Whispers in the Wind (35 page)

“I’ll go there immediately. So, ah, Mr. Brace knows you’re in here, I take it.”

“Yes, sir. He has visited me. And he doesn’t believe I’m guilty of killing Benny Jackson, either.”

Mitchell rose to his feet. “Like I said, I’ll go there right now and deliver your message to Mr. Brace, or if he’s not there, I’ll give the message to someone who can pass it on to him.”

“Thanks, Mr. Bendrick. And thanks, too, for bringing my books and clothing.”

“You’re very welcome. Mrs. Bendrick and I are going to the hospital this afternoon. We want to be with Kenny when he is told about his mother’s death. He’s going to need comfort from someone he knows.”

“Sure. I know you’ll be able to help him a lot.”

“I’ll come back as soon as I can to see how it went with Mr. Brace.”

Dane returned to his cell, sat down on his bunk, picked up
The History of Medicine
, and started reading where he had left off.

It was midafternoon when Dane was taken to the visiting room by a guard and found Charles Loring Brace at a barred window, waiting for him.

When they had shaken hands, Dane said, “I assume you got Mr. Bendrick’s message.”

“Yes, I did. I was gone when he came to my office, but my secretary took the message from him. He didn’t give her any details. He told her nothing more than that you were requesting that I come and see you as soon as possible because it was very important.”

“That it is, sir. I have a story to tell you.”

When Dane finished the Atwood story, Brace was deeply touched by the nine-year-old boy’s heartrending situation. Looking at Dane, he said, “Mr. Bendrick is right, Dane. The orphanages are jam-packed. And they would shy away quickly from taking in a boy who had just had his leg amputated, even if they had room. But Kenny is going to be taken care of. There are many wealthy people who back the Children’s Aid Society. I will contact a couple of the most generous ones, whom I feel sure will pay the hospital and doctor bills so Kenny can be released from the hospital.

“I will take Kenny into the Society’s headquarters, provide him a bed, food, and clothing, and I will see that he has the proper medical care.”

Dane’s pulse was skipping from the joy he was feeling. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Brace! I knew you would help Kenny!”

As Brace rose from the chair, he said, “I’ll come back some time tomorrow and let you know about the money to pay the hospital and the doctor.”

Late that afternoon, Dane was once again escorted to the visiting room and was pleased to see Mitchell Bendrick.

When they sat down, Mitchell told Dane about the graphic moment when the doctor informed Kenny of his mother’s death in the Bendricks’ presence. As was expected, Kenny took it very hard, but the Bendricks were able to comfort him, at least to a degree. The doctor administered a strong sedative to the boy, which soon put him to sleep, and assured the Bendricks that Kenny would sleep soundly until the next morning. Sylvia was going to be there early in the morning to be at Kenny’s side.

Dane was glad to hear this and spoke his appreciation for the kindness the Bendricks were showing to the boy. He then told Mitchell of his visit with Charles Loring Brace, and what Brace had said about how he would raise the money to pay the hospital and doctors bills, and about taking Kenny into the care of the Society.

Mitchell was very much relieved, and said he would go to the Society’s headquarters in the morning and express his gratitude to Mr. Brace for what he was doing for Kenny.

When Charles Loring Brace arrived home that evening, he was late for supper. Being used to it, Letitia hugged him and said, “I put everything on the back burner, sweetheart. So what was it this time?”

While they ate, Brace told his wife Kenny Atwood’s story.

They agreed that very, very few prospective foster parents out West would even look twice at a boy with only one leg, who was sitting in a wheelchair, or even standing in line on crutches with the other children.

Letitia sighed. “Even the best families out there on the frontier want a healthy child that can help around the place, and besides that, with Kenny there could be a lot of expense associated with his problem.”

Charles nodded as he swallowed. “Right. The only answer to this boy’s predicament is for us to keep him at the Society until the Lord does a miracle and provides a home for him.”

“I guess that’s the way it will have to be, honey.”

It was still dark outside the next morning when Charles Loring Brace awakened at the sound of the grandfather clock chiming down the hall. Having lain awake a long time with his mind on little Kenny Atwood, he was still quite sleepy, but he lay there and counted the chimes.

It was five o’clock.

Suddenly, he sat bolt upright in the bed. “Thank You, Lord! Thank You!”

Letitia raised her head from the pillow, looked at him, and murmured sleepily, “Honey, what are you thanking the Lord for?”

“Sweetheart, the Lord just gave me the answer.”

“The answer to what?”

“Kenny Atwood’s predicament! I believe the Lord has His miracle ready!”

“Wha’ you mean?”

“I’ll tell you when you’re wide awake,” said Charles, getting out of the bed. “Go back to sleep. I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay.” Letitia was soon asleep.

It was nearing midmorning that same day when Dane Weston sat down at a window in the visiting room and looked at the beaming features of Charles Loring Brace.

“Something tells me you have good news, sir,” said Dane.

“I sure do! I went to the hospital first thing this morning and met Kenny. Mrs. Bendrick was there with him. Dane, he is a precious little boy. He has such a sweet way about him. Mrs. Bendrick has been a tremendous help to him in the loss of his mother. After spending about twenty minutes with Kenny, I went to the office and asked for the amount of the surgeons bill and the hospital bill up to this point. They could only estimate what the total would be when Kenny is finally released, but when I had the figures, I went directly to the two wealthy friends I told you about, and they are going to cover both bills totally!”

“Wonderful!”

“On my way back to Society headquarters, I stopped by your old apartment and shared the news with Mr. Bendrick. He was elated.”

Dane grinned, nodding.

“So, Dane,” said Brace, “my wife and I will pick Kenny up when he is released from the hospital in some twelve or thirteen days and take him to the Society’s headquarters. We’ll keep him there until he is able to travel, then we’ll put him on an orphan train.”

