Chapter 2
Entering the hallway, he noted Vicki was still absent. This caused him some alarm. As he moved to the foot of the stairs, she appeared through the door on the top landing. She was disheveled and wet to the skin.
"Oh Barnabas, I am so sorry. Roger's room is soaked. I have cleaned it and now I am a mess. Would you mind if I changed?"
Barnabas found her enchanting. "A gentleman will wait an eternity for a beautiful woman my dear. Of course I do not mind. " He did not need his vampiric senses to see the charming color flood her cheeks.
Another plus was the modesty and the enchanting way when being complimented that she would bring color to her cheeks. A blush fresh upon her face touched his heart because he knew she had no idea how absolutely beautiful she truly was and her modesty at compliments readily shown by that color on her cheeks.
"I have said it before and I will say it again, you re the most gallant man I have ever met. It will not take me but a few moments to put on dry clothing."
He bowed to her and turned to take his coat and hang it up so it could dry. Then he moved into the foyer and noted her tea she had fixed earlier was cold. Taking the tray, he went to the kitchen to heat it up.
She would need something to warm her when she returned. He admired the tenacity she had in making sure the room where Roger slept had to be dried, so menial tasks were nothing to her. She thought of others before her own self.
Another quality he had come to admire. Were he had shown the same affection for her in his original timeline, his father would never have approved because of the mystery of her bloodline. When in fact his father had questionable associations with a nefarious sea-captain that bordered on piracy.
As he moved to the drawing-room with the hot tea, a loud knock came at the door. Moving to the foyer, he glanced up and looked at Vicki as she paused in the foyer with her hair in a towel.
Pulling the towel off her hair, she shook it out, and presented the picture of domestic beauty with her hair slightly tosseled and damp and it struck Barnabas as another of the tender qualities he had learned to love.
He supposed it was due to the graceful way she always presented her self to the those with whom she shared her company. He was one to admit he loved to observe and learn more about this woman who had grown so close to his heart.
Which brought about longings in him that he could be made human again and if such a thing could occur he would then properly court her in a way she should be courted.
Pausing she smiled at Barnabas, "It is probably Carolyn and David, she must have forgotten her key." She started down the stairs.
"Would you mind going to Mrs. Stoddard's room and closing her window. With what I found in Roger's room; it took up most my time and I never had a chance . . ."
Barnabas picked up the candle. "I will be happy to check her windows. You go let Carolyn and young David in." Though he would have preferred to have her solely to himself for the rest of the evening, he knew that Carolyn and David would not manage the rest of his time with Vicki.
Passing her on the stairs he could smell she had put on her favorite perfume lilac. She was attempting to make her self-presentable to him and this touched him in so many ways.
Vicki watched him disappear as the person at the door knocked again. Going to the door she opened it and said with a soft chastising voice, "Forget your key?"
Only to look up into the most piercing set of black eyes that peered at her in stunned silence. Realizing she was letting the rain and wind whip around her she shook her head.
Remembering her good manners; she smiled tensely at the man who stood with a flat brimmed hat and in a coat very similar to the one Barnabas wore.
"Yes?" She realized that she must look a mess.
The voice was heavily accented and cultured, "Many pardons madam. I was told that Barnabas Collins was here."
Vicki remembering her manners and realizing they were both getting wet, stepped aside and said, "Yes, won't you please come in."
He towered over her as he smiled and moved into the foyer. Vicki fought the wind and rain to get the door closed, and then doing so, she turned and faced the man in the foyer.
"May I tell him who is calling?" She was struck by the command in which he carried him self.. His hair was dark with a hint of grey at the temples and his features were what Carolyn would term as dreamy.
When his gaze did not catch her she could not help but note his strong jaw line, and an aristocratic nose. He was regal, commanding, and obviously high-bred. However, what held her attention the most were those eyes. They were almost piercing and compelling.
Turning to peer back at her he smiled charmingly, moving forward to take her hand and draw it to his lips. 'Old world charm' was another item in her checklist of what this new man had. His old world charm was comparable to the same charm Barnabas had presented to her on many occasions. The difference was his charm was unsettling.
He studied her with intensity then realizing she was waiting for an answer, he smiled again with the utmost charm. "You may tell him it is Radu Florescu. A distant relative from Romania."
His gaze held Victoria slender form and he smiled charmingly. "Well Mr. Florescu, Barnabas is helping me with checking windows on such a horrid night. He should be down shortly. Would you care to wait in the drawing-room."
