Whispers in the Wind (26 page)

“I’ll do that for sure, sir.”

“Well, Dane, I’ve got to keep moving. We’re pulling out at dawn. Let’s have prayer together.”

Dr. Harris and his young friend prayed together, then as the doctor rose to his feet, he said, “Dane, you and I may never see each other again on this earth, but we’ll meet in heaven.”

Tears filmed Dane’s eyes. “Yes, sir. I’ll meet both you and Mrs. Harris in heaven.”

Dane watched the doctor and the guard go out the door, and a moment later, the guard who was to escort him back to his cell came in and gave the bag to him.

The next evening as the sun was setting over Manhattan, the orphans in the alley had very little to eat for supper. Their breakfast had been very light, and they had not eaten lunch. Each one was definitely showing a loss of weight, and their faces were taking on the sallow look that was caused by malnutrition.

As the night chill began to settle over them, they stood in a circle around a metal trash can in which the boys had built a fire.

Tharyn rubbed her arms briskly. “I sure do miss Dane. I hope the Lord gets him out of that prison soon.”

The others spoke their agreement.

Bessie Evans said, “Not only do we miss Dane, but we miss the money he always put in the kitty.”

Nettie Olson looked at Russell. “Are we going to starve to death?”

Russell shook his head. “No, Nettie. The Lord is going to provide more food for us, but He wants us to pray harder, so we will do just that. Let’s pray right now, even before we have Bible reading.”

Russell and the older ones led in heartfelt prayer, asking God to provide the food they needed very soon. They also begged Him to let Dane be cleared of the crime so he could be released from prison and come back to them.

When they had finished praying, a chilly breeze whipped down the alley. They scattered to get their coats from their cardboard boxes.

When they returned to the fire, buttoning up their coats, they all noticed Tharyn standing there by herself.

She had no coat.

Russell slipped out of his coat. “Here, Tharyn. You can wear mine.”

She shook her head. “No, Russell. You need your coat.”

“I’ve got another one. Here, put this on.”

When he had helped Tharyn into the coat, he returned to his cardboard box, took out an old tattered coat and was putting it on as he returned to the group.

Tharyn eyed the coat. “Russell, where did you get that?”

He grinned at her. “I found it in a trash receptacle last winter, and I’ve been keeping it in my box as a spare.”

She frowned. “Then let me wear that one. You need this coat.”

Russell shook his head vigorously. “You keep that one. I want you as warm as possible.”

Tharyn’s eyes showed her appreciation. “How can I thank you for being so good to me?”

“No need,” said Russell. “Could we talk for just a minute?”

“Well, of course.”

While the others watched with interest, Russell took Tharyn by the hand and led her a few steps away. He bent close, keeping
his voice so only she could hear him. “Tharyn, I want you to know that I love you. I would do anything in the world for you.”

There was enough light from the fire reaching them, that Russell could see Tharyn blush.

“Tharyn, someday you and I will be old enough to get serious about each other. And—and when we are, I want to marry you.”

She gave him a strange look, but did not reply.

“I know you think a lot of Dane. So do I. But to you, he is your big brother. So even when he gets out of prison, he’ll still be your big brother. But someday, I want to be your husband.”

Tharyn said in a whisper, “I’m only thirteen, Russell. I’m too young to be in love. But—but maybe someday if we’re still together when we’re old enough to get serious, we might fall in love with each other. This will be up to God’s plan for our lives.”

This was enough to make Russell feel better. Later, when they had all gone to bed in their cardboard boxes, he prayed and asked the Lord to keep him and Tharyn close together as they grew into adulthood so they could fall in love and become husband and wife.

In Denver, Colorado, late in the afternoon on Thursday, October 19, attorney Mike Ross entered the post office to pick up the day’s mail before going home.

Ross greeted a man and his wife who were on their way out, then moved up to the counter where postmaster Harvey Thompson said, “Howdy, Mike. How goes the lawyer business today?”

Ross chuckled. “Well, it’s not as lucrative as being in the post office business, but we’re scraping by.”

Thompson laughed. “Who do you think you’re kidding?”

Ross noted a new face behind the counter. “And who’s this?”

Griffin looked at the young man, then back at the attorney. “Mike Ross, meet Ed Griffin, my new clerk.”

