Read Soldier Doll for Free Online Page B

visit and had done so every day, bringing him books, soups, and freshly baked bread. The entire time, Meg had stubbornly refused to acknowledge Ned’s pneumonia directly.
    â€œYou’ll be on your feet again any day now!” she’d exclaimed whenever Ned had gently tried to broach the subject of his illness. But the days had turned into weeks, and the weeks, months. And then finally, a week ago, Dr. Porter had given Ned a clean bill of health. At last.
    Ned touched her shoulder. “Megsy, I know you refused to believe I was really ill.” He let his hand rest there for a moment, feeling her hair.
    â€œI did not!” Meg glared at him. “I knew you were, Ned. I came every day, did I not?” Even when you were too ill to know I was there, she added silently. She yanked a small daisy from the ground and twisted it in her hands. Angry, she plucked off a petal and tossed the daisy aside.
    Ned grinned and shook his head. “There’s no arguing with you, is there.” It wasn’t a question. “I say, Meg. You’re the most stubborn creature on earth.”
    Meg rolled her eyes. “You’re always saying that.”
    â€œBecause it’s true! I reckon you get it from your father.”
    Her mother had taken ill and died when Meg was only seven. Her father, a cabinetmaker, had raised Meg himself. He had never remarried. His reputation for stubbornness in the village was legendary. When his wife had died, he had mulishly refused repeated well-intentioned offers from the village’s women to help care for Meg. “I can take care of my child just fine on my own,” he’d insisted. He had pointedly ignored parcels of food left on his doorstep, despite the acrid smell of burned meals emanating from his own kitchen as he attempted to assume his wife’s former duties. It had paid off, though—with little Meg’s help, he’d quickly learned how to cook basic dinners and manage a household.
    â€œI am not stubborn.”
    â€œYou are! You are even being stubborn about not being stubborn! Confess. You’re stubborn as a mule.”
    â€œA mule! Now you’ve offended me, Edwin Roberts.” Meg turned away, trying not to laugh.
    Ned sighed. “I’ll say it again. There’s no winning with you. Do you know that you have never once admitted that I’ve won an argument?” He buried his head in his hands in mock frustration.
    â€œI can’t help it if you’re never right, Ned. That’s something you need to work on yourself. Blaming me is unfair, really,” Meg replied cheerfully. She tapped Ned playfully on the shoulder.
    Ned raised his palms in defeat. “Fine, then,” he said. He was smiling now. “We don’t have to talk about it.” He coughed and reached over to give her braid a tug.
    Meg stole an anxious glance at him. “You are better, Ned, are you not?” She had picked up the daisy again and now twirled it nervously. Meg thought of her mother and tried to remember how her cough had sounded before she’d died.
    â€œI believe so, yes.” Ned took a deep breath. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you today. Alone.” He fidgeted nervously.
    What could be wrong with him now? Meg looked at Ned, feeling worried. “Whatever is the matter?” She studied his face. He looked pale. “You are well now, aren’t you? You haven’t taken ill again?”
    â€œI’m fine.” Ned moved closer to her. “But I had my eighteenth birthday last month. And Dr. Porter, he says I’m healthy now.” He put his hand on hers tentatively.
    â€œYou just said that, Ned.” Meg continued to look puzzled. Suddenly, she understood. Her expression turned to one of comprehension and then of horror.
    â€œNo!” She jumped up, accidentally squashing a patch of budding daffodils. “No!” Ned grabbed her arm, but she tore away from him, shaking off his