The Rough Rider

by Gilbert, Morris

  “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.”

  The doctor said merely, “It really is more blessed to give, isn’t it? The Bible’s right about that.”

  After they arrived at the tenement and Burns paid the cab driver, they mounted the stairs. When they arrived at the door to the Lawsons’ rooms, Gail hesitated. “I’m a little bit afraid,” she whispered. “You know how Pa is—he might be abusive.”

  “I don’t think he’ll abuse Santa Claus, and that’s what you are. Go ahead, knock!”

  Encouraged, Gail knocked on the door, and when it opened, she said, “Merry Christmas, Ma! I’ve come to play Santa Claus.”

  Martha Lawson, as usual, looked tired, but her faded eyes brightened when she saw her daughter. “Why . . . why, Gail—what’s all this?”

  Gail shoved her way past her mother and saw that the evening meal had already taken place. Her stepfather was seated in a rocking chair by the window and was staring out. When he turned to look at her, she was a little shocked at his appearance. He looked ill and his clothes hung loosely on his body. She had not seen him in over a month, but said only, “Hello, Pa! You remember Dr. Burns? We came by—he’s been helping me shop.”

  Burns said, “Sorry to barge in like this, Mr. L
awson, but this daughter of yours insisted on playing Santa Claus tonight. I was enlisted to do the donkey work.”

  Harry Lawson stared at them. His blunt features were whittled down by sickness. He got up slowly and carefully and said, “Well—come in, I guess.”

  “Isn’t Jeb here?” Gail asked, disappointed at not seeing her brother.

  “Yeah, I’m here!” Jeb came sailing out of the bedroom. He had grown over the past year and was at least six inches taller. At twelve, he was still thin and lanky and shooting up like a weed. “What’re you doing here, sis?”

  She went over and wrapped her arms around him and said, “I’m here to play Santa Claus. It’s not Christmas yet, but I couldn’t wait! How are all of you?” She looked over to where Bart, Riley, and Pearl were sitting on the couch looking a little sheepish at her appearance. They mumbled their greetings, and Gail felt the tension in the room. Quickly she said, “Well, here’s something all of you can enjoy! Let’s have it, Doctor!”

  Burns set his bundle down awkwardly, reached into the sack, and brought out a smaller package. “The prize bird!” he said proudly, holding up a huge plucked chicken. “Already smoked and the fattest hen we could find!” He put it on the table and added to it a cake and several other good things to eat.

  Martha reached out and touched the huge chicken with a trembling finger. “I haven’t seen a bird like this in a long time,” she whispered quietly. “It’ll be so good!”

  “Well, that takes care of Christmas dinner. Now, here’s what I brought you, Ma.” Gail brought out a package that contained a warm black coat, a pair of real gloves, and a new hat. “This will keep you warm!” She looked at her mother, who was holding the garments almost reverently, stroking the fine wool.

  Gail patted her and said, “Now, Pa, this is for you!” She handed him a package, and when Lawson sat there staring at it helplessly, she said, “Go on—open it! It won’t bite you.”

  Lawson stared at her with a strange look in his red-veined eyes, then fumbled at the paper, opened it, and held up a pair of fine leather gloves with wool lining inside.

  “I know how you hate for your hands to be cold, Pa. These ought to last you a long time,” Gail said.

  Harry Lawson had not said thank you often in his life. Now he sat there staring at the gloves as if they had suddenly appeared magically. He could not seem to speak, and it was only when Pearl said, “Go on, Pa—try them on,” that he awkwardly tugged them onto his large hands. He sat there looking at them, and finally he lifted his eyes and whispered, “Thank you, daughter. It was a kind thought.”

  It was Jeb’s turn then, and to his delight, he got not only a fine new pair of boots just his size but also a bone-handled pocketknife that he had wanted for years. He stood holding them, and then gave his sister a broad smile that made it all worthwhile. “Thank you, Gail,” he said. “I ain’t ever gonna forget this Christmas.”

  Gail passed out the remaining gifts to Bart, Riley, and Pearl, who sheepishly received them, mumbling their thank-you’s.

  Finally, when all the gifts had been opened, Martha said, “I wish we had something to give you, Gail, but we don’t.”

  “Oh, that’s all right, Ma. Next year things will be better, you’ll see!” A spasm of coughing came from her stepfather and she said, “Pa, are you not feeling well?”

  “He had a spell three weeks ago,” Martha said quickly.

  “What was it?” Burns inquired, at once aware of the pale face of the big man. He walked over and said, “I’ve got some free medical advice leftover from last year. I wouldn’t mind looking you over while I’m here.”

  “Please do, Doctor!” Martha said. “He ain’t been right since then. Go on into the bedroom, Harry. Let the doctor examine you.”

  Harry got to his feet and mumbled, “I guess it wouldn’t hurt since you’re already here.” He moved slowly and carefully into the bedroom, and Gail noticed that he was rubbing his chest strangely.

  While the two were in the bedroom, Gail told the family about her certificate for completing the medical assistant program. “Now I’ll be able to make some money and help you more,” she said. She talked with all of them for a while and turned to her brother and said, “I haven’t seen you at the mission lately, Jeb. Everyone’s missed you!”

