Free Shannon's Daughter by Karen Welch Page A

Michael’s closed door.   “Should we wake your father?”
    “No.   Let him sleep.   When he gets up, he’s going to insist on
taking me to the hospital for an x-ray.   Going down those stairs might be harder than coming up.   Maybe I could just roll down.   What do you think?”
    “I think
we’ll come up with something, rolling not being an option since you’re far from
round.”   Peg had giggled as she arranged
herself on the couch, and in spite of himself , he’d
laughed too.
    As he
went through the motions of washing up, shaving and brushing his teeth, he
considered the likelihood of getting her downstairs without breaking both their
necks.   Resigned to the fact that he’d
been elected her official caregiver, he wondered if anyone else in the family
had given a thought to lending a hand.   The irony of the matter should have rankled—after all, he was only
family by marriage, while the rest of them were genuine Shannons—but he knew
he’d be illogically put out if relieved of his duties now.   Perhaps this was self-imposed penance for
yesterday’s negligence.   Or perhaps he’d
become overly involved with Michael and his daughter because he identified so
closely with their situation.   An
ill-equipped albeit devoted parent and a sensitive, precocious child made for a
pairing which closely matched his own with his mother.   Whatever the reason, he would make himself
available for as long as necessary, or for as long as his strength held out.   At least Peg’s misfortune had given him cause
to feel useful for the first time in months.  
    Peg had
been right in saying her father would not rest until an x-ray was taken and his
fears that she might be crippled for life due to a country doctor’s ineptitude
dispelled.   Assured by Peg that she was
up to the trip, as quickly as he could eat and dress, Michael had the car
waiting by the door.   Katie had helped Peg
into a more suitable outfit of skirt and blouse, and her right foot now sported
a sturdy sandal.   As he bent to lift her
from the couch, Kendall said softly, “You’re pretty sore, I imagine.   I’ll try not to hurt you further.”
    “I’m
okay.   I hate hospitals worse than I do
doctors, but I might as well get this over with, so Dad’ll stop fussing.”   She pouted slightly, and it occurred to
Kendall she might have put up a brave front this morning for her father’s
benefit.   Just the effort of dressing
seemed to have taken its toll on her spirits.
    He eyed
her bare legs and the narrow skirt with a scowl.   “I can’t guarantee to protect your modesty,
miss.   That hemline is rather high.”
    “Don’t
worry.   I doubt anyone’s going to be
peeking.”
    He
snorted a laugh.   “All right, hold on
tight, now.   If we go down, we go down
together.”
    Descending
the narrow stairs was actually far simpler than mounting had been, although his
pace was apparently faster than Peg expected.   By the time they reached the bottom, her terrified squeal turned to
giggles.  
    “Didn’t
frighten you did I?”
    “Only
for a second.   Were you trying to?”
    “I was
trying to make it as painless as possible for both of us.   You took me too literally about holding on
tight.   Good heavens, girl, you’ve got
the strength of ten men in those skinny little arms of yours.”   He maneuvered her into the car, pleased to hear
her still laughing.   If he’d been her
father, he told himself smugly, he would have considered her comfort first,
rather than putting her through this ordeal.  

 
    The
visit to the hospital proved beneficial in more ways than one.   Not only were Michael’s fears laid to rest
when the x-ray showed the clean fracture perfectly realigned, but on their
return to the flat, a pair of crutches was waiting.   In addition, the arrival of a private duty
nurse was anticipated by nightfall, courtesy of Patrick Shannon.   Kendall wondered if his mother had nagged
Patrick into action.   Eloise at