For the Love of Annie

by Sabrah Huff Agee

"I've got to get back to work— it's been nearly a week."

  She fiddled with the tie on her wrapper. "I understand."

  "You can write me about the arrangements. In the meantime, I'll be getting my living quarters ready for you to move in. You'll have to share Annie's room, I'm afraid."

  "I stayed there before, remember? Annie's room will suit my needs as well as any."

  "Then I guess that's it."

  She stood up. "I'll say good night, then."

  Cooper rose too and took her arm. "I'll talk with you in the morning before we leave." At the door, he bent and kissed Mary Louise's cheek. "Sweet dreams, Weezie."

  Cooper frowned as he watched her walk down the hallway to her room. If he hadn't known better he would have sworn when he kissed her good night that there were tears in Weezie's eyes.

  Chapter 19

  IT WAS A little after eight in the morning when Cooper strolled into the cheerful room that had served as Belle Rive's nursery. Annie had not been her usual cheerful self at supper last night. In fact, she had been so whiny and ill tempered that Cooper had put her to bed an hour earlier than her usual bedtime. He was surprised, therefore, when Cora told him at breakfast that Annie was still sleeping soundly. Cooper decided to wake the little slugabed and give her breakfast while Cora packed their things for the trip home.

  It was fitting, Cooper reflected, that Annie should sleep in the same room her father had slept in as a child. According the Angus, even the crib, decorated with carvings of flowers and cherubs, had once been Willie's. It occurred to Cooper as he leaned over the ornately carved bed to smile down at his sleeping daughter, that this crib might one day shelter Annie's children.

  "Wake up, Sleepyhead," he said softly. "Time to rise and shine." When Annie didn't immediately open her eyes and grin up at him, Cooper frowned. "Annie? Wake up, Angel— Face."

  Annie mumbled and rolled over only to snuggle deeper into her pillow. It was then that Cooper noticed the unnatural flush on her cheeks. "Annie?" He touched her face and the heat radiating from her skin frightened him. "Oh, Jesus, Annie!"

  Heart in his throat, Cooper scooped Annie out of the crib and cradled her in his arms. "Annie! Please, honey, wake up for Papa." He shook her, albeit gently, in a desperate attempt to get her to open her eyes and look at him. But she only sighed and remained as limp as her beloved "Gawgie."

  Holding the feverish child to his breast, Cooper bolted out of the nursery. He ran without a conscious destination, his only thought was that he had to find someone who could tell him what to do to make Annie all right.

  Mary Louise woke with a start when Cooper burst in her room. She was about to give him a piece of her mind for the intrusion when she saw Annie in his arms. She threw back the covers and hurried to meet him. "My God, Cooper what's wrong with her?"

  He looked at her with fright— filled eyes. "I don't know. Cora said she was still sleeping, and when I went to wake her I found her like this. Weezie she's burning up! Feel of her face."

  Mary Louise laid her hand on Annie's brow. "Annie, Annie darling, can you hear me?" Annie moaned softly and turned her face to rest against Cooper's chest.

  "Tell me what to do, Weezie," Cooper pleaded.

  Mary Louise snatched her wrapper from the foot of her bed and jerked it on. "If only Erik were still here," she muttered. Tying the sash around her waist, she walked to the door of her room. "Amos!" she yelled.

  "Yes, Miss Weezie?" Amos' voice wafted up the stairs.

  "Send Toby up to my room. And hurry." When she had seen Amos head toward the stairs, she turned to Cooper. "You can put Annie in my bed if you like."

  He shook his head. "Thanks, but I'd rather hold her."

  She nodded, she'd expected him to say that. "Then sit down before you fall."

  He backed up to a wicker rocking chair and eased into it. Then he shifted Annie higher on his shoulder. There was a sheen of tears in his eyes as he gazed up at Mary Louise. "You don't think she's going to die, do you?"

  Seeing tears in the eyes of a man who's courage was as much a part of him as his dimpled grin was almost Mary Louise's undoing. Knowing she had to be strong for his sake, she schooled her face and bit back her own tears. "No, Cooper, I don't think she's going to die."

  "Papa Amos said you sent for me, Miss Weezie."

  Mary Louise turned to Amos and Cora's sixteen— year— old grandson. "Yes, thank you Toby. I want you to take Prancer and ride as fast as you can to Dr. Nichols's house. Tell him we have a two— year— old who has taken ill and we need him to come right away."

