Cherry Ames 24 Companion Nurse Read Online Free PDF Page B

yourselves, both of you. I know Cherry will take good care of you.” Mrs. Clark waved and drove off.
    Cherry and the porter followed the steward pushing Martha in the wheelchair. In the terminal he helped them quickly check their baggage through. Cherry tipped the porter, and they moved to the next counter where they showed their tickets. Then, at Mrs. Logan’s request, the steward wheeled her to just below the centrally located Flight Information Board. Cherry, carrying a small canvas fl ight bag, looked up and read: Flight 160 10:00 a.m. Gate 6. “That’s us! ” she thought.
    “Thank you very much,” Cherry said to the young steward. “The photographer should get a fi ne picture of Mrs. Logan here.”
    “Not in the wheelchair!” Martha groaned. “Although it is a great comfort,” she said to the steward. He asked if there were anything further he could do for them and promised to return to help them board.
    They waited for the reporter and his photographer.
    Cherry thought Martha Logan looked most attractive in her soft-colored, lightweight tweeds, and what’s more, looked well. Cherry said so. Martha smiled and thanked her for the compliment.
    “You look positively radiant with health,” Martha said. “And that fetching cap and trim uniform! I wish Ruth and Bobby could meet you.” 32 CHERRY
    AMES,
    COMPANION
    NURSE
    Cherry said she hoped to meet the Logan children some time. “Speaking of time—” Martha glanced at her wristwatch and said, “That reporter is late.” More minutes went by, the food trucks fi nished loading the plane, and the passengers were entering at the open glass door marked Gate 6. Still no reporter or photographer. Cherry asked if Mrs. Logan wanted her to go look for them, or telephone the reporter.
    “I don’t know where to telephone him, since he’s not on the staff of any newspaper,” Mrs. Logan said. “As for looking for him, there’s no point. I clearly said nine thirty and at this spot. Well, I guess he’s not coming,” she said matter-of-factly. “Maybe something unexpectedly detained him.”
    The same young steward returned to ask if Mrs.
    Logan was ready to board now. He would push her wheelchair along the walkway that led directly to the plane’s cabin. He suggested they start before all the other hundred or so passengers poured in.
    “A good idea,” Martha Logan said. “I don’t enjoy being interviewed, anyway.”
    They started along the walkway, Cherry going fi rst, then the steward carefully pushing her patient. Halfway across, the wheelchair balked for some reason.
    A short, portly man ahead of Cherry turned around.
    Before she could do it, he bent and adjusted one wheel with his left hand,
    “A little slower there, steward!” he ordered. Cherry felt embarrassed for the obliging young steward. Standing

    FLIGHT TO LONDON
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    up again, the man looked imposing. “Are you all right, madam?”
    “Yes, thank you,” Martha Logan said.
    As they entered the plane cabin’s door, the short, portly man gave a little assistance again, even before the stewardess could. Then with a slight bow he left them and went to his seat.
    The stewardess greeted them and helped Cherry get Martha Logan to her feet. “I feel so conspicuous,” Martha grumbled to Cherry, “and clumsy as an ox.”
    “You’re not, and anyway, must you expect miracles of yourself?” Cherry murmured back. Better to jolly her patient than offer too much sympathy.
    Martha Logan grinned and refused to take Cherry’s arm. After thanking the steward again, she walked slowly down the plane aisle. Cherry followed close behind her and found their numbered seats. Fortunately, Martha had an aisle seat. Cherry got her comfortably settled. Because of the cast, Cherry had a little diffi culty in fastening the seat belt around her patient’s waist. Another stewardess came and helped, took their coats, and said the cabin crew was at their service.
    Cherry, seated at Martha Logan’s left, watched the