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She withdrew the book from the chair where earlier she had placed it and opened it to the first page. “There are twenty-six letters and each have their own pronunciation and use.”
Anna frowned and Kathleen clarified. “Their own sound. Such as the first letter in my name. The K has a ‘k’ sound which you hear when speaking my name.”
She repeated her name and Anna nodded, hearing the sound at the beginning of her name. She looked at the first letter of Kathleen’s name and tried it against her own. It did not match.
“This is an alphabetical book and each letter shows a word that begins with that letter.” She turned it around and showed Anna a page with a huge black letter and a picture of an apple beneath it. “The first letter is A. Apple begins with A.”
Anna’s eyes lit up. With excitement she pointed to the letter and then at herself.
“Your name begins with A?” Kathleen looked surprised, then smiled brightly when Anna nodded. “That won’t be too difficult to guess. Is it Alice?”
Anna shook her head.
“What about Alexandra?”
Again she shook her head.
“Agnes?”
Anna cringed and shook her head.
“Anne?”
She hesitated before responding. It wasn’t quite accurate. Nodding she pointed to the letter again.
“Your name is Anne?” Kathleen looked pleased with herself, but Anna pointed to the letter A once again. “Yes, that’s right. You’re name begins with A.”
Frowning she looked at Kathleen’s name and pointed to the last letter then pointed to the A again.
At first, the woman did not follow Anna’s meaning then it occurred to her with a cheerful smile. “Your name is Anna?”
It brought such joy just to hear her name again.
“How lovely.” Kathleen shared her smile. “Much more elegant than Peter.”
Anna had never seen more beautiful eyes. They smiled even when she did not. Kathleen had turned her attention back to the book and turned the page to the next letter. Anna watched her with admiration. Wade had referred to her as a lady, however, Anna discovered there was so much more to his sister. Unless of course, all of her wonderful traits embodied the essence of a lady. And if that was the case, Anna had no hopes of ever becoming one.
Chapter 12
Wade entered the doctor’s office without bothering to knock. Dr. Patterson sat at his desk and looked up in surprise. “Hello Mr. Haddock. Come to see your patient?”
“Morning doctor,” he greeted him in return. “I apologize for our early morning disturbance.”
“Nonsense.” The doctor shrugged him off and stood up to come around and shake hands with Wade. “My door is always open.”
“How’s Chuck doing?”
“I think he’ll live.” He turned and led Wade to a back door. “He was struck several times in the head, which resulted in a concussion and a temporary state of unconsciousness, however, he is awake now and speaking irrationally. His sense of sanity might have taken a permanent blow. If you like, I can have a specialist come out and take a look at him.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Wade answered. “He’s leaving town as soon as you give the okay.”
The doctor looked surprised, but replied, “Well, he can certainly leave at any time. Most of his abrasions were not deep lacerations. There were a few open cuts or scratches which caused the bleeding but nothing serious. Most of his injuries were bruising to the upper torso.”
“Good.”
He led Wade down a small corridor to a door at the end.
Before opening it, Dr. Patterson turned to Wade. “Just to let you know, the constable has been to visit. Chuck was unable to offer him anything substantial, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a trip out to the ranch.”