  "Yes'um, I'll go right now. You want me to tell him anything else, Miss Weezie?"

  She shook her head. "Just tell him to hurry, please."

  Annie moaned softly and Cooper looked anxiously at Mary Louise. "Can't you do something, Weezie? You've had some medical training. You did a damn good job nursing me."

  "I've only taken care of injuries and minor aches and pains. I don't know much about fevers like this. I'd rather wait for Dr. Nichols."

  Cooper nodded. "You trust him? This Dr. Nichols?"

  "Implicitly. He's a wonderful doctor."

  Cooper nodded again and then swallowed several times. Mary Louise longed to comfort him, but she knew he wouldn't be comforted until he knew Annie was going to be all right. The room grew quiet and the hands of the little porcelain clock crawled around its flower adorned face.

  "YOO— HOO! Amos said I should come straight up."

  Mary Louise hurried out into the hall where she met a tall, stately, large— boned woman. Her chignon was blue— black except for a glowing white blaze that began just above her left brow and streaked through the ebony strands from root to tip.

  "Sarah!" Mary Louise called, "Oh, Sarah it's wonderful to see you. I didn't know you were home for a visit."

  "I arrived on yesterday's train. Pa's tied up with Jacob Oberon," she said as she hugged Mary Louise. "One of Jake's bulls trampled him a few hours ago and Pa's having a devil of a time sewing the poor man back together. When Toby brought your message Pa asked me to see if I could help."

  "Thank you so much, Sarah. Annie is in here with her father." Mary Louise led the woman into her bedroom. "Sarah, this is my...my fiancé, Cooper Matthews. Cooper, I'd like you to meet one of my dearest friends, Dr. Sarah Nichols. She's here to see to Annie."

  Cooper, anxious about Annie, barely acknowledged the woman when she walked in. But at Mary Louise's last words, his head snapped up. "Did you say, Doctor Nichols?"

  Sarah grinned and held up the little black bag that was a doctor's most familiar accessory. "That's right."

  Cooper frowned at Mary Louise. "I thought you said Dr. Nichols was a man."

  "Sarah's father is a doctor, too."

  Cooper drew the child in his arms against his chest. "Then I want him to look after Annie."

  Mary Louise wanted to throttle him. "Cooper Matthews, I'll have you know Sarah Nichols is— "

  She paused when Sarah touched her on the shoulder. "Let me," Sarah said quietly. "I'm used to this." With a whispered apology, Mary Louise yielded to Sarah.

  "Mr. Matthews, I understand your trepidation about my abilities as a doctor. There are still very few women who are doctors— even though we have been training as such since the early Fifties. She reached inside her black bag and retrieved a folded document. "In the eight years since I began the practice of medicine, I've often met with prejudice and suspicion because of my gender. That's why I brought my medical credentials for your inspection— in case you needed proof of my claim." Then she smiled, and her lovely face brightened. "I assure you, Mr. Matthews, I'm a very good doctor."

  Cooper hesitated only a moment more. Then he swallowed and nodded. "She's got a fever, Doctor."

  Sarah started to reach for Annie and then paused. "May I take her, Mr. Matthews?"

  "Cooper," he corrected as he offered up his beloved child.

  Sarah carried Annie over to Mary Louise's bed and laid her on it. Then she removed her stethos
cope from the black bag and placed one end of the wooden tube to Annie's chest while she listened at the other. After a moment she said, "Her lungs sound clear. That's a good sign."

  Cooper moved to stand behind Sarah. "We couldn't get her to stay awake."

  "Not surprising. Fever often makes children listless and sleepy." She began to unbutton Annie's flannel nightshirt. "Let's see what we can find here."

  Annie whined softly as Sarah laid open her shirt. After only a moment of inspection, Sarah said, "Ah ha!" and looked over her shoulder at Cooper. "I think I've discovered the problem."

  "Already?" Cooper and Mary Louise said simultaneously. Only Cooper sounded unconvinced.

  Sarah pointed to Annie's pale chest and stomach. "See these tiny blisters?"

  Cooper and Mary Louise leaned in to look where Sarah indicated. "That's the first time I've noticed them." Mary Louise said, "What do they mean?"

