The Present: The Middle of May. Carol Parker Private Academy for Girls in Southampton, New York. Briar Hall.

�Doctor Peters, I have a right to see my baby girl!� A woman�s voice pleaded.

�Mrs. Wheeler,� a lower voice responded, �your daughter is very sick. You must understand that she needs rest.�

�You can�t keep me from her!� Mrs. Wheeler stormed at the doctor. �She�s my daughter, and I want to see her!�

�Madeleine,� a husky voice broke in, �Honey is sleeping. She will be more up to seeing us later.� The woman broke out into tears as her husband wrapped his arm around her. �Thank you, Doctor Peters, for looking after Honey.�

The gray haired doctor glanced at his clipboard and at his watch. �You�re welcome, Mr. Wheeler. Your daughter�s due for a check up in a few minutes. I�m sure she�ll be just fine.�

�Mrs. Wheeler and myself will be at the coffee house across the street,� Mr. Wheeler twisted a lock of his wife�s light brown hair around his freckled finger as she dabbed away her tears. It was important that she regain her composure if she�s going to show her face in public. �We will be back in an hour to see her.� With that, the red headed man and his wife slowly walked down the hallway of the school.

Tears streamed down the cheeks of the frail little girl lying in the crisp hospital bed as she heard her parent�s voices outside her door. This had been the third time this school year that she had collapsed, and she was getting sicker and sicker as the year went on. The first time she had collapsed was right when the school year started, the second was during the Christmas holidays when she came home for a visit, and the third was the beginning of May, during math class.

�How are you feeling, Honey?� the doctor told her as he came into her room and stood at the edge of her bed. Honey said nothing but lay there staring at him. �Do you feel hungry?� She turned her head to stare out the window, up at the beautiful blue sky. �It is getting stuffy in here,� he added, following her gaze out the window. Silently, he walked over to the window and opened it to allow fresh air to come in.

Instantly, she could hear the children laughing and playing outside and wished she could be out there with them, instead of locked up in this dismal little room. �That should be alright,� Doctor Peters said, inspecting the window. �I�ll be back in a while to check your temperature and see how you�re doing. Until then, try to get some rest.� His warm smile made the knot in Honey�s stomach dwindle away slightly.

Honey pulled the covers back and swung her slender legs over the edge of her bed, weakly walked over to the window, and peered at the girls outside. Chants from skipping rope and hopscotch drifted up to meet her ears as she saw the younger girls playing during free time. She heard a shrill whistle come from the teacher up by the doors and watched as the girls instantly formed two lines and marched back into the school.

January, The Wheeler Penthouse in New York City, New York

�Miss Lefferts, may I go outside with the others?� Honey asked her governess while staring out her bedroom window, down at the children romping through the snow. It was the Christmas holidays, would have to return to school in three days, and she hadn�t been outside at all.

�I should say not!� the primped governess said as she widened her piercing dark brown eyes and put her hands on her hips. �Outside indeed! Miss Honey, if I let you outside, you would catch your death of cold, and then Mr. Wheeler would be furious with me for letting you do so.� As she spoke her tight brown curls, which were neatly pinned up, shook vibrantly with every word.

�I understand,� was all Honey could say and turned her attention from her needlepoint to the noisy snowball fight outside. �They look like they�re having such fun,� she said hopelessly.

�Honey!� Miss Lefferts shrilled at her, �you�ll get pneumonia sitting there at that window!� She briskly walked over and placed a cold firm hand on Honey�s shoulder and glared down at her. Honey obediently stood up and let her governess lead her over to the fireplace, where she sat for the rest of the evening working on her needlepoint. She had collapsed from being extremely sick, and still wasn�t quite over her illness.

The next morning, Honey awoke before her governess and dressed quietly herself in her thick winter coat and winter boots over her pajamas. She was able to sneak past the busy kitchen and slip out the front door of their New York City penthouse and into the elevator. Tim, the elevator man, merely smiled at the young girl, but did not question why she was alone, or why she was still in her nightgown. He was there to make sure things ran smoothly with the elevator and make sure people arrived at the correct floor, not to ask questions. Outside, she stared at the snowmen and forts the other children had built the evening before. There were three snowmen in a row, ranging from big to small, obviously resembling a family of snowmen.

