Dr. Morgan - Part 24

Hello Faithful Friday Fiction Fans,
I really, really am not sure how it could possibly be Friday again so soon, but everything says it is, so I guess I had better post. And yes, you may have another part of "Dr. Morgan." Just don't get too used to it because it will stop. I'm giving you warning right now. Once I get this book finished (I reach the end of the story) and have something else to post, you may have to wait to read the rest of it until, *gasp* it's published! However, before you start to panic, I will be offering a very special discount to all my blog readers who have been faithfully reading "Dr. Morgan."

Speaking of "Dr. Morgan," I have a hope that I can reach the end of the story this week. At this point I don't know if I can or not, but I keep hoping I can. I've already written my weeks quota of 5,000 words. And it sure has been fun because I finally got the "who's, what's, when's, where's and how's" that everyone has been longing to have answered. :) The thing I don't know about, it how much longer the end will be. Do you like longer or shorter books? I think I have a start on Part 60 right now which is as long as the 2nd TCR book.

And now, my biggest news of the week!
Triple Creek Ranch - Unbroken is being recorded! Yes, I listed it on ACX last week and on Sunday I had two auditions! After listening to them both, and having my sister listen to them, we knew that one voice wasn't quite right for the story. The other one was gracious enough to record a few other short parts to see if she fit and answered many questions. The end of the matter is that she accepted the offer I sent her and now has the book and is reading it. She also said she wanted to record the rest of the TCR books! How many of you enjoy listening to audio books while you travel or work on projects? I do! I'll let you know how things are going.

But you've waited long enough for this next part. (Unless you skip this part entirely and go directly to the story.) :)

Dr. Morgan

Part 24

    He looked across the room to his father. “I know you made inquiries in all the nearby towns, Dad, after they came, and in some of the nearby cities. But I thought it would be a good idea to actually talk to some of the folks there. I also wanted to check in some of the more out of the way places.”
    “Did you check the resort near Jackson?” Justin leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
    “Yep. No luck there. However, I did learn from a retired forest ranger something which might be of help.” Adam paused and poked at the fire. “About a week or so before Amy arrived here, there was an avalanche farther up in the back range. It was bad.” He stirred the fire before continuing. “Three hikers were lost. They only uncovered their bodies right before Thanksgiving.”
    A gasp came from Sara. “Do . . . do they know who they . . . were?”
    “Two of them were from out of state, the other was local. The ranger couldn’t give me any names, but suggested I check with the police in Jackson. I just haven’t had the chance to get there yet.”
    “You can use my truck if you need to, Adam,” Justin offered. “In fact, maybe I’ll just go with you.”
    “And leave the hospital?” Mrs. Morgan shook her head. “Don’t you have patients?”
    Justin gave a groan and leaned back. “Yeah, but I’m finding I don’t have much patience.”
    After Sara’s first question, she had fallen into a thoughtful silence and gave no answering sally to her brother’s last comment. Into the midst of the men’s talk about which truck Adam should use the following day, she said, “So, if they were related, and Amy managed to escape from it with the children, are they the only family? Or did the any surviving relatives think they were all killed in the slide?”
    “I suppose we won’t find the answer to that until we find out who the two people were.” Mr. Morgan replied quietly. “Why don’t we have a word of prayer for Adam’s venture and then get to bed. It is growing quite late.”

    Justin paced the limited floor space of his office, glancing down now and then at the time on his watch. Had Adam arrived in Jackson yet? Would he find the right people to talk to? Were those victims related to Amy? If they were, what a tragedy for all three! A new thought struck him. What if the two who had died had been the parents of Danny and Jenny? Could Amy be a cousin or maybe a step-sister? Why didn’t Adam call?
    “Morgan, what’s going on?”
    Justin halted his steps and looked towards the door. “Oh, good morning, Hollend. It’s nothing really. I’m just trying to make the time pass more quickly.”
    “For some particular reason?” Dr. Hollend stepped into the office and stood regarding his friend and fellow physician with a quizzical look.
    “Adam’s gone to Jackson.” He glanced at his watch again.
    “Christmas shopping?” Hollend’s casual tone had the effect he had planned.
    With a start Dr. Morgan looked back up and wet his lips. “No! He might have discovered something about Amy and the children.”
    “Really?” Dr. Hollend was all attention and Justin quickly told of Adam’s reason for making the long trip to the city. “That could turn into something, but, Morgan, what if it doesn’t? What if those two people had no connection with your trio, what then?”
    With a sigh, Justin gripped the back of his chair. “Then we’re back where we started.”
    “And if they are, or were, related, what are you going to do?”
    “Find out if there is any kin.”
    “Does Dr. Stern think her memory will come back?”
    “He doesn’t know. No one does with these things. But if it was an avalanche that sent her and the children to us, maybe the talk of it would trigger her memory.”
    For a moment both doctors were silent, thinking of the stranger with no remembrance of the past. Then Dr. Hollend spoke. His voice was low. “What a thing to remember suddenly. Morgan, is she a Christian?”
    Justin shrugged, his face grave. “I don’t know. She doesn’t know. But I have a feeling that whatever is keeping her from remembering is going to take faith and prayer to get through when she does remember.”
    “Then you don’t think it was just a simple thing like a bump on the head?”
    “No—from some of the things she said when she was sick and later mentioned, she had to get the children out of something dark or bad, but she couldn’t remember what.”
    “Well, my wife and I will keep praying for her. And all of you. But it’s time I made my rounds. Don’t wear the floorboards out, Morgan.” And with those parting words and a quick smile, Dr. Hollend disappeared down the hall.
    “I should get busy,” Justin muttered to himself, sitting down and pulling a file closer and flipping it open. “I do have work to do. But I wish I were in Jackson!”

    It was late afternoon. There had been no word from Adam and Justin felt as though he couldn’t wait any longer. “This is worse than Christmas mornings,” he complained to Dr. Hollend and Dr. Wright. “I’d wake up at three o’clock, often earlier, and I wasn’t allowed to wake anyone up until five-thirty! Those were the longest hours I ever spent until today.”
    “There’s no need of you staying around now,” Dr. Wright reminded him. “You’re off duty, you know.”
    “You’re right. Maybe a walk will calm me, not to mention make the time go by faster.” He picked up his coat and slipped his arms in. “Call me if you need me.”
    “Where will you be?”
    For a moment Dr. Morgan looked blank. “Um, either at my rooms or at Dad’s office. I’m not planning on going up to the cabin tonight unless I need to.”

So, what do you think?

Did you enjoy this part?

Do you want a copy of the finished book?

Do you listen to audio books?

P.S. If you have read any of the TCR books, I would really appreciate some reviews! There are still none on book 4. :) 

Dr. Morgan - Part 23

Good Morning Faithful Friday Fiction Fans!
And what a morning it is! The sun is coming up and it's supposed to be in the upper 60s today. I'm looking forward to getting outside for a bit later on.

I would have had this post up sooner, but I was listening to audio samples from someone who just contacted me about TCR-1. Yes, I finally got the first Triple Creek Ranch book listed on ACX yesterday and was praying for the right person to record it. We'll see what the audition sounds like. For those of you who are really hoping to be able to enjoy these books on audio, be praying. And those of you who aren't really into audio, can still pray too. :)

This week has been a good week for writing. Since just about everyone who voted has asked for "Dr. Morgan," that's what I worked on. I've been able to write every evening so far this week (except Sunday) and have already passed my 5k goal. In fact, I'm already at 6,617 words! And if I can write tonight and tomorrow night . . . :) I think I'm on the home stretch. When I get there, I always seem to be able to write faster and more at a time. Right now I'm about half way done with part 51. So, I'm guessing this book will be about as long as a TCR book. How does that sound? Keep praying.

And now the next part in this story. :)