  "They mean, unless I'm badly mistaken, that your little girl has chicken pox."

  "Chicken pox!"

  Sarah nodded. "In a day or so these blisters will begin to scab over. Her fever will go down then."

  Annie whined again, and Cooper reached for her hand and held it in an effort to comfort the child. "Can you make her well?"

  Sarah chuckled. "I can't make her well, no. The disease will have to run its course. She'll probably be feverish off and on for a couple more days, and she's going to itch like crazy. Keep her nails clipped and try to keep her from scratching; put stockings over her hands if necessary. The main worry with Chicken Pox is keeping the little sores from becoming infected. Should that happen she could have some real problems." She put her stethoscope back in her bag. "Chamomile lotion will help soothe the itching, as will an oatmeal bath. The best thing you can do for her is to give her plenty of liquids, as much as she'll drink, and keep her as comfortable as possible."

  "That's all?" Cooper asked. "You mean she's going to be all right?"

  Sarah patted Cooper's back. "She's going to be fine."

  Cooper grabbed the doctor and planted a big, sloppy kiss on her surprised mouth. "Thank you, Dr. Sarah!" he said earnestly. "You can't know what this means to me."

  Sarah appeared stunned at first. Then she laughed. "I'm as happy as you are that things weren't more serious."

  Cooper grinned. "I doubt that, Doctor, but I thank you anyway."

  "Papa?" Annie's voice sounded weak.

  He went quickly to her side. "Papa's right here Annie— luv."

  Annie held up her arms. "I no feel good. Hol' me."

  Cooper made a choking sound in his throat as he lifted the little girl into his arms. "I'll hold you, Angel— face, as long as you want."

  THE NEXT two days were a nightmare. As Doctor Nichols predicted, Annie was soon covered from her scalp to her soles in small sores. And she itched. Cooper, Mary Louise, Angus, and Cora took turns daubing the sores with chamomile lotion, coaxing Annie to drink water, reading to her, and begging her not to scratch. Finally, on the third day, the sores began to form scabs and Annie's fever dropped. The crisis was over.

  Mary Louise pulled the blanket over Annie's shoulders and smiled down at her. "Bless her little heart," she said softly. "I hope tonight that her sleep won't be disturbed by that awful itching."

  Cooper motioned for Mary Louise to follow him into the hall. "I can't put off going home another day, Weezie. I've already been away a much longer than I should have."

  "But Annie's not ready to travel. I know the worst is over, but she still has the sores and— "

  Cooper held up his hand. "I know," he interrupted. "I agree that Annie shouldn't travel just yet. I think, if it's all right with you, that it would be better if I left her at Belle Rive and went back alone."

  "If it's all....Of course, it's all right. Papa and I would be thrilled to have Annie stay here." Then she looked at him. "When will you leave?"

  "First thing in the morning." He sighed heavily.

  Mary Louise searched his face. "There's something else, isn't there?"

  He nodded. "We're going to have to postpone the wedding. I've been away from my job too long, Weezie. I can't turn around and come back in only two weeks."

  Mary Louise bit her lip. "Of course you can't, I understand." Then she brightened. "We'll have the wedding in Hollisburg."

  "What?"

  "I don't care where we get married, Cooper. It isn't as if this wedding is a love— match." Her voice caught at this, but she quickly cleared her throat and continued, "I had only planned to invite a few people, anyway. They can go to Hollisburg as easily as they can come here."

  "What about your father?"

  "Papa will enjoy the trip. And besides, I think he'd like to see where we'll be living."

  "Where do you want the ceremony?"

  "I don't know. Where would you suggest?"

  "There's always the church."

  Mary Louise frowned. "I don't think so. Wouldn't you feel a little strange getting married in a church? I mean, this isn't even going to be a real marriage."

  Cooper grimaced. "You're right." Then he said, "Look, I'll find a place for the ceremony so don't worry about it."

  "All right."

  Cooper started to move away and then stopped and looked back at her. "You're sure you don't mind doing this?"

  "What? Changing the location of the ceremony? No, not at all. I'd rather do that than put off the wedding. For Annie's sake I'd like for us to be settled in by Christmas."

  "Okay, I'll wire you with the details once I've made the arrangements."

  "Fine. So Annie will stay here until we all come to Hollisburg?"

