The Rough Rider (7 page)

At that moment, Dr. Templeton came forward and joined their little circle. “I’m glad to find you together, Miss Summers and Miss Laurent. I have a surprise for you both.” He put his hands behind his back, swayed forward, rolling on his toes and back on his heels, and turned his head to one side. It was an affectation that he often used when pontificating, and Burns knew that something was about to be announced in his usual grandiose manner. Looking at the four of them, he nodded to Agnes Smith and said, “Mrs. Smith already knows the secret that neither you two ladies, nor you, Dr. Burns, know yet.”

“What is it?” Burns asked curiously.

“I have decided—and Mrs. Smith concurs with my decision—to offer these two ladies permanent positions with Baxter Hospital.”

Gail was astonished, her hand going quickly to her mouth. She blinked her eyes twice, then cried, “Oh, that’s wonderful, Dr. Templeton! I’m so grateful to you. I’ll do the very best I can!”

Deborah, at once, nodded. She was much quieter, but there was a smile on her lips. “Yes, it is an honor, Doctor. We will both try to hold the standards high.”

As soon as Dr. Templeton was satisfied with the outcome of his news, he turned and left. Dr. Burns turned to the three and said, “Well, it’s time for a celebration—all on me! Come on, Agnes, I’m buying lunch.”

Agnes was surprised at the invitation, for she did not receive many, and nodded in agreement at once.

Gail and Deborah hurried to get their coats, and the four of them left the hospital. Dr. Burns led them down the street to a respectable restaurant, the Deluxe, where he sometimes ate. He ushered his three guests inside, and when the head waiter came over, he requested a good table, saying loudly, “We have two new medical assistants here who deserve the very best!”

“Oh, Doctor, you shouldn’t say that,” Gail whispered as he led her to the table.

“Nonsense!” he said airily, waving his hand around. “I believe in tooting the horn when it’s deserved.” He seated the three women personally, then took a seat. When the waiter came, the doctor asked, “What’s the specialty of the hoose? Never mind, we’ll have it! Bring four orders of it.”

Gail sat there thoroughly enjoying the time. She had eaten out on occasion at a couple of inexpensive restaurants, but the Deluxe was fancier than anything she’d ever seen.

The decor of the restaurant was done in rich wood that was cast in a golden tone from the lights that burned about the dining room. Each table was covered with a crisp white tablecloth and more silverware than Gail had ever seen. She felt honored to have been invited to such an establishment, and even more so with friends who had stood by her and helped her turn her situation around for the better. She smiled to herself at her good fortune, and looked up to see the waiter returning with their meal. The specialty turned out to be steak, baked potatoes, and vegetables.

Burns talked rapidly and Deborah smiled warmly at him, saying, “I didn’t know you were such a host, Dr. Burns. You’ve been hiding your true talents.”

“Well, this is a celebration and a victory,” he smiled. “I propose a toast to Miss Deborah Laurent and Miss Gail Summers—the latest and brightest lights in the medical field.”

“Hear! Hear!” Agnes said unexpectedly, adding her own words. “If all of my girls were as dedicated as these two, I wouldn’t have all of my gray hairs.”

As they enjoyed their meal, Dr. Burns happened to mention the gold strike in the Klondike, which was appearing in the headlines of every newspaper across the country. It caught the interest of Deborah at once, who always seemed to be knowledgeable of everything that was happening. She was an avid reader of newspapers and magazines. She spoke up and said, “I think the whole country’s gone mad, or so it seems, over gold. I recently read that the streetcars in Seattle had to stop running because of the thousands of gold seekers who’ve come there filling the streets.”

“That’s right—I read the article. Men are acting like fools! Some of them have sold their businesses and bought passage to Alaska, leaving everything they had behind.”

“Strange, isn’t it—the power that gold holds over people! It makes men do crazy things—women too, I suppose.”

“Well, I don’t know,” Gail said slowly. She was looking very pretty, having saved up as much money as she could to buy a new dress for the special day that ended her term. She’d actually managed to buy a dress that had been damaged, which she had mended with the help of her mother, but it looked splendid on her. It had a white collar and puffed sleeves with blue lace. The dress, itself, was a pale blue that fell to the floor. The hem was also laced with blue ribbon. Her hair was pressed flat to her head and she wore a hat, the first she had ever owned.