Dr. Morgan

Part 23

    A few days passed and Amy seemed more content, more cheerful. Nothing had happened to upset or startle her and her smile was beginning to come readily when someone spoke to her. Though her leg was stronger, it still gave her twinges of pain now and then, at which times she was content to sit and read either to herself or to Danny who often demanded, “Read me!” When his demand wouldn’t work with Sara or Adam, he would dimple into a smile for Amy and say, “Read me peace.”
    Amy seemed unable to refuse his request and would read until her voice was gone or until the young tyrant felt the need for action and would run off.
    “Amy,” Sara chided one morning after Amy had read the same two stories to Danny ten times, “you spoil that boy. You can tell him no.”
    With a shake of her head, Amy turned to watch the sturdy figure drive his train recklessly down the track and into the tunnel. “Maybe I should, but I can’t seem to help it. I have a feeling of . . . well, I don’t know how to explain it. It’s almost like I’ve done the same thing hundreds of times before and it feels—right.”
    “You have read those books dozens of times at least. Aren’t you tired of the same ones? I am!” And Sara put the offending books back on the shelf. “I can’t stand to read the same one over and over like you do.”
    Amy didn’t reply. She knew she couldn’t make Sara understand the feeling she got from reading to Danny.
    The sudden barking of Captain out in the front caused both girls to turn and look out the large window. “That’s Justin’s truck! I wonder what he’s doing up here in the middle of the week?” Sara quickly stuffed the scarf she was knitting into a bag and disappeared down the hall with it.
    Still watching, Amy saw Adam come around the house and the two brothers stand talking. Neither had made a move towards the house before Sara came back.
    “The difficulties of making Christmas presents,” Sara remarked to Amy as she crossed the room to stand by the window, “is having to hide them every time that person shows up unexpectedly. Justin has always done that. Except,” she amended, “when he was in medical school. Here they come.”
    A few minutes later the brothers entered the room and Danny raced over to them shouting and waving his train. Tripping over his sturdy shoes, Justin caught him before he fell. “You wild Indian,” he laughed. “What do you have?”
    “Train!” Proudly Danny showed his engine by shoving it in Justin’s face. “Adam!” he shouted, squirming and wiggling in the arms that held him. “Play trains!”
    Setting the little tyke back on the floor, Justin laughed. “You’re in demand, brother.”
    “You’ll have to wait a few minutes, Danny,” Adam said in his calm, easy-going manner. “I have to fix the fire first.”
    At that, Danny forgot his train and ran over to watch. From the couch where she had been resting her leg, Amy looked on with a smile. Danny’s endless energy often left her tired, but it was a good tired, she decided. Suddenly she straightened.
    “Danny, no!”
    Amy’s words had been quick and firm. Danny jerked back his hand from the lovely glowing embers and turned to look at her. “Don’t touch,” was all she said, but Danny put his hands behind him and didn’t touch a thing until Adam was ready to play trains with him.
    “Well!” It was Sara’s surprised exclamation which broke the silence. “I thought you couldn’t say no to him. And I’ve never seen Danny obey so quickly when someone tells him no for the first or even the second time. How did you do it?”
    There was no reply from Amy for a moment. She herself was surprised and a little confused by the whole thing. She had never told Danny no in her life, had she? “I . . . I don’t know.”
    Justin must have read the look on her face, for when his sister started to say something else about it, he silenced her with a quiet, “Not now, Sare.” And it wasn’t until late that evening, after the little ones and Amy had retired to their beds that he brought it up again.
    “Adam, did you notice how quickly Danny obeyed Amy when she told him no?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I didn’t think Amy could tell Danny no.” Mrs. Morgan looked questioningly at her sons. “What happened?”
    Sara told the story quickly and added, “It reminded me of when Timothy tells Brandon not to touch something.”
    A log snapped and hissed in the fireplace. “Do you think it means anything, Justin?” Mr. Morgan turned from watching the flames to look at his elder son.
    “I’m not sure,” Justin began slowly. “It seems as though Danny knows he has to obey Amy, but that leaves the question of why.”
    “When they were out in the mountains?”
    “That doesn’t seem to fit, Sara,” Adam said slowly. “They might have been out there for days or a week, but the instant obedience seemed too engrained for so short a time.”
    “That leaves before they came to the mountains or at least before they got lost.” Sara tucked her feet up under her on the couch and folded her arms. “She isn’t their mother?”
    Justin shook his head. “No. If she was, Danny would have called her so, and Amy herself denied it. But she could be an older sister? A friend? A close relative?” With each suggestion, Justin looked around hoping for a nod or another suggestion.
    “I think I’d rule out friend.”
    “Why, Dad?”
    “How often do children obey a friend of the family as quickly as you said Danny obeyed Amy?"
    “Point taken. Sister? Relative?”
    “Probably a good guess. I did a little checking on Saturday,” Adam remarked.

What do you think is the right answer?

Did you enjoy this part?

What do you think Adam found out? 

Dr. Morgan - Part 22

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,
I'm not sure what's going on with my computer this morning, but I guess it wanted to sleep in because some things are being really slow. But I didn't think you'd want that to stop me from posting a new part of "Dr. Morgan." :)

We've had spring this week! Monday it was in the 60s and Tuesday it got to 74º! But there's a chance of snow tomorrow. :P Such silly weather.

This week has been busy with my grandparents coming down to see the new baby, a political meeting last night, trying to catch up on some things, writing, and cutting hundreds of flannel quilt squares for "Blanket Day" which is tomorrow. (Several girls from church are coming over and we are going to sew flannel ragged quilts for children in need.)

My writing has been going well. I think I can reach my weekly goal of 5,000 words this week. It has been fun to have a goal and to meet it each week. At least so far. If I can keep this up, I might be able to actually get the rest of "Dr. Morgan" written in just four more weeks. Should I try? I'm putting a poll up on the side and I hope you will all vote on what you think I should write next month.

And now, the next part of the story so many of you have been waiting for . . .

Dr. Morgan

Part 22

    The family was almost ready to sit down for supper when the front door opened and Adam’s voice was heard talking to Captain.
    “Hurry up, Adam,” Sara called, stepping from the kitchen into the hall. “Supper is ready.”
    “Be right there.”

    After supper the family gathered in the front room where Mr. Morgan, Adam and Sara helped Danny set up an elaborate train track for an old wooden train which used to be Justin’s. Firewood was stacked up for a mountain and a footstool became a tunnel. Jenny was also interested in the train building, but her interests lay more in the destruction of the tracks. At last Mrs. Morgan carried her off to the kitchen where she was allowed to play with the pots and pans.
    Amy, still pleased with her success in the cookie icing department, watched with interest the building of the tracks and at last suggested they use an old shoe box for a train shed. A box was quickly found and soon Amy was busy cutting out windows and a door which opened and shut. With this new addition Danny was pleased and spent at least ten minutes opening and shutting the door, driving his train in and out and looking through the windows.
    “Honey,” Mrs. Morgan said some time later, stepping into the room with Jenny in her arms, “do you know how late it is?”
    Glancing up at the clock on the mantel, Mr. Morgan looked astonished. “I had no idea it was so late. Well—“ He stood up and brushed his hands on his pant legs. “Let’s have an evening song, some prayer and then call it a night.”
    Only one song was sung that night and when Amy heard it was her favorite of the evening hymns, she shyly joined in.
    For some time after she had gone to her room, Amy sat in the chair beside the window and gazed up at the bright moon and twinkling stars. Everything was so quiet and peaceful. She thought back over the day and wondered if perhaps, just perhaps, it might be possible to live a life in the here and now instead of trying to force the past into a mind that didn’t want it. “Dr. Morgan said my memory might come back, but it won’t help to worry and fret over it. Well,” she sighed and rose slowly to her feet, “I’ll try to do what he said. But it won’t be easy, I’m afraid.”
    She crawled into bed, settling herself so that her face was in a pool of moonlight, drew a long, deep sigh, then relaxed and lay blinking in the soft glow until her eyes closed of themselves and she fell asleep.

    There was a change in the atmosphere of the Morgan home the following morning when Amy limped into the dining room. The table showed signs of breakfast, but no one was around. Had she slept longer that she thought? Had something happened? As the last idea entered her mind, her muscles tensed and she looked wildly around the room. Gasping for breath, she gripped the back of a chair.
    “Amy? What’s wrong? Here, sit down.” A chair was pulled out and Amy felt herself gently forced into it. It was then that she noticed Mr. Morgan’s concerned face looking anxiously down at her. “What is wrong, Amy?” he asked gently, seeing her start to relax.
    “I . . . I don’t know. I didn’t see anyone and . . . I thought something had happened, and I guess I panicked. I . . . I . . .” A shudder swept over her slight frame and she closed her eyes momentarily.
    Mr. Morgan placed a gentle hand on her arm. “Everything is just fine. Today is Sunday and the others are getting ready for church. Mom is going to stay here with you today as Justin has forbidden you to go out just yet.”
    A slight look of surprise swept over Amy’s face. “Sunday? I—“ The sentence broke off suddenly. She thought she heard the deep tones of the church bells ringing from the tower of the old stone . . . It was gone. The sound, the picture, she shook her head with a sigh. “It’s gone.” Her words were listless.
    “What’s gone, Amy?”
    “Church bells ringing, but the picture is gone.”
    Mr. Morgan frowned slightly. “You could picture the bells?”
    “No, I could hear them.” She put her hand to her head as though it ached. Why had the bells been ringing? Was it Sunday? Or were they ringing for— something else?
    The sound of steps and voices were heard on the walkway above and Danny cried down, “Hi Grandpa!”
    Mr. Morgan cheerily returned the greeting and then said softly, bending down so Amy could hear his voice, “I wouldn’t fret over it, Amy; they’ll ring again for you.”
    All was confusion for a few minutes before those headed for church were out the door leaving Mrs. Morgan and Amy alone. A hearty breakfast was fixed for Amy and she ate it without much enthusiasm and almost in complete silence. The echo of the bells seemed to repeat themselves over and over and over in her mind.
    It was a long morning for Amy with her usual distractions gone. Mrs. Morgan tried to interest her in talking, or reading and Amy did her best to appear interested, but it wasn’t until the others arrived back home that she was able, for a time, to forget the bells.
    “Amy,” Mrs. Morgan said, as Amy finished washing the last of the lunch dishes, “everyone takes a nap on Sunday afternoon. You seem tired today, why don’t you go ahead and lie down. Things will get lively later.”
    Nodding, Amy dried her hands and limped slowly from the kitchen, down the hall and into the cozy room she was growing to love. She felt worn out. But, as she closed her eyes, she heard the echoes.
    Dong. Dong. Dong.

Did you like it?

Any ideas about Amy and the children?

Did you vote on the side poll?

Will you be back if I post another part next week?

Dr. Morgan - Part 21

Rainy Greetings Faithful Friday Fiction Fans!
The sound of a steady rain pattering on the roof and skylight have been so delightful this morning. There is a bluejay somewhere outside in the dark greeting the morning, but I can't hear any other birds. :) The temperature has dropped and it looks like we're going to have some cooler weather today. Yay! I am ready to put on long sleeves.

