Whispers in the Wind (17 page)

“I’m glad to be able to help you, Tharyn. Living on the streets is no picnic, but when you have other friends there with you, it isn’t so bad. I well remember how hard it was for me until I found my little group in the alley. You’ll love them as I do, and I’ll do everything I can to help you.”

Tharyn smiled through her tears. “That means more to me than I can tell you.” She used a corner of the sheet to dry the tears that had fallen on Dane’s hand. She then twined her fingers with his. “Thank you again, Dane, for coming to my rescue and saving my life.”

“I’m just glad I was there when those horses bolted, Tharyn. And if I’m ever called upon to rescue you again, I’ll do it gladly.”

She dipped her head shyly, then looked up at him. “Dane, I’ve always wanted a big brother. Would you be that for me? Can I call you
my
big brother?”

At first, Dane was stunned by the request, but the idea slowly brought a smile to his face. “Being your big brother would make me very happy, Tharyn, as long as I can call you my little sis.”

Tharyn’s smile was from ear to ear. Her face lit up and there was a sparkle in her eyes. She slipped her fingers from his, then extended her hand. “It’s a deal, big brother!”

Dane gripped the small hand extended to him, and a pact was sealed between the two homeless children.

Dr. Harris looked on with pleasure, then said to the nurse, “Dane told me that Dr. Walter Lynch is Tharyn’s doctor. He and I know each other. Since he works the day shift, he’s gone home by
now, but would it be all right if I check her over?”

“Of course, Doctor,” said Betty. “Even though we haven’t met before, I know you have privileges here at Mercy Hospital. However, it just so happens that Dr. Lynch is still here. He was about to leave for home just as this shift started. An ambulance came in with an elderly woman who had fallen from a second story balcony at her apartment house, and emergency surgery was necessary. Dr. Lynch was called upon to do it. I was out of the room briefly a half hour ago. One of the nurses told me he was still in surgery, and from what she said, he would be for another hour or so. You go ahead and examine Tharyn. I’ll go see how close he might be to finishing up.”

Harris nodded. “All right.”

As soon as Nurse Thaxter was out of the room, Dr. Harris checked Tharyn over, asking questions to ascertain her emotional stability. When he had listened to her heart, examined her eyes with a light reflector, and taken her temperature, he told her and Dane that she was fine. He was sure if she did not take a turn for the worse with her emotions during the night, she would probably be released tomorrow.

While they were waiting for Nurse Thaxter to return, Dane said, “Tharyn, you know that the street waifs beg for money on the street corners, don’t you?”

“Yes. I’ve seen them many times.”

“Do you think it will bother you to beg?”

“No. If they can do it, so can I.”

“Good. I beg with my friends in the afternoons, too. And most of the money I make from my job at the pharmacy goes into the food fund. I keep a dollar or two in my pocket for emergencies. And then, of course, some days we don’t do so well in the begging department. When the food fund is empty, we sometimes get leftover food from the Blue Jay Café. And there are times when the only food we can get our hands on is in the
garbage cans behind the café.”

Tharyn nodded. “I know about that.”

“Does this bother you?”

“Dane, if you and the others can eat it, I can, too.”

At that moment, Nurse Thaxter entered the room with Dr. Walter Lynch on her heels. The doctors smiled at each other and shook hands.

Looking toward Tharyn, Dr. Harris said, “I checked her over.”

“Yes,” said Lynch. “Mrs. Thaxter told me. What do you think?”

“She looks all right to me. I think the initial shock has worn off now.”

“That’s my opinion, too. She’s doing much better.”

“So when will you release her?”

“If she’s still doing as well tomorrow morning, I’ll release her by noon.”

“Good. Dane and I will be in church services in the morning, but we’ll come to the hospital to pick her up right after the morning service. We’ll be here about twelve-thirty.”

“That will be fine, Dr. Harris. I’m fully optimistic about being able to release her at that time.”

“Dr. Lynch, has anything been said to you about when the funeral for Tharyn’s parents will be held?”