He looked at his coat and she realized he was dripping water on the Italianate floor. "Oh my, please let me have your coat." He released the coat to her but not before he captured her hand and kissed it.
Blushing at such a show of charm, she cautioned him as she hung up his coat to dry. "Please take care not to slip on the floor, excuse me a moment while I get a mop." She had led him into the Drawing room,. Then going to the kitchen she returned with a mop and quickly mopped up the puddle. Taking the mop back she rinsed it; finishing her chore she returned to the drawing-room.
"May I offer you some tea or something stronger?" She extended her hand to the teapot and then to the liquor sideboard.
"No, thank you I am fine." His stare was so intense and she turned to move to the drawing-room doors peering up to see if Barnabas was returning. It also gave her a respite from Radu's gaze that was making her feel uncomfortably odd.
"I am sure he should return shortly."
She spoke as she turned and realized he had come up behind her. Startled she stepped back, " Oh, excuse me, you are welcome to come and warm yourself by the fire . . . " She was caught up again by that intense stare he gave her as his gaze locked with hers.
She felt the floor giving way beneath her and she was falling head long into darkness. Somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind she was aware that she had been swept up in strong arms. Though she was sure the stranger that had swept her up in his arms, the feeling was almost familiar in a peculiar kind of way.
In her dark realm she felt herself being carried to the sofa. Tenderly, he stroked her hair from her face and spoke, "Dragstea meu te-an gasit in sfarsit." Some part of her mind she knew those words, the words from an ancient time, in a place far away in the mountains, and the voice was familiar.
It was a voice that had brought her comfort when there was fear and doubt. In response to his words of "My love I have found you at last."
She murmured, "Inima mea bate alaturi de a ta. Lubita mea." In the deep recesses of her mind she translated those words, "My heart beats next to yours my beloved."
Radu gasped and spoke softly as he stroked her hair from her face, "Printesa mea!" He bent and kissed her softly on her lips, saying again, "My Princess." in his Romanian tongue.
His eyes glowed with a red intensity as he peered down as her slender throat and could hear her heartbeat and the rush of blood though her veins. Stroking her throat with soft fingertips he fought his want to take her then and there. He could not take her not now, not at this time.
Barnabas left Elizabeth's room, the last of the rooms windows closed as the storm raged outside. He stopped as the soft familiar scent surrounded him. At the end of the hallway he could see the form of his beloved Josette beginning to materialize.
"Oh Barnabas, you must hurry. Victoria is in danger. You must hurry before it is too late." As quickly as she appeared she disappeared. Leaving behind her scent of jasmine.
Heeding her warning, Barnabas turned and rushed to the upstairs landing, calling out, "Vicki? Victoria?" He rushed down the stairs to the drawing-room doorway where he saw Vicki laying on the sofa, unconscious. Fear gripped the pit of his stomach and anxiety filled his soul as he rushed forward to her side.
Moving forward he dropped to one knee and checked her pulse. "She lives for now Collins." Hearing the heavily accented voice Barnabas stood and turned peering over at the form standing in front of the windows of the drawing-room.
Lightening lit up the sky outlining the figure making him seem more ominous and threatening. "Identify yourself and what you are doing here." He had assured himself that he told the truth that she was breathing on her own and appeared unharmed.
"I am Vlad Tepes, and I have come for you."
Barnabas placed himself between Vicki and the stranger. "Come for me? What do you mean you have come for me?"
Vlad moved to the fireplace so he could look upon Vicki's face and then to Barnabas. "You are brethren of our kind. You are violating the order of the vampire kind. As you are aware you are not the only one of your kind. You are unique in that you were brought over by the curse of a vengeful witch."
Barnabas glanced down noting Vicki was still unconscious. "So, what has that to do with you being here for me?"
Vlad looked from Vicki to Barnabas, "There is a grand council that rules our kind to make sure we remain unknown to the general populace. You need to be brought under the council's guidance."
Barnabas frowned and looked at the angular features of the man before him. "I take it that I am in the presence of the Prince of Walachia, the Impaler himself Dracula?"
He caught the slight nod acknowledging a yes. "I know of no order that requires me to follow rules of the order of the Dragon or Vampires."
Again there was a stiff silence as Vlad seem to consider his words and he frowned. "It matters not of your ignorance of our ways, you are bound by the laws of the ancient order of the Dracul and Vampire kind. I have come to acquaint you of these rules."