Honey giggled at the appearance and trudged through the snow to greet the family. �How do you do,� she extended her hand to the bigger snowman, �My name is Madeleine Wheeler, but you may call me Honey if you wish. What is your name?� She waited a few seconds for the snowman to answer and to introduce his family. �How nice!� she beamed, �I am ever so glad to meet you and your family, Mr. Brown,� she giggled remembering the song, �Winter Wonderland�. Then she turned to the middle snowman. �Lorraine, you look simply divine today. You and your husband, Parson, will love my parents when you meet them.� Next she turned to the smallest snowman and said, �Eva, we are going to be such good friends. We simply must get together sometime!�

�Honey!�

Honey jumped at hearing her name screeched across the yard. �Madeleine Grace Wheeler, I have had just about enough of you!� Miss Lefferts scolded as she stormed through the snow and yanked Honey after her. �What do you mean by sneaking out like that! You had me worried sick!� Her grip tightened on the frail hand.

�Miss Lefferts, I�m sorry,� Honey cried through her tears, �I was just��

�I know what you were doing!� Miss Lefferts pulled her through the lobby of the grand apartment building and into the elevator. �Do you realize that you might have been kidnapped? That happens to little girls who have rich parents, you know.�

�I�m sorry,� Honey wiped a tear away, �I didn�t mean to frighten anybody.�

�Yes, I am sure you didn�t.� Miss Lefferts, still clinging to Honey�s arm, turned to Tim and scolded him for allowing Honey to leave the penthouse unattended.

�Excuse me, Ma�am, but my job does not require I look after other people�s children,� he told her plainly, as if he was not at all concerned with her. �If you don�t like it, you may take it to my manager.� The little bell sounded as they reached the top floor. �Good day, Ma�am,� and then to Honey in a more pleasant tone of voice, �Good day Miss.�

Miss Lefferts scowled at the man and yanked Honey out of the elevator and into the penthouse. �Honey, you stop that right now. You�re too old to be sobbing all the time. I won�t have it!�

Her scolding only made Honey sob more and more. �I�m sorry, Miss Lefferts, I only meant to have fun. I didn�t mean to�� her apology was cut short with a stinging slap across her face.

�That will be enough of that blubbering, young lady. Now you march right to your room, and you will not be permitted to leave it until you go back to school.� Miss Lefferts gruffly stripped Honey of her coat and boots, and pointed the twelve-year-old girl towards the staircase.

Honey meekly, but hurriedly, scrambled up the staircase, to her bedroom and shut the door behind her. �Why can�t I have fun like other children?� she cried to herself as she stumbled to her dainty bed of frills and lace. Just then she heard voices come from down stairs. Quickly, she ran to the door and listened.

�Miss Lefferts,� a husky voice boomed at the end of the downstairs hallway, �May I see you in my office?�

�Yes, Mr. Wheeler, of course!� Miss Lefferts instantly responded, sounding a bit surprised. Hearing heavy footsteps echo as they walked across the floor, Honey silently opened her bedroom door and perched herself on the carpeted staircase. It was dead silent inside the once busy penthouse, as if even the entire staff were listening as well.

�Miss Lefferts, have you any idea why I called you in here?� Mr. Wheeler asked his daughter�s governess. His voice was slightly muffled, but she could still hear what was being said.

�Why, no, Mr. Wheeler,� Miss Lefferts answered, � and might I add that I am a bit surprised to find you home! I thought you had a business meeting to be at this morning.�

�Never you mind my business affairs,� Mr. Wheeler boomed angrily at her. �Am I to presume that this is the way you treat my family when you think I am not around?�

�What ever do you mean, Mr. Wheeler?� she answered innocently.

�You know full well what I mean!� By now, he was ranting. �You slapped my daughter right across her face. Why? I want to know what she did to possibly make you so furious with her?�

�She is a sneaky girl, Mr. Wheeler, and someday, she will be kidnapped because of it,� she snapped at him. �She sneaked out this morning without my knowing and was wandering around outside.�

�So you mean to tell me because she wanted to go play in the snow, you were so infuriated enough to strike her?�

�Mr. Wheeler, with all due respect, I was trying to help with her health. She is a very sick girl, and shouldn�t be out in the snow and the cold.� Miss Lefferts� voice echoed down the hallway and up the stairs to Honey�s room.

