River

Gregor

The afternoon is waning. It is the time, I realize, that my plan was going to fall into place. This was when Thomas was going to be positioning the members of the militia along the street. This was when I was going to go to the club, Moses was going to watch, and we were going to lure Mason into the open. This is when he was going to be arrested, quietly, in the street as he approached the house. Rosalind was never going to know. It was all going to be handled without alarming her, and we were going to proceed with our quiet life.

The arrogance of man is an amusing thing.

To think that I believed I had anything under control.

I hear Rosalind’s steps on the stairs, and leave my study to stand at the bottom and greet her. “Darling, I need to talk to Samuel about what to do for Jake. Would you like to join us?” I am never going to exclude her from my planning from now on. I will never be so foolhardy again. It will always be her choice.

She nods, somberly, and we join Samuel in the parlor.

Jake is lying, pale except for the livid bruising across one of his cheeks, on the sofa, a cloth covering his forehead. His eyes are open, slightly squinting, and he watches me come in. I can see he is about to try to sit up, and I tell him, “Just stay there, Jake. Don’t sit up.”

Rosalind moves to his side, and Samuel leaves the chair next to him so that she can take his place. She holds Jake’s hand. Quietly she says, “How do you feel, kiddo?”

“Well, not great,” he confesses. “I tried to protect you, Rosy, I’m sorry.”

“Shh, I know,” she says. “You were so brave. I’m very proud of you.”

“Is he gone?” he asks, worried.

She smiles, a hint of mischief on her face. “He sure is,” she assures him. “I shot him and he ran off.”

He is amazed and impressed.

As am I.

Samuel and I watch their little exchange, then I turn to him. “How is he?” I ask.

“His concussion will take a few days to heal. He should remain quiet and still. I have some tea for him to take that helps the pain. It’s the same that I was giving…” he stops, and I know he doesn’t want to mention David, can’t make himself deal with that situation yet. He goes on, “I think in a few days he’ll be all right.” He looks down at the boy, then back up at me. “I understand he works at one of the brothels?”

I nod.

Samuel says, “It’s a shame he doesn’t have any family. I would like to know that somebody is tending him.”

“We will,” Rosalind says firmly.

Samuel and I both look at her.

“He can stay here. I will take care of him.” She smiles at him. “He was my hero, it is the least I can do.”

He glows with pride.

Samuel looks to me to confirm. “Whatever she wants,” I tell him, shrugging.

And it is completely true. Whatever she wants. Always.

Rosy

I’m so pleased that Gregor invites me to come in and talk to the doctor about Jake. I know that Gregor has many secrets to keep, and it feels like a privilege to be included. He is holding my hand as we come into the parlor, and he squeezes my fingers. It makes me wonder if he is guessing my thoughts. He squeezes them again.

It doesn’t take long to settle that Jake will stay here while he is recovering. Where else could he go? I wouldn’t want him trying to lie on his pallet in the kitchen at Beverly’s with a concussion. He would never be left in peace there. And I will love the chance to care for him. I’ll bet Nadine will, too.

I don’t understand what has happened today. I wonder if I ever will. All I know is that when I saw the beast strike Jake, I knew that I had to stop him.

And I did.

But why was Jake even there?

Gregor looks around at all of us in the room, the doctor, me, Jake. “I believe I need to explain everything. I have been trying to keep secrets, and it isn’t fair to any of you. I have decided that honesty is the best policy. Will you all indulge me while I explain?”

Gregor is going to reveal some of his secrets?

He quirks a little smile at me. I am sitting on a chair that has been pulled from the dining room into the parlor to be next to the sofa. Jake is watching too, looking pleased to be included in what is apparently going to be a grownup discussion. Gregor and Samuel settle into the armchairs closer to the fireplace, and we all wait expectantly.