Darkest Hour (Cutler 5)

"Oh yes," she said.

"I'll come visiting you soon," he promised. "So long, Lillian."

We watched him walk off and then I started to push Eugenia up the driveway.

"He's the nicest boy I ever met," she said. "I really wished that someday you and Niles would become engaged and marry."

"You did?"

"Uh-huh. Would you like that?" she asked. I thought for a moment.

"Yes," I said. "I think I would."

"Then maybe Niles was right; maybe it is a magic pond."

"Oh Eugenia, you should have wished for yourself."

"Selfish wishes don't come true, Niles said."

"I'll go back and wish for you," I promised. "Very soon."

"I know you will," Eugenia said, leaning back in her chair. Fatigue was settling in quickly, washing over her like a dark, stormy cloud.

Just as we reached the front of the house, the door was ripped open and Emily stepped out, her arms folded across her chest. She glared down at us.

"Where were you two?" she demanded.

"We just went for a nice walk," I said.

"You've been gone a long time," she said suspiciously.

"Oh Emily," Eugenia said. "Don't throw cold water on everything nice anyone does. Next time, maybe you'll come walking with us."

"You've kept her outside too long," Emily said. "Look at her. She's exhausted."

"No, I'm not," Eugenia said.

"Mamma's going to be angry when she comes back," Emily said, ignoring her.

"Don't tell her, Emily. Don't be a tattletale. It's not nice. You shouldn't have told Papa about Lillian and Niles, either. It just makes for hard feelings and trouble," Eugenia chastised. "And Lillian didn't do anything bad. You know she wouldn't."

I held my breath. Emily's face turned crimson for the first time in a long time. She could argue with anyone, embarrass and snap at adults as well as children, if she had to, but she couldn't be nasty to Eugenia. Her eyes flared at me instead.

"It's just like her to turn you against me," Emily declared, and pivoted to go back into the house.

Eugenia's defense of me drained her of her last ounce of strength. She dropped her head to the side. I called for Henry quickly to help me carry her up the steps and into the house. Once inside, I wheeled her to her room and got her back into her bed. She was as limp as a rag doll. In moments, she was asleep, but I think she was dreaming about the pond, because even in her dreadful fatigue, she slept with a small smile on her lips.

I walked back through the house on my way to the stairs, but just as I reached Papa's office, Emily stepped out and seized my arm so abruptly, I gasped. She pulled me back against the wall.

"You took her to that stupid pond, didn't you?" she demanded. I shook my head. "Don't lie to me. I'm not stupid. I saw the little twigs and grass stuck in the spokes of the wheelchair's wheels. Papa's going to be in a rage," she threatened, bringing her face so close to mine, I could see the tiny mole just under her right eye. "Niles was there, too, wasn't he?" she charged, shaking my arm.

"Let me go!" I cried. "You're horrible."

"You've turned her against me, haven't you?" She released me but smiled. "It's all right. I expected no less from the living curse. You plant your evil seeds everywhere, in everyone and everyplace you go.

"But your time is coming. The weight of my prayers will smother you," she threatened.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks. "I'm not a curse, I'm not."