Chapter 11

Once again Henry, Anne and Gilbert were gathered around the table at Green Gables, text books open in front of them in January. Marilla had gone with the Lyndes to go hear the Canadian Premier give an address in Charlottetown. Gilbert's folks had gone as well and he had been given permission to spend the night at Green Gables with Henry under Matthew's watchful eye rather than stay alone.

Anne still refused to step foot in Gilbert's home, so the boys spent more time at the Cuthbert's than the Blythe's, but Mrs. Blythe approved whole heartedly of her son's best friend amd saw nothing amiss in the arrangement. If she had been witness to these study sessions she would have grabbed Gilbert painfully by the ear and given him her opinion on deliberately provoking Henry's sweet sister and then briskly informed him he wouldn't encourage any tender affections in Anne if all he did was provoke her. Of course unbeknownst to Mrs. Blythe, Gilbert didn't just provoke Anne, he tried to get her attention in other ways too. Ways that gave Henry great amusement.

Gilbert was constantly leaping at opportunities to offer his asssitance to Anne. Marilla found him to be quite a gentleman like boy. He was always offering to carry dishes or fetch things. Henry's eyes sparkled with supressed laughter that evening in the cheery kitchen when Anne unthinkingly spoke wistfully of retrieving the russets from the cellar and Anne asked if Matthew might like some. Matthew agreed he would, saying she had best bring up enough for everyone, though they all knew Matthew didn't favor them but Anne did. Before Anne could even stand, Gilbert was on his feet offering to help her fetch them. And by help Henry knew that Gilbert would carry the candle down and than insist on carrying the russets up, leaving Anne empty handed, unless she wrestled the candle from him, rather than make Anne do it and Gilbert would consider it a victory to have Anne at his side as he did so, even if it was in stony silence.

The two had just emerged from the cellar, Anne flushed and Gilbert with a grin in place, when Diana burst into the Green Gables kitchen, before Henry could wonder if Anne had actually wrestled Gilbert for the candle or if Gilbert's attmept at chivalry had once again ended in him prodding Anne's temper. Diana's sudden appearance and news would cause Henry to forget to tease his friend, not that Gilbert would have ever told him what happened in the cellar. Anne had reached for a russet a second before Gilbert reached for the same one resulting in a few brief seconds of Gilbert having his hand wrapped around hers. The shock from the unexpected contact had sent sparks through both of them. While Gilbert had enjoyed the sensation from the brief handholding incident, Anne had been left confused and wary, refusing to acknowledge such sentiments could be inspired by her nemesis.

"It's Minnie May!" Diana gasped out. "She's got the croup something fierce! Our parents are in Charlottetown and so is the doctor. I don't know what to do!"

Matthew stood up and without a word headed for the door. Seeing him go Anne offered assurance to Diana, "He's gone to hitch up the buggy to fetch the nearest doctor he can find. I've treated croup before. Mrs. Hammond had three sets of twins, you know. Let me grab the bottle of Ipecac and see what can be done. You might not have any and without it, well I'll just be bringing it to be safe," Anne said briskly taking charge of the situation.

Henry quickly rose to his feet, but before he could issue instructions, Gilbert said, "Na Henry, someone has to see to to Tommy, I'll see Anne and Diana to the Barry's place safely and then come straight back."

"He can come with us. Anne is gonna need help and I don't rightly believe Mary Joe or Diana are gonna be in a fit state to see she gets it. We'll all go," Henry said with authority that no one argued with."

The five quickly put on warm things, Anne not even protesting when Gilbert wrapped a scarf around her for warmth and headed out into the cold night air. Anne grasped Diana's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Henry and Tommy led the way and Gilbert hovered protectively over Anne's shoulder, a warm reassuring presence directly to her right as on her left, her hand clasped Diana's.

As Matthew scooped the sleeping Tommy up and carried him out to the waiting buggy, Henry looped his arm around the shoulders of a tired Anne, leading her out, seeing how she was practically asleep on her feet. Gilbert followed them out and after Henry clamored into the wagon, Matthew gently handed Tommy in and Gilbert wordlessly assisted Anne. Henry settled into the middle, Tommy on one side and Anne promptly snuggled up on his other when he moved his arm so he could drape it around her. Seeing space next to either Tommy or Anne for him, it wasn't even a choice for Gilbert, he sprang nimbly into the wagon and sat next to Anne.

He felt a small stab of jealousy to see her red head on Henry's chest, but tamped it down. Henry had earned the right to take care of Anne, to be the one who she nestled into and fell asleep on. He'd had taken on the role of protector when he didn't have to at the orphanage.

Anne, Gilbert thought, had been amazing at the Barry's. She had taken charge of the situation and saved Minnie May's life, even the doctor had said so when he arrived with Matthew, nothing left for him to do and Minnie May resting comfortably. Henry and Gilbert had each followed Anne's commands, placing pillows, heating water, whatever they could do to assist her, everyone recognizing that she was the only one that knew what to do.

Now Gilbert felt a surge of gratitude that Henry, his best friend, had been on hand at the orphanage to protect Anne and was still on hand to protect her now. If he hadn't already considered Henry to be his best friend that knowledge would have sealed it for him. Someday, Gilbert could admit, he hoped to be the one that Anne would turn to for comfort and protection, but not as a brother. For now he was just thankful that the red headed handmade family had come to Green Gables.

Seeing Gilbert's eyes on Anne, Henry whispered softly, "Brilliant, huh? I knew Anne could do it. She took care of Tommy whenever he was sick and me a time or two at the orphanage. Some people might think because she gets lost in imagining when doing stuff that she couldn't do it, but when it counts and you really need her, Anne doesn't disappear into her imagination."

"She was amazing," Gilbert agreed softly. "Without her-"

"She saved Minnie May's life," Henry interjected. "Without Anne, Minnie May would be dead. Anne was real worried there at the end, I could tell, but she kept it together and stayed strong for Diana. Anne's stronger than she looks, but sometimes she isn't as strong as she wants to be, ya know? "

Gilbert nodded, he knew what Henry meant. Anne could be a tower of strength for those she loved but she sometimes needed someone to be strong for her, especially when she wouldn't admit she needed someone.