It was a good week. Hope you enjoy this glimpse of it. :)
Saturday––I didn't go out early to set up at Farm Girl Fest since I was fighting a bad cough and cold. But later that morning I did go out and spent the rest of the day there. It was so much fun! I got to spend hours with my "Baby Doll" who is now three. She was so excited to see me. We headed home around 5:30.
Sunday––We went to Sunday School, but I had to leave before it was over because I couldn't keep from coughing. I don't know about you, but when I have a cough, it always is worse if I'm trying not to cough. :P As soon as I got outside it was much better. My sister and I had to go out to Farm Girls and set up our booth before noon, so we didn't get to stay for church. The weather was much warmer than on Saturday and we got to visit with some friends we hardly get to see. :)
Oh, yes, some of my books did sell and so did some of the bags we had made. My sister sold quite a few flexie clips.
Monday––It was nice to stay home again. I did a lot of catching up on things and wrote in the afternoon/evening.
Tuesday––I worked on a knitting project and wrote. (Yes, I did do other things, but those were the main things.) I was able to get 4 parts of TCR-4 put together. You see, I already had some written. It was fun to see so many more parts suddenly ready to be proofed. :)
Wednesday––I began working on the layout for "The Graham Quartet and the Mysterious Strangers." The goal is to have this book published before Christmas along with TCR-4. I've never published two books so close together. Should be fun! Writing wasn't working so well on Wednesday. I only got a little more than a hundred words written. :P
Thursday––Much better day for writing though I was beginning to wonder if I'd get more than the 500 I got done before supper. I couldn't think of anything! After talking to my sister, who didn't have a clue what I could write, I tried again and the words came. I think some of my readers were praying too. :) I was able to get 2,000 words written yesterday! Now I only have 10-12 parts left to write!

Okay, okay, here is what you have been waiting for. Well, hold on just a minute more. This is the last part of Dr. Morgan that I have written. So, I am open for any and all ideas! If you have ideas, suggestions, things you want to know, possible things to happen, let me know! You can leave a comment or send them to me using the Contact Author forum on the side bar. I'm planning on taking the month of January to work on this story. I know, I know, you are all going "January! That's months away!" Yep, it is, but I don't see how I can fit it in before then. Not with finishing up TCR-4, writing enough short stories to last until next year, writing my annual Christmas story, and perhaps a Thanksgiving one. Also January is the month I've written most of Dr. Morgan in, so I thought it was appropriate.
So send me your ideas so they can simmer in my brain for a while. :) And now enjoy!

Dr. Morgan

Part 21

    “The second thing you can do is to keep cheerful. Giving way to despair and anxiety is not going to help you at all. Another thing is to eat.” He frowned sternly though his eyes smiled. “I heard that you failed to eat a good breakfast this morning or much of a supper last night. That will never do. If I had wanted you on a starvation diet, I certainly wouldn’t have sent you up here!”
    Amy blushed slightly. “I—I’ll try to do better,” she promised.
    “Good. Have you tried any of those cookies yet?” When Amy shook her head, Justin sprang to his feet. “I’ll be right back. Stay where you are.”
    From the couch, Amy watched him disappear into the dining room and heard a low murmur of voices and some laughter. She didn’t have time to wonder what he was doing for in another moment he was back with several warm cookies on a plate.
    “There you are!” Justin grinned, handing her the plate. “A sample of each one. You enjoy those while I have a look at your leg.” His voice suddenly changed to that of Dr. Morgan and he asked, “Has it been bothering you at all?”

    Later, after a hearty lunch was enjoyed, Justin leaned back in his chair and remarked, “Well, I’d better be heading back to town. Thanks for lunch, Mom.” He stood up, hesitated, and then said, “On second thought, if you’re planning on making more cookies this afternoon, I could stick around here and taste test some more.”
    Mrs. Morgan laughed. “If you stick around, you’ll eat all the cookies.”
    “Can I help it if you make the best cookies anywhere?”
    At that Sara straightened in her chair and retorted, “I’ll have you know that I made the cookies this morning.”
    “But they were from Mom’s recipes,” countered Justin with a grin.
    “They were from a cookbook.”
    “Well, then I’d better have a few more just to make sure they really are good,” he teased.
    “Justin Morgan, you stay away from those cookies!” Sara called, jumping up to give chase as her older brother disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Morgan laughing behind them.
    “I thought those two had grown up,” Mr. Morgan chuckled. “But apparently it was only a show.”
    Amy had watched in silence. This was certainly a strange family.

    After Jenny and Danny were put down for their afternoon naps, Danny going reluctantly and insisting in the midst of his yawns that he wasn’t tired, Sara mixed up the icing and brought the cookies out to the dining room table. Amy looked at the piles of gingerbread men and gingerbread ladies in amazement.
    “What will you do with all those cookies?” she asked.
    “We’ll give many away, but you’d be surprised at how many Adam and Justin can devour. And when Heather and Timothy come over, well, let’s just say we may have to make more before Christmas.”
    Amy blinked in wonder and reached for an icing bag.
    “Do you mind if we put some Christmas music on?” Sara asked a moment later.
    “No.” Amy had filled her bag and placed a gingerbread man on the table before her. Still thinking about how many cookies there were, she gently squeezed the bag and began to ice. Finishing the first one, she reached for a gingerbread lady and quickly gave her a face, an apron and shoes.
    “Oh, Amy!” Sara’s gasp of surprise caused Amy to look up startled. “Those are so cute! I never can make mine look like anything but a mess.”
    Amy looked down at the two cookies. “I wasn’t even thinking about them,” she admitted. “I don’t know where I learned to do anything like that, but I think I can do it again.”
    Sara watched as Amy bent over another cookie and soon had it transformed into a gingerbread man. “Do you like doing it?” she asked as Amy started on the second girl. When she nodded, Sara asked, hesitantly, “Would you mind working on them while I mix up a different kind of cookie? I’d help, but mine never look good and . . .” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “To tell you the truth, I hate icing cookies.”
    There was a smile on Amy’s face as she replied, “I don’t mind. I think this is fun.”
    With a sigh of relief, Sara hurried back into the kitchen, humming along with the Christmas song.
    Left to her task, Amy became absorbed in each cookie. After doing a few exactly like the first ones she had done, she grew more adventuresome, adding a pocket on that one, a necklace on the next, cowboy boots and a collared shirt on another. She made some in nightclothes with their eyes shut, a few with funny expressions. On finding one with an arm broken off, Amy stuck it on with icing and finished it by making the arm look like it was in a sling. Thus inspired, she did a few others with bandages and chuckled softly at the result. When Sara saw them, she burst into a merry peal of laughter.
    “Oh, Amy!” she giggled, “we’ll have to save those and take them to the hospital staff.” She laughed again. “Won’t Justin and the others enjoy them!”
    The afternoon passed quickly, and Amy was surprised when Mrs. Morgan brought the little ones downstairs after their naps. By then the gingerbread men were all finished, and Amy was washing dishes for Sara as she finished the last of the cookies.
    “Well, it looks like you two have been busy,” Mrs. Morgan smiled, looking into the kitchen.
    Sara glanced up. “Go look at the cookies on the table.” She nodded towards the dining room. “Amy did them all.”
    A sound of amazement came from the next room and then Mrs. Morgan exclaimed, “Amy, you are a wonder. How ever did you make them?”
    Slightly embarrassed, Amy shrugged. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But it was fun.”

Did you like this part?

Any ideas? Questions?

Comments or thoughts?

Be sure you let me know.

Dr. Morgan - Part 20

Hello FFFs,
I hope you all are feeling better than I am right now. I'm fighting one of the worst colds I ever remember having. And I am supposed to be out at Farm Girl Fest this weekend. We'll see if I end up making it there.

In spite of my cough and earache and general congestion, I have gotten some written of TCR-4. I ended up having to re-figure some parts and put them in a different order and I still have to finish going back through and adding some things, but it's coming along. :)

Yesterday it rained nearly all day and today it's supposed to be sunny with a high of 61º! Yay! We really haven't had much fall weather. At least not for a while.

Okay, I'm going to give you Dr. Morgan this week and I have one more part written. Would you like that part next week or would you rather wait longer? Let me know because I don't know what I'm going to post next. I could post part of "Ria and the Gang." The sequel to "Home Fires" which never gotten written. Well, some stories got written, just not all.

So, Enjoy!

