I didn't know there was a 4th book. I've got to read it!! Please tell me what it's called. Don't you think the picture of Strat on the 2nd cover is hott?! I just love old fashioned guys.
Fred helped doctor Rawlings carry Strat into the mansion. They couldn't manage to get him up the steps and into his own room, so they took him into his father's smoking room and laid him on the couch there. With every step they took, Strat grimaced, and Annie cringed, knowing how great his pain must be. Annie waited until everyone else had left, not wanting to see Strat suffer any longer. Then she came over and sat on the edge of the small, hard, sofa. When she took his hand in both of hers, Strat's eyes fluttered open and he looked up at her. "Hey handsome." she smiled, but it quickly faded. "Listen, Strat, do you remember what happened? That horse of yours baulked and you were thrown. You hit your head, and I think you were trampled. The doctor says..." she swallowed convulsively. "He said there was nothing he could do. There's probably some damage to your organs."
"But I..."
"Shhh. Shhh. I'm not finished, Strat. There's only one thing to do. We've got to go back. Both of us. I've got to take you home with me. The doctors can take care of you there."
"But I can't just..."
Annie cut him off again. "Yes you can. It's your only chance, Strat. You must come with me."
"Well, only if I can say good bye to Dev and Harriet first."
"I'm sorry Strat, but there isn't time, and besides, everyone would only think you were delirious form the fever."
"You're probably right, but...how do you do it? Can we just leave?"
"Come here." She positioned him half on her lap and took his hand. She closed her eyes and wished with all her heart and Time came for them. She hovered over Strat, trying to protect him from it's harsh wind.
When they landed, Annie and Strat were sitting just as they had been in the parking lot outside the derelict Stratton mansion. Annie had gotten Strat into the twentieth century, but now she had to get him to a doctor. Guys dressed in tuxes for a day at the beach didn't exactly blend in no matter what they did. And, after all, what sane woman wouldn't notice Strat?
Strat suddenly started coughing violently. Annie gently helped him into a sitting position and rubbed his back in small circles. Now his whole body was shaking. Then she saw the blood. It can in a crimson flow from his pale lips. She turned his head to the side, so that he wouldn't choke. There was blood. So much blood. It stained her pale yellow riding gown an eerie shade of burgundy. Strat's once immaculate white shirtfront was also a deep shade of crimson. She lifted the hem of her skirt and gently wiped his mouth. Strat's face was ashen and he was trembling.
"I have to go down the Great Hill, and get some help. Will you be alright here for a minute?"
Strat tried to smile, but failed miserably. "I'll be fine, Annie. Don't worry."
After three tries, Annie managed to hail a cab. She ordered the driver to drive her to the top of the hill and wait there. She ran to Strat and helped him to stand. His legs were like jell-O. He leaned against Annie. It seemed like an eternity before they reached the cab. Annie helped Strat into the back, and then got in beside him. He lay in a half-prone position with his head on her lap.
"Mercy Hospital. Now! Step on it!"
The driver hesitated, gaping at their attitire. Annie shoved a wad of bills into his hand, and he mutely obeyed. he just hoped the young man's blood didn't stain his seats. Then he'd have to pay to get them cleaned.
Strat wanted to smile, but it hurt too much. His Anna Sophia was giving orders again. He felt like he was suffocating, and everything went black. The last thing he felt was Annie's gossamer touch on his forehead.
I guess I lied. Chapter 3 will be the good one. PLEASE R&R!!!!
Fred helped doctor Rawlings carry Strat into the mansion. They couldn't manage to get him up the steps and into his own room, so they took him into his father's smoking room and laid him on the couch there. With every step they took, Strat grimaced, and Annie cringed, knowing how great his pain must be. Annie waited until everyone else had left, not wanting to see Strat suffer any longer. Then she came over and sat on the edge of the small, hard, sofa. When she took his hand in both of hers, Strat's eyes fluttered open and he looked up at her. "Hey handsome." she smiled, but it quickly faded. "Listen, Strat, do you remember what happened? That horse of yours baulked and you were thrown. You hit your head, and I think you were trampled. The doctor says..." she swallowed convulsively. "He said there was nothing he could do. There's probably some damage to your organs."
"But I..."
"Shhh. Shhh. I'm not finished, Strat. There's only one thing to do. We've got to go back. Both of us. I've got to take you home with me. The doctors can take care of you there."
"But I can't just..."
Annie cut him off again. "Yes you can. It's your only chance, Strat. You must come with me."
"Well, only if I can say good bye to Dev and Harriet first."
"I'm sorry Strat, but there isn't time, and besides, everyone would only think you were delirious form the fever."
"You're probably right, but...how do you do it? Can we just leave?"
"Come here." She positioned him half on her lap and took his hand. She closed her eyes and wished with all her heart and Time came for them. She hovered over Strat, trying to protect him from it's harsh wind.
When they landed, Annie and Strat were sitting just as they had been in the parking lot outside the derelict Stratton mansion. Annie had gotten Strat into the twentieth century, but now she had to get him to a doctor. Guys dressed in tuxes for a day at the beach didn't exactly blend in no matter what they did. And, after all, what sane woman wouldn't notice Strat?
Strat suddenly started coughing violently. Annie gently helped him into a sitting position and rubbed his back in small circles. Now his whole body was shaking. Then she saw the blood. It can in a crimson flow from his pale lips. She turned his head to the side, so that he wouldn't choke. There was blood. So much blood. It stained her pale yellow riding gown an eerie shade of burgundy. Strat's once immaculate white shirtfront was also a deep shade of crimson. She lifted the hem of her skirt and gently wiped his mouth. Strat's face was ashen and he was trembling.
"I have to go down the Great Hill, and get some help. Will you be alright here for a minute?"
Strat tried to smile, but failed miserably. "I'll be fine, Annie. Don't worry."
After three tries, Annie managed to hail a cab. She ordered the driver to drive her to the top of the hill and wait there. She ran to Strat and helped him to stand. His legs were like jell-O. He leaned against Annie. It seemed like an eternity before they reached the cab. Annie helped Strat into the back, and then got in beside him. He lay in a half-prone position with his head on her lap.
"Mercy Hospital. Now! Step on it!"
The driver hesitated, gaping at their attitire. Annie shoved a wad of bills into his hand, and he mutely obeyed. he just hoped the young man's blood didn't stain his seats. Then he'd have to pay to get them cleaned.
Strat wanted to smile, but it hurt too much. His Anna Sophia was giving orders again. He felt like he was suffocating, and everything went black. The last thing he felt was Annie's gossamer touch on his forehead.
I guess I lied. Chapter 3 will be the good one. PLEASE R&R!!!!
