Here's a new chapter of Runaway.
I'm really enjoying writing this story, so please let me know if you're enjoying reading it.
This chapter is a little shorter, but we see the return of Phillip Brooks!
I own Marianne, Dr. Freeman and Jack in this chapter.
Phillip Brooks whistled as he walked up the steps to the door of the New York townhouse belonging to Joseph Addison. Now that he had taken care of business, he could turn his attention back to Marianne. Of course, the young woman had her flaws, such as her constant need for attention, but with her on his arm, Phillip looked like a respectable young businessman, rather than a crook. He had decided that her physical beauty more than outweighed Marianne Addison's sometimes-annoying ways.
Phillip had been on his way to do a business deal when he had first laid eyes on her. With her clear skin, green eyes and darkest brown hair, she was reminiscent of a Grecian goddess, her peach dress clinging to her gentle curves. Being the kind of man who saw what he wanted and went after it, Phillip had frequented that particular route, hoping to see this goddess-like young woman again. A week later he happened to bump into her as she walked home. Just a few choice words and a gentlemanly manner, and Marianne Addison had been putty in his hands.
"Oh, hello Phillip." Joseph Addison sighed a little as he opened the door.
"Where is she?" Phillip asked him. The young woman was usually eagerly awaiting his arrival.
"I'm awfully sorry, but she's had to go away for a while." Joseph replied.
"Gone where?" the younger man replied in an almost demanding manner.
"St. Louis. She has a friend living there who's been sick." The older man replied calmly.
"Did she not think to tell me?" Phillip fumed.
"I believe she wanted to, but she did not have an address for you in Chicago." Joseph replied, knowing full well that Phillip had not been in Chicago.
"Oh, I see. Well do you have an address for this friend?" he asked, a little flustered.
"Marianne has taken her address book with her. She should be back next week. I'll make sure that she contacts you as soon as she returns." Joseph replied convincingly.
"Be sure to do that." Phillip nodded as he began to walk back down the steps.
"I will." Joseph nodded, closing the door.
The older man walked into the back room and sat down in front of his writing bureau. Taking a piece of paper and a pen, Joseph began a letter to Jack, in which he would enclose a separate letter for his daughter. Phillip was sure to be suspicious, so best not to make any foolish mistakes that revealed Marianne's true location.
Back in West Virginia, Heath had reverted to his moody persona since the night at the Greenwood Inn, where the couple had walked in. Jack and Mickie had later confirmed to Marianne that the couple were indeed Paul and Barbara, although they refused to divulge the reason for Heath's reaction to seeing them that night.
"Can you help me with the ladder?" Marianne asked Heath as they worked in the yard.
"Can't you do anything by yourself?" the redhead replied with an annoyed tone.
"I need you to hold it while I climb." Marianne added.
"What? You scared to climb a ladder?" he sighed as he ran his hand through his copper locks.
"It's unsteady and I don't want to fall." Marianne replied.
"You just expect me to help you?" Heath frowned, folding his arms across his chest.
"Look, just cause you're in a mood…" Marianne shook her head, beginning to get annoyed.
"I'm in a mood?" he raised a brow as he attempted to imitate her New York accent.
"Because of Barbara and Paul! What the hell did they do to you?" Marianne surprised herself by yelling.
"None of your damn business!" Heath retorted, pushing past her and walking towards the barn.
"I'll do it myself then." Marianne said to herself as she walked back over to the ladder.
Leaning the ladder against the wall, Marianne grabbed the sweeping brush and began to climb the rungs. She reached the top, able to see the guttering that was full of leaves and debris. Reaching out with the sweeping brush, the young woman wobbled slightly as she tried to maintain her grip on the ladder. Brushing away some of the debris, Marianne leaned over to sweep some more, but this time she was completely knocked off balance. Attempting to reach out to the roof, she felt the ladder fall from beneath her and she landed awkwardly on her left leg.
"What the hell was that?" Jack asked, rushing from the house as he heard the young woman scream.
"My leg!" Marianne whimpered as she struggled to move.
"Heath!" Jack yelled as the redhead emerged from the barn.
"What happened?" he asked, visibly concerned.
"You better help her inside. I'll go get the doctor." Jack replied.
"Come on." Heath sighs as he picked her up gently and carried her into the farmhouse.
"It hurts, my leg hurts." She mumbled.
"Jack's gone to get the doctor now." Heath assured her.
A short time later, Jack returned with a man of around forty in a grey suit. He sat down in an armchair and opened his black briefcase to reveal some medical apparatus.
"Marianne, this is Dr. Freeman. He's going to examine your leg." Jack told her.
The man carefully felt her leg from knee to ankle and checked her reflexes. After checking her heartbeat with his stethoscope and testing her blood pressure, the doctor sat back down to deliver his diagnosis.
"Well, you're lucky that nothing is broken. However, I think you've definitely sprained your left ankle. I'm recommending at least two days bed rest." Dr. Freeman told her.
"I'll see to it that she does." Jack nodded, shaking the doctor's hand.
"I'm sorry." Heath looked at Marianne as Jack set the doctor out.
"What for?" she frowned, slightly disorientated after the fall.
"It's all my fault. I should have held the ladder." The redhead shrugged.
"I shouldn't have said…what I said." She replied, realising what he was referring to.
"Heath, can you help her to her bed?" Jack asked as he returned to the room.
"Sure." The redhead nodded.
Heath lifted the young woman from the couch and carried her bridal style up the two flights of stairs to her attic room. Setting her down on the bed, he looked around for a moment and then took a nightdress from the dresser, which he passed to the young woman. Marianne smiled and waited for him to turn around before she removed her dress and slipped on the nightdress. Unclipping her dark locks, she climbed into the bed carefully and allowed the redhead to tuck her in. He took the cushion from the chair in the corner and used it to prop up her affected ankle.
"Thank you." She smiled.
"I'll come check on you later." Heath nodded, heading back down the stairs.
Marianne nodded, closing her eyes and allowing herself to drift off to sleep.
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