Read Online Saints Among Us by Anne Marie Rodgers - Free Book Online
Authors: Anne Marie Rodgers
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heard about the inn and if there were any special dietary requests or anything else necessary to make their stay comfortable. It felt so…so professional.
Alice recognized that she had a valuable and satisfying career in nursing. And she once had a valuable and satisfying life with her father, to which her fond memories and the ache that still haunted her heart occasionally could testify. But this was different. She really could not explain it.
“Is this Alice Howard from the newspaper?” The voice was older, female and haughty.
“I’I suppose it is.” She had not seen the weekly paper yet, but she was looking forward to learning what the reporter said about the trip she and June were planning. Apparently, this lady already had read it.
“Miss Howard, my name is Emmaline Daughtry. I would like a little more information about exactly what you intend to do if you travel down to this Camp Compassion place.”
Alice’s eyebrows rose. “Ms. Daughtry’”
“Mrs.” She said it as if she were royalty, and Alice had to smile.
“I beg your pardon. Mrs. Daughtry, my friend June and I have spoken with a woman who recently returned, as well as with a veterinarian who is traveling down to work there now. Both of them assure us that there is ample work to be done. I cannot speak to the exact type of work, although I assume most of it will be unskilled labor. I love animals, but I am not trained to work with them. If you have seen the same things on the news programs that I have, you have seen how desperate the need is. I’ll do whatever they need me to do. Feed, walk, rescue. Whatever they need.”
“I wish to make a donation, Miss Howard. How do you intend to get to this place?”
“We’ll be driving, ma’am.”
“Well then, you’re going to need gas. If you’re prepared to offer your hard work, the least those of us at home can do is help you financially.” Mrs. Daughtry then named a sum that caused Alice’s mouth to open in utter disbelief. “Use what you need for transportation, and if there’s any left over, I would like you to donate it to the camp to use for food and shelter.”
“Mrs. Daughtry, I don’t know what to say. I can assure you there will be plenty left over’”
“Good. Now, I’m concerned that if I put this in the mail it may not arrive before you leave. Is there any way that someone could pick it up in the next few days? I live in Potterston, which I realize is out of your way’”
“Oh no, ma’am, that’s not a problem. I’ll be happy to stop by this week on my way to work. I’ll call first.” Alice hardly could believe her ears. Even if the article in the paper yielded no other results, this one donation would be a wonderful gift to offer the camp.
Jane again had her notes for the crafts fair spread out on the kitchen table when Alice came through the door after work. She immediately jumped up and grabbed the newspaper from the counter. “Your article is in the paper!”
“Yes, I heard. I already received one call about a donation.” Alice pressed a hand to her heart. “The paper wasn’t delivered by the time I left for work. I’m afraid to look. Do June and I sound rash for rushing off on an ill-advised journey?”
Jane had to laugh. “Not at all,” she assured Alice. “It’s a lovely article. I predict lots of donations,” she said as she passed the newspaper to her sister.
“We’ve already had an amazing start.” Alice explained Mrs. Daughtry’s telephone call to Jane.
Jane whistled, impressed. “That’s awesome. You just never know what the good Lord is going to provide, do you? You look tired. How was your shift?”
Alice shook her head with a wry smile. “Interesting. One of my dementia patients got out of her gown and went wandering down to the first floor before anyone realized she was gone.”
“Oh my! I bet that startled more than a few people. The poor woman. She would be mortified if she knew. Will she remember it?”
Alice shook
Alice recognized that she had a valuable and satisfying career in nursing. And she once had a valuable and satisfying life with her father, to which her fond memories and the ache that still haunted her heart occasionally could testify. But this was different. She really could not explain it.
“Is this Alice Howard from the newspaper?” The voice was older, female and haughty.
“I’I suppose it is.” She had not seen the weekly paper yet, but she was looking forward to learning what the reporter said about the trip she and June were planning. Apparently, this lady already had read it.
“Miss Howard, my name is Emmaline Daughtry. I would like a little more information about exactly what you intend to do if you travel down to this Camp Compassion place.”
Alice’s eyebrows rose. “Ms. Daughtry’”
“Mrs.” She said it as if she were royalty, and Alice had to smile.
“I beg your pardon. Mrs. Daughtry, my friend June and I have spoken with a woman who recently returned, as well as with a veterinarian who is traveling down to work there now. Both of them assure us that there is ample work to be done. I cannot speak to the exact type of work, although I assume most of it will be unskilled labor. I love animals, but I am not trained to work with them. If you have seen the same things on the news programs that I have, you have seen how desperate the need is. I’ll do whatever they need me to do. Feed, walk, rescue. Whatever they need.”
“I wish to make a donation, Miss Howard. How do you intend to get to this place?”
“We’ll be driving, ma’am.”
“Well then, you’re going to need gas. If you’re prepared to offer your hard work, the least those of us at home can do is help you financially.” Mrs. Daughtry then named a sum that caused Alice’s mouth to open in utter disbelief. “Use what you need for transportation, and if there’s any left over, I would like you to donate it to the camp to use for food and shelter.”
“Mrs. Daughtry, I don’t know what to say. I can assure you there will be plenty left over’”
“Good. Now, I’m concerned that if I put this in the mail it may not arrive before you leave. Is there any way that someone could pick it up in the next few days? I live in Potterston, which I realize is out of your way’”
“Oh no, ma’am, that’s not a problem. I’ll be happy to stop by this week on my way to work. I’ll call first.” Alice hardly could believe her ears. Even if the article in the paper yielded no other results, this one donation would be a wonderful gift to offer the camp.
Jane again had her notes for the crafts fair spread out on the kitchen table when Alice came through the door after work. She immediately jumped up and grabbed the newspaper from the counter. “Your article is in the paper!”
“Yes, I heard. I already received one call about a donation.” Alice pressed a hand to her heart. “The paper wasn’t delivered by the time I left for work. I’m afraid to look. Do June and I sound rash for rushing off on an ill-advised journey?”
Jane had to laugh. “Not at all,” she assured Alice. “It’s a lovely article. I predict lots of donations,” she said as she passed the newspaper to her sister.
“We’ve already had an amazing start.” Alice explained Mrs. Daughtry’s telephone call to Jane.
Jane whistled, impressed. “That’s awesome. You just never know what the good Lord is going to provide, do you? You look tired. How was your shift?”
Alice shook her head with a wry smile. “Interesting. One of my dementia patients got out of her gown and went wandering down to the first floor before anyone realized she was gone.”
“Oh my! I bet that startled more than a few people. The poor woman. She would be mortified if she knew. Will she remember it?”
Alice shook
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