Pages of the Past (Bellingwood Book 9) by Diane Greenwood Muir

his little dog out here in the cold."

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN

     
    Polly startled awake at Han's yip. Then she heard a knock at the bedroom door.
    "Polly?" Rebecca called quietly.
    "Come in, honey," Polly said.
    Rebecca opened the door and came in to the bedroom and walked over to Polly's side of the bed.
    "What's up?"
    "Kayla's upset. She had a bad dream and now she won't stop crying."
    Polly's feet were already finding their way out from under the pile of animals on her bed and she put them down on the floor, then swiped open her phone to check the time. It was only eleven fifteen. The girls had gone to bed at eight thirty. She'd heard chattering and laughter until after nine, but after taking the dogs out for one last walk, she checked the room at ten thirty and they were sound asleep.
    "Do you need me to do anything?" Henry asked.
    "I've got this. No worries." Polly pulled her robe on and went into Rebecca's bedroom.
    Kayla was curled into a ball on one side of the bed. She didn't make any noise, but it was obvious that she was upset. Polly flipped the light on and sat down beside the girl. She started to reach out and touch her, but hesitated.
    "Honey? Kayla? It's me. Polly. Can you tell me what has you so upset?"
    The girl gulped back a sob. "No-o-o-o." she said.
    "Will you let me put my arms around you?" Polly took her silence as acquiescence and bent over to hold her. Kayla didn't relax, she held herself tightly as she cried.
    "Sweetie, did you get frightened when you woke up in a strange bed?"
    "Uh huh."
    "Did you have a horrible dream, too?"
    "Ye-e-e-es." Kayla's voice hitched as she tried to speak through her tears.
    "Do you want to talk about it?"
    "No-o-o-o."
    "Okay then. We'll be quiet for a while until you realize that you're safe and it's all going to be okay." Polly turned to look at a very freaked out Rebecca. "Honey, would you get a small glass of water from the kitchen? And bring tissues back with you, too."
    Rebecca seemed thankful to be able to leave the room.
    Polly saw the teddy bear lying on the floor and scooped it up with her foot, tossing it behind them onto the bed. With one hand, she stretched to grab it and then pressed it into Kayla's hands, hoping the girl would unclench long enough to be distracted by something she recognized.
    The girl clutched the bear, but didn't relax a single muscle and Polly began stroking her back. Then she realized what time it was. Stephanie was still at work.
    "Kayla? Honey? Would you like me to call your sister and have her pick you up so that you can sleep in your own bed for the rest of the night?"
    That got her attention. The sobbing stopped and Kayla went limp, then sat up beside Polly. "Would you?"
    "Of course I would, if that's what you'd like. You don't have to stay here."
    Rebecca walked in with a glass of water and tissues. Seeing that Kayla was sitting up, she came around the side of the bed and handed her friend the water first.
    Kayla took a sip and said, "Thank you."
    "You were scared," Rebecca said. "You had a really bad dream. Did you know you talk in your sleep? I tried to wake you up, but you wouldn't."
    "What did I say?" Kayla asked.
    "You kept saying 'No. You're hurting her.' That must have been a really bad dream."
    The look of shock on Kayla's face startled both Rebecca and Polly. Her hand trembled and water sloshed out on to her pajamas. Polly took the glass from her and brought the teddy bear back up so Kayla could focus on it.
    "Give her a tissue, Rebecca," Polly said. "I'm going to call Stephanie. You two relax as much as you can. I'll be right back."
    Polly went back into her own bedroom and shut the door.
    "Is everything okay?" Henry asked.
    "No. That poor thing is scared to death. I'm calling her sister. She should just be getting off work. There's no reason for Kayla to go through any more trauma tonight."
    He sat up and reached for a pair of sweatpants to pull over his shorts. "Anything I can do?"
    "No, just a second." Polly swiped the call