When Dr. Larry arrived at the Manning farmhouse, Peter Manning answered the door. "What the hell do you want?" he grumbled as he stared at them with disdain.
Dr. Larry seemed taken aback at Peter Manning's rudeness. "We are here to see Barbara. I heard she's expecting and not feeling the best. Do you mind if we come in and check on her?" asked Dr. Woleck.
"Sure, come on in... but don't mind the pigsty we live in. She's a terrible housekeeper and an awful wife," Peter grunted as he let Dr. Larry and Marty inside.
Marty didn't like the looks of the house as they were entering it. There were dirty dishes and piles of garbage everywhere. The odor of spoiled food met her nostrils. She stepped over discarded clothing as she followed Dr. Larry into the bedroom. She scanned every inch of the house as they entered for signs of Todd.
"My wife never cleans and my nephew is worthless," grumbled Peter.
Dr. Larry said nothing as he examined Barbara. She was very weak and experiencing problems in her pregnancy. She had been vomiting often and couldn't keep food down. Dr. Woleck was very worried as he prepared a ginger tea to help Barbara with her nausea.
"Do you have fresh water?" Larry asked Peter.
"Boy!" Peter yelled, calling out for Todd. "Go to the well and fetch the doctor a pail of fresh water!"
Todd walked into the room, looking greatly disheveled. His hair was a mess and his face and arms were smudged with old bruises. He looked as though he had been sleeping. "What's going on?" Todd asked, seeing that his uncle, Dr. Larry and Marty were all standing at Barbara's bedside.
Todd, too, had been very worried. With his uncle's cruel treatment, he had been certain that Barbara would miscarry the baby. She hadn't been feeling right. Todd had been trying to help her all he could, but his uncle worked him day and night, making him do all the chores and care for the farm animals. If Todd didn't do the chores to his uncle's satisfaction, his uncle would beat him. After the beatings, Todd would feel weak and tired. His body was aching. He didn't want to work anymore. He only wanted to sleep.
He knew he looked like hell and Marty was staring at him. Her beautiful, tender blue eyes were scanning all his wounds. It was as if she could see inside his heart. He didn't want her to look too long, so he grabbed the pail and headed out to the well. He didn't even wait for an explanation. Surely Marty and the doctor were there to treat his aunt who was suffering from a difficult pregnancy. No real explanation was necessary.
When he came back to the room, carrying the pail of water, both Marty and the doctor had grave expressions upon their faces. He looked at his uncle, only to see him staring lustfully at Marty. Suddenly Marty noticed it too and she looked uneasy. She felt a cold chill rush up her spine when Peter Manning gave her a lewd grin. "Your little adopted girl has turned out to be quite a looker," Peter said to Dr. Larry. "I bet the boys are swarming at your door."
Dr. Larry looked up from his patient in surprise. He was shocked at Peter's inappropriate comments. Marty glanced at Todd, wondering what he was thinking. She wanted to talk to him, but he wouldn't even look at her. He kept staring at the floor with a blank expression.
"Marty's a good girl," was all Larry said to Peter's odd comment.
Larry worked diligently, brewing a ginger tea for Barbara Manning. Soon it was ready and he brought her a steaming cup of the soothing liquid. "Thank you," she said as she took a tiny sip.
"See that she has some of this tea whenever the nausea strikes her. She needs to stay in bed. She can only get up to use the privy. If she doesn't get plenty of rest and nourishing food to eat, she's at risk of losing the baby," Larry said to Peter.
Peter scoffed at Larry's instructions. It was Todd who spoke up and promised that he'd make sure she had the tea and plenty of rest. "I can also fix her something to eat," said Todd as he walked forward. He lovingly caressed his aunt's limp brown hair. It hung in long strands around her thin, oval face. It was as though the pregnancy had zapped every ounce of Barbara's strength and vitality.
"Thank you for taking care of my aunt," Todd said to Dr. Larry. Then, across the bed, Todd's eyes met Marty's. She was so worried about him. She just had to get him alone, so they could talk. She needed to find out what was going on with him. She whispered a silent prayer that Barbara and the baby would be fine and that Todd would finally open up and speak to her.
"Get lots of rest," said Dr. Larry to Barbara as he lay a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "If you need anything... just send for me; I am not that far away."
"I will. Thank you, Dr. Larry," said Barbara, managing a smile.
As Dr. Larry and Marty were leaving, Peter Manning was staring at Marty, memorizing the curves of her body through the fabric of her dress. He was licking his lips as wicked thoughts came to mind. He suddenly realized that a pretty little morsel lived very close and he was eager to have her.
*I WILL have her,* he was thinking as he watched her walk away. She was young and ripe and she was perfect. Peter Manning was entranced with her beauty. She was perfect- absolutely perfect for his pleasure.