She toyed with her glass and said, “I can understand a little, I think. Life gets so boring and hard for some people. You can understand why they run off to look for gold.”

Dr. Burns stared at her thoughtfully. He knew more now about her difficult childhood and nodded slowly. “I believe you’re right,” he said. “Only it’s not just poor people, but wealthy men selling everything and going.” He shook his head. “Money and gold are just a disease. Most of them will come back broke.”

“Or get eaten by a polar bear! They ought to just stay home and work.”

The doctor laughed and said, “Well, I guess I’m ready for dessert.” He signaled for the waiter, who brought out four plates of apple pie, each with a large dollop of ice cream on top. Agnes tried to protest, saying she was satisfied, but when the others told her to help them spend the good doctor’s money, she chuckled and joined them heartily.

“I’ve been reading a lot about what is happening in Cuba,” Deborah said. “It looks like there could be serious trouble down there.”

“I don’t know much about that,” Burns said. “What’s happening?”

“Oh, the Spaniards have been persecuting the Cuban people. They sent out a general, named Weyler—Butcher Weyler—and he slaughtered the poor Cubans by the thousands. It’s awful! Look at this!” She fumbled through her reticule and pulled out a picture.

The three leaned forward to look at it and passed it around. It was a line drawing of a beautiful young girl standing naked and helpless as rugged Spanish soldiers pawed through her clothing.

“Why—this is awful!” Gail cried. She handed the picture back to Deborah.

Deborah shrugged and replaced the picture. “Well, it’s just some artist’s concept, and it’s from Mr. Hearst’s paper. He always makes the worst of everything.”

“Now, no more talk of wars and gold in the Klondike! Let’s have another toast for our newest additions.”

They held up their glasses once more and Dr. Burns said solemnly, “To the courage of those who follow their stars and become what God has intended them to become.” The seriousness of his face and the solemn timbre of his voice affected all three women.

“You really believe that, don’t you, Dr. Burns?” Deborah said quietly. There was a strange look on her face and she was tremendously sober. “I hope you always do!” She sipped her water after making this dramatic statement and then rose,
saying, “Dr. Burns, this was most kind of you. Thank you, but I must go, if you’ll excuse me.” She hesitated, then said, “I’m leaving town for a few days and I need to get packed.”

Agnes rose as well and said, “I’ll go with you, Deborah. I have things to do.”

Burns stood to his feet and helped the two women put on their coats. When they had left, he sat down again, a thoughtful look on his face. “Gail, where is Deborah going?” he asked.

“I don’t know. She hasn’t said a word about it until now.”

“That’s strange—you two live together. It seems like she would’ve mentioned it.”

“She’s a very private person,” Gail said slowly. “She’s very kind, but I don’t really know her. There’s something in her heart that she doesn’t share with anyone.”

They sat and visited for a while, then he said, “You’re troubled, aren’t you, Gail?”

Startled, she lifted her head. She had become very good at hiding her feelings, almost a necessity in her home. Now she was surprised at how easily the young physician had seen beneath the facade she had put on for the celebration. “It’s nothing,” she said briefly.

“Come now—tell me. It’s not like you to be downhearted.”

Gail bit her lip, then took a deep breath. “It’s Jeb—I’m worried about him.” She twisted her hands in a nervous gesture and hesitated, then she began to speak rapidly. In effect, she informed Burns that Jeb was running with a rough crowd. He was staying out all night, and her mother had said there had been reports that he was involved in criminal activities. “He’s only twelve, Dr. Burns. He’s going to end up in reform school, if something isn’t done!”

The doctor reached across the table and took Gail’s hand. She looked at him in surprise, but he held her hand firmly, noticing how strong and warm it was. He looked at her and said thoughtfully, “I’m sorry about Jeb. He’s a fine boy. Is there any chance of getting him away from the house? I’m afraid it is your stepfather and his children that are responsible.”

Gail was surprised. “You’ve seen that? I didn’t know that you had noticed.” She was very much aware of his strong hand on hers and felt awkward about it, but finally he released it and she sat back, saying, “There’s no place for him. They wouldn’t let me take him, so God will just have to step in.”

