Chapter Three

Nell awoke in the night with a start. A clap of thunder shook the ground and rattled the entire caravan. Torrential rain pelted the caravan, and wind shook it back and forth wildly. She pulled back the curtain just as lightning lit up the sky. Her heartbeat sped up even as she told herself it was only a storm.

The rain and darkness made it impossible to see out into the night, but she had a feeling it was a bad one. She glanced over at Bub. He was still sleeping peacefully, thank goodness. The wind whipped around the caravan furiously, and Nell shuddered. She closed her eyes and prayed it would end soon.

It was only a storm.

Father Brown, Sid and Mrs. McCarthy sat around the kitchen table at the prespretary listening to the radio. There was a weather alert.

"Please remain indoors away from windows. Please do not travel." the monotone voice cautioned listeners.

Sid drummed his fingers on the table and thought about Nell. He knew first hand it wasn't safe for her in the caravan. The way the wind was blowing it could easily be overturned. The thought of her and her baby being stuck inside if something terrible happened overcame him. He stood from the table and grabbed his jacket.

"Sid! Where are you going?" Father Brown shouted after him.

"Sidney Carter!" Mrs. M called.

Without a word, or a second thought Sid ran out into the storm. Father Brown had a feeling he knew what Sid was up to. He only prayed that God would keep him safe. Him, and Nell and the baby.

What a trio they'd make, he thought. Then, he prayed some more.

Bub had woken and was crying frantically. Nell swaddled him close and held him tightly in her arms. She knew he sensed her fear, so she tried to be brave. The storm seemed to be getting worse the longer it raged. Storms like this were rare in these parts, and that fact only served to worsen her fear.

The wind howled around the caravan and it began to shake violently. The rain was deafening, and yet somehow thunder could easily be heard. It was dark, very dark save when the lightning lit up the sky. Nell was too terrified to move to light the lantern. All she could do was hold her baby boy tightly and pray.

She prayed that they would make it through this unharmed. She prayed for a miracle. Just then, the door swung wide open. Nell felt the cold wind blow around her. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't. Her vocal chords were paralyzed.

Lightning flashed across the sky and Nell fell back on the bed. The figure of a man was trying to close the door behind him. He made one more super human effort and the door slammed and latched. He was drenched from head to toe and holding a flashlight. He sat it on the shelf. Seeing his identity did nothing for Nell's nerves. She recoiled back further onto the bed.

"Nell! Nell, it's me!" Sid cried as he reached for her.

"What are you doing here?" she cried loudly over the storm.

Sid's intention had been to bring Nell and the baby back to the prespretary before the storm worsened, but by the time he got there he knew he couldn't risk taking them out in it. No, he would have to stay with them now.

They would weather this storm together.

The caravan rocked back and forth in the wind. Before Sid could answer the door flung open again and the rain and wind poured inside. Sid grabbed Nell and the baby and pulled them both against his chest on the bed, covering them with a blanket. The baby was crying, and so was Nell.

She tried to push him away before giving in and weeping against his chest with silent tears of fear.

"Shh, shh." he whispered to her.

His hands smoothed over her dark hair before wrapping around both her and the baby and bringing them closer.

God, if you're there please let this storm end.

Sidney Carter praying. Must be a miracle.

The flashlight rolled off the shelf and hit the floor causing it to turn off. They were in pitch black now. Nell clung to her baby, and let Sid cling to her. Whatever happened, she was thankful not to be alone. Bub tired out again and soon fell asleep against his mother's chest.

All at once the wind and rain seemed to ease. Sid threw the blanket off of them and stood to close the door.

"Do you got any towels?" he asked.

Nell laid Bub down and reached for the flashlight, shining it in Sid's direction.

"There, in the cupboard." she motioned behind him.

Sid smirked, that's exactly where he always kept them. He tossed her a couple and used the remaining few to dry the floor in front of the door. Nell quickly wrapped Bub in a dry, warm towel and laid him back down. She was soaked through and through, as was Sid. They both realized this too late, as all the towels were soaked with rain water.

Nell was shivering.

"Here," Sid grabbed a dry sweater from the cupboard and walked it to her.

She took it with a shaking hand, "Thank you."

The rain was still pelting the caravan heavily, but Sid could sense Nell was uncomfortable with his presence.

"I'll go-" he began to say, but she interrupted him.

"No. Please...stay."

"Are you sure?" he quirked an eyebrow at her.

"It's too dangerous out there right now."

He shook his head in agreement and turned back towards the cupboard. He rummaged around until he found something that was his. Without thinking he shed his wet clothes to change. Nell's heart froze in fear, but he never turned to her for anything.

"You better get out of those wet clothes." he cautioned her.

Nell looked down at the shirt she was still holding. "I, um..."

Sid got the message and turned his back towards her, "This better?"

Not really.

She realized she didn't have much choice so she quickly shed her nightgown and pulled on the sweater Sid had given her. She quickly realized it wasn't hers when it sank to her knees and swallowed her whole almost. She didn't care, in fact she was extremely grateful.

"Why did you come here?" she asked.

Sid turned around, "I was gonna bring you back to the Father's, but by the time I got here it was too bad."

"Oh." she whispered.

Sid raked a hand through his wet hair, "I know what it can be like stuck in this thing during a storm."

"Terrifying?"

Sid half chuckled, "Yeah."

Nell climbed under the blankets and Sid took a spot on the couch. He needed a cigarette...desperately. Between the rain and the baby he knew he wasn't going to be able to fullfil his need. The caravan was quieter now that the rain had slowed. The lightning calmed and all was dark. Nell could hear Sid breathing, and Bub snoring softly. It was almost hypnotic and without realizing she fell fast asleep.

When the rain stopped Sid quietly made his exit. He tip-toed into the prepretary in the early morning hours.

"Sid?" Father Brown said from the chair in his room.

"Father?" Sid answered.

"How is Nell?" he asked.

"Reckon that's where I was, do you?"

Father Brown gave him a knowing look.

Sid sighed, "She's all right."

"Good." Father Brown clasped his hands

"If you don't mind I need some sleep." Sid said.

"Of course."

The Father knew there were things he needed to caution Sid of about Nell. If the boy planned on spending any more time with her, he would need to know...Nell was fragile, and Sid was anything but.

Father Brown didn't want to see anyone get hurt.

At least not any more than they already had been...

Nell carries a lot of scars. Wounds of the mind and I do suspect of the body as well. Sid has no idea what he's walking into...yet, but I suspect he soon will.

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Thank you!