Dr. Morgan - Part 20

    It was late morning, and the winter sun was peeking through a partially overcast sky at the snowy world. A bitterly cold wind was blowing in fitful gusts, as though complaining that the sun had come out, as Justin brought his truck to a stop before the Morgan home and climbed out. Attuned as he was to details, he noticed at once that his dad’s truck was gone and wondered if Adam had taken it, since he had just gotten off the phone with his dad before heading up. Coming up the cleared walk, Justin glanced around. “Captain must be inside or Adam took him with him,” he mused, not seeing the family dog anywhere. When he opened the door, the mouthwatering smell of Christmas cookies caused him to sniff with delight.
    “I’m hungry already,” he called, hanging up his coat and taking off his overshoes. It was a familiar call, one which he used to say every time he entered the house and something smelled good.
    A laugh sounded from the kitchen and his mother’s voice invited, “Come and taste one.”
    Justin wasted no time in accepting the invitation and, after his third cookie, asked, “Where is Amy?”
    After shutting the oven door on another sheet of cookies, Sara swung Jenny up onto her hip as she answered, “She was reading in the living room the last I checked. She said she’d help ice and decorate the gingerbread men later.”
    “I help too,” Danny grinned up at Justin before popping a piece of cookie dough into his mouth.
    Justin laughed. “Well, surely you don’t need me to taste test for you with such a willing and irrepressible one right here.”
    “Oh, Danny!” Sara and Mrs. Morgan groaned together, as Justin slipped from the room.
    Finding Amy was easy. She was sitting on the couch before the fire with a book in her hand, but she wasn’t reading.
    “Good morning, Amy,” Justin greeted his patient, sitting down in a nearby chair and eyeing her keenly.
    Slowly Amy looked up, her face sober, her eyes somewhat red. She didn’t reply, but dropped her eyes back to the floor.
    “How do you like it up here?” Justin asked casually.
    “It’s not working. I can’t remember anything!” And Amy pressed her trembling lips together.
    Leaning forward, Justin shook his head. “Amy,” he chided, “you haven’t even been out of the hospital for a week. You can’t expect instant results.”
    “But I can’t remember.”
    “I know. But you can live each day as it comes and move forward in life.”
    “Why can’t I remember?” She looked up with pleading eyes brimming with tears. “Why?”
    Dr. Morgan felt a deep sympathy for the girl and hesitated in his answer. He could sense she was fighting the urge to panic, and he knew sympathy would only make things worse. Therefore, his voice was light as he replied, “You don’t want the scientific name for your condition, I hope! In plain English, something happens to the person, most likely a blow to the head of some sort, causing a temporary block in the part of the brain affecting memory. Some times this block only lasts a short time, say a few days to a few weeks. The person can remember things before that time and then there is a blank. Other times the block, like yours, shuts off all former memory leaving you with a ‘clean slate’ so to speak.”
    “When will it come back?” whispered Amy tearfully.
    “That is a question the experts are still puzzling their brains over. No one is quite sure. Sometimes these things last only a few hours, sometimes days, and sometimes years.”
    Amy gave a gasp. “I can’t live like this for years! You’ve got to do something to fix it!”
    “Amy,” Justin’s voice was quiet but steady, “if there was a way to bring it back for sure, believe me, I would do it. But that’s another mystery about the human brain. Sometimes it’s a tiny thing that triggers a memory and suddenly the person remembers everything. Other times it is a slow, gradual process with bits of memory coming now and then. But no matter what happens with you,” he paused and looked directly at the girl, “if your memory returns soon or if it takes a few years or if it never returns, you aren’t alone. The best thing you can do for yourself right now is to decide that you won’t give up. Jesus Christ is ready to help you each day, if you will let Him.”
    For a few minutes Amy was silent.
    Justin, watching her somewhat anxiously, saw her shoulders droop and the book fall unheeded from her hand. Just as he was about to speak, Amy stirred.
    “Isn’t there any medicine that might help me remember?”
    “No.”
    “Isn’t there anything I can do to make my memory come back faster?” There was a desperate pleading in the tones.
    “Perhaps. I don’t know if it will bring back your memory any quicker, but I do know it will affect you for good if you will do it.”
    Quickly Amy straightened. “Tell me, Doctor, what is it? I’ll do anything!”
    “First off, you are to keep yourself busy and fill your mind with good things so there isn’t much time to sit around and wonder and worry and grow upset. Help around the house when you are a little stronger, read, play with Danny and Jenny. There are probably many things you know how to do, if you stop trying to remember how to do them.”
    Amy shook her head. “I didn’t even know how to set a table last night.”
    “That’s probably because you stopped to think and then let yourself panic instead of asking for a little help. My mom and sister want to help you if you need it, Amy. And so do the rest of the family. But you have to be willing to receive help.” He paused to let his words sink in before going on.

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Dr. Morgan - Part 19

Good Morning FFFs,
Well, I'm going to try to give you the next part of Dr. Morgan. We'll see if my computer lets me. You see, my computer is dying and will only let me do somethings. I think it will let me open the next part of the story so I can copy and paste it in.

This week we have stayed at home and it's been so nice! I've gotten to work on things that needed worked on and the week has flown by. I have even been able to get back into writing again!!! Yay! After about three weeks of not writing TCR-4, I've gotten two parts written. I'm still not very far into the story, but I think you'll like it. :)
What would you all say if I published "The Graham Quartet and the Mysterious Strangers?" Would anyone be interested in having it in book form? And do I have any readers out there who would like to try their hand at illustrating? If so, let me know at readanotherpage [at] gmail [dot] com.

Before I give you the story, here's one more quote from Doodle Bug you can chuckle over.
He was sitting at the table eating a snack of "yogrit" last week and says to me, "I put salt and pepper in my yogrit. It taste yummy!" A few minutes later after he had eaten a bite or two: "I not want to eat it." :) So the next time you think of adding salt and pepper to your yogurt, just remember Doodle Bug has already tried it and, though the initial reaction was delight, reality soon hit and you may not want to eat it either. :)

Dr. Morgan

Part 19

    Limping quickly from the dining room, while tears ran down her cheeks, the troubled girl fled to her room where she collapsed onto her bed and sobbed. Up until that time her forgotten memory had been troubling, but now she felt helpless and alone.
    Back in the kitchen, Mrs. Morgan had heard the cry and hurried into the dining room only to find Amy gone. A quick glance at the unset table, and Mrs. Morgan was sure of what had happened. Stepping into the front room where the rest of the family was gathered, she said, “Adam, Sara, will you please finish supper and see that the table gets set?”
    It was obvious that all had seen Amy’s distress, for Mr. Morgan, Sara and Adam all looked troubled. “Of course, Mom,” Adam replied quietly, standing up to take the spoon from his mother’s hand. “Come on, Sara.”
    With many anxious glances down the hall after her mother, Sara slowly followed her brother into the other room, having set Jenny on the couch to read stories with Danny.
    Pausing in the open doorway of Amy’s room, Mrs. Morgan looked with tender eyes at the sobbing girl on the bed. She was so young and looked so helpless at that moment. “Amy,” she said softly, stepping in and sitting on the edge of the bed.
    Amy, on hearing her name spoken and feeling the gentle touch of a hand, wailed, “Why can’t I remember?”
    “I don’t know, Child,” Mrs. Morgan answered softly. “I don’t know.” Tenderly she stroked the light hair, praying inwardly for wisdom and comfort for this girl with only a name. Unconsciously she began humming one of the evening hymns. It was the tune Heather had first sung to Amy weeks before and the melody soothed her now as it did then. Gradually her sobs lessened and she lay quiet and still. So still was she that Mrs. Morgan wondered if she had fallen asleep, but when she rose and began to spread a blanket over her, Amy stirred.
    “I’m not asleep,” she said, her voice muffled by the pillow.
    “Are you going to come eat now? Supper is probably about ready.”
    “I don’t feel hungry,” was the whispered reply.
    Mrs. Morgan patted her shoulder. “All right, Dear. Come when you are ready. And remember this, we want you.”
    There was no reply and Mrs. Morgan left the room wondering if she had done all she could.

    Supper was nearly over when Amy appeared. Traces of tears were still on her face, but no one said a word as Adam, rising with his customary good manners, pulled out her chair for her. She didn’t eat much and scarcely said a word all evening. When it was time for the evening hymns, she remained sitting in her chair and listened, a troubled look on her face.
    After the little ones and Amy had gone to bed, the rest of the Morgan family remained sitting around the fire.
    “What are we going to tell Justin when he calls?” Sara asked softly. “He hasn’t called all day so I expect he’ll be calling any time now.”
    Mrs. Morgan sighed and looked across at her husband. “I don’t know. Perhaps he should come up and see her.”
    “What upset her this evening?” Mr. Morgan asked.
    “She didn’t know how to set the table and I think it was the last straw. Her only cry when I went to her was ‘why can’t I remember?’ I wanted to cry myself.”
    Just then the phone rang and Mr. Morgan rose quickly to answer it. “Hello. We were wondering when you’d get around to calling. . . . I see. Well, . . . no, she went to bed with the little ones tonight. . . . Justin, let me switch phones. It’ll be easier to talk in the office. I’ll put your mother on while I head to the office.”
    On hearing this, Mrs. Morgan rose and took the phone her husband handed her. “Hello, Son. Was the hospital busy today? . . . Oh, I see. . . . Yes, we decorated yesterday during the storm. . . . She was just fine, but there’s Dad. Good-bye. . . . I love you too.”
    Returning to the front room, Mrs. Morgan settled herself once more in her chair. The room was quiet save for the soft sounds of the fire and the low murmur of Mr. Morgan’s deep voice in the office.
    Sara, curled up in one corner of the couch, frowned over at Adam as he absentmindedly straightening the fringe on the rug. “Why do you think she was fine yesterday, Mom, but tonight—” she didn’t finish, but looked at her mother with a puzzled face.
    “I don’t know for sure. It could be that we kept her too busy yesterday to try to think and tonight, well, tonight she tried doing something alone for the first time since she’s been sick and found out she didn’t know how.”
    “I can’t imagine what it must be like to have done something hundreds of times in my life and then suddenly realize that I didn’t know how to do it any longer.” Adam’s voice was thoughtful.
    “Isn’t there anything we can do?” Sara wondered.
    Neither Adam nor Mrs. Morgan had an answer, and all sat in thoughtful silence until Mr. Morgan once more joined them.
    “What did Justin say?” Mrs. Morgan looked up to ask.
    “He’ll be up sometime tomorrow. An ambulance is coming to transport one of the patients to Jackson in the morning and he thought after that he’d be able to get away.” He yawned. “I think I’m about ready to turn in.”
    “Dad.”
    Mr. Morgan turned from the fire which he was carefully banking for the night and looked at his son questioningly. “Yes?”
    “Can I use the truck tomorrow?”
    “All day?”
    “Maybe. You aren’t going to want it?”
    Mr. Morgan shook his head. He could tell his youngest son had an idea in his mind, but until he was ready to share it, his lips would remained closed.