David Burns looked at her and nodded. “Then that’s just what will happen. We’ll pray for God to step in.”

****

“Look—my first salary!”

Dr. Burns smiled at Gail, who was standing before him holding up the bank notes. Her eyes were sparkling like jewels and her whole face was alight with a childlike pleasure. He thought again of how pretty she had grown. The good food, rest, and peace of the hospital had transformed her from an awkward adolescent into a mature young woman. “What’re you going to do with all that money?” he asked, smiling at her fondly.

“I’m going shopping! I’m going to spend every penny of it on presents for my family.”

“Better save some for a rainy day.”

“No—I’ve lived in rainy days all my life. Now it’s time to be foolish.”

“I guess it’s not so very foolish,” Burns said slowly. “I wish I could do the same for my family back in Scotland—maybe next year I can.”

Gail was suddenly aware that she knew little about David Burns and realized that a tinge of sadness marked his words. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “I know you must be lonesome. You don’t have any family at all in this country?”

“Not a soul. I suppose I’ll go to the mission for their service.”

“Come with me,” Gail said impulsively, “and you can carry my packages for me!” She held up the money and said, “With all this money I ought to be able to buy a lot of presents.”

“Not as many as you think,” the doctor said. “Prices are just terrible these days, but I’d be glad to go with you.”

The two of them left the hospital and caught a cab. Leaving the East Side, they made their way to Fifth Avenue where the streets were packed with holiday shoppers. They passed a Salvation Army band and stopped to listen as the trumpets blared out the sound of “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “Are You Washed in the Blood?”—another favorite. The weather was cold and the exercise had brightened their cheeks. A Salvation Army major stepped forward with a Bible and began to preach a sermon, and when he was through, Gail reached in her reticule and pulled out her small earnings. Extracting a bill, she stepped forward and dropped it into the kettle that was used as a collection plate. “Why, thank you, miss, and may God bless you and restore you a hundredfold,” the officer said, smiling at her broadly.

“That was nice of you. I never think of things like that, but it’s something I might’ve expected from you, Gail,” Dr. Burns said warmly.

Gail ignored his comment and said, “Come on—let’s start spending this money. It’s burning a hole in my purse!”

Two hours later the doctor groaned, “Are you going to look in every store on Fifth Avenue?” His voice was plaintive as he shifted the packages that he was carrying in both arms. Observing Gail in store after store, he’d discovered that growing up on the Lower East Side had taught one to be a bargainer. Some of the clerks in the Fifth Avenue stores were somewhat taken aback when the young woman with the dark blue eyes had bargained with them so relentlessly. More often than not, she had gotten them to lower their price, and now she turned to him and laughed. She had a delightful laugh, although he had not heard it too often. “You volunteered for this, Doctor! Now, take your medicine. That’s what you say to all your patients, isn’t it?”

“I don’t treat my patients as badly as you’re treating me!” Actually, Burns was having a marvelous time. He had even
joined in and insisted on buying some gifts of his own. “Since I don’t have a family here, maybe you’ll let me give some to yours,” he said.

Gail looked into her purse and said, “Well, that’s about the lot. I’ve saved enough for cab fare. I’m going to take these tonight.”

“No—the cab is on me. Are you going to wrap the presents?”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that!”

“We can go by the hospital. There’s still some wrappings there, I think.”

Returning to the hospital, they found wrappings and spent an hour in the front parlor wrapping the gifts. Agnes had come along and even come up with some brightly colored ribbons to add. As soon as they were finished, Dr. Burns and Gail left the hospital and hailed a cab. As they made their way to the tenement where the Lawson family lived, the two chatted and laughed over small things.

“I can’t ever remember feeling so happy!” Gail said. “I’ve never had anything to give to somebody before.”

“That’s not true! You’ve been giving to people all your life, especially to Jeb and your mother.”

“Yes, but this is different,” she said. She grew silent for a moment and tapped her chin thoughtfully with her forefinger. As the carriage left the more affluent part of the city and they were once more submerged into the world of Water Street, it sobered her. “There are so many who will get nothing this season,” she said quietly. “I’m so glad that God has made it possible for me to do something for my family this year.”