�That is no reason to lay one hand on Honey.� Mr. Wheeler raised his voice at her. �Miss Lefferts, you are excused to your quarters until your services are further needed.�

�Mr. Wheeler, I��

�You may be excused,� Mr. Wheeler interrupted her. �I will speak to you after I have consulted Mrs. Wheeler.�

Honey sat next to the banister frozen in her spot as she heard the office door open and shut. Instantly, the young girl bolted from the staircase, into her quiet little room, and hid under her covers. Tears streamed down her cheeks and on to her silk pillowcase and she began to choke out sobs of guilt and regret.

Knock-knock-knock�

Honey jumped from her sound sleep and looked up at the door. �Come in,� she softly responded. A tall, husky, broad shouldered man with red hair and green eyes poked his head in and grinned at his daughter. Instantly, tears poured from her eyes again as she saw him come in.

�I�m sorry, Daddy,� Honey wailed, �I didn�t mean to get Miss Lefferts in trouble! Please don�t fire her, Daddy, please!�

�Now, Honey, I�ve already spoken with her, and your mother and I have come to an agreement that she will remain on staff, but only as a secretary.� He said softly to her as he knelt at her bedside. �Mother and I are leaving Monday morning for New Jersey, so what do you say that tomorrow afternoon we take a drive to the stables and you can see Strawberry before you go back to school?�

As if by magic, Honey�s tears dried up and she flung her arms around her father�s neck. �You�re the most wonderful Daddy in the world!� she cried. �I would love to ride Strawberry. I barely get to, you know.�

�Yes, Honey, I know.� Mr. Wheeler�s smile faded as he grew serious. �Now Honey, I don�t want you to blame yourself for Miss Lefferts� dismissal as a governess. I heard what she said and did to you and I�ve had enough. But,� he went on, �I want you to know that you shouldn�t have sneaked out of the house to play. Miss Lefferts had no idea where you were and she was a little frantic this morning when she noticed you were gone.�

�I know, Daddy, but I tried to apologize to her��

�I know you tried, sweetheart.� He pulled a strand of his daughter�s honey blond hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. �Why don�t you get dressed. Mother and I are having breakfast in the dining room.�

After he left her room, Honey pulled open her large closet. Inside were many fancy dresses made of sharkskin, velvet, satin, silk, and cotton. She laid a light green cotton dress out on her bed and pulled clean underclothes out of her dresser. This felt different and new to her since Miss Lefferts was always there to �dress� her. After taking a quick bath, she dressed herself and headed down stairs.

The next day, Mr. Wheeler treated his wife and daughter to an evening with the horses. Upon hearing Mr. Wheeler�s voice, his horse, Jupiter perked his head up and impatiently made noises. He was a strong, spirited, black gelding that only Mr. Wheeler and Regan, the stable keeper, could handle. Mrs. Wheeler stroked Lady�s well-groomed mane and purred affectionate sweet nothings to the dapple-gray mare as she held a sugar cube out for the horse�s dainty lips. Honey�s hazel eyes brightened as she spotted her strawberry roan. Regan instantly led the horse out of its stall and saddled it for her. She expertly climbed into the saddle with no help from Regan, gathered up the reigns, and followed her parents out of the stables. Regan stood there with his freckled hands on his hips, and shook his head while watching the family trot their horses out into the snowy field.

�It�s a shame, that poor girl,� Regan said to himself as he shook his head back and forth. �Loves ridin�, loves the outdoors. Why they keep her cooped up in that prison boarding school is beyond me.� He sighed as he picked up a shovel and headed towards Jupiter�s stall. �Public school never hurt anybody.�

Present: The Middle of May. Carol Parker Private Academy for Girls in Southampton, New York. Briar Hall.

Now she felt like she was reliving everything over again. She was too sick to go outside, even in the warmer weather, nor could she have company. Since the Christmas break from school, her health had not improved, and was still sick all the time.

�What are you doing up out of bed, young lady?� Doctor Peters said as he came into her room. Honey looked at the doctor and bit her lip, but then saw that he was smiling at her. �You look just fine to me, Honey. I see no reason why you can�t go back to your lessons.�

�Doctor Peters,� Honey weakly addressed him, �Do you think it would be possible for me to be outside?�

The doctor chuckled to himself. �Now, Miss Wheeler, I think it would be best if you were to climb back in bed. I won�t be able to let you outside any more today, but tomorrow you may spend all the time you want outside. Right now,� he said as Honey pulled the covers back up to her chin, �someone�s here to see you.� With that, he left the room as Mrs. Wheeler entered.