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Dr. Morgan - Part 18

Well Hello FFFs,
I realized that today was Friday and I wasn't sure what to post. I wanted to get a 4th of July story written and hoped it would be several parts long, but I haven't had any chance to write for a few weeks. So, I had to figure out what I could post. Since I don't have time to go through all my stories to see which is the shortest one, I thought I'd just give you a "Dr. Morgan." I know you are probably all really sad that you get that story again. :P

I could tell you my week was busy, but I think I always tell you that. Let's just mention that we are babysitting my 7-year-old niece, my 6-year-old and 3-year-old nephews since Tuesday morning. Life is different when you have three young ones running around. For some reason you don't seem to be able to get done all the usual things. Doodle Bug (age 3) is always saying something funny. We were reading a train book and he was pretending he and I were driving it. I asked him where we were going and he wasn't sure. I made suggestions of different places and states and when I said "Wisconsin" he shook his head and said, "Nope, we can't go dere." "Why?" I asked. His reply wasn't what I expected. "Cause there's too many people dere. My cousins are all dere." :P Silly boy.

We've played outside in the water, we've swung on the swings, rode bikes, played dress-up, read books, played with legos, made and flew paper airplanes, and sent them all to bed tired.
Today they get to help us clean house. Should be interesting. :)

I am hoping to get back into writing next week. TCR-4 is calling me and I want to work on it! The illustrations for book 3 are coming along well and I can't wait to get it published.

By the way, if any of my readers are going to be at the OCEAN conference in OR, my Triple Creek Ranch books are going to be at the Homeschool Authors booth.

But now that I've been distracted several times by Goofball wanting to talk, I should just get the part posted and get on with the morning. After I figure out which part I need to post.

Part 18

    What good things could she fill it with if she couldn’t remember anything? Suddenly part of a verse from one of the evening hymns floated through her mind.
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
    Then another phrase:
    Thro’ clouds and sunshine, oh abide with me!
    Perhaps that was what Adam was thinking about. “Thro’ clouds and sunshine,” she mused. “I feel like I’m in a cloud or maybe a fog. Abide with me. I wonder what I thought about prayer before—well, before all this happened. Dr. Morgan said he believes in prayer, and his father sounds like he believes it. I suspect Mrs. Morgan and Sara believe in it too. What do I believe? Oh!” she turned restlessly. “Why can’t I remember anything?”
    For some time it seemed that no matter which direction Amy tried to turn her thoughts, she always ended up with the same cry, “Why can’t I remember?” At last she fell asleep, determined to ask Adam about what he meant in the morning.

    A snowstorm was blowing down across the mountains when Amy awoke the following day. She felt tired and wondered at first if she should just remain in bed, but at last, feeling that doing anything besides remaining alone was preferable, she rose.
    It was later than the previous morning and breakfast had been eaten by the rest of the family when Amy at last entered the dining room where Mrs. Morgan was seated. Mrs. Morgan rose with a smile. “Good morning, Amy. You just have a seat and I’ll have breakfast ready for you in no time.”
    “I’m not very hungry,” Amy said, sinking down onto a chair.
    “That’s what you said yesterday, Dear,” Mrs. Morgan laughed. “We’ll just see if you can’t put away another hearty breakfast.”
    With a sigh Amy leaned an elbow on the table and her chin on her hand as she stared out at the swirling, blowing snow.
    “Good morning.” The quiet greeting startled Amy and she turned to see Adam coming from the front room. “It sure is snowing outside.”
    Here was her chance, Amy decided, and she blurted out, “What good things do I fill it with?”
    Adam didn’t have to ask what she was talking about, but simply replied, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Adam quoted the words in his quiet manner and added, “Fill your mind with those things and the rest will take care of itself.”
    Amy didn’t reply, and Adam, picking up what he had come after, returned to the other room. Thoughtfully Amy ate her breakfast, not noticing what she ate or the somewhat troubled glances Mrs. Morgan  sent her way.
    Into the quiet dining room came Sara’s eager voice, “Mom, Dad has the boxes down!”
    Smiling, Mrs. Morgan called back, “Wait a few more minutes, Sara, and let Amy finish her breakfast.” Then, turning to her young guest, she added, “We’re going to decorate today, except for the tree, and Sara is about as impatient at nineteen as she used to be at nine.”
    “Decorate?”
    “For Christmas. You can help too, if you promise you won’t wear yourself out.”
    When Mrs. Morgan and Amy entered the living room ten minutes later, they discovered the rest of the family waiting for them. The bustle and activity which followed was something Amy never forgot. Soon she found herself settled in a chair untangling Christmas tree lights while she watched the others unpack ornaments, bows and garlands. Every little while Sara would sit down before the piano and dash off a few bars of a Christmas carol which set everyone to singing. Even Danny and Jenny were not forgotten, and Jenny happily stood by a chair or a table, hanging on to a string of jingle bells and giggling every time she shook them, while Danny followed Adam and Mr. Morgan around, cheerfully getting in their way and not caring in the least if he was nearly stepped on numerous times. Sitting there watching the excitement, Amy wondered what it would have been like to have grown up in a family as happy and pleasant as this one must have been. Reaching the end of her string of lights, she leaned back in her chair, content to watch and listen.
    Everyone was so busy that day that Amy had no time to sit and wonder about her life, and when she went to bed that night, her mind was so full of the pleasant things of the day that the troublesome thoughts of the previous night were forgotten.
    The following day was much the same and Amy, feeling stronger and a little more sure of herself, asked to be allowed to help with supper. Mrs. Morgan accepted her offer with a smile.
    To Amy that was a new experience. She had no knowledge of how to do anything, but, once Mrs. Morgan showed her how to peel the potatoes, Amy felt as though she must have done the same things before, for her hands moved with the speed and ease of someone quite used to the task. “It’s strange isn’t it,” she remarked thoughtfully. “I couldn’t have told you how to peel a potato but now that I’m doing it, I feel as though I’ve done it many times, only I don’t know where or when.”
    Mrs. Morgan nodded sympathetically, but said not a word.
    When the potatoes were bubbling in the water, Amy gathered plates, glasses, napkins and silverware in preparation for setting the table. Humming a Christmas carol, she carried the items to the table and then stopped short. A sudden feeling of panic and confusion swept over her and she cried out, “I can’t do it!”

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Dr. Morgan - Part 17

Hello FFFs,
The sun is out this morning and everything seems to fairly sparkle in the light of the new day. Yesterday it was cloudy and rainy, but the clear sky this morning bids promise of a lovely day of sunshine and warmer weather. Everything is green around here.

I wanted to tell each of you who commented last week thank you. I really enjoyed the comments and learning where some more of my readers were from. I hope you all enjoyed the last parts of the Graham Quartet. If you get any idea for other stories about the Graham Quartet, let me know. You can either leave a comment or drop me an e-mail at: readanotherpage [at] gmail [dot] com

This week has made me a year older. :) But what did I do?
Sat.—My brother and Doodle Bug (2 1/2 years old) came over for a little while. Doodle Bug got to stay here while his dad went somewhere. He and I were playing and in the kitchen when he heard we were going to have ice cream for Grammy and Beh Beh's birthday. His response very enthusiastically: "Oh, that will be good!" :)
Easter Sunday— Since there was only going to be one other family at our church, we both decided to go visit another church. It was one we had both gone to years before and many of our friends were going there now. It was good to get to see old friends again.
Monday—Our friends from down the street (my best friends' family) came down to visit a little. My sister's best friend growing up was visiting with her children and my best friend who got married to a Canadian last spring was also visiting, so it was good to see them. It was only the girls who came down. Then that evening my brother and sis-in-law and the kids came over to celebrate my mom's and my birthday. That was fun. :)
Tuesday—I got a year older. Strange how that happens so quickly. I also got taken out to lunch by my best friends and the husband. :) Then we headed off. It was a lovely day, and we enjoyed our time together.
Wednesday—I made some corrections in TCR-3 and worked on some other things.
Thursday—I was able to finish re-reading TCR-3. Now I need to divide it into chapters and get it to my illustrator and let a few people test read it. If you ever want to test read one of my books, let me know. I like having different people reading different books. Last night was slightly chilly, but my best friends were willing to stroll around the blocks with me. :)

And now I don't know what to post. I was going to let you all decide what you wanted to read, but I had 4 votes for Dr. Morgan and 4 votes for something else. :P Not very nice of you. :( Hmm, what do I want to post this morning? Let me go look.
Well, here you go.

Dr. Morgan

Part 17

    “Third,” and Mr. Morgan smiled, “if you keep coming up to the house, your colleagues might decide you can’t handle a hospital without running home every day to talk to your parents.”
    “What? Is Justin talking about running away again?” Dr. Wright knocked lightly on the open door and stepped inside. “First he won’t leave the hospital and now all he wants to do is run away. I saw Mr. Morgan, you should have taught your son some responsibility.”
    Mr. Morgan laughed with Dr. Wright as he stood to shake hands with him. “I’m just trying to convince him to stick around here for a time and see if he won’t like it.”
    “If he’d give himself half a chance,” Dr. Wright grinned, “he might find he wants to become a doctor after all.”
    Leaning back in his chair, Justin just shook his head with a smile. It had been a slow morning at the hospital which had given Dr. Morgan plenty of time to wonder about Amy and time to talk with his father.
    Before anything else could be said, Philips burst into the office. “Dr. Morgan, Dr. Wright, we just got a call. There’s been a skying accident at the lodge and it sounds pretty bad. There could be half a dozen victims brought in!”
    Instantly Dr. Justin Morgan was on his feet fully alert and ready for action. “Wright, you’d better see that the operating teams are standing by. Philips, alert Dr. Hollend and Dr. Douglas. You’ll probably have to call Douglas as I think he’s already left. I’ll make sure Mr. Thatcher is ready for x-rays.”
    Dr. Wright was already out the door before Dr. Morgan had finished speaking and Philips hardly waited for the end before he too disappeared. Just before Dr. Morgan left his office, he remembered his father and turned. “Thanks for coming by, Dad. I’ll probably get up there in a day or two. Call me about anything. Sorry, I’ve got to rush.” He held out his hand.
    Mr. Morgan gave it a quick, firm grip and said, “We will, but don’t worry if we don’t call every day. Now get ready to help your next patients.”