Vicki's mind was forcing her to awaken and she called softly, "Barnabas?" Her eyes fluttered open and she started to rise.
Barnabas immediately dropped to his knees again, and Vlad saw the love and devotion Barnabas held for Victoria. "Vicki, my dear. Are you all right?"
He helped her sit up and studied her face and his eyes were drawn to her neck. Seeing no tell-tale marks he visibly relaxed. She blushed and looked at him, seeing the concern she gave an uneasy laugh.
"I am so sorry. I must have fainted. There was a gentleman here looking for you. He said his name was Radu Florescu and he was a distant relative of yours."
Barnabas stepped aside so Vicki could see Vlad. "Yes, he is a distant cousin by marriage on my mother's side of the family. Radu may I present Miss Victoria Winters. She is my cousin David's governess. Victoria this is Radu Florescu."
Vlad stepped forward and took her hand turning to kiss her wrist then her palm. Speaking in his heavy Romanian accent he spoke, "My pleasure Miss Winters."
Vicki flushed deeply and dropped her gaze; his eyes disturbed a part of her. Gently, pulling her hand back, she spoke softly. "Welcome to Collinwood Mr. Florescu."
Rising slowly, she felt her body sway and Barnabas scooped her up and held her close. "Slowly my dear,. You still must be suffering from whatever affected you earlier. " He sat down with her on his lap and peered into her eyes.
What she saw there in that gaze made her heart race and once again she felt her thoughts trailing off into an area that was best kept hidden. This also sent a flush of color to her cheeks.
Barnabas seeing the blush smiled. "There that is better, you are finally getting some color back." His concern was even greater than before and once again he studied her.
"Have you eaten today?"
Vicki flushed again and felt secure in Barnabas' hold. "I believe I had breakfast and then I got busy and I forgot to eat."
Vlad watched the play between the two and his gaze narrowed. He could feel the draw these two had for each other and a deep part of him fought his jealousy. She was his Elizabeta; she spoke the words they said to each other on their wedding day.
"My dear, you must allow me to fix you some soup, would care to join me in the kitchen." Again, Vicki had that charming way of showing her embarrassment with twin peeks of color staining her cheeks.
"It is I that should be offering you both some tea or brandy?" She glanced up at Vlad and smiled and then looked into Barnabas' eyes.
Barnabas cupped her face in his hand. "Non sense, you must allow me to pamper you. I fear that I will destroy Mrs. Johnson kitchen, so you will need to direct me and I am sure that Cousin Radu may join us or entertain himself in here until we return."
Vlad not to be out done bowed to her slightly and smiled charmingly, "My dear I would be delighted to share a repast with you and my dear cousin."
Barnabas stiffened but forced himself to relax because he knew Vicki could feel the tension in his body. Forcing himself to relax he placatingly put a smile on his lips. It was too late, she was aware that there was a tension between the two cousins.
"Then allow me to carry my lady fair to the kitchen." Vicki was beginning to feel she was in a perpetual mode of embarrassment as she flushed deeply and moved from his lap and started to stand.
Barnabas rose and before he could scoop her up, Vlad was already lifting her effortlessly into his arms and glancing over at Barnabas, "Lead the way Cousin, we shall gladly follow."
Barnabas did a slow burn as he rose and bowed to Vlad and with a flourish wave of his arm he escorted them to the kitchen. Vicki spoke softly to Vlad, " I feel so silly. I was just a bit woozy and you make me feel so helpless."
Glancing around the room she nodded to the bar stool. "You may put me down on the stool at the center island please."
Vlad smiled at her, "As disappointing as that will be, for I love holding someone as beautiful as you my dear Victoria, I shall acquiesce to your request."
With gentleness born of chivalry he placed her on the high-backed stool. Barnabas not sure of where to look, began to open cabinets and finding tea bags. Putting the pot on he began to brew some tea. Once again he went in search of what he could put together for her in the larder.
Finding cheese, meat and home-made bread, he began to build her a sandwich. "Cousin, I did not realize you were so domesticated."
Barnabas heard the barb n his voice and turned to smile at Vicki. "I can amaze and astound for someone I am very fond of, and Vicki qualifies."
Vicki tucked her chin to hide the hot flush of her cheeks and smiled for Barnabas. "I am truly grateful, but I feel I should be fixing you and Mr. Florescu something."
