Page 28 - Homestead By Ann Newhouse
P. 28

“He set off early on a supply run to the nearest town. He’ll be home for supper,” Sofie informed me. “I’ll have Josh help you over to the medical hall,” she added.
Sofie sent Josh over at noon. He had a pair of crutches to help me walk the few yards to the large hall, where he showed me to my room and introduced me to nurse Johanne. The room was as I had expected. Stark white, a single iron bed, a night table, a lamp and a chair to complete the room. I would miss the warm cosiness of Sofie’s cabin. I had a small kitchen to make coffee and of course a bathroom no bigger than a closet. Nurse Johanne helped me settle in, explaining they kept two rooms for very ill patients, who may have a fever and needed round the clock attention. At present all were well in the Homestead. Nurse Johanne was a bubbly person and smiled all the time she spoke. I felt she was flirting, and wondered what Sofie had told her about me, and if she had said whether she liked me.
That evening, John Tirrell had invited me to the big house for supper. I was very nervous and hoped Sofie and Josh would be there for support. Dressed in my jeans and a clean shirt, thanks to Mitch’s mum, I headed over to the big house. In my mind, I rehearsed my reasons for wanting to stay at the Homestead. I struggled slightly on my almost healed feet and crutches. It was a hot and humid evening as it was now into the middle of summer. The Homestead was very quiet as most folk ate their supper at this time of the evening, around 8 30. The cattle were in the paddock, resting after their long drive home. The flicker of candles and lamp light shone in every window. Folk were eating and chatting, telling each other about their day. It gave the feeling of cosy family life.
As I tackled the two steps up to the main door with difficulty, it suddenly opened and Sofie came to my aid.
“Good evening Ned, welcome to my father’s house,” she greeted.
“Good evening, glad I could make it,” I replied, looking down a long-tiled hallway, in wonder, as this was the first time I had ever been in a proper house. The high ceiling had a large glass chandelier hanging down.
“Come through,” John ordered. I followed with Sofie and Josh behind me. The great room consisted of a large open fire, a long table with tall leather chairs, two large sofas and a drinks cabinet. In the far corner, a screen concealed a large desk with a big leather chair behind it. This corner was, obviously, John’s office and, with him sitting behind the desk, Josh, Sofie and myself sat in front of it. We looked like school children waiting to hear our fate for doing something wrong. Sofie looked as nervous as I felt.


































































































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