Warning at Eagle's Watch Read Online Free
Author: Christine Bush
another soul. This stroke has been quite a shock to me, Hillary. I feel dependent and vulnerable, a state that doesn't agree with my disposition."
Hillary could well imagine, remembering her employer's sharp tongue on her arrival. "When I read the medical information, I'll have a better view of your condition. I can see that you're the type—well, the type who likes to be on top of things."
"How politely you put it. I'd just say I like to rule over everything in sight. Rather hard to do when you can't stand on your own two feet. By the way, I hope you're a good bird watcher."
A bird watcher? Hillary swallowed. This was all too strange to be true. Was Miss Scott a little senile? It was hard to believe, with those clear, piercing eyes. But still, a bird watcher?
"If you mean eagles, Miss Scott, I must say I didn't see a trace of them as I pulled up."
"Bah, eagles. We'd have to have your head examined if you thought you saw any of those. I haven't seen one for over thirty years. No, it's vultures I'm talking about."
"Vultures!" Hillary cried helplessly. "What vultures?"
"The ones who will be descending on Eagle's Watch very shortly, Nurse Holt. My not-distant-enough relatives, as soon as they receive word of my recent illness. You'll see. Vultures."
"But relatives who care always come around when someone is ill, Miss Scott. Aren't you being just a little unfair to them?"
"I wish I were. But last year, when I suffered a mild angina attack, they flocked from miles around, fluttering like a mob of fools, talking of wills, and legal rights, and driving me crazy. They would have liked to give me a hand into the grave, if you ask me. I'll never forget it. They're a strange group, Nurse Holt. You'll see."
"But I think you're overdoing it. People just aren't that bad, as a rule."
"People don't follow rules when there's a lot of money at stake."
"Personally, I don't give a hoot about money."
"That's why I like you, Hillary. I have a feeling I can trust you."
Hillary could see that her patient was tiring. "You can certainly trust me. Miss Scott. So believe me now when I say you need some rest. I'll go and review the doctor's notes, and then come back after a while."
"Before you go, what do you think of Eagle's Watch?"
Hillary looked into the dark eyes that stared into hers. Only the truth would do.
"Quite honestly, I think it's the strangest and most desolate place I've ever laid eyes upon. But I guess you could say it's intriguing."
The old face was smiling. "Honest girl. I think it's horrible too. I like you, Hillary. What do you think you should call me? Miss Scott sounds a bit formal."
Hillary thought for a moment, feeling a surge of affection for her. "I think you're a little too salty to be called Priscilla. I'd like to call you Scotty. Is that all right? Just between us."
A faraway look came over Priscilla Scott's eyes. "Isn't that a strange coincidence? That's what Matilda always called me." She smiled to herself. "And it's fine, Hillary. Scotty is fine. Now go and do your homework, and let a poor old woman get some much-needed rest."
She closed her eyes, and the nurse tiptoed silently out.
Peeling cozy in the sunny green room next door, Hillary curled up in a big stuffed chair and began to peruse the medical material she had carried with her. The time ticked by; the sun began to sink behind the west wall of the castle.
Priscilla Scott was eighty-four years old. Her medical history was generally one of a relatively healthy woman, aside from the usual problems that often accompany the later years of life. Her joints worked well, her digestion had been excellent. Her eyes occasionally gave her problems, she tired easily.
She suffered from a minor case of angina pectoris, an ailment of the heart which was carefully controlled by the administration of nitroglycerin tablets at the onset of an attack. Since her first attack, over a year ago, she had rarely had any signs or symptoms, an indication that the
Hillary could well imagine, remembering her employer's sharp tongue on her arrival. "When I read the medical information, I'll have a better view of your condition. I can see that you're the type—well, the type who likes to be on top of things."
"How politely you put it. I'd just say I like to rule over everything in sight. Rather hard to do when you can't stand on your own two feet. By the way, I hope you're a good bird watcher."
A bird watcher? Hillary swallowed. This was all too strange to be true. Was Miss Scott a little senile? It was hard to believe, with those clear, piercing eyes. But still, a bird watcher?
"If you mean eagles, Miss Scott, I must say I didn't see a trace of them as I pulled up."
"Bah, eagles. We'd have to have your head examined if you thought you saw any of those. I haven't seen one for over thirty years. No, it's vultures I'm talking about."
"Vultures!" Hillary cried helplessly. "What vultures?"
"The ones who will be descending on Eagle's Watch very shortly, Nurse Holt. My not-distant-enough relatives, as soon as they receive word of my recent illness. You'll see. Vultures."
"But relatives who care always come around when someone is ill, Miss Scott. Aren't you being just a little unfair to them?"
"I wish I were. But last year, when I suffered a mild angina attack, they flocked from miles around, fluttering like a mob of fools, talking of wills, and legal rights, and driving me crazy. They would have liked to give me a hand into the grave, if you ask me. I'll never forget it. They're a strange group, Nurse Holt. You'll see."
"But I think you're overdoing it. People just aren't that bad, as a rule."
"People don't follow rules when there's a lot of money at stake."
"Personally, I don't give a hoot about money."
"That's why I like you, Hillary. I have a feeling I can trust you."
Hillary could see that her patient was tiring. "You can certainly trust me. Miss Scott. So believe me now when I say you need some rest. I'll go and review the doctor's notes, and then come back after a while."
"Before you go, what do you think of Eagle's Watch?"
Hillary looked into the dark eyes that stared into hers. Only the truth would do.
"Quite honestly, I think it's the strangest and most desolate place I've ever laid eyes upon. But I guess you could say it's intriguing."
The old face was smiling. "Honest girl. I think it's horrible too. I like you, Hillary. What do you think you should call me? Miss Scott sounds a bit formal."
Hillary thought for a moment, feeling a surge of affection for her. "I think you're a little too salty to be called Priscilla. I'd like to call you Scotty. Is that all right? Just between us."
A faraway look came over Priscilla Scott's eyes. "Isn't that a strange coincidence? That's what Matilda always called me." She smiled to herself. "And it's fine, Hillary. Scotty is fine. Now go and do your homework, and let a poor old woman get some much-needed rest."
She closed her eyes, and the nurse tiptoed silently out.
Peeling cozy in the sunny green room next door, Hillary curled up in a big stuffed chair and began to peruse the medical material she had carried with her. The time ticked by; the sun began to sink behind the west wall of the castle.
Priscilla Scott was eighty-four years old. Her medical history was generally one of a relatively healthy woman, aside from the usual problems that often accompany the later years of life. Her joints worked well, her digestion had been excellent. Her eyes occasionally gave her problems, she tired easily.
She suffered from a minor case of angina pectoris, an ailment of the heart which was carefully controlled by the administration of nitroglycerin tablets at the onset of an attack. Since her first attack, over a year ago, she had rarely had any signs or symptoms, an indication that the
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