Immediately upon seeing her daughter she burst into tears and ran up to clasp Honey�s hand in hers. �Sweet baby, you�ll be alright,� she reassured her daughter. Instead of feeling relaxed by her mother�s words, she only tensed up. Every time she was sick, her mother acted this way, as if she felt guilty about it. That evening, Mrs. Wheeler stayed with her daughter, but they didn�t talk much. When Honey asked where her father was, Mrs. Wheeler simply stated that he had a few important things to take care of.

Honey was awakened the next morning by a knock at her door. It was Miss Trask, her math teacher. She came to inquire about Honey�s health since it was her class in which Honey had collapsed. They chatted back and forth as if they were old friends. Honey had always felt comfortable around Miss Trask because she was a very sensible woman, rather brisk and strict, but unlike Miss Lefferts, she was a good sport and loved children.

�I don�t want to trouble you more, Honey,� Miss Trask spoke softly as she straightened her uniform a bit, �but this will be my last year teaching at the school.�

Honey�s face dropped. �But Miss Trask, you simply can�t leave! I love you too much! We all love you too much!�

Miss Trask blushed and took a hold of Honey�s slender hand. �I really do want to stay, but I can�t. My sister, who�s an invalid at St. Joseph�s Hospital, needs financial support. My parents are both passed away, so it is up to me to care for her.�

�But can�t you stay here and care for her?� Honey asked as her eyes swelled up with tears. She hated to see her favorite teacher leave. �Who is going to tutor me in Algebra if you leave?�

Miss Trask smiled at the sickly girl and stroked her hand gently. �There, there, Honey. Don�t worry about a thing. I was wrong to have discussed this with you, but you see, I need a job that pays more than this one.� Upon seeing that Honey didn�t quite understand the situation, and was only becoming more agitated, Miss Trask suggested that she should leave Honey to rest.

Honey threw her head back down on her pillow and clenched the bedspread in her fists. Miss Trask was leaving. Boarding school was bad enough anyway, but now that she was leaving, it would be unbearable. Lunch was served at noon, but Honey didn�t touch one bite of it. She wasn�t in the mood. Doctor Peters suggested that it would be good for her to sit out in the school gardens for a while with her parents and just relax.

Honey�s parents led her to a white wrought iron garden table and bench, and sipped cool lemonade while enjoying the bright sunshine.

�Honey,� her father began, �your mother and I are concerned for your health. It is plain to the both of us that you are not happy here.� Honey�s hazel eyes studied the swirling design of the table as he spoke. �Would you like to come home with us right now, and finish out what little is left of the year there? We have it arranged that you can work on your lessons there.�

Honey�s eyes filled with tears again. �That won�t work,� she wailed. �Miss Lefferts will still be there and she always has all these boring projects for me to do. She thinks that her things are more important that whatever I�d like to do!� She pulled a handkerchief out of the pocket of her uniform and dabbed her eyes. �Besides, I want to stay because Miss Trask won�t be here next year, so I�d like to spend all the time I can with her.�

�Miss Trask?� her mother gently asked.

Honey nodded. �She�s my Algebra teacher, and we�re such good friends. She told me this morning that she�ll be leaving because she needs a job that makes more money.� Seeing the concerned look on her father�s face she quickly added, �Daddy, don�t tell anyone that I said this to you, because she might get in trouble. I don�t want to tarnish her employment record with the school because of this. She just let it slip, that�s all.�

Mr. Wheeler took a hold of his daughter�s hands and looked into her eyes. �Why does she need a job that pays more than the school? I thought they paid their teachers well here.�

�Oh, they do, but she has an invalid sister she takes care of, and just recently found out that it�s costing her more than usual to care for her. Her parents are gone and she�s the only one apparently.� Honey sobered and blinked away her tears. �That�s why I want to stay here for the time being.�

�Well, Honey,� Mr. Wheeler grinned, �has Miss Trask had any job offers yet?�

�Not that I know of, why?� Honey looked up and noticed his grin. Immediately, her eyes sparkled and there was a slight hint of a rosy color in her cheeks. �You�re going to offer her a job? Daddy! Terrific!�

�That I will do, Honey, but I don�t want you to let Miss Trask know about this.� Mr. Wheeler reached into his breast pocket and produced a photograph, and showed it to his daughter. �Since the last time you were sick, during Christmas, I�ve been looking into some property just north of here on this side of the Hudson River where there�s a small community called Sleepyside. How would you feel if we were to move there?�

�It looks beautiful,� Honey said looking at the black-and-white photo. It pictured a three-story mansion with a big stable off to the side, and a good size garage with an apartment above. �Did you buy it?�

�Yes I sure did,� her father said proudly, �Regan�s already been out there to check the stables over. There is a lake, rolling hills, and a huge game preserve, too. I have a team of carpenters making a few adjustments to the house, since it hasn�t been lived in for a few years. They won�t have it finished until sometime in July.�

�But then I suppose I�ll have to come back here for school,� Honey said handing the photo back to her father.