“No. I haven’t heard any word on that. You probably should check with the police department.”

“I will.”

Dane was standing next to Tharyn’s bed, and as the funeral was mentioned, he felt her tense up. He took hold of her hand and gave it a good squeeze. She looked into his eyes, showing gratitude in her expression.

Betty Thaxter moved to the head of the bed. “Well, Tharyn, it’s time for your sedative. We want you to sleep well tonight.”

Dr. Harris said, “Dane, we need to be going.”

“Dr. Harris, it was good to see you again,” said Dr. Lynch. “Any date set on your retirement?”

Dane’s head came around at Lynch’s question.

“Sometime in the next six months,” said Harris. “This old body is demanding it.”

“I understand,” said Lynch, who was barely in his fifties. “This city’s going to lose one of its very finest doctors when that happens.”

Harris smiled. “Thank you, Doctor.”

The two physicians shook hands, and Dr. Lynch hurried away.

Tharyn looked up at Dr. Harris. “Thank you for coming.”

“My pleasure, Tharyn. See you tomorrow.”

She turned her eyes on Dane. “Thank you for caring enough to take me into your colony.”

Dane patted her arm. “Hey, a big brother should care about his little sister.”

Tears filmed her eyes. “Thank you for being my big brother.”

“I always kissed my little sister, Diane, good night, so now I will do that with you.” He bent down and planted a tender kiss on her forehead.

Tharyn’s tears began spilling down her cheeks as she watched Dane and the elderly Dr. Harris go out the door.

As Dr. Harris was driving Dane toward the neighborhood where his colony lived, Dane turned on the seat and looked at him by the light of the lamps along the way. “Dr. Harris, I didn’t know you were making plans to retire.”

The doctor guided the horse around a corner, then met Dane’s gaze.

“It’s just about time, son. Like I told Dr. Lynch, this old body is demanding it.”

Dane nodded. “Yes, sir,” he said with a sad tone in his voice. “You said you were planning to retire sometime in the next six months.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Then what?”

“It looks like we’ll be moving to Roanoke, Virginia, so we can live close to our son and his family.”

“I see. Well … ah … it would be nice if you could live close to them.” He paused briefly, then asked, “How will you get Lawanda to Virginia, since she’s afraid of people? I mean, how could you get her on a train?”

“We won’t be able to do that. We’ll have to buy a covered wagon and drive down.”

“Oh. Sure. That would work. Six months, huh?”

“Well, that all depends on how soon I can find a young doctor to take over my practice. Shouldn’t be too hard. The hospitals in the five boroughs have a great number of young medical school graduates doing their internship, and they’re chomping at the bit to finish that so they can get into their own practices.”

“Guess I don’t have to tell you, sir, but I’m going to miss you. I … I sure hope whatever doctor takes over your practice will look after my little colony like you do.”

Dr. Harris chuckled. “That will have to be part of the agreement when the sale is made, Dane. I promise.”

Soon the doctor pulled the buggy up to the end of the alley where Dane’s friends were watching for him. Dr. Harris told him he would pick him up at the usual time in the morning, and Dane jumped out of the buggy and hurried to his friends. They quickly gathered around him, wanting to know how Tharyn was doing and if she was going to join them.

They were glad when Dane told them she was doing well and was indeed going to join them.

Later, in his cardboard box, Dane fell asleep praying for Tharyn.

After church the next day, Dr. Harris and Dane drove to the hospital. They entered the lobby and approached the front desk.

The receptionist smiled at the doctor as they drew up. “Hello, Dr. Harris. Nice to see you.”

“You too, Isabel. My young friend and I are here to pick up a thirteen-year-old girl named Tharyn Myers. She’s in room 123. Has Dr. Lynch released her?”

Isabel looked down at a sheet of paper before her. “Yes, he has, Doctor. You will need to pay the bill at the cashier’s desk.”

“All right. Thank you.”

As Harris and the boy drew up to the cashier’s desk, the cashier had a sour look on her face as she was reading a book that she had laid before her on the desk. She looked up. “Yes?”