Vlad slid onto the stool next to her and took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Do not worry yourself over me, my dear. I am sure that Barnabas is correct in seeing such a beautiful woman should be properly nourished and pampered."
Once again, Vicki could feel the tension in her own body as those magnetic eyes swept her up in a wild ride on an emotional roller coaster.
The teakettle whistle breaking the moment, and Barnabas used the moment to put Vicki's sandwich in front of her and a hot cup of tea. Then he sat across from her and Vlad. "So, Cousin how long do you plan to stay? I am sure that I can put you up at the old house."
Vlad focused his attention back on Barnabas, "I had hoped to finish up my business and my trip by the end of the month, but I had no idea that my cousin has such enchanting acquaintances'."
He glanced away from Barnabas and looked at Vicki as she ate daintily from the delicate china dish embellished with roses. He smiled as he watched her flush with modesty.
"You will find Radu, that Vicki is very modest and flowery compliments brings such an enchanting flush to her cheeks."
Vicki smiled sweetly for Barnabas and dropped her gaze to her plate. Vlad glanced at Barnabas and knew he would have to make the next move if he wished to secure his love and whisk her away from Barnabas before he had a chance to make her into his eternal mate.
Vicki swallowed took a sip of her tea and spoke softly, "If you two continue to shower me with such flowery compliments, I am sure I shall become very vain."
Barnabas reached for her hand and raised it to his lips. "I would find that near impossible to believe my dear."
Vicki looked into Barnabas' gaze and smiled. "You always seem to find the right words Barnabas."
She pushed her plate away and gently pulled her hand back and smiled at Vlad and then Barnabas. "Shall we make a tray and set it with cups and I will be happy to serve you both some tea."
Barnabas looked at the sandwich she had pushed away and frowned. "My dear I truly believe that a bird could eat more than you."
Vicki laughed. "Really Barnabas, I am full. Please allow me in Mrs. Stoddard's absence to play the proper hostess."
For a short time, the storm outside seemed to be forgotten until another earth shattering roll of thunder vibrated the house and an intense flash of lightning lit up the candle lit room.
From a distance, there was the sound of a crash and Vicki jumped. "Oh dear, what was that?" She slid from the stool and before either man could stop her she was off moving to the front foyer.
The large cypress tree that had edged the front of the house now lay tipped in through the double doors and in the foyer obstructing the grand entrance. Vicki stood looking at the damage and did not hear the moaning sound of a stress fracture to the other large limb that dangled precariously over head.
As she glanced at the damage she did not realize she was in the direct path of the second largest limb beginning to give and slide towards her.
In a flash, Barnabas was moving forward to grab her as the limb broke and came crashing down on top of her. Vicki screamed as the limb found its ground on top of Vicki.
Vicki was pinned beneath the limb and Barnabas was moving quickly to remove the limb that held her pinioned to the floor. Vicki struggled to stay alert under the weight of the limb.
She was sure she heard Radu shout "Elizabeta, look out!" to Barnabas' shout of "Vicki!" She could feel the weight of the branches pressing down on her chest and the suffocating feeling was making it hard to breathe.
The struggle to keep her eyes open and stay conscious was beginning to fade, so was the candlelight that illuminated the foyer and drawing-room. As she again slipped into the welcoming embrace of the darkness, she was vaguely aware that she was in a lot of pain.
A strong gripping pain that pushed thought from her mind and allowed the darkening shadows to creep ever closer around her until she slipped into welcoming unconsciousness.
As Barnabas lifted the limb from her, Vlad pulled her to safety, but too late to avoid damage. A large gash marred her pretty features and blood flowed from the wound.
Vlad began to speak rapidly in Romanian and the one word that Barnabas understood was "Elizabeta" Barnabas noticed that Vlad's eyes glowed red as the smell of blood filled him. Barnabas growled low, "Vlad do not think of taking blood from her. You must know Vicki is to be mine. I have plans for her and you will not interfere."
Vlad looked up at Barnabas who now stood towering over him. Tepes' fangs receded and his eyes cleared. He was already making his plans and there would be nothing Barnabas would be able to do to prevent him from taking the woman for which he had waited over four centuries.
He knew he was more powerful than Barnabas, but he was on Barnabas' home ground. Covering his feelings he reluctantly handed Vicki over to Barnabas. Barnabas lifted her lifeless form and moved around the tree to the drawing-room. "We need to stop the bleeding. Then we need to call for an ambulance and the sheriff."