  "Yes. It's only two weeks. I think I can stand being parted from her that long."

  "She's going to miss you," Mary Louise said.

  He nodded. "I know. I'm going to miss her, too. But she loves you. She'll be all right."

  THE NEXT morning Cooper went to Annie's room. He carried her to the window that looked out over the wide sweeping lawn and tried to explain that he was leaving.

  "Papa go bye— bye?" Annie's blue eyes were wide.

  "That's right, Sweetpea. Papa's going bye— bye."

  "Ah— nee go, too?"

  "No, Angel— face. You're going to stay here with Weezie and Grampa." When he saw her face crumple, he said quickly, "It won't be for long. Soon Weezie and Grampa will bring you home to me."

  "I no want Papa go bye— bye," Annie whined.

  "I have to, Sweetheart. I have to go and see about Joe Bob and Bubba..."

  "And Chawie?"

  He smiled. "That's right, and Charlie."

  "And ZeeZee?"

  "Of course, and Lizzie, too."

  "Ah— nee see 'bout ZeeZee, too."

  Cooper groaned silently. "No, Baby. I want you to stay here and take care of Weezie while I'm gone. Will you do that, Dumplin'?"

  Annie seemed to consider his request. Finally, she nodded.

  Cooper kissed her plump, spotted cheek. "Thanks, Annie."

  She grinned and patted his face. "Wuv you, Papa."

  MARY LOUISE walked Cooper to the door. "Do you hate me for this?" she asked suddenly. He arched a brow and she clarified the question. "Do you hate me for insisting that our marriage be in name only?"

  He frowned, but shook his head. "No. I don't like it, I swore I'd never do something like this again after Marietta. But I don't hate you for it." He set his portmanteau on the floor and took her hands. "I just wish you'd change your mind."

  She stared at his hands and shook her head. "I can't. I just can't."

  "Why?"

  She looked up at him. "I thought I'd explained. I can't spend the rest of my life sleeping with a man who doesn't love me."

  "But— "

  "I know thousands upon thousands of women do it. But I can't."

  "You mean you won't."

  She shrugged. "Can't, won't. It's all the same in the scheme of things."

  Cooper stared down at the slender hands enveloped in his. It would be so eas
y to tell her what she wanted to hear, that he loved her. Three little words from him would make everything all right. Three little words and he would have the kind of marriage that he wanted. But he couldn't do that. He wasn't even sure he knew what love was. He knew he loved Annie, and he knew he loved Lizzie, but being in love and loving were two different things entirely. At least that's what he'd always believed. Sighing, Cooper dropped her hands and picked up his bag. "I'll contact you in a few days about the arrangements for the wedding."

  Mary Louise clasped her hands together and stepped back. "Have a safe trip."

  He nodded. "Take care of Annie. And promise you'll tell her every day how much I love her."

  ON THE trip home, Cooper stared out the window at the passing scenery and contemplated the bleakness of his future. He hadn't accomplished what he'd intended, he hadn't made Mary Louise want a real marriage with him. So this was how it would be— another marriage of convenience, another marriage in which his wife would share his home but not his bed. This had not been difficult in his first marriage. Marietta had been so young that making love to her hadn't entered his mind. And when she grew into womanhood, she'd become so like a sister to him that it still didn't pose a problem. He shook his head.

  But this time things would be very different. Unlike his first marriage, this time he was marrying a woman, not a child. And though he might think many things about Mary Louise Markham, he would never be able to think of her as his sister. He knew too much. He knew how sweet her lips tasted, he knew her scent. He knew the satiny feel of her hair sliding over his skin. He knew the way her deep blue eyes seemed to grow darker with passion, and he knew the throaty little sounds she made moments before she climaxed. He knew her breasts exactly fit the palms of his hands. He knew that the cradle of her thighs accommodated his body perfectly. And he knew that the mere thought of her gave him an erection so hard that a cat couldn't climb it.

  He chuckled without humor. This marriage was going to be a living hell and not for the first time he wondered if he would survive it. Nevertheless, he didn't regret his decision to go along with Mary Louise's preposterous stipulations. She would not have married him otherwise, and if he wanted to insure he could keep Annie, he had to marry Annie's aunt. There was nothing he wouldn't do, nothing he wouldn't sacrifice in order to keep his little girl.