Free The Ghosts of Aquinnah by Julie Flanders Page A

Mayhew said. “He's been a great help to us.”
    “ Least I can do after all you've done for me,” Christopher said.
    “ You know we've been glad to have you with us, Christopher,” Mrs. Mayhew said, with total sincerity. She'd loved having a young man to care for, however temporarily. The keeper's house had felt like a home again.
    “ Could we go inside?” Josiah asked. “I'd like to take a look at the arm.”
    “ Of course,” William said. “Silly for us to be standing out here in the cold, isn't it?”
    Christopher glanced at Stella as the group walked into the warmth of the Mayhew home.
    “ How are you, Mrs. Winslow?” he asked.
    “ Fine, Mr. Casey. Thank you.”
    Stella smiled briefly at him but kept her eyes downcast.
    In spite of his genuine affection for the Mayhews, Christopher realized how much he had missed the sound of Stella's voice. His heart turned another somersault as he returned her smile.
    “ All of you make yourselves comfortable,” Mrs. Mayhew said. “I'll fix some coffee.”
    “ I need to go wind the clock,” her husband said. “If you'll all excuse me.”
    Mr. Mayhew and his assistant keeper needed to wind the “clock” that kept the lighthouse beacon rotating every 90 minutes in order to maintain the rotation. It was a grueling job that required constant vigilance even during the overnight hours. Remembering the night he had spent watching the rotating light after the Columbus had gone down made Christopher anxious to help with this task, but Mr. Mayhew had forbade it. Only appointed keepers were charged with the maintenance of the beacon.
    The Winslows nodded and took seats next to each other at the large oak table, while Christopher sat down across from them. Josiah stood up again almost immediately.
    “ Let's see the arm,” he said, walking to Christopher's side.
    Christopher edged his chair out and presented his arm to Josiah, who quickly untied the sling. Christopher felt a dull ache as soon as his arm lost the tight stability of the sling.
    “ Can you roll your sleeve up?” Josiah asked.
    “ I can, yes.”
    Christopher gritted his teeth against the pain as he straightened out his arm and did as Josiah asked.
    Josiah nodded his approval as he looked at Christopher's bare arm.
    “ The swelling's almost all gone. Bruising's lightened. Looks good.”
    “ Yes, sir.”
    “ How's the pain? Are you still taking the laudanum? I've got more for you if you need it.”
    “ No, thank you. I'm managing without it.”
    Josiah pulled a chair up next to Christopher and sat down. He unwrapped the bandage from his hand to examine the gash.
    “ Looks good here, too. The iodine helped ya.”
    Christopher stole a glance across the table at Stella. “Thanks to your wife's nursing skills, sir.”
    Stella blushed a bright shade of red, and Christopher regretted his comment as soon as he'd made it. He saw Josiah visibly stiffen at the mention of Stella.
    “ I've no doubt of that,” he said, his voice now clipped and brittle.
    “ The coffee's ready,” Mrs. Mayhew announced, breaking the tension that had once again crept into the room. “If the medical examination's over I'll pour you all a cup.”
    Josiah got up from his chair and pushed it underneath the table before he returned to his original seat next to his wife. “All done,” he said.
    Mrs. Mayhew set three cups brimming with hot coffee around the table before sitting down in her own chair.
    “ So I've asked Christopher what his plans are now that he's recovering,” she said. “Not that William and I want him to leave us, mind.”
    “ What are your plans, Mr. Casey?” Stella asked.
    Christopher looked directly across the table at Josiah. “I'd like to do something to pay you and your wife for the help you've given me, sir.”
    Josiah raised his eyes as he took a sip of coffee. “Is that so?”
    “ It is.”
    “ You know that's not necessary. I'm a doctor and you were my patient, it’s as simple as that.”
    “ But you