Vlad looked to the phone lying askew from the table. The branches had knocked the phone from its place on the table. Barnabas looked at Vlad, "Will you watch her while I call for help?"
Vlad nodded and moved to bend over Vicki's pale lifeless form. "Of course I will." Barnabas moved to the table and put the phone together. Lifting the receiver he listened for a dial tone and much to his dismay discovered the tree must have pulled the telephone line down. Then he recalled Vicki had lost connection with Roger. Growling with frustration he turned and looked at Tepes. "The phone is dead."
This was the one time he wished he had installed a phone at the old house. Looking to Vlad and not wanting to trust him alone with Vicki he moved back into the room.
"Vlad, I am going to ask you for a favor. I need you to go to the old house and bring Willie back with you. I need him to drive Vicki to the Hospital."
Vlad looked down at the pale beauty before him and nodded. "I do this for her Collins, not you." Barnabas watched as he evaporated into mist form and disappeared. With Vlad no longer in the room, Barnabas bit his wrist and pressed it to Vicki's lips.
"Drink Vicki" She felt the pressure against her lips and then salty taste of blood and licked her lips feeling the pressure. She moved her hands to feel what was pressing against her lips and opened her eyes to see Barnabas bending over her.
"Barnabas?" She muttered against his wrist and he pulled his wrist away from her mouth.
"Lay still my dear, you have been injured and your head is bleeding." Even as he spoke he could see that her forehead was beginning to heal, not as fast as he had hoped but the blood flow was slowing over the wound.
Vicki started to raise her arm and found it was also hurting and lying at an odd angle. Grimacing she dropped her arm and cradled it with her other hand.
"It hurts." She whimpered softly as she held her arm. "I think it's dislocated." From the doorway Barnabas heard a voice.
"Hello? Miss Winters?" Immediately he recognized Sheriff Patterson's voice. Barnabas shifted Vicki to a comfortable position on the sofa and moved to the foyer. Negotiating the large tree in the foyer he called out to him.
"Sheriff! Sheriff Patterson, we need help. Miss Winters has been seriously injured." Patterson could hear the worry and concern in Barnabas' voice.
"Mr. Collins, would it be possible for you to let me in through the garage? I can pull my car around and we can put her in the car and get her to the hospital."
Feeling hopeful, he called back to Patterson, "Meet me by the garage Sheriff, she needs medical attention." Barnabas turned back to Vicki, "Vicki, I am going to bring Sheriff Patterson in, I will be right back."
Vicki lay still and nodded and found that it hurt to nod. "I will be fine, go."
Taking his cue, Barnabas moved as fast as he dared to meet with the sheriff. Opening the doors to the garage he waited as the sheriff pulled his squad car into the garage. George exited his unit and met Barnabas. "How bad is it?"
Barnabas showed his anxiety as he led George through the house. "She is bleeding from a head wound and I believe her shoulder is dislocated."
George Patterson had been sheriff for several years. The town of Collinsport, Maine had taught him that not much got past anyone in the town.
The past few years had been hard on him and his family. It began with cattle being drained of blood and talk of extra terrestrial being the cause. Then it went to young women mostly ladies of the evening being attacked, found walking dazed and suffering from blood loss.
Then the Evans girl went missing after suffering from medical problems. When her father found her on the beach disoriented and reverting to the mental state of a young child, he was pretty sure he had now seen it all.
Miss Winters had her fair share of odd occurrences with her abduction by Matthew Morgan who had been the Collin's caretaker for many years. Sheriff Patterson was sure they would find her body lying in a ditch on one of the back county roads when she went missing and had stayed missing for a week.
He had always felt an affinity for the girl and when Roger Collins called asking him to check on her he thought nothing of it. It was on his way home and now his concern had been his wife and her constant illness from that damnable cough she had gotten several weeks ago.
George Patterson was getting closer to retirement and he was ready. His hours and his eating habits had taken a toll on his once svelte figure. With three kids to raise and a wife that was constantly ill he held in there for the sake of home and family.
Now sporting forty-five extra pounds along with a hairline that had receded he knew it would be a matter of time before his health would suffer. Dr. Lang had already warned him he was borderline diabetic and that if he did not get his stress under control he would also be a good candidate for a stroke.
