"Wind, Sand, and Stars" 4

By Rita Widmer

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'I'll try, I'll try," the words her Uncle Shirley had said to her repeating in her head. She now sat out in Rainbow Valley with the old bells slightly chiming above her head. Movement behind her told her she was no longer alone, but instead of looking to find out who it was she ignored them.

"Uncle Shirley was very sick with Scarlet Fever. They didn't expect him to live, but he did thanks to the Blythe will. What you see now is what is left of him. He's very weak, and somehow even quieter."

With that Anne turned to looked at her intruder. "Nobody told me anything. I thought…"

"They weren't sure how you would deal with it, and figured it was unnecessary to let you worry until he was well or…"

"Don't say it, Walter Meredith!"

"It's the truth, Anne Blythe. He will come to your graduation if he can, but don't force him. He doesn't need the guilt."

Her anger seeped out of her pores leaving her nothing but distress. "I just want him there, but I know he will be there in spirit."

Walt decided to stay quiet. He didn't know his cousin that well, but he knew in his heart she meant what she said.

Moments passed in silence before Walter decided to speak up. "You are lucky."

Anne was startled, "How?"

"You get to serve your country. I'm too weak to ever be allowed in."

"Yes for that I'm lucky, but Walt look around you. You have all of this to enjoy. I could be happy to spend my life staring out at the harbor or run around her in Rainbow Valley. This is what we are all fighting for. Keep this place for us when we get home, and take care of Grandma. I know it's not much, but we need people like you."

Walt looked at all the beauty around him, and a line came to him. 'While we wait in peace, life around us falls into pieces.' He shook the words out of his head. He wasn't going to think of poetry now.

The bells gave an unexpected sharp ring as the wind swirled through it. The two looked up and realized there was a storm coming, and as one they stood up and dashed towards Ingleside.

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Her time at Ingleside was going too quickly for Anne. She had kept her distance from her uncle, afraid to admit she was wrong. Her pride getting in her way of facing him. It was the Sunday before she left to head to New York and then on back to California.

She watched as her grandmother walked slowly down the steps. Anne noticed the worry etched on her face.

"Grandma, what's wrong?"

"It's Gil." If the elder Anne's face could have gotten paler it did now.

"Grandpa? Is he sick? Come sit down, Grandma."

"No I need to find a doctor. Everyone in the area though is at some conference."

"I know someone. His son is on leave this week, so he wouldn't have gone to the conference. I'll call him, and everything will be all right. You'll see." She rushed to the telephone, and asked the operator to connect her to Dr. Sandburn.

"There's no answer, Ma'am."

"Please keep trying. It's an emergency."

It took ten minutes before the operator finally was able to connect her to the doctor. Hanging up the phone, she turned to her grandmother. "Go be with him. The doctor is on his way. I'll have Susan bring up some food for you."

The elder Anne hugged her before saying a quiet, "Thank you."

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She felt the movement of the Earth before she heard the car coming up the lane distracting her from her thoughts. She greeted the doctor quickly before leading him inside and up the stairs to her grandfather. The doctor showed her out of the room as quickly as they entered.

Downstairs once again, she sat back down on the porch to wait. It was then she realized the doctor didn't come alone.

"Mr. Sandburn, I didn't realize you would come along."

"We were on our way out when we got the call. I was surprised you remembered me."

"It's not every day a girl is insulted by a man on a train."

"I make no apologies for my comment since I stand with truth on my side."

"Then you need to do your research, and when you realize you are wrong you will owe me that apology."

"Something is truth until proven wrong. Is it a lie to tell someone something you see as true?"

"Someone shouldn't speak of what they don't know." Anne's eyes were filled with fiery as she spoke from her heart. She knew she was right.

Taking a step closer, he answered, "Then tell me about this little flying group of women."

"We are known as the WASP, as for the rest you can find out for yourself." As she took a deep breath, she realized how close they were standing together, and involuntarily took a step back but kept her stance. "I will not continue this conversation. My grandfather is ill, and silence is warranted at this moment. You are welcome to sit and wait with me." She sat down with a humph, and leaned her head against the pole.

Once again she felt his piercing eyes upon her as she willed tears not to come. 'Why did he have to come with the doctor?' she thought.

His next words took her by surprise. "I'm sorry that was rude of me."

"Yes it was," she said quietly never looking at him.

"You have enough on your mind, and I hope your grandfather will be all right. He's a great man I'm told."

"One of the best," Anne said, and as she was about to continue, she heard the door open behind her. "How is he?" she asked the doctor.

"Not well. It looks like I will be here for awhile, Ray. You might as well go home, and I'll call you when I need you to come get me."

"Is he going to die?" Anne asked weakly.

TBC…