  Jeb dropped his head, bit his lip, and handled the bone knife lovingly. “Well, I just ain’t had time, sis,” he said. He was aware of her gaze, and when he lifted his eyes, she couldn’t help noticing the guilt on his face. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be back.”

  Gail saw at once that the openness that she’d always appreciated in Jeb was gone. She glanced at her mother, who shook her head warningly, and said no more about it.

  Inside the small bedroom, Burns gave Harry Lawson a quick examination, asking questions rapidly. “What was the sickness like, Mr. Lawson?” he asked as he listened to the man’s heart.

  “It was like getting stabbed in the chest, it was!” Lawson said. “Caught me off guard—I was just walking down the street, doing nothing, and all of a sudden it hit me. I had to go sit down—couldn’t draw me breath.” He reached over and picked up his left wrist and said, “And I can’t use my left wrist so good anymore. I ain’t been able to work since.”

  “I see. Have you had any pain since then?”

  “Once or twice, but not like that first one, though.” Harry Lawson was a man who had never known anything but excellent health. He’d never had a sick day in his life, so the last three weeks had been terrible for him. He said now, as he stared at the doctor with fear in his eyes, “What do you think it is, Doctor? Do you have any medicine that’ll help me?”

  Burns shook his head and continued the examination, listening as well as he could to the heart. He asked several more questions, and finally he took a deep breath and said, “Impossible to say really. Hopefully it is nothing, but it is possible that you’ve had a stroke or a mild heart attack.”

  “I ain’t never had no heart trouble!” Lawson protested.

  “Well, it sounds very much like you’ve had something like that. If I were you I’d get plenty of rest—and drinking isn’t the best thing in the world for a bad heart. I’ll get some medicine for you and send it back with Gail. You need to come to the hospital so I can examine you better.”

  “I ain’t got no money.”

  “Not necessary—you just come in and ask for me.” Burns had felt nothing but contempt for Harry Lawson, but now he saw the fear that was gripping the big man. He put his hand on the sick man’s shoulder and said, “We’ll hope it’s nothing, Mr. Lawson.” He hesitated, then said, “But I always pray for my patients when they’ve had trouble. Would you mind if I pray for you now?”

  The old Harry Lawson would’ve shaken the hand off, and cursed him out the door and all the way down the stairs to the street. Instead, he bowed his head. The fear had risen in him—a black, sickening fear that took his breath—and he’d realized he was not ready for death. He knew no life but the hard one he had. Silently he nodded, and as the doctor prayed, Lawson remained totally still. When the prayer was over, he mumbled, “Thank you, Doc,” and moved out of the room.

  The visit did not last long after that. Gail went around and kissed them all goodbye, and Harry did not know what to do with his hands when she put her arms around him. He’d never understood her, and now for one moment as she held to him, he leaned forward and whispered for her ears only, “Sorry—like!” It was the best he could do and Gail took his meaning, for she knew his ways, and she patted his arm, saying, “I’ll be praying for you, Pa—God can do miracles.”

  When the two were outside the house, she asked, “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He’s had a stroke or heart attack.”

  Gail looked at him quickly and asked, “Will he live?”

  “Hard to say. Some people who take care of themselves live a long time, but sometimes they have another attack. There’s no way to tell. It’s in God’s hands, Gail. I’ll do what I can for h
im, though. I promise!”

  Gail said, “I feel so bad. He’s had such a hard life and brought so much misery on himself. Now he’s facing the end of it and doesn’t know God.”

  “It might be well if we asked Awful and the others at the mission to pray for him. He needs it,” Burns said grimly.

  They reached the mission in time for the annual Christmas dinner, and as they entered, Awful met them, saying, “You’re just in time! I want you to meet Katy and Barney—Barney Winslow and Katy Sullivan. They’re two of the group of us that are going to Africa.”

  This had come as quite a shock to the community, for Awful Gardner and a small group from the mission had volunteered to leave America and go to the darkest wilds of Africa as missionaries. Now as Burns shook the hand of the tall man beside him, he said, “I congratulate you—Barney, is it?”

  “You might have heard of him,” Awful said. “He was once known as Bat Winslow when he was fighting in the ring. But now he’s fighting for Jesus. Ain’t that right, Bat?”

  Barney Winslow was a tall, fine-looking man in his late twenties. “God’s coming up mighty short of preachers to send me.” He reached over and touched the shoulder of the young woman standing beside him. “Katy, here, has to do most of our preaching.”

  “Come on in and meet the rest of our group,” Awful said. Grabbing Burns by the arm, Awful led them inside the room, which was already packed with people celebrating what Christmas truly meant to them. Gail and Dr. Burns met the other volunteers—including Barney’s brother, Andrew—then they participated in over two hours of celebration. Hymns were sung, testimonies were given, shouts of praise were heard, and then a meal was shared at which each missionary was asked to stand and give his or her testimony.

  Finally, Dr. Burns and Gail left and took a cab back to the hospital. It was late when they arrived, and they both shivered from the biting cold in the air, hinting of snow lying somewhere over the skyline. “It’s so quiet,” Gail whispered when they stopped outside the hospital entrance. The streets were deserted, and she stood there looking up at the moon, which was casting its silver beams down over the city. Suddenly she said, “I wish I were going to Africa or somewhere like that.”