Shades of Gray by Carol A. Spradling Read Free Book Online Page A

lightning strike. 
    Soaked in
sweat and aching, she slowly managed to disentangle her arms and legs from the
generous supply of sheets and blankets covering her.  Every muscle reconnected
to the frayed nerve endings in her body, reminding her of what it had taken for
her to arrive in this room.  Her ankle held stiff.  She bent her knee and ran
her hand down her leg.  A gauzy bandage covered her lower leg and foot. 
Someone had clearly tended to her wounds.  Tears slid down her face and she
cried out, finally releasing the apprehension and pain that had fortified her
fight. 
    ****
    The bedroom
door cracked open, and Laura pushed her shoulder against the wood.  She thought
she had heard the girl cry out as she neared the room.  Hopefully, she hadn’t
fallen out of bed and landed on one of Gray’s organization attempts.  A shadow
on the bed shifted positions and Laura moved in that direction.  She slid her
tray onto the dresser top, and pulled open the curtains.  The girl turned her
face away, cringing against the light. 
    She lay
uncovered.  Her foot was wrapped but needed attention.  The skin was red and
puffy, and pressed against the wrap.  There was no option, the bandage would
have to be cut from her.  From this angle, it appeared her other leg was
unharmed.  Laura continued her quick inspection, sweeping her gaze upward.  The
girl was dressed only in her slip, exposing every bruise and blemish.  She held
her back away from the headboard, favoring her left shoulder. 
    Gray had used
salve to treat her wounds.  He would need more than the little pot he found in
the back of the pantry to make her well.  Glancing up at the girl’s face, Laura
bit back a gasp.  She thought she had seen the worst of her wounds when looking
at the purple and swollen calf muscle.  Cuts and bruises were the least of her
woes.  The girl’s right eye was completely closed.  Hopefully, this injury
would prevent her from registering the shocked expression Laura knew was
projected on her face. 
    Laura said a
quick prayer.  With a little care and a lot of time, the girl’s injuries would
heal.  If Gray was right about Reece not wanting his abuse to be a matter of
public record, she would be safe until the evidence of his cruelty was no
longer evident.  What would happen to her after that was a concern for a later
time.  Grayson was her main worry.  She glanced out the window.  He carried a
bucket from the well and would undoubtedly come to this room within minutes. 
She knew what it took for him to care for this girl and why he insisted on
staying in the adjoining bedroom.  She hoped he was prepared for what lay ahead
of him in order to honor his commitment.
    The girl
pulled at the blanket, trying to cover herself.  Laura took the hem from her
and brought it up to her chest.  “There.  Are you more comfortable now?” she
asked.  The girl nodded her answer.
    “My name is
Laura Gregory.  My son told me that you arrived last night and would be staying
with us.”   
    Laura glanced
to the floor.  A nightdress lay at her feet.  Covered in blood and torn in
several pieces, she kicked the garment under the bed.  There was no need for
the girl to have a fresh reminder of her torment.  Without looking in a mirror,
she might not realize how severe her wounds were.  She would remove the
tattered nightdress from the room with the rest of Gray’s things later today.
    “My name is
Katherine,” a timid voice from the bed offered.
    How could
anyone harm someone with such a kind voice?  “It’s very nice to meet you.  My
son, Grayson will bring water up shortly.  I thought you might like to freshen
up a bit.”  She moved from the bed to the window.  Raising the glass, she tied
the curtain to the side of the jamb.  Picking up shirts and socks, she tucked
them under her arm and reached for a stray towel.
    “I’m sorry to
be such a bother,” the soft voice confessed behind her.  “I will leave if I