At the rate Collins was making him pace to the drawing-room he very well may make that date with a stroke or a heart attack. He was trying to control his breathing as he followed the cousin of Liz Stoddard.
Stopping briefly in the foyer he used the time to survey the damage from the inside. He had seen the damage from outside but it was a lot worse in the main foyer of this big old mansion on the hill. "Looks like you will need to find a way to secure the house." He mused softly then remembering that someone was injured he slipped his hat on and moved into the drawing-room.
George hurried in behind Barnabas. "Was it the tree?"
Barnabas nodded. "It crashed through the doorway and then as Vicki was examining the damage, one of the large limbs broke off and pinned her beneath it."
George Patterson knew how important Vicki Winters was to this family and was even familiar with the fact she had been engaged to Burke Devlin prior to his death in the air plane crash.
Liz was partial to the girl had even brought her all they way from New York as young David's governess so he was not about to allow any more harm come to the girl if he could prevent it. Many would think he would help her only because he knew she was the sole heir to Burke's fortune. The facts of the matter was he liked her and he liked Burke and he would have helped no matter what.
He also heard through the rumor mill that she had not acted on claiming it as her own. Still holding to the belief that Burke was going to come back some day and she wanted to make sure that his fortune was waiting for him. Pushing those thoughts aside, he was fond of Vicki and did not wish to see her in pain or in harm's way. So, he moved with Barnabas back through the house to the drawing-room.
"Ok, Vicki, its George Patterson. We are going to get you to the car in the garage."
As Barnabas carefully lifted Vicki from the sofa another voice sounded from the front foyer area. 'Barnabas?" Willie tried climbing over the downed tree and rolled into the foyer bouncing up to look at Barnabas holding an injured Vicki.
"Oh man Barnabas, this place is a mess." He looked around and then at George and Barnabas. Vicki laid her head on Barnabas' shoulder. When she bumped her arm she whimpered softly.
"Sheriff, take Vicki and I will get Willie to bring me. We need to do something about this and securing the house."
Patterson gingerly took Vicki. "I will send Chris up with a couple of chain saws and post a deputy until you can get the doors fixed."
Willie looked at the mess and nodded. "Barnabas go on and go with the Sheriff, I am sure Vicki would feel better having someone she knows with her."
Barnabas looked around and then at Willie. "Thank you Willie. Where is Radu?"
Willie dropped his chin and that errant strand of sandy brown hair fell over his eyes. "He stayed at the old house."
Barnabas frowned. " I see. Well then when you get back there, see to his accommodations, then you may want to join me at the hospital." Willie glanced up at Barnabas and nodded.
Barnabas moved out and the slender youth that had become the daytime servant protecting Barnabas as he slept assessed the damage. He knew he would need a chain saw and knew exactly where it was kept.
Willie Loomis had arrived at Collinwood shortly after one Jason Maguire. Willie had been trouble from the get go. His pushy attitude and arrogance had rubbed a lot of the citizens of Collinsport and at Collinwood the wrong way.
If his mouth had not gotten him beat down, his penchant for illegal activities caught up with him the night he broken into the mausoleum intent on robbing the grave of Naomi Collins in search of jewels.
He had already put his unwanted attention on Vicki and then turned his attention on Carolyn. It had bothered Carolyn to the point she ended up pulling a gun on the young hooligan.
Willie was not an unattractive young man he was just what most termed a 'bad boy', with a bad attitude. He had gotten into fights when he let his temper get the better of him.
So much so one night Vicki along with Burke had saw him try to attack an older gentleman with a beer bottle. Had Jason Maguire a smarmy man with a ski sloop nose and beady eyes and an accent to go with his name, stopped Willie from starting a rumble at the Blue Whale.
Both men were con artist with a rap sheet to go with their extensive travels over the world and the contingent United States. So, when Willie decided to rob the Collins graves in the mausoleum he got more than he bargained for in his life.
Willie Loomis had affected a life change that had everyone puzzled. Little did those that cared to venture a thought about Willie realize exactly why he changed? Those that did speculate on his transformation credited the change to one Barnabas Collins.
From the garage the sheriff honked his horn, and Barnabas reached under the branches and retrieved his coat. Moving quickly he joined the sheriff and sat in the back seat where he tried to make Vicki as comfortable as possible.
As the car pulled out into the driving rainstorm, Patterson put on the lights and siren. In short order George Patterson had negotiated his car under the emergency room canopy of the Collinsport Hospital. An orderly moved from inside pushing a wheel chair. Barnabas slid out and then reached in and gently helped Vicki to the wheel chair.
