“Hurry up,” Deborah Meyers shouted shoving against everyone. “We all want to see for ourselves.” Jill was pushed out of the way.
“Hold on,” Elizabeth replied. She was wedged against the doorframe unable to move. “Everyone back downstairs.” No one obeyed her command. One by one the Secondary Students came into the room. Whispering to one another they tiptoed across the floor and came to stand over Mr. Hargadon.
Lydia was the first to sit down. She reached out and touched Royce’s hand. “He is warm,” she announced. “Look, he is breathing.” She moved her hand and placed it over Royce’s back and felt the expansion of his lungs. Each student followed her example taking turns feeling Royce’s back raising and lowering as he breathed.
Doctor Thomas was surprised to find all of Mr. Hargadon’s students seated on the floor in a circle around him. No one made a sound as he crossed the room. “Been shot you say,” he asked Colin.
The youngster was pale. A row of freckles stood out vividly across his cheeks. “Yes . . . yes Sir,” the boy replied. “See, he has blood on his shirt.
From where he stood Doctor Thomas could see the dark patch on the back of Royce’s shirt. “I will need to see for myself,” he said. The students in front of Doctor Thomas looked up and stared at him as they slowly shifted to make a path.
“Thank you,” Doctor Thomas said kneeling down. “His pulse is strong,” he announced and heard a deep sigh from the students. “Perhaps Elizabeth it will be best if you take everyone downstairs,” he suggested. “Bobby can help me get Mr. Hargadon to bed.”
Heavy treads were heard coming up the stairs. Sheriff Walden rushed into the room taking in everything at a glance. “Who found him,” he asked.
“I did,” Bobby said standing. He raised one hand slowly then embarrassed by his action tucked his hand behind his back. “Elizabeth asked me to come upstairs first. In case, you know he was still in bed,” the boy stuttered. His ears turned a bright pink when he glanced in Elizabeth’s direction.
“You found Royce lying on the floor,” Walden asked.
“Yes Sir,” Bobby replied.
Elizabeth motioned the students to one side of the room. They stood watching as Sheriff Walden and Doctor Thomas lifted Royce and laid him on his bed face down. Placing his black bag on the chair next to the bed Doctor Thomas opened the bag and took out a pair of scissors.
The students all gathered closer around the bed. They were not leaving their beloved teacher in the care of Doctor Thomas without supervision. They watched breathlessly as the doctor cut a square off Royce’s shirt and exposed his shoulder. The flesh around the wound was gray and puckered. Blood caked the hole.
“Hot water,” Doctor Thomas ordered. Elizabeth poured water from the kettle into a pan and carried it across the room. “Thank you,” Doctor Thomas said taking the pan and setting it on the chair beside the bed. The next few minutes he spent cleaning the wound. Twelve heads leaned towards the bed and oversaw his work.
“Let me see,” Colin Pillsdale said pushing his way to the front of the line. His red hair was standing on ends, his blue eyes were wide open and his lips formed a straight line with the ends curving down. He breathed in deeply the action shaking his entire body.
“Sheriff,” Doctor Thomas complained.
Sheriff Walden placed his long arm in front of the line of children gathered behind Doctor Thomas. “Don’t you think you should all go back downstairs and let Doctor Thomas do his job.”
“No Sir,” Bobby Smith said crossing his arms over his chest. He gave Sheriff Walden a stubborn look. “I am not leaving.”
Ruth Meyers stuck her head under Bobby’s elbow and looked up at Sheriff Walden with round fearful eyes. “I am not leaving either,” she declared. The look she gave Walden was hostile.
Walden read the same sentiment in very pair of eyes and rubbed the back of his neck. He could feel the hostility inside the room and knew it would be next to impossible to get Mr. Hargadon’s students to leave his side. They were determined to stay and watch over their teacher.
“Alright,” he conceded, “But do give Doctor Thomas room to work.”
“Yes Sir,” Bobby replied. He stepped back and the others did likewise.
Doctor Thomas took an instrument out of his bag and began probing for the bullet.
“You’re hurting him,” Lydia whispered. Her face was ghost white. All heads leaned towards Doctor Thomas as eyes widened and small gasps could be heard inside the room. The young people groaned as if it were them suffering from the probing.
“Children,” Sheriff Walden said. He was ignored. All eyes never left Mr. Hargadon.
Doctor Thomas held up the bloody bullet. “From a rifle,” he said washing the piece of lead in the pan of water before handing the bullet to Sheriff Walden.
“Did anyone hear a rifle shot last evening,” Walden asked.
“I did,” Emily Randall said raising her hand. “This morning,” she corrected. “The sound woke me.” Several other students that lived close to the school nodded their heads in agreement.
“Is Mr. Hargadon going to live,” Lydia asked the question all his students were anxious to have answered.
“He hasn’t lost all that much blood considering. Mr. Hargadon should be up and about in a few days barring complications,” Doctor Thomas replied. “Now I want to disinfect the wound and make sure he has no other injuries.”
“Downstairs,” Elizabeth ordered the class. “Mr. Hargadon will need lots of rest so he can get well. Lydia, go home and tell mother what has happened. She will send someone to take over Mr. Hargadon’s care.” Lydia hurried to do her sister’s biding. “Be sure to put on your coat,” Elizabeth