    The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity in the small town hospital. The skying accident had brought over a dozen injured persons to the hospital for treatment though several were only minor injuries and could be sent home after treatment. It wasn’t until late that night that Dr. Morgan found himself standing in the front lobby with Dr. Douglas.
    “We haven’t had this many patients brought in on one day the entire time the hospital's been open,” Dr. Douglas remarked, rubbing the back of his neck.”
    “That’s for sure. Well, I think Hollend and I can handle them for the night. You and Wright can head home. We’ll call you if you’re needed.”
    “If who’s needed?” Dr. Wright asked, sinking down into one of the chairs. He looked tired. Never before had he had to perform so many surgeries in an afternoon.
    Justin smiled. “I was just telling Douglas that you and he were going home for the night. Hollend and I’ll take over here.”
    “If you say so, I won’t argue,” Dr. Wright yawned.
    “Good,” Justin said, slapping his colleague lightly on the shoulder. “Then get your coat and get out of here. Both of you,” he added, looking over at Dr. Douglas who was standing in a daze before the door. He’d been on duty the night before and hadn’t had a chance to catch even forty winks before Philip’s call had brought him back to the hospital.

    As Dr. Morgan sat in his office having checked the patients and offered to take the first shift so Dr. Hollend could get some sleep, his mind went over each patient and their injuries. “Only one concussion,” he mussed, “but enough broken bones and internal injuries. And then there’s Lincoln Kern with that back injury. He may have to be transported to a larger, more special equipped hospital. I think I’ll call Dr. Stern in the morning.”
    The thought of the hospital’s consulting physician brought Amy back to his mind and again he wondered if her memory would ever come back. “I wonder if it’s a physical block that is causing her condition or a mental one. Could it be that there is something or perhaps more than one thing in her past which are so disturbing that her mind is blocking them? If that is the case, what is it going to take to remove that block?” For some time he sat unmoving, his brain busy analyzing every angle and detail that he could think of or remember about his interaction with the unknown girl.
    “Dr. Morgan?”
    Justin’s thoughts quickly returned and he sat up. “Yes?”
    One of the nurses was standing in the doorway. “Mrs. Brewer is in a lot of pain and very restless. Her temperature is up and her pulse is fast.”
    Dr. Morgan stood up at once. “I’ll come right now. How are the others? Do you know?”
    The nurse shook her head. “I haven’t heard anything, sir and I was on duty in the hall.”
    “All right.” He glanced down at his watch in the dim light of the stairs. “It’s about time I made my rounds anyway. I’ll first see to Mrs. Brewer.”

    Amy had retired that night with a feeling of . . . well, she couldn’t quite find a name for it. It was family, peace, security and love all mixed up somehow in the large house in the snow. As she lay awake under the blankets and the blue quilt, she stared through a crack in the curtains at the moon. “I wish I could stay here forever,” she thought. “At least, I think I do. Where did I come from and why can’t I remember anything? What was it Adam said? Fill an empty mind with good things?”

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Dr. Morgan - Part 16

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,
Winter greetings from the cold and snowy mid-west. It is certainly winter here. :) If it weren't so cold I'd be tempted to head outside just to enjoy the snow, not that our inch and a half is very much . . . Maybe I'll just stay inside after all.

I thought my week was going to be crazy, but with the snow and sleet and bitter cold, writing classes were cancelled, my grandparents didn't come down, my brother and his family didn't come over for supper Wed. and Thur. nights and I didn't go to a concert last night. What did I do instead? I wrote a short story that's about 3,600 words, worked on Travels of Priscilla, knitted, read, worked on other things and enjoyed staying home.

Last Saturday, S and I babysat the kiddos while J & M were at a political dinner. We knew they were going to be late, so I had brought some extra things to do. What do you do with old sheets or curtains and giant "tinker toys"? Well, we built a gold mine. :) They loved it! They had to crawl through the tunnel that even turned, climb up on the couch, go down the other side, up on the other couch and then out the other end of the tunnel, hunting for gold along the way. (The gold was yellow pieces of duplo.) They all enjoyed it. Even Little Guy crawled in and looked around him with interest. After the gold played out, we sat in a shaft and read "In Grandma's Attic" until the whole thing collapsed around us. :)

I'm still trying to work on writing TCR-3 and Dr. Morgan, but right now they're both slow! I'll keep working and you all can pray.

Since two of you requested I post Dr. Morgan, here it is. Enjoy!

Dr. Morgan - Part 16

    Limping into the front room, Amy sank onto the couch and looked about her. It was such a large, cheery room, yet there was a feeling of coziness about it too that was appealing on such a cold, snowy day.
    “Grandpa’s coming!” Danny’s excited voice at the window caused Amy to turn with a start. She saw Mr. Morgan and Adam coming towards the house carrying snow shovels. Upon noticing the two little faces pressed against the window, for Jenny had crawled over and pulled herself up beside Danny, the men stopped, waved and then Adam tossed a few lightly packed snowballs against the window causing a squeal of delight from Jenny and giggles from Danny.
    Suddenly Amy’s throat contracted and a rush of tears filled her eyes. A momentary picture had flashed through her mind but before she could quite recall it, it had vanished. She was silent as the two men entered the living room moments later.
    “Well, good morning Amy,” Mr. Morgan greeted his new guest with a smile as he approached the couch. “How did you sleep last night?” Then his face grew sympathetic. “Is something wrong?” He had noticed the unshed tears.
    Amy looked up with a small smile. “No,” she said, but her look contradicted her words. “I think I just remembered something but now I don’t know what it was.”
    “My advice to you, young lady,” Mr. Morgan replied with a kind smile, “is not to try to think of anything right now, but I feel that’s like telling Justin not to fret over his patients.” His voice dropped to a confidential whisper as he added, “It doesn’t work, you know. He frets over them anyhow.”
    This time a real smile turned up the corners of Amy’s mouth.
    “Now, how did you sleep?”
    “Better than I have for a long time, I think. I don’t really remember much of anything until this morning.”
    “Good. Maybe that will make Justin stop fretting over you.” Turning to Sara who had just come in the room, he asked, “Has your brother called again?”
    Sara shook her head. “Not since you left.”
    Just then the telephone rang loudly. Stepping through the space which separated dining room from living room, Mr. Morgan picked up the receiver. “Hello . . . Yes, Justin, she’s up and said she’s slept better than she has for a long time. That’s not saying much for your hospital, you know. . . .” He whispered something to his wife and then said aloud, “Yes, she ate a good breakfast. . . . No, I haven’t had a chance. Just got in from clearing the drive. . . . Sure I’ll be in town. . . . Yep. . . . All right. Bye.”
    Replacing the receiver, Mr. Morgan turned. “How many times a day do you think that boy will be calling us?”
    “At least a dozen,” Sara laughed, lightly running her fingers up and down a few scales on the piano. “I sometimes wonder what he’d do with thirty patients. What do you think Justin would be like with that many patients, Adam?” She paused in her playing to listen to his reply as he stirred the fire and added a few more logs.
    “He’d settle down and be just fine,” was the quiet answer.
    “Humph,” Sara snorted, as though not quite sure she agreed. Then her fingers dashed off into a lively version of “Jingle Bells.”
    “Sara!” Adam groaned, “it’s not Christmas time yet!”
    “Who said ‘Jingle Bells’ was a Christmas song?” Sara retorted merrily. “There’s snow on the ground, isn’t there?”
    Amy, settled on the couch, watched and listened to the exchange between Adam and Sara in silence. When Adam, standing up, had remarked to her in low tones, “I hope her songs don’t drive you crazy,” Amy had only smiled. She didn’t think any song would bother her.
    Picking up the book she had been reading the day before, Amy opened it and began reading while Sara, her mood seeming to wear off, settled into steady practice and for some time the only sound heard in the room was the lovely notes of the piano.

    The morning passed by before Amy was quite aware of it, and after lunch Mrs. Morgan suggested she lie down and rest for a while. “The little ones will be taking naps and you look tired. We don’t want Justin saying we didn’t take good care of you.”
    “All right,” Amy agreed readily. “I am tired.” She paused a moment before the dining room windows and looked out over the snow. “That’s what I feel my mind is like,” she said quietly as though to herself. “A large blank nothing. Only the snow sparkles when the sun shines, but my mind doesn’t. It’s just empty.”
    Coming into the dining room just then, Adam caught the girl’s troubled words. “The best thing to do with an empty mind is to fill it with good things.” His words were quiet and he continued his way into the kitchen.
    Amy turned to look after him. “Fill it with good things,” she murmured thoughtfully, limping from the room and down the hall into her lovely little room. “I wonder what he meant?”

    In town Dr. Justin Morgan was sitting in his office fiddling with his pen. “Maybe I should go up and see how she is this afternoon.” He looked across his desk to see his father shaking his head. “You don’t think I should?” he asked.
    “No, I don’t,” Mr. Morgan replied honestly. “And I’ll tell you why. First, Amy’s hardly had time to settle in, and if she feels that you are going to constantly check in on her, she’s not going to be able to relax and be herself. Second, I think that Adam and Sara are good for Amy right now in their own ways. Let them have a chance to see what they can do without you constantly interfering.”

What do you think happens?

What would you do if you suddenly didn't know

anything about your past life?

Will you be back next week for the Graham Quartet?

Dr. Morgan - Part 15

Good Morning Friday Fiction Fans,
It's another lovely fall morning. The trees haven't started changing colors yet, but we've had a few chilly mornings and days.

