"My backpack and books are at home, and my big winter coat," Daisy supplied, and Elsie added them to the list. "And can I get my pillow?"
"Sure," Elsie answered. "Anything else?"
Daisy thought about it, then shook her head. "No, just clothes."
"Alright, then." Elsie rose from her seat and rinsed her plate. She refilled her tea, humming away as she cleaned up and let Daisy finish eating.
"I'm finished," Daisy told her after a bit. "Those waffles were awesome – better than the ones Papa makes," she added conspiratorially.
"Well, that can be our little secret," Elsie winked. "Okay, young lady – shower for you, then we'll head out and get things done. Then maybe a movie tonight? And then school tomorrow."
Daisy groaned, but Elsie was having none of it.
"We've just had a marvelous vacation, no need to complain," she said, and Daisy looked down, properly chastised.
"I know," she grumbled.
Elsie settled into bed on Sunday night, pulling the quilts up around her waist as she settled back against the pillows, her phone clasped in her hand as she fiddled with a loose thread on the blanket.
"So, how'd today go?" came Charles's deep voice from her earpiece.
Elsie sighed. "Really well, actually. I'm positively knackered, but the laundry is all done and Daisy's all set for tomorrow. We aren't going to starve, and the animals have forgiven me my absence. It's frigging cold, though, I'll tell you that."
Charles chuckled. "Here, too. Snowed again last night. Daisy tells me you rather spoiled her at the store, bought everything she asked for?" he teased.
"She requested four things, Charles, and two of them were cereal and milk. I was hardly going to turn down a packet of cookies and half a dozen oranges on top of those."
"I know, I'm only teasing." He sighed. "Thank you, love, for taking such good care of her. She said you're even letting Max sleep in her bed?"
"Well, better than in ours," she mumbled, and he laughed as he imagined the smirk that was undoubtedly on her face. "Seriously, though, I didn't think he was ever going to get up! He cuddled himself right up to her – they were quite literally snoring in unison when I got up!"
"Daisy said you fell asleep in her room? You poor thing, you must've been rather stiff this morning."
"I was, but that's more likely due to the fact that I had a week of leisure preceding my little stint in the armchair," Elsie admitted.
"Well, you did get some exercise …"
"Yes," she allowed, a flush coming to her cheeks; even though his eyes weren't literally trained on her at the moment, his glance not actually raking up and down her body, she imagined it nonetheless. "I did. Rather a lot, as I recall."
"I couldn't sleep last night, kept tossing and turning," Charles said.
"You've a lot on your mind, dear."
"I had no lovely Scottish lass by my side, warming her frigid feet on my leg, more like," he replied, sighing. "Five more sleeps."
"Five more," she agreed. "And then … perhaps … none?"
She heard a rustle and knew Charles had just sat up abruptly in his own bed, thousands of miles from her.
"Don't tease me, Els," he warned her.
"I'm dead serious, Charlie. Daisy seemed to do alright last night, except for that one little instance." She sighed. "But I can completely see her in that room … permanently. If she does well this week, I think we should discuss it on Friday when we pick you up."
"Are you absolutely sure? I won't press you, I've told you that before."
"I know, and I love you for it. I'm not saying it'll be snag-free, not with you and I both being as independent as we are, and with my slightly stubborn streak." She heard his dry laugh at that, but chose to ignore it. "But I think we can make a go of it, if Daisy's comfortable enough, and I truly mean to make her comfortable over the next few days. Do you think she'd leave the beach house willingly, though?"
"Oh, I think so," Charles said quickly. "Trade the house on the beach for the one on her favorite farm? Move in where her favorite horses live, and get a dog out of the bargain as well? Elsie, that's like a dream come true for Daisy. And she loves you, you know," he added.
Elsie's breath caught, and she smiled. "As it happens, I do know," she said softly, nibbling on her lip. "She told me."
"Did she? Well, then, I'd say that rather settles it. We'll give it a go, then?"
"If she approves, Charles. If the week goes well, we can talk it through on Friday, alright?"
"Absolutely." He yawned loudly, and Elsie checked the clock.
"Heavens! It's going on four a.m. there! You've got to get back to sleep if you're to be awake enough for that meeting," Elsie advised. "And perhaps instead of this late-night/early morning thing, I should try to speak to you early in the morning my time, if you're free? I know this is convenient for me as Daisy's asleep, but if I wake you up every night it's going to mean you'll be half-dead come this weekend."
"I hate to admit it, but I know you're right. Hm … how about this? I've booked an early lunch hour around eleven each day - perhaps that would be better? Would you have time to call around six in the morning?"
"I'll make time. And for heaven's sake, it's only for a few days."
"A few long days, though," he sighed. "In that gigantic bed. Alone … no Scottish lass."
"Oh, listen to you!" she chided him. "No, don't even think how hard it is for me … All alone here in my big, empty bed, with no strong, warm, lovely arms wrapped around me."
"And legs," he piped up, and she laughed.
"And legs," she purred, her accent growing slightly thicker with her fatigue. "Well," she added, "I'm not cold anymore."
"Nor I," he yawned, "and now I have the promise of sweet dreams to sustain me. Good night, Els. I'll talk to you in a few hours."
"Good night, Charlie, and best of luck tomorrow. I love you."
"Love you, too," he answered.
Elsie was certain she heart the faint sound of a kiss as she reached her thumb over to end the call.
"Oh, Charlie," she whispered, smiling to herself. "You old romantic."
More coming very soon - thanks again for your support and love, all! x