Page 20 - Homestead By Ann Newhouse

I was aware of whispering and then the sound of footsteps. I opened my eyes to pleasant surroundings. I was tucked up in a bed of soft cotton, so white it hurt my eyes. Staring at the ceiling, I realised I was alive and not in the heavens, as the face staring back was the face of a beautiful young woman smiling at me.
“Well hello,” she chided cheerfully.
“Hello,” I replied quietly.
“I’m Sofie Tirrell, this is my cabin. My brother found you by the river.”
“Nice to meet you. My name is Ned O’ Neil ma’am,” I slipped my hand from under the covers and offered to shake hers. She ignored it.
“I have some soup on the stove, are you ready to eat?” “Thank you, ma’am I’d love some.”
Propped up with more pillows than I had ever seen, Sofie served me a bowl of hot chicken broth. She left me alone to eat, promising to be back later. As I sipped the hot soup I glanced around at my surroundings. It was indeed a log cabin, with a large pine table and four chairs along with a kitchen dresser displaying all manner of cooking implements. A log burner, its black funnel through the ceiling to disperse the smoke, sat against one wall. In the centre, two sofas with a low table in between. The bed was tucked into a corner with heavy wool curtains hanging from the ceiling on a pole for privacy, beside it a washstand, a pole with pegs to hang clothes, and a large trunk. Along the main wall was a stove, a sink and a couple of cupboards. Very cosy and neat. Just enough room for a couple to start out their married life, I thought. When the main door opened and Sofie glided in wearing a white coat.
“How is my patient, have you eaten your soup?” she asked.
“Yes, thank you Miss Sofie, I feel much better. Where am I? I cannot remember the last couple of hours due to the heat, and the pain in my feet.”
“You passed out. You were dehydrated, but I sorted that. You must rest until your feet heal. Where have you come from, have you travelled far?”
“I have come a long way. Not sure how far, as I had no knowledge of where I was going. I just followed my nose.” (Sofie laughed at my comment, unbelieving)
“Where are you heading, are you going to visit relatives.”