Mike reached over the counter and shook Griffin’s hand. “Where are you from, Ed?”

“Colorado Springs. This job opened up here with Harvey, so I applied for it, and here I am.”

“Well, good. I hope you’ll like Denver.”

“I already do.”

“Ed’s a Christian, Mike,” said Thompson. “He’ll be coming to our church on Sunday.”

Mike smiled. “Hey, great! Ed, I’ll look forward to seeing you at church. And I’ll probably see you when I come in for the mail tomorrow.”

Harvey turned and reached into one of the many cubbyholes behind him as Ed said to Ross, “If I ever need an attorney, you’ll be my man, sir.”

“Fine,” said Mike.

Harvey turned back with a bundle of mail in his hands. He gave Mike a sly grin, then looked at Ed. “I can recommend an attorney who’s a lot less expensive.”

Mike laughed. “You scalawag!”

Harvey laughed louder. “Here’s your mail, Mr. Expensive Attorney.”

Mike accepted the bundle. “Thank you, sir.”

“How are Jerry, Theresa, and Mandy doing?” Then he chuckled. “After all, I haven’t seen them since last night at church.”

“Our children are doing fine, Harvey. And guess what?”

“What?”

“We’re about to get another one.”

“Really?”

“Mm-hmm. I’m expecting a letter any day from the Children’s Aid Society.”

Harvey’s eyes widened. “Hey, come to think of it, I remember seeing a letter from them today when I put the mail in your box. It’s in that bundle.”

Mike unfolded the bundle and began sifting through the envelopes. He grinned. “Ah, here it is! I just have to go ahead and open it right now.”

He laid the rest of the mail on the counter and tore the envelope open. The two men looked on as his eyes ran quickly across the lines and down the letter. The grin on his face spread from ear to ear. “Oh, I can hardly wait to get home and tell Julie and the kids the good news! They’ll be so excited. Praise the Lord, another sweet child to raise for Him!”

“Tell me about it, Mike,” said Harvey.

“Well, Mr. Brace says here that our next child is a blind girl whose name is Leanne Ladd. She’s thirteen years old, and she’ll be arriving on the orphan train that is leaving New York on November 6. It will arrive here in Denver on the tenth.”

Ed Griffin had a puzzled look on his face.

Harvey nodded. “Well, I’m glad you and Julie are getting your fourth child. Are you still planning on adopting five?”

“Well, that’s the plan for now, but who knows? Every child we take is so special in his or her own way. We feel so honored that God has chosen us for this most special mission. I have a feeling that if Charles Loring Brace has more unique children who need a loving home, we will take them into ours. Julie is so dedicated to the ones we have, and it is such a joy to watch her work with them.

“You know, Harvey, Jerry, Theresa, and Mandy have already come to know the Lord. We’re so glad Jerry has matured in his mind enough to understand about salvation.”

“Oh yes. It was only a few months ago when he got saved, wasn’t it?”

“Uh-huh. July. And he’s learning better all the time. We thank the Lord for that. And now, according to this letter, the Lord is blessing us with another precious child. There is something so delightful about a houseful of happy children, and Julie and I
wouldn’t trade what we have for anything. If need be, we can always add another room onto the house and I can hire a lady to come in and help Julie.”

Harvey shook his head in wonderment. “You two are so generous and kind. The world could use more like you.”

Mike glanced at the clock on the wall behind the counter. “Whoops! Here I stand talking on and on. I’ve got to get home and tell Julie this very welcome news, and besides, we’re having John and Breanna Brockman for supper tonight. Don’t want to be late!”

Harvey laughed. “The chief U.S. marshal just might slap you in jail for tardiness!”

Mike laughed and hurried out the door, carrying the bundle of mail.

Ed Griffin looked at the postmaster, wide-eyed. “I’ve heard much about Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman. Before he was a lawman, he was simply known as the Stranger, wasn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

“He rode all over the West, helping people who were in trouble and bringing outlaws to justice.”

“Oh, did he ever!”

“I’d sure like to meet him sometime, Mr. Thompson.”

Harvey laid a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll get to meet him Sunday at church. That is, unless he has some kind of emergency, which often happens in his business.”

Ed’s eyes grew wider yet. “You mean Marshal Brockman is a Christian?”

