All at once, a foot-high replica of an off-road truck, complete with oversize balloon tires, bounced and rumbled down the long expanse of stairs. At the bottom, the wheels spun a few times, then the truck careened across slick maple floors. Its bumper whacked Ben hard on his shins, and brought the truck to a halt. Not, however, before Ben glimpsed a ratno, a gerbil, he decidedwith a bottle cap tied to its head. Belted into the front seat of the motorized truck, the animal had obviously withstood the bumpy ride down all those steps and when one of the boys got him out, the gerbil seemed none the worse for wear.
Ben might have taken the cheering boys on the landing to task for their foolish stunt had he not been blindsided by a barking, slobbering brown and white dog that jumped on him and stared him straight in the eye. Were Ben any less nimble, hed probably have been knocked off his feet, and wouldve been in danger of being licked half to death. As it was, he dodged and mostly managed to evade the wet, pink tongue.
Erin and Mollie screamed. Both girls dropped their books and took refuge in a corner of the massive entry as far as possible from the boisterous dog.
Above the racket, Abbys voice floated down the same stairs that had so recently served as the Indy 500 for the truck with its gerbil driver. Boys, will you hold the noise down to a dull roar? Somebody see whats wrong with Ruffian. Please, guys, cut me some slack. If I dont get this water valve shut off, you five will be building an ark.
The boys on the stairs at least had the grace to nudge one another and clam up sheepishly for a minute. Then one of the two older kids spotted Ben. Aunt Abby! he yelled at the top of his lungs. Reed let some strange guy in off the street. Do you want me and Mike to call the cops?
Ben heard Abby yelp, followed by two loud bumps, followed by what might have been a muffled curse. By then hed corralled the rambunctious boxer, a half-grown pup, Ben saw, seconds before a disheveled-looking Abby hove into view. She leaned over the bannister, brandishing a very large wrench. Her red hair, always hard to tame, stood in wild disarray. Her blue jeans were rolled up to her knees and showed signs of sogginess, as did the long tails of a too large mans shirt. Dirt streaked her face, hands and arms. Even with all that she managed to look appealing to Ben.
Ben? Noah scared me! I thought Ruffian had cornered a burglar or at the least a vagrant. Im glad to see you, but Im afraid I cant talk at the moment. Im kinda busy. She waggled the wrench.
So I see. The girls and I stopped by to see how youre doing.
Bending lower, Abby zeroed in on the pale faces of the frightened girls. Erin, Mollie, hi! Boys, you know the McBride girls. Honestly, guys, where are your manners? Put Ruffian in the laundry room until he settles down. Invite Erin and Mollie in. Find a game everyone can play. Make it an easy one for Sam, okay? She gazed helplessly at Ben. If you care to supervise, Ben, I just need a minute to deal with a situation. Theres fruit punch in the fridge. Michael will show you where to get clean glasses. Or theres coffee in the thermos by the stove if youd rather. She pulled back, then ducked down again to peer at Ben through the white balusters. Better yet, I could use a man with a strong arm and a clear mind up here.
Recovering from his shock at seeing such chaos around a woman he always found to be orderly in all things, Ben dredged up a rakish grin. Let me settle the girls, Abby, and Ill be right up.
Uncle Ben, I dont want to stay here. Erin sidled up to her uncle. This house is dirty, and that dog slobbered all over me.
Erin McBride, he said sternly. Start by apologizing to Abby and the boys. While you figure out what you need to say, Ill lend Abby a hand. Later, if you girls behave, Ill get you some juice.
Mollies face fell. I didnt say the house was dirty. Why cant I have juice?
One of the boysMichael, Ben thoughtrelieved his death grip on the boxers collar. Im big enough to pour juice, the boy declared. Go ahead and help my aunt. Ill take care of stuff down here. He puffed out his thin chest.
Abby, whod heard the exchange, called over the railing, Wash your hands first, Mike. And while youre at it, refill Sams glass. Sam? You doing okay, my man?
A meek voice responded from the confines of the big chair. I have to go potty. Whens the toilet gonna be fixed?
Oh, sweetie. The hall bathroom works. Darn, give me a minute to take off my shoes so I dont track water downstairs. Then Ill take you.
That chore I can handle like a pro, Ben informed her. If its okay with Sam, that is. Hey, guy, I dont think weve met. Im Dr. Ben Galloway. My father, Dr. Kirk Galloway, fixed your legs.
Sams eyes grew round and he shoved thick auburn curls off a pale forehead with a freckled hand. Kay. You look nicer. Dr. Kirk never smiles.
Ben lifted the boy, doing his utmost to support the right leg which was casted all the way to the boys hip. Sam wore a short cast on his left. Ben guessed the kid wouldnt be walking anytime soon. He wondered why Abby didnt have household help. The ages of the children seemed reason enough to seek assistance. To say nothing of the sheer hours involved in maintaining this household.
No wonder Abby looked as if shed dropped twenty pounds. Ben guessed dashing up and down stairs a hundred times a day would burn a lot of calories.
There you go, Sam. Ben straightened after maneuvering them both into the small half bathroom. He glanced up, feeling a drop of water strike his ear. He identified a water stain on the ceiling, which seemed to grow larger as he studied it.
Jeez, Abby probably didnt know her problems werent limited to the upstairs. The flooded commode must be directly above this one. Hey there, Sam, lets not dally. Id just as soon neither of us had to be treated for ceiling plaster falling on our heads.
The childs lips quivered. I wish Daddy was here. Will that phone in your pocket call everywhere?
Pretty much, Ben murmured, still focusing his attention on the damaged ceiling tiles while he helped Sam tie his robe. Do you have a friend youd like to call? If you tell me where I can find his number, Ill dial for you.
Donning a serious expression, the boy waited patiently while Ben washed and dried his hands. I dont got the number for heaven. Maybe its in my daddys puter. Mommy said Daddy put everybodys number from church on his puter. And Daddy said Gods the most important member of his church. So I think Gods number hasta be there.
Oh. Oh, Sammy Ben patted the sad-eyed childs back as he carried him to his recliner. I wish making contact with the Almighty were so simple. Buthes everywhere, you know, watching over us. Likemaybe the reason I picked today to visit your aunt is that Im supposed to help her. Ben gave the four-year-old a coloring book and opened it to a picture of a partially colored ark. AhI believe your aunt was saying you guys might need one of these, he teased.
He needed to get out of the room before Sam asked more questions. Ben figured he was the last person able to explain why any supreme being let kids lose their moms and dads. He left the room no wiser than before.
Upstairs, he put his foot into two inches of water on the bathroom floor.
Abby was draped over a gurgling commode, mumbling at a pipe wrench that kept slipping off a valve cap. Rolling up his shirtsleeves, Ben relieved Abby of the wrench. He threw his considerable muscle into budging the solidly stuck shut-off cap.