“I’m Dr. Lee Harris, ma’am. I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”

“I’m new here, Doctor.”

“Oh.” He noted the name plate on the desk corner. “Hazel Callahan.”

“Yes. What can I do for you?”

“My young friend and I are here to pick up Tharyn Myers, room 123. Dr. Lynch has released her.”

Hazel glanced at a sheet of paper to her left and studied it a moment. “Yes, he has. The bill is twelve dollars.”

Dane was a bit surprised that the bill was that much. Reaching into his pocket, he said, “I’m sort of Tharyn’s brother, ma’am. It’s up to me to pay the bill, but I only have two dollars right now. I have a job, and I’ll pay the rest as soon as I can.”

As he spoke, Dane pulled two crumpled one-dollar bills from his pocket and handed them to her.

She laid them on top of the desk, smoothed them out, then looked at Dane. “I don’t know how you can be ‘sort of’ someone’s brother. Anyhow, I must have the full amount before the
patient can be released.”

“But that’s all I have, ma’am. I told you I will pay the rest of it as soon as I can.”

Dr. Harris was looking on silently.

“That just won’t do, young man,” said Hazel Callahan. “Hospital policy says payment in full right now.”

There was deep frustration on Dane’s face.

Dr. Harris laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Dane, I admire you for what you’re trying to do. You’re a special young man. It’s all right; I’ll take care of the bill for Tharyn.” He pulled out his wallet and extracted twelve dollars.

Dane looked up at him, eyes wide.

To the cashier, Harris said firmly, “Give him back his two dollars, ma’am.” He laid the money in front of her.

The woman handed Dane his money, then looked up at the doctor. “It doesn’t matter to me who pays, just so the bill gets paid in full.”

Harris nodded.

She marked the bill Paid, and handed it to him.

“Thank you, ma’am,” the physician said, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled at her. “I hope your day gets better as it goes along.”

Her mouth fell open, but she said nothing.

The doctor and the boy walked away toward the corridor that would lead them to room 123; smiles gracing both their faces.

As they headed down the hall, Dane said, “Dr. Harris, I know you’re not wallowing in money.” He pulled out the two one-dollar bills. “Take these. I’ll pay you back the other ten as soon as I can.”

“I’ll be fine, son. You keep that money. You need it far worse than I do.”

“But—”

“No buts, Dane. I’ll be fine. Put that money back in your pocket.”

Shaking his head as he stuffed the bills back in his pocket, he said, “I’ve never met anyone like you, Dr. Harris.”

The doctor chuckled. “Well, one like me in your lifetime is enough, don’t you think?”

They were drawing up to Tharyn’s room. “This world would be a lot better off if there were
millions
like you, sir.”

When they stepped into the room, Nurse Donna Yetter had Tharyn dressed and ready to go.

When Tharyn, Dane, and the doctor were seated in the buggy, Dane turned to Tharyn. “Dr. Harris and I were talking on our way over here. Would you like to go by your old apartment and pick up some of your clothes? It’s pretty warm now, but you know come fall and winter, New York will be cold and damp.”

“That would be good, Dane. I’ll need my clothes, even the summer ones.”

“Just point me the way, children,” said the doctor.

Traffic held them up some, but they pulled up in front of the apartment nearly forty-five minutes after they had left the hospital.

When Tharyn first looked at the spot where the team and wagon had hit her parents and Aunt Althea, a chill slithered down her backbone.

Dane was having his own thoughts about the incident as he helped Tharyn out of the buggy. Dr. Harris joined them as they headed toward the steps. Dane felt Tharyn tense up a bit and sensed her reluctance to enter the building. Tharyn was thinking that this had been her home since birth. She was struggling with the memories that were passing through her mind.

Dane took her hand.

As they entered the foyer, a door to one side opened, and a white-haired woman stepped out. “Hello, Tharyn, dear. I’m so terribly sorry about your parents. I was hoping you would come by.
We had to rent out the apartment this morning. My husband and I packed up all of your family’s things. Would you like to take them now?”