�No,� he said flatly. Mrs. Wheeler leaned forward to link her slim arm around her husband�s.

�Darling,� she interrupted, �we would like to see if you would prefer going to the local junior-senior high school there.�

Honey stood up from the table and kissed her parents each on the cheek. �I�d love it! Imagine! I can live at home and go to school, and even have friends of my very own? This is perfect!�

Honey spent the next day catching up on her lessons, and spent the rest of the month of May at school, studying diligently. Mr. Wheeler had arranged for Miss Trask to interview with him for the job as Honey�s governess and Mrs. Wheeler�s secretary. Miss Trask mentioned her sister and how it would be vital for her to spend time with her as well. Mr. Wheeler worked out a schedule with her and offered to pay for her sister�s medical expenses along with some extra spending money for Miss Trask, herself. It was an offer that she couldn�t refuse, and soon Miss Lefferts was dismissed from her position as secretary and Miss Trask took over.

Honey had spent her days taking walks with Miss Trask, and riding Strawberry. Sometimes, Miss Trask, who didn�t have a horse, would ride with her on Lady, Mrs. Wheeler�s horse.

On several occasions, Miss Trask had spoken to Mrs. Wheeler and arranged for Honey to be able to do more things for herself and that it would be healthy for her to be able to be more independent, as she had turned thirteen the week before. One thing that would help her would be a puppy, something she could care for and look after herself. Since Miss Trask had come to work for the Wheelers, Honey had grown healthier, but still remained frail and weak. Miss Trask knew that some good healthy exercise in the country would be good for Honey, and there would be the possibility of new friends. She had always taken pity on the poor girl because she didn�t have friends. It was the end of June when Mr. Wheeler presented his daughter with a little black cocker spaniel puppy.

A week just before the move, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler had to make an emergency business trip to North Carolina, but promised they would be back in time. Honey grew ill during that time period and began having nightmares again, the same nightmares she had when she was sick in May.

One morning she woke up in a cold sweat, with Miss Trask dabbing her face dry with a washcloth. �Breathe deep, and slowly, Honey,� Miss Trask crooned soothingly to the frightened girl. Honey had dreamt of a balloon inflating so big, it was pushing her down against the bed and suffocating her, and as a result Honey wasn�t breathing. Her face was pale white. �Its alright,� Miss Trask reassured Honey after learning about the dream. �Its alright. You just lay here and relax while I start the bath water.� Miss Trask filled Honey�s deep tub with hot water and helped the weak girl undress and into the tub.

�I�m hopeless,� Honey sobbed as Miss Trask sponged her back with soapy warm water, �I�ll always be this way.� She looked up at her governess and shamefacedly hung her head. �I don�t know of any other thirteen-year-olds who needs to be given a sponge bath.�

Miss Trask dunked the sponge back into the soapy water and continued washing Honey�s slender arms. �Honey, things will be different once we move to the countryside. The air is different, the people are different, and school will be different too. You do know that if you have any problems with schoolwork, I will always be there to help you.� She smiled at the sickly girl, and Honey managed a smile back. �Your Mother and Father are due back tomorrow and the move is on Friday. I hear there are neighbor children there so you should be able to make quick friends.�

The movers Mr. Wheeler hired were already at work the next morning preparing everything for Friday, the day of the big move. Miss Trask directed the movers as if she had done this her whole life. Efficiently, she handled the event with skill and expertise. Honey, knowing she wouldn�t be of much help, stayed out of the way and kept Bud, her puppy, busy. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler arrived back from North Carolina that evening and treated their daughter to dinner at an Italian cuisine.

�To new beginnings!� Honey�s father held his wine glass up to the center of the table. Mrs. Wheeler followed suit with her wine glass, and Honey with her water goblet. She hoped it would be better than this life she led right now.