Patterson turned to Barnabas. "Well Mr. Collins, I am going to head back to Collinwood and see what I can do to help with that tree. If you need me, contact the office and I will be happy to give you and Miss Winters a lift back to Collinwood."
Barnabas smiled his gratitude and shook the sheriff's hand and then turned to follow behind Vicki and the orderly.
Barnabas paced the waiting room as he waited for permission to go back in the exam room. When the doctor finally granted him permission he rushed to the room to see Vicki laying on the gurney covered in a sheet.
She had a sheet over her and he noted she was wearing one of those unflattering hospital gowns. Her own dress was a mess, torn and covered in her blood. A man bearing a name tag of Dr. Lang stood at the foot of her bed and looked at her chart.
"Ahh, you must be the Mr. Collins that Miss Winters has asked about. She gave me permission to tell you that she had to have a couple of stitches in her scalp and that should heal in a couple of weeks. I know it looked like a lot of blood but because the area is close to the surface they bleed a lot. We also discovered she had a nasty bump on the back of her head which means she also suffered a concussion and a broken rib along with the dislocated right arm."
Lang continued to read her chart as he spoke of all he had done for Vicki, "I have given her some painkillers and would like her watched over the next 8 hours. It is imperative that she not fall asleep."
Barnabas looked from Vicki back to Lang. "Why?" Lang took his glass off and chewed the end earpiece crossing his arms over his chest.
"With a concussion she could easily slip into a coma if she were to fall asleep. With the kind of damage she has suffered, she is going to be sore, and uncomfortable for a couple of days. I have written out some instructions and I should see her in my office in about a week. Oh and I will send some pain medication home with her."
Barnabas glanced at Vicki, his concern clear in his demeanor. "But she will improve?" Holding to a hopeful tone, he watched Lang trying to gage his true thoughts.
Lang hung her chart on the end of the bed and nodded. "Of course she will. We just need some signatures on the discharge papers and you can take her home."
Lang left the room, pulled the curtain as he went out. Vicki lay lethargically and glassy-eyed cradling her injured arm. Glancing up at Barnabas she tried to give him a brave smile.
"I must look a fright?" She spoke so softly as she glanced up at him. "Barnabas?"
He moved to her side and looked down at her. "I am here Vicki." She reached her good hand over to him and took his hand in hers.
"I am so grateful to you. You are such a wonderful friend and I love you so much." She yawned and closed her eyes. Barnabas smiled and he lifted her hand and gently kissed her knuckles.
"There have been very few people in my life that I have loved Victoria, you are one of them. I will always love you." Barnabas knew her defenses were down and the painkillers were affecting her feelings. Knowing she was vulnerable made him even more protective.
He watched her face and noticed the small endearing smile she had used to capture his heart. She fluttered her eyelashes and glanced up at him. "Thank you for being you Barnabas."
A nurse pulled open the curtain. "Well are you ready to go home Miss Winters?"
Barnabas leaned over the bed and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. "I will be waiting for you out in the waiting room. Sheriff Patterson said he would give us a ride home."
The nurse smiled at Vicki and helped her with her clothing. "Is that your boyfriend?"
Vicki smiled and shook her head. "He is a very dear friend." Patty continued with her chatter, "He is very handsome and so cultured. Someone said he was a Collins. Is he related to the Collins family up at Collinwood?"
Vicki was not comfortable discussing her private life and the life of the Collins family with a total stranger. "Oh he is a cousin of the family. " She was trying to think of a way to change the subject when a call for help rescued her from the nosey prattle of Patty the nurse.
Taking her time, she continued to get dressed. Dr. Lang moved into the room and smiled at her. "Here is a prescription for some pain medication. I did take some blood tests and I should have the results back by the time you come for a follow-up visit." He handed the script over to Vicki and she took it with her good hand. "Now you wait here and I will have the orderly bring a wheel chair."
As Barnabas moved from the cubical he pulled the curtain closed and headed for the reception desk. Requesting permission to use the phone he called for Sheriff Patterson. His heart was filled with joy and he could not believe his luck.
Victoria Winters had just confessed to him she loved him. While he stood in the glow of those words he could not shake an ominous feeling that his joy would be short-lived. He half expected Angelique to appear out of the dark and storm filled night to quash his joy.