Here's a quick overview of my week. (Was your week anything like it?)
Saturday: We headed out about 7:15 in the morning to set up for Farm Girl Fest. It was rainy and chilly. And it rained and grew colder. It was in the 40s most of the morning with rain off and on. Since everyone had tents and were outside, we all commiserated with each other during the let ups. It did clear up after 1:00.
Sunday: Headed out to Red Oak II about 9:30. We set most of our booth up and then waited for church to start. Because they were running late and then sang for a while, we had to leave just before they started the message. We didn't have to fight rain, just wind and strong gusts at that. But at least the day was sunny.
On Monday I got some things done in the morning, then visited with my Best Friend from Canada who came down with her husband for a visit. We went out for ice cream that evening. It was delightful to be together again. I also worked on TCR-2
Tuesday came and I prepared for Writing Classes. Since some of my students were having trouble writing sentences that started with an "ing" word, I decided to work on that. Here's a challenge for you: How many words that end in "ing" can you think of to start this sentence:

____________ the door open, I dashed into the kitchen.

Wednesday: Writing Classes. By the way, we came up with over 30 different words to start that sentence. How many did you get?
Yesterday: In the morning I graded papers and in the afternoon I went and played "tennis" with my best friends and their family and another friend. It was fun even if we never played an actual game. We were just hitting the balls and doing a lot of chasing them.

Last night I shot a gun for the second time in my life! For those of you interested, it was a .40 semi-automatic. I wouldn't say I was a great shot, but I wasn't too bad either. The sheriff was impressed when he found out it was only my second time to shoot.

All right, now on to writing things. :) As I'm sure you noticed, you are getting another part of Dr. Morgan today. And just for your info, this is the last part I have written, so please, send me comments, thoughts, ideas, questions and help get my brain ready to write more.
I was going to post another Graham Quartet; however, there have been some new developments with this story which require a bit more research before I can write the rest of it with confidence.
I'm not at all sure what I'll be posting next week since I haven't written anything. Anyone have any ideas for a short story for me? Right now I'm open to any and all suggestions for something to write. So think about it and let me know. Just don't think too long or it will be next Friday! :)

Enjoy!

Part 15

    A lamp was glowing on the rustic table beside the bed. The room itself was papered in a light blue print while the quilt on the bed was a deep blue. A chest of drawers stood beside a closet door and a chair was in a position to enjoy a charming view from the window when the curtains were opened.
    A few moments later, Amy lay between the white sheets with warm blankets pulled over her.
    “Good night, Dear,” Mrs. Morgan said softly, turning out the light. “God give you sweet dreams.”
    In the dark, Amy drew a deep breath and relaxed. The room had a home smell to it, not a sterile hospital smell. Slipping one hand to the top of her covers, she reached out and felt again the soft fabric of the quilt. “And it’s blue,’ she whispered to herself with a smile. Noticing a faint light, Amy turned her head and saw a tiny crack in the curtains. “Moonlight. I wonder if it’s full.” That was the last conscious thought Amy had before falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.

    Sitting in his small room in his boarding house in town, Justin replaced the phone and sighed. He couldn’t get Amy out of his mind. His father’s call had relieved his mind somewhat, but still he wondered.
    “Dad thought she looked a bit frightened before they started singing,” Justin mused. “He didn’t know if it was the fire or the thought of the singing, but after the songs started she relaxed. What a puzzle! How can we trace someone whose name is a common as hers is? Fire? Singing? What was she doing in the mountains to begin with?” Sighing again in frustration at the multitude of questions that were now racing through his brain, Justin sprang up and began to pace his limited floor space. “What if she wakes up during the night?” Realizing for the first time that should Amy awaken during the night there would be no nurse to answer her call, Justin halted beside his small desk.
    A quick phone call up to the Morgan cabin reassured him that Amy would be checked on several times during the night.
    “Relax, Son,” Mr. Morgan told him. “Your mother and I have had sick people in the house before. I think we can handle one who can’t remember. She was quite tired, and I think she’ll sleep through the night just fine.”
    “You’ll call if anything happens, right?”
    A chuckle came over the phone line. “Justin Morgan, quit fussing. You know we’ll call you. Now get some rest and let us do the same.”
    “Sorry, Dad. It’s just—”
    “I know, but we can talk tomorrow, okay?”
    “Okay. Good-night.”
    For several long minutes Justin remained standing with his hand on the phone.
    “There’s got to be some way we can find something out.” He resumed his pacing. “It’s as though we had a puzzle without all the pieces. No, we have all the pieces only they are locked up where no one can get at them. I wonder if we’ll ever know who they are and why they came.
    Something Adam had said before came back to his mind. “Since God brought them to our house, it must have been for a reason.”
    Somehow the thought calmed him and sent him to his knees where he spent a long time praying, for Amy, for himself and his family as they sought to help her, for Danny and Jenny and also for whatever families were somewhere searching for their missing loved ones.

    A faint light was coming into the room when Amy opened her eyes. For a moment she couldn’t figure out where she was. A feeling of panic began to well up inside of her until she heard a dog barking and smelled the delicious smell of pancakes.
    Fifteen minutes later she slowly limped her way down the hall and into the dining room. Sara was busy feeding Jenny while Danny shoveled bites of pancakes into his mouth as fast as he could, hardly taking time to chew.
    “You’ll choke, Danny. Slow down,” Amy admonished with a smile.
    Sara looked up. “Good morning. How did you sleep? Mom, Amy’s here for breakfast!” She called the last over her shoulder to the kitchen.
    Sitting down and leaning her crutch against another chair, Amy looked out the large windows towards the mountain top and saw snowflakes falling gently. “I slept fine. That snow . . .”
    “It’s pretty, isn’t it?” Sara turned and looked out until Jenny demanded another bite.
    “There’s so much. Do you ever get tired of it?”
    Laughing, Sara offered Jenny a drink before replying. “Before spring comes I’m ready to move down south.”
    Just then Mrs. Morgan entered the room with a plate of hot pancakes, crisp bacon and two steaming fried eggs. “Good Morning Amy, I hope you are hungry.” Setting the plate down before Amy, she poured a glass of milk from a metal pitcher on the table, set it next to the plate and sat down nearby.
    Amy’s eyes were wide as she stared at her plate of food. “I . . . I’m hungry, but I don’t think I can eat that much!”
    Mrs. Morgan smiled and patted her hand. “Justin told me to fatten you up, so I’m trying my best. Just eat what you can. You may be hungrier than you think.” She placed the maple syrup before Amy and rose. “Danny, where did all your food go?”
    Danny, his face covered with sticky syrup, grinned and his eyes crinkled. With sticky fingers he pointed down his shirt as he replied, “Down there.”
    “In your shirt?”
    “No, my tummy.”
    Soon Danny was cleaned up and trotted off to go find Adam. Amy began eating. Everything tasted as delicious as it had smelled and with Sara’s bright conversation, Jenny’s entertaining baby antics and Mrs. Morgan bustling about, it was a great surprise to Amy when realized that her plate was nearly empty. “I suppose I was hungry,” she said.

Thoughts?

Questions or Comments?

I'm looking for something to get me going again.

Dr. Morgan - Part 14

Good Morning FFFs!
I don't know where the last few weeks have fled to, but I see that's it's now October. How can it be October when the year just started?

Last Friday I was writing and got the last of TCR - Book 2 written! I still have editing and things like that to do before I can get it sent to my illustrator and the few select test readers. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to work on TCR today as there are lots of other things I need to get done.
On Saturday my shoulder and neck were really bothering me so I tried not to use the computer. I was able to writing Wednesday's report though.
Sunday came and only a three families were at church including us. It was a small group, but we enjoyed the fellowship.
Then came Monday. My mom, sister and I headed up to KC to visit my grandma for a few days while my grandpa was off on a trip with my uncles. I was looking forward to a few relaxing days, but they went by too quickly and my shoulder was still hurting. (I did something to it in my sleep Sunday night.)
We went shopping Tuesday and I made a new fall wreath for Grandma.
Wednesday arrived and I painted their downstairs bathroom. It's now a rose color and really pretty.
Yesterday we headed home again as I had SCA class in the evening.
Tonight we have to head out to Red Oak II and set up our tent for Farm Girl Fest. Wish you all could come to it! It was lots of fun last year. There are booths with crafts for sale, food for sale, hay rides around the old town and I heard that this year there is going to be a pie eating contest. My sister will have a booth with some of her clothes and flexi-clips as well as my books and some things from Light of Faith. Farm Girl Fest actually starts tomorrow morning and ends Sunday evening. And I still need to get my things ready for it.

I'm sure glad those of you who commented didn't mind another Dr. Morgan because right now, that's all I have to post. I am going to try and get some other things written this week so I won't have to scramble next week looking for something to post.

Part 14

    “Good bye, Amy,” Dr. Morgan said, stopping beside the couch where she was resting after having eaten lunch with the others at the table. “Take it easy with that leg. You’re in good hands here.” He smiled and pressed her hand gently.
    Amy said a quiet good bye and then, sitting up, she watched silently out the large windows as moments later the doctor’s pickup truck left the house heading back towards the village, down the mountain to the hospital and everything Amy could clearly remember, leaving her behind, alone with comparative strangers. Suddenly she felt an intense loneliness steal across her and she blinked back the tears which would come and trickle down her cheeks in spite of herself.
    A cheerful whistling caused her to quickly wipe her eyes and lie back on the pillows as Adam entered the room with a few books. If he noticed the traces of tears he didn’t say anything, but he set the books on a stool beside her.
    “Should you grow tired of doing nothing, here’s a few books you can read if you want.”
    “Where are the . . . others?” She hesitated, wondering what to call Mr. and Mrs. Morgan.
    Adam answered easily as he stepped across the room to put new logs on the fire. “Dad’s in his study, Sara is putting the little ones down for naps and,” he brushed the hearth with the brush, “I’m not sure where Mom is.” He stood up, looking down at the fire which was now blazing comfortably, dusted his hands on his pants and said casually, “Well, I’ve got to get more wood. Be back soon.”
    With that he was gone and Amy was left to herself.
    Picking up the first book, Amy opened it and began to read. If Adam’s idea when he brought the books was to help Amy not think, it worked for she was so lost in the story when he came with an armload of logs to add to the wood box, that she didn’t so much as glance over at him.

