Hannah's Journey (7 page)

“Why, it’s Miss Cooper from the tea room,” Margaret said.

“Yes. How nice to see you again, Mrs. Logan.”

When David had greeted Miss Cooper, they all turned to Hannah.

“How are you feeling this morning, Hannah? Dr. Layton says you’re doing fine. He’s coming in shortly.”

“I’m feeling much better. Miss Cooper kept me company.”

“If you will excuse me, I must get back to my duties,” said Sylvia. “It’s so nice to see you all, and I’ll keep a special eye on Hannah.” She turned to the patient. “Bye for now. I’ll see you later.”

“What a nice young lady,” Aunt Margaret remarked. “Now, why don’t you open some of these gifts before Caroline explodes.”

Hannah’s eyes shone. She wasn’t used to seeing so many presents at one time. Choosing a pink package tied with a silky bow, she unwrapped it and gave a soft cry.

The dress she thought as ruined lay before her with no trace of the stains left. “Please thank Delia for me,” said Hannah, smoothing the dress with her fingers.

“Open mine now, Hannah” Caroline begged. She clasped her hands and bounced on tiptoe as she waited for the package to be opened.

Hannah laughed at Caroline’s impatience and untied the ribbon. Reaching in, she drew out a narrow gold bracelet. Looking at the little girl, Hannah said, “Oh, Caroline, thank you. What a beautiful bracelet.” She immediately slipped in on her wrist, turning it this way and that to admire the light that danced off the shiny bangle.

Caroline sighed. “You’re welcome. I picked it out all by myself.”

Hannah didn’t expect anything else from the Logans since they had brought a lovely bouquet of colorful flowers, but Uncle David reached into his pocket and withdrew a white envelope.

“Here’s something we’re sure will make you happy, Hannah.”

Curious, Hannah took the envelope and saw that the return address was that of Miss Sutton, the matron who made the trip to Texas with the children. She tore open the letter.

“You don’t mind if I read it right now, do you?” She looked at the Logans.

“No, please go ahead, Hannah.”

Pulling out the single sheet, Hannah’s eyes raced over the paper. “Oh,” she cried.

“What’s happened, Hannah?” Margaret Logan asked. “Not bad news, I hope.”

“I—I don’t know. Miss Sutton heard from Teddy’s new family. He’s run away.”

CHAPTER TEN – A HEROIN’S REWARD

The Logans looked concerned as Hannah’s face registered sadness over the news. Caroline reached over and patted her hand.

“Why would he run away?” Hannah asked, looking from Aunt Margaret to Uncle David. The Logans knew Teddy as Hannah’s special friend.

Uncle David spoke, “Hannah, dear, I’ll get in touch with Miss Sutton to see if there has been anymore news. Right now, you need to concentrate on getting well. Promise us that you won’t worry.”

Hannah nodded. A knock on the door brought Dr. Layton into the room.

“Good morning, all. How are you feeling today, Hannah?”

Hannah swallowed and replied, “I’m fine, Doctor.”

The doctor looked closely at Hannah’s face, but said nothing more until he spoke to Caroline. “Why don’t you stay and visit with Hannah while I talk with your parents? As soon as the three of them left, Caroline started to question Hannah about hospital routine. Her mouth made a circle of wonder when Hannah reported that she had eaten two bowls of ice cream last night.

Fifteen minutes later, Hannah looked up to see the Logans and Dr. Layton return. Each face wore a serious expression.

“Hannah,” said Aunt Margaret, “the doctor has something to tell you. Uncle David will take Caroline outside. If you want me to stay, I’d like to very much.”

“Yes, please stay.”

Margaret Logan sat down and took Hannah’s hand. “Go ahead, Dr. Layton.”

“I’ll explain, Hannah, and you can make your own decision on what I have in mind.”

Hannah nodded and he continued.

“When Mr. Logan first brought you in, your concussion and badly sprained ankle concerned us. Then, during our examination, we found that your leg is out of line. The Logans told me that this problem stemmed from birth.”

Hannah looked intently at Dr. Layton, wondering what he would say next.

“Recently, we’ve learned some new techniques in treating this condition, and with your permission and that of your guardian’s, we’d like to try the treatment. I think we can say that with the surgery and a regimen of exercise throughout the summer, you’ll go back to school in the fall without the need of your leg brace. Would you like that?”

