Page 139 of The Enchanted Land

Seth was surprised to find the front door locked during the day. When Martin opened it, Seth thought the man looked older, and sad.

“It’s good to have you back, Mr. Colter.”

“It’s good to be back. Could you have Donaciano carry a bath to my room? Is Morgan out riding?”

“No, sir, she’s with Master Adam.”

Seth raised his eyebrows. ‘Master’ Adam? He bounded up the stairs, three at a time.

He stopped at the door and stared at the sight that greeted him. The room was airless, dark, and smelled bad. Morgan, her hair pulled once again into a tight little knot, was coaxing Adam to eat. “Please, sweet-heart, eat something. For Mommy.”

“No!” Adam yelled the word at her and pushed the cup away, nearly upsetting it.

“Morgan?” Seth’s voice was a whisper. She turned. He gasped at the sight of her. She had on the same dress she’d been wearing when he left, and there were food stains all over it. But her face was what frightened him: her eyelids were drooping, and the bluish circles under her eyes were now almost purple. Her skin was pale. She had an expression of great weariness.

“When did you get back?” Her voice was hoarse.

“Just now. What’s going on here?”

“I’m trying to help Adam get well.”

“Trying to—!” He tried to control his rising anger as he went to the window and threw back the curtains. The sunlight revealed the room to be even dirtier than it had first appeared.

Morgan followed him to the window and closed the curtain. “No. You mustn’t. It hurts Adam’s eyes.”

Seth grabbed her shoulders. “Morgan, how much sleep have you been getting?”

She looked away. “Enough.”

He pulled her chin up so she met his eyes. “Answer me.”

“Adam needs me sometimes in the middle of the night. Aren’t you going to greet your son?” She turned away and smiled at Adam.

For the first time, Seth looked at his son. Except for having lost a little of his tan, he looked healthy. Seth smiled at his son. Adam turned away and picked up a spoon by his bed and began to bang on a little metal tray. “Mama!” he demanded.

Morgan looked at Seth in explanation. “That’s for when he wants me.”

“What happened to his learning to talk?”

“He’ll learn to talk. Right now, he just needs time to recover.”

“Morgan, he should be outside. In the sunshine.”

“No! I told you sunshine hurts his eyes.”

“Well, it never did before.” He stepped nearer Adam. “You want to go with me on a horse?”

Adam looked up at his father with a bored expression and then turned to his mother and began to whine, “Mommy.”

Morgan lifted the covers and put her hand underneath.

“What are you doing?”

“Checking his diaper.”

“But he hasn’t worn a diaper in a long time—just the few days he was sick.”

“But he’s still weak, Seth, very weak.”

---