    The afternoon passed by with Amy scarcely noticing, for after reading for a while, Sara came in and talked until the little ones were up from their naps. When Mrs. Morgan came to say that supper was ready, Amy looked surprised. Never had an afternoon in the hospital passed so quickly.
    The evening, with the entire family gathered in the large living room around the blazing fire, talking and laughing together, was delightful to the newcomer who lay on the couch in silence taking it all in. This was something new, something that didn’t awaken any dim feelings of almost knowing yet not quite.
    “Sara,” Mr. Morgan spoke during a lull in the conversation, “it is growing late, will you play our evening hymns for us?”
    Sara nodded and rising from her chair, handed Jenny to Adam before sliding onto the bench before the baby grand which Amy had admired.
    Everyone was rising and Amy wondered if she was expected to do the same.
    “Don’t try to stand with the rest of us tonight, Dear,” Mrs. Morgan said quietly as Amy half rose. “We’ll bring you the hymn book if you want it, or you can just listen tonight.”
    “May I just listen?” queried Amy, not feeling sure she could sing.
    “Of course.”
    The couch was moved somewhat so Amy could look at the others. It made a lovely picture, everyone standing about the piano. Mr. Morgan, tall and broad shouldered with a little grey in his dark hair, holding Danny who had one arm wrapped lovingly about his neck. Beside them stood Mrs. Morgan. Such a look of peaceful sweetness was on her face that it was some time before Amy noticed anything or anyone else. Adam, she noticed, pulling her eyes from Mrs. Morgan, was taller than his father with lighter hair and the build of someone who had spent years outside in the elements. He was bending over, attempting to help straighten sheet music for Sara who sat on the piano bench, but he was not having much success for Jenny, who he was holding in one arm, kept grabbing Sara’s hair in a tight baby grasp.
    Giving an involuntary smile, Amy turned her head to gaze again at the flickering flames dancing in the fireplace. There was something comforting yet at the same time half frightening about those tongues of fire and the glowing logs. What was it? She wanted to turn her eyes away, but they seemed held, fastened by an irresistible pull that she couldn’t break, locked on a memory which she couldn’t quite recall. A tightness crept about her throat, a shiver ran down her spine, her hands clenched; she couldn’t breathe! She had to get away!
    It was only when the haunting melodies of the evening hymns softly filled the room that the tightness faded away, the shivers ceased, her hands relaxed, and as the dancing flames, under the influence of the quieting words being sung, returned to being once again a cozy fire, she drew a deep breath and lay back, exhausted.
    When the last hymn was sung, the notes dying in the quiet room, Mr. Morgan offered up a prayer, not forgetting the newest addition to the household. Amy listened while a few tears trickled down her cheeks. She couldn’t remember anyone praying for her before. Quiet good nights were said and Sara and Adam, taking the little ones, disappeared from the room, and moments later Amy noticed them crossing the walkway up above.
    “Amy,” Mrs. Morgan asked gently, coming over to the couch. “Do you think you feel up to walking a little ways to your bedroom? Or shall Mr. Morgan carry you?”
    “I . . . I think I can make it,” Amy replied almost timidly. She had wondered where she would sleep. With the gentle help of Mrs. Morgan, Amy limped from the room, down a short hall and into a small but pleasant room.

What did you think?

Questions or Comments?

Any ideas of what happens next?

Dr. Morgan - Part 13

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,
It has felt like fall the last few days which have been so nice. I've loved having the windows open all night and all day without steaming.

There hasn't been much going on this week which has been good because I've been able to write. I still haven't gotten anything besides Triple Creek Ranch - book 2 worked on, but I'm getting ideas for the Graham Quartet and even for Dr. Morgan. I've just put off working on them because I have a deadline for Triple Creek Ranch. However, don't worry, I have enough written to last for the rest of this month and I should be able to write a few more parts to the Graham Quartet before I have to post it.

My sister and I did babysit my niece and nephews the other day. It was the first time Baby got to stay with us. (Sorry, he still doesn't have a nick-name.) At one point of the evening, I was sitting on the couch with Baby while I read a story to Doodle Bug when suddenly we were interrupted by two brave fireman who rushed in and said the house was on fire. One of the firemen "carried" Baby and me to safety, but Doodle Bug put up quite a protest about being carried. He simply walked into the room where I was, climbed up beside me and wanted the story finished. :)

And now, here is part 13 of Dr. Morgan. If you have any thoughts, questions or ideas for or about this story, just let me know.

Dr. Morgan

Part 13

    The sun was shining from an icy blue sky when Justin came into the hospital lobby. He knew the sun would melt the very top of the snow before it sank in the west, leaving ice everywhere.
    “Good morning, Dr. Morgan,” Dr. Hollend greeted him. “It sure will be a fine morning to drive up the mountain, but,” he shook his head. “I’m not sure I’d want to drive down it this evening.”
    Justin laughed. “That’s why I’m coming down right after lunch.”
    “What! Not staying to perhaps become snowed in and forced to take a vacation?”
    “I wouldn’t dream of leaving you to handle the hundreds of patients alone,” Justin retorted.
    Both men laughed, shook hands and went on their way.

    The drive with Amy up to the Morgan cabin was slow but uneventful. Dr. Morgan drove carefully but at the same time kept an eye on the girl beside him. He hoped and prayed that living with a family would help her gain her strength and perhaps even her memory. Would Danny know who she was when they arrived? It had been a long time since he had seen her.
    Sitting silently, Amy watched the snowy landscape move past the windows of the truck. She squinted at the brightness caused by the sun, but spoke not a word. Her thoughts were a puzzling mixture of unanswered questions. Who was she and where did she come from? Why did she remember nothing? Would the two children she had gotten to safety bring anything back? She was nervous and began fiddling with the buttons on her coat. What would these people be like? What if she didn’t like it up here? How could she leave with all this snow?
    “Hey.” A calm voice made her turn and look at the driver.
    Dr. Morgan glanced briefly at her and placed a gloved hand over her restless one. “Relax,” he told her, “everything is going to be all right. Stop fretting about what you can’t remember. Live in the here and now, not the past. There,” he pointed ahead “you can see the house up beyond those trees.”
    Smoke was curling heavenward in a friendly fashion from the stone chimney that rose from the snow covered roof. The truck rounded another bend and the whole front of the house could be seen; the dark logs looking warm and snug against the backdrop of winter’s white blanket. Curtains hung in the many windows, the porch was swept clean of snow and the shoveled path all spoke silently of being such a happy, lived in house, that Amy could only gaze through a film of unshed tears.
    A dog barked as Justin shut off the motor and a collie came bounding from behind the house, tail wagging, to leap up on him as he got out of the truck.
    “Whoa, Captain!” Justin staggered back a step and then roughed up the dog’s fur before he pushed him down. “I’m glad to see you too, old boy. Now,” he continued as he carefully made his way to the other side of the truck, “no jumping on Amy. She’s not strong enough to withstand your assaults.”
    The dog whined and barked, pranced around and barked some more. His barking had its affect for the front door of the house opened and several people in coats came out on the porch. One of them whistled for the dog and then called to Justin, “You need any help?”
    “No thanks,” Justin called back, carefully helping Amy from the truck and then, after he had shut the door, lifting her and carrying her inside where he set her down in a chair beside the crackling fire.
    Mrs. Morgan quickly divested Amy of her coat, scarf and gloves, introducing herself as she did so.
    “Welcome to our cabin, Amy,” Mr. Morgan greeted her with a smile. He had already met her several times at the hospital when he was in town at his office.
    Amy smiled almost timidly back and let her gaze wander around the large open room. She liked what she saw, the picture window looking out over the blinding whiteness, the baby grand piano, the fire, the cozy arrangement of the furniture. Unconsciously she gave a sigh and relaxed into the comfortable chair.
    “Amy,” Dr. Morgan’s voice caused her to look up. A young man was standing beside him. “I’d like you to meet Adam, my younger brother and the only one I’ve got.”
    Hardly had this introduction been given when another voice was heard and Dr. Morgan turned to call, “Sare, bring them over here.”
    Coming at once, Sara carried Jenny on her hip while Danny trotted along behind her.
    “Hi!” Sara greeted Amy as though she had seen her a few days ago. “I’m glad Just finally let us keep you for a while. I don’t think it was fair for the hospital to have you for as long as they did. I’m the one who needs another girl around here.” She kept up a bright chatter to cover the silence, sensing that Amy wasn’t hearing much, for her eyes were on the little ones.
    Jenny, wanting to get down and practice her crawling, squirmed and wiggled until Sara put her down. For a moment Danny just stood and looked at Amy, and Amy gazed back. Each seemed trying to place the other in their memory. At last Danny turned and wandered off without a word.
    “Justin,” Mrs. Morgan turned to her eldest son, “you are staying for lunch, aren’t you?”
    Justin glanced at his watch, “Sure, but I can’t stay too late unless I want to slide down the mountain.”
    “You’d end up in your own hospital,” Adam laughed and then the two brothers left the room.
    Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, seeing Sara drop into a chair across the fire from Amy, slipped from the room as well, leaving them together with the little ones. They knew Sara would be good company.

Questions?

Thoughts or Ideas?

What would you do if you couldn't remember?