Bess relinquished her bag, which wasn’t very heavy, and let Tobias assist her into the trap.  She nodded solemnly while her brother brought her up-to-date on their father’s condition.  She didn’t know what was worse … losing a family member suddenly or watching them slowly succumb to a fatal illness. 

It suddenly struck her that when Father was gone, she would be the oldest member of the Appleton family.  Bess had never been much of a big sister.  She had not been protective of her brothers or bossed them around.  Nor had she ever given them advice.  She had focused mostly on her art and saw no reason for that to change.  They had all gone their separate ways, after all.

“That’s good to hear.  Exercise and fresh air are always beneficial.”  Bess walked from the boarding house to the school and back every day and she felt healthier than she had ever been.  Or maybe her glowing constitution had more to do with being in love.

Bess turned toward Tobias when he spoke of Nathan.  She had thought he had already informed their brother of his father’s failing health.  “I would rather let him know in a letter than to have him come home to an unpleasant surprise.  I will write him but I will tell him what is going on.”  The corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smile.  “If I don’t, he might ignore me too … or hate us both for keeping him in the dark.”

She looked straight ahead.  The familiar landscape was comforting.  “Has anything else of note happened since last weekend?”