Hannah’s mind refused to believe the news. The first thing she blurted out brought laughter from the adults. “My leg brace! I left it in the pavilion.”

“We’ll rescue your brace, Hannah, but I don’t think you’ll need it,” Aunt Margaret said.

“Perhaps you can keep it for a souvenir,” said Dr. Layton, adding to the fun. A knock, followed by Uncle David’s head appearing around the door, caused more hilarity when he asked, in a puzzled voice, “What’s going on in here? I thought this was a serious conversation.”

Dr. Layton explained Hannah’s first reaction. “Now, what do you think, Hannah? I must add, if you decide to do it, we’ll operate in a few days after we do some more tests.”

Caroline chimed in. “Oh, please do it, Hannah. Just think, next year you can join in the races, too.” The Logans had broad smiles on their faces as they waited to hear her decision.

Hannah looked at her new family. They were so happy for

her. The thought of an operation was scary, but if it meant she could walk straight again, she’d do it. Papa would be so happy when she walked to him without the brace.

Hannah gazed at the expectant faces and said in a voice that trembled, “Yes, I’ll have the operation, Dr. Layton.” As she said this, her tears joined with others in the room.

As Hannah woke the next morning, a soft knock announced Sylvia Cooper. Peering around the door, the young woman said with a smile, “Good morning. How about some breakfast? After that, I understand you’re having company, but it’s a surprise. I can’t tell you who.”

Hannah tried to guess the identity of her visitors as she demolished eggs, toast and milk. Miss Cooper just smiled and wouldn’t reveal the secret. After her meal, the young woman offered to fix Hannah’s hair. She braided the long locks and tied the ends with yellow ribbons. Hannah was reminded of the lock Teddy cut.

“Yellow is a happy color, and I think you’ll find today is a happy day,” Miss Cooper said as she left, closing the door behind her.

Hannah waited, fidgeting so much her sprained ankle gave her a twinge. Moments later, a knock sounded on her door accompanied by muffled whispers and shuffling in the hall outside her room.

“Come in,” Hannah called, her excitement barely contained.

The door swung in and Hannah found herself looking at her teacher, Miss Trent, followed by Mr. Dobbs, the principal, and a gentleman she didn’t know. Right behind them came Uncle David and Aunt Margaret. Caroline stood with Hannah’s classmates in the hallway. Some raised themselves on tiptoe to watch the proceedings. Hannah could only stare at the crowd.

Hello, Hannah. How are you?” Miss Trent greeted her. I’ve brought some friends to see you, as well as Mr. Morris, the Mayor of Lafitte. He has something for you.”

Hannah could hardly manage a “how do you do?” Her mind

refused to comprehend the scene. She could only wait and watch as events unfolded before her.

While most of the children giggled and scuffed the floor with their shoes, Mr. Morris stepped up to Hannah’s bedside. Clearing his throat he announced in a deep voice, “Hannah Monroe, on behalf of the people of the city, I am pleased to present you with this certificate of appreciation. You put aside your own safety to rescue a classmate, and the people of Lafitte are very proud of you. Your bravery makes you a true heroine, and we thank you.”

Everyone applauded as Hannah blushed and thanked the Mayor. Looking out into the hallway, she saw her classmates applauding and smiling at her.

Miss Trent spoke again, “Hannah, we have another surprise for you.”

The children in the hall moved aside and into the room stepped Miss Cooper pushing a wheelchair. In it sat Rosie. Hannah gasped when she saw the girl. A cast covered her leg as well as her left arm. Bandages wrapped around the top of her head, but she managed a smile as she looked straight at Hannah.

“Hannah, I wanna thank you for saving me, and to tell you I’m sorry for all the bad things I did.” Rosie sat back in the wheelchair, looking shy and pleased at the same time. At her words, the rest of the class cheered so loudly, an aide passing by cautioned them to remember that they were in a hospital. But she smiled as she said it. The children placed their fingers over their lips and shushed one another. Excitement ran high.

Uncle David and Aunt Margaret beamed, and Caroline told anyone who would listen that “Hannah’s my big sister.” After a few more congratulations, one from Dr. Layton, who stopped in, the crowd left.

Miss Cooper pushed Rosie’s chair back to her room, but not before the injured girl promised to come back and see Hannah later.