Dane blinked and frowned. “But Mr. Brace, who in the world would take in a boy in Kenny’s condition?”

“I gave this a great deal of prayer and thought before getting to sleep last night, and the Lord woke me up and gave me the answer at five o’clock this morning.”

“Well, what is it?”

“There is a fine Christian couple in Denver, Colorado, named Mike and Julie Ross. He is a prominent attorney there and is quite well-off financially. They have devoted their lives and finances to adopting
only
handicapped children. They told me from the beginning that they felt the Lord would have them adopt five eventually. They already have three that we have sent them, and
the fourth child—a thirteen-year-old blind girl—right now is on the most recent orphan train we sent that way.

“Kenny, if they agree to take him—and I feel certain they will—will make number five. It’s perfect!”

“It sure sounds good to me, sir.”

“Leanne Ladd is the blind girl’s name. She will arrive in Denver on Friday, November 10. Kenny won’t be able to travel until probably sometime in January. That will give the Rosses a couple of months to adjust to Leanne before Kenny would arrive. Like I said, it’s perfect.”

Dane frowned. “But, sir, what if the Rosses decide that taking in two handicapped children that close together is too much for them?”

“Well, son, I stopped at the telegraph office on my way over here and sent a wire to them. I expect a reply from them yet today. Unless I really miss my guess, Kenny Atwood has a brand new loving family and home waiting for him.”

“I sure hope it works out, sir.”

“I’m sure it will. I tell you, Dane, that little guy has already crept down into my heart. He is so young to face so many life-changing tragedies, and it just makes me glad to know kindhearted people like the Rosses. They will give Kenny the best care possible. He’ll grow up in a solid Christian home, and I have no doubt that he will be successful in whatever he chooses to do with his life.”

“This is encouraging, Mr. Brace. This kind of thing gives one hope, doesn’t it?”

“Sure does.”

“And we all need hope in order to carry on from day to day in our lives. I was reading my Bible this morning, and one verse jumped off the page at me. Psalm 146:5. I memorized it right then and there. ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.’ My every hope is in my Saviour, Mr. Brace, and in
His
time, I know I will be set free from
this prison. But in the meantime, I’m so thankful that my soul has been set free from the bondage of sin because of my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Amen to that, son,” said Brace, rising from the chair. “I must go now. I’ll be back to let you know how it all goes here in the next several days.”

“I’ll look forward to it, sir. I sure hope that someday I will get to meet Kenny.”

Brace smiled. “I’ll do my best to see that it happens.”

On Thursday morning, November 9, the orphan train pulled into Topeka, Kansas; the first stop where the orphans were lined up in the depot to be looked over by prospective foster parents.

While this was going on, nurse Millie Voss had Leanne Ladd standing with her nearby. Leanne listened closely to the conversations between prospective foster parents and orphans, and prayed silently that the Lord would not let anyone take Tharyn Myers before they got to Denver. She begged Him to see that someone in Denver chose Tharyn so they could be close to each other and grow up together.

Leanne sighed with relief when Millie told her that six children had been chosen. Tharyn’s name was not among them. However, Tharyn’s good friend Melinda Scott was one of the six. Leanne listened as Tharyn and Melinda shared a tearful good-bye.

The rest of the orphans boarded their coaches again, and as the train pulled out of Topeka, Tharyn was sitting with Leanne and had an arm around her. They prayed together once more that the Lord would cause a family in Denver to choose Tharyn.

The train stopped in Salina, Kansas, and three children were chosen there. The next stop was Hays, Kansas, and four more
were chosen, including Nettie Olson. Tears filled Netties eyes as she told her friends good-bye.

At Oakley, Kansas, Millie Voss had Leanne beside her near the line and explained what was happening. A couple showed definite interest in Tharyn Myers and Bessie Evans.

Leanne was tense as she heard the couple explain to the girls that they could only take one of them into their home, and while they were trying to decide between Tharyn and Bessie, Leanne began to pray in a whisper. She was begging God to make them take Bessie.

Millie learned from what she was hearing that Tharyn and Leanne had been praying together that Tharyn would end up in Denver, too. Because of the blind girl’s heartfelt plea to the Lord, Millie prayed silently, asking Him to grant the desires of the two girls.

At that moment the couple decided to take Bessie, and when Leanne heard the husband say this to one of the Society sponsors, she had to quickly clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from shouting for joy.

Millie put an arm around Leanne and said in a low voice, “Honey, I wish you could see the relief written all over Tharyn’s face!”

Leanne clasped her hands together and whispered, “Thank You, Lord Jesus! Thank You!”

The girls in the line wished Bessie their best, and tears were shed as they said their good-byes.

The next stop was in Burlington, Colorado, at sundown. Billy Johnson and one teenage girl were chosen. When the orphans were about to board the train again, Russell Mims came to Tharyn, saying he hoped they would both be chosen in the same town. He wanted to marry her someday.

Tharyn smiled. “Russell, if God wants us for each other, He will work it out.”

It was dark in Limon, Colorado, when the train arrived there, where it would remain for the night. Prospective foster parents would be looking the orphans over in the morning before it pulled out for Denver.

In the girls’ coach, Tharyn and Leanne made themselves as comfortable as possible for the night on their seat. Before going to sleep, they prayed together, asking the Lord once more to cause a family in Denver to choose Tharyn.

Tharyn had told Leanne all about Dane back in the Manhattan prison, and they prayed for him, asking God to clear him of the murder and set him free.

The girls were feeling the tension of the moment. Tomorrow, the train would stop in Denver and Leanne’s new parents would be waiting to take her home. If the Lord should have reason to place Tharyn with some family down the line in spite of their prayers, they realized this would be their last night together.