“He sure is, and a fine one, too. He is also a tremendous preacher. The pastor has him preach quite often.”

“Well, I didn’t know this. I’ve been told that Brockman is lightning fast on the draw.”

“You never saw a faster one. Several oudaws have tried to out-draw him. Some of them are now six feet under. Others are behind
bars. John tries not to kill them when they challenge him, but sometimes he just can’t avoid it.”

“Some kind of guy, I’ll say. I’ve also heard that his wife is a nurse.”

“Correct. Mrs. Brockman is a certified medical nurse. She works for Dr. Lyle Goodwin at the Goodwin Clinic. Dr. Goodwin also shares her with Mile High Hospital when her services are needed there.”

Ed nodded. “Ah … are the Ross’s other two adopted children also handicapped? It sort of sounded like it.”

“Yes, they are. You see, early in their marriage, Julie gave birth to a little boy who was severely retarded. Little Danny died on his second birthday. Julie had a hard time delivering Danny, and can’t give birth to any more children. However, Danny so touched their lives in the short time they had him, that a few years later, Mike and Julie decided they wanted to adopt some handicapped orphan children so they could take care of them and give them a loving home.”

“They sure are marvelous people.”

At that moment, two customers came in, and after they had been taken care of and were gone, Ed said, “Tell me about the children the Rosses have right now.”

“Well, Jerry was the first one they adopted. He’s eight years old. They got him when he was five. Theresa, the second orphan they adopted, was born with deformed legs. They got her when she was five, too. She just turned seven, and is confined to a wheelchair. But, praise the Lord, she is just now beginning to try to learn to walk with crutches. It’s slow, but she’s making headway. The third orphan, Mandy, was born deaf. She is ten years old. They have had her less than a year.”

“I’ll say it again. Those are marvelous people. So I assume they got each of these children from the orphan trains.”

“Yes. They had heard about the Children’s Aid Society and the
orphan trains several years ago, but it wasn’t until just a little over three years ago that they decided to contact Charles Loring Brace. Mike wrote to Brace, saying he understood that the Society sometimes took in handicapped orphans, but found it difficult to place them here in the West because most prospective foster parents didn’t want a child who was handicapped in any way. In the letter, he told Brace about little Danny, and explained that he and Julie would like to adopt a handicapped child.

“Brace wrote back and said he would let him know next time they took in a handicapped child. Just a few weeks later, a letter came from Brace saying they had little Jerry, who was mentally slow. Mike immediately sent a telegram to Brace, saying they would take him. So, Jerry was put on the very next orphan train that was coming through Denver. It also worked this way with Theresa and Mandy. And as you heard, this next one is a blind girl they will take off the orphan train on November 10.”

Ed smiled. “Well, I’ll say it once more. They most certainly are marvelous people.”

“I wholeheartedly agree. The average couple couldn’t afford to take in these handicapped children, even if they wanted to, but the Lord has blessed Mike’s law firm exceptionally well. And I believe this is one reason for it.”

W
hen Mike Ross opened the front door of his large two-story red-brick home, the tantalizing aroma of baked chicken and dressing greeted him. As he closed the door behind him, he heard familiar voices at the rear of the house and headed down the hall toward the kitchen.

Happy chatter met his ears as he drew nearer the kitchen. “Thank You, Lord,” he whispered, “for Your abundant blessings to Julie and me. That sweet sound coming from those precious children is heavenly music to my ears. And soon there’ll be another one to add her own happy sounds to this household.”

When he stepped into the kitchen, ten-year-old Mandy was first to see him. As Mike was making hand signals to tell Mandy he loved her, she cried, “Papa!” and dashed to him, arms open wide.

Julie was at the stove, checking the contents of the oven, and turned to see her husband place the bundle of mail on a small table beside the kitchen door, then fold Mandy into his arms. She smiled while Mike was kissing the top of Mandy’s head. “You’re late, Mr. Ross, and we’ve got company coming for supper!”

Mike glanced at her, but was instantly jumped on by Jerry, who dashed in front of Theresa as she leaned forward in her wheelchair and spun the wheels to go to her father.

Letting go of Mandy, Mike leaned down and took Jerry
up into his arms. “How’s Papa’s big boy?”