As she lay back on the pillows, Hannah thought about the exciting morning. She picked up the certificate, and read it again while tracing her fingers over the inscription. Everything had been so wonderful, but nothing thrilled her as much as Rosie’s change of heart and the friendliness of her classmates. She felt truly accepted.

Later that afternoon, Dr. Layton paid another visit to explain the operation. “I’ve scheduled the surgery three days from now. Until then, we need to do some tests. I know how brave you acted during the tornado, and I know you’ll continue to be.”

Hannah hoped he was right. She forgot about the operation when Rosie returned to the room and questioned her about the rescue. Rosie remembered nothing after seeing the funnel cloud.

“Tom Valentine and Uncle David got you out, Rosie.”

“Well, you found me and got them there,” Rosie said. “They couldn’t have done it without you.”

Hannah felt she had made a friend for life.

Her last visitor, Miss Cooper, assured Hannah she would wait with the Logans while the surgery took place. “We’ll all be rooting for you.”

* * * *

Hannah awoke slowly. Her head felt light and her mouth dry. Glancing around, she found Aunt Margaret sitting beside the bed. The door opened to admit Uncle David, and both spoke at once.

“How do you feel Hannah?”

“A little woozy.” She lifted her hand and let it drop back to the bed.

“You’ll be fine. Dr. Layton assured us that the operation went just as he expected,” Uncle David said.

“You have a job ahead of you, though. You’ll have an exercise regimen to follow, but the doctor thinks by the end of summer, you’ll walk without your brace,” Aunt Margaret said. “We spoke to Miss Cooper and she has agreed to come three times a week to help you with your exercises. Her two regular piano students are going on a long holiday with their parents, so she has the time. How does that sound?”

“That sounds wonderful. I like Miss Cooper and the time will go by faster having a friend to work with. Oh, why didn’t Caroline come with you?”

“She has a little temperature. She wanted to come, but she sends her love and will see you another time.”

“Please tell her to feel better soon,” Hannah said, thinking of the enchanting child.

“We will,” Uncle David said. “One other thing, Hannah. I’ve sent a letter to Miss Sutton and as soon as I get a reply to my inquiry, I’ll let you know. So now all you have to do is get well and come home soon.”

“I promise to do just what Dr. Layton says I should. And I want to thank you both for all you’ve done for me. I know Papa would want me to thank you, too.”

“You’re welcome, Hannah. Now, do get some rest and you’ll be home before you know it.”

How good that word home sounded to Hannah. My home is Texas now, she thought, and renewed the promise to herself that as soon as she could, the search for her father would begin.

CHAPTER ELEVEN – ANOTHER GIFT

Two weeks after surgery, Hannah went home. Dr. Layton admonished her again to follow his instructions, promising her that she would walk again without her brace. Hannah wondered if any other girls in Lafitte were as lucky as she. The only shadow on the horizon was the letter received from Miss Sutton. In it, the matron wrote that the family who had taken Teddy said it puzzled them that he had run away. He seemed happy and went about his tasks cheerfully. Then one morning he just didn’t appear. When they searched his room, they found a note. In it, Teddy said he just wasn’t cut out for farm life and wanted to try his fortunes elsewhere. Hannah could only hope that wherever he had gone, Teddy would stay safe and their promises to each other would come true someday.

* * * *

Faithful to her word, Miss Cooper visited with Hannah three days a week and put her through the sometimes painful exercises necessary to ensure her leg remained straight and strong. Hannah spent most of her time in a wheelchair with Caroline as a willing helper when she needed a push. The girls spent a lot of time on the shady front gallery that wrapped around three sides of the house. Hannah read to Caroline and helped with her writing and numbers. Caroline proved an apt pupil and learned quickly.

One afternoon, just as Hannah finished reading Caroline a story from her favorite book of fairy tales, they saw Mr. Kelsey drive up. The jolly round man had built a business by delivering and hauling things for the people of Lafitte. With him were his two husky sons who helped with the jobs. The Kelseys had rigged up a sturdy cart with high sides that was pulled by a pair of handsome bays.

Today, the girls saw an odd-shaped object in the cart covered with a canvas cloth. Curious, they watched as he came toward the house.

“Good afternoon, ladies, I’ve brought something I think you’ll like.”

Aunt Margaret came out of the house, the screen door slamming behind her. She wiped sticky hands on her apron. She and Delia had been preserving peaches. The sweet smell of the fruit bubbling on the stove followed her.