In the Arms of Stone Angels - By Jordan Dane Page 0,81
face. And the man definitely didn’t like being second-guessed, especially by a Shaman.
“We’ve tried everything. The normal protocols have had no effect.” Dr. Ridgeway took a deep breath and let doubt show in his eyes. It made him look human. “Quite frankly, I’m at a loss. That’s why when Ms. Nash got the boy to look at her, that was a real breakthrough.”
The doctor turned his attention to me.
“I don’t know what your relationship is with this boy, but he really needs your help. If we can get his attention and keep it, we may see results finally. I’m not talking about a complete cure, just a first step toward recovery. What do you say?”
“You may not want to talk about a cure today, but I do.” Joe narrowed his eyes at the man. I’d seen that look before. “Tell me, Doctor. Are you a betting man?”
“What?”
“Stacked up against all your science and this fancy hospital, would you bet money that a sixteen-year-old girl and one old Indian could completely cure this boy?”
“You mean, right here and now? Today?”
“Yes.” Joe nodded and his lip twitched. “Superstition against science.”
Joe had lured the man like catfish to stink bait.
He knew that stacked up against Dr. Ridgeway being in charge with a tight stranglehold on White Bird as a patient, we wouldn’t stand a chance at coloring outside the lines. But with his “superstition versus science” bet, the doc might give us more leeway. I held my breath waiting to see what Ridgeway would say.
“You want to place a wager on the boy’s health?” Dr. Ridgeway grimaced and acted like he was above being goaded into a silly wager. But after Joe nodded, the doc said, “You’re on. What’s the bet?”
“Oh, brother.” I rolled my eyes at Mom. “No pressure.”
That’s when I heard a door creak in the next room. I turned in time to see a Hispanic guy dressed in a white uniform rolling in a boy slumped in a wheelchair. The sight of White Bird made my heart lurch with every ounce of joy and every stab of pain I had ever felt for him. I wanted him to be that boy by the creek, the tall one with the gentle hands, the soft voice and the sad knowing eyes.
But he wasn’t. Not like this.
I pressed my forehead to the two-way mirror and touched my hand to the cold glass. It was impossible to forget he was trapped in the past—a past we shared. And now I had to have faith in something I’d never believed in before. Me.
The gravity of what we were attempting hit me hard and I couldn’t breathe. I had to save him. I had to.
chapter fifteen
Red Cliffs Hospital
Dr. Ridgeway finished giving Joe last-minute instructions on what he expected from us—his rules—but all I heard was, “Wa, wa, wah, waaah.” My eyes were fixed on White Bird sitting alone in the next room until I forced myself to turn away and look for Joe.
When my eyes met his, words weren’t necessary. And the nod of his head was subtle. I wasn’t even sure I’d seen Joe move at all. His gesture drifted between us like a puff of smoke, there one minute and gone the next. With eyes the color of shiny obsidian, he held my attention like the first time we’d met, when I was afraid of him.
Only this time, I drew from his strength.
Mom was the one who needed words. “Are you ready, honey?” she asked.
Even though Mom had good intentions, her voice doused me with ice water. I loved her, but she wasn’t part of this. She’d always be an innocent bystander. And I hadn’t realized how true that was until now. For her sake, I nodded and forced a smile, but I kept my eyes on Joe.
He was my gatekeeper.
He was the one I trusted to get me through this.
And he was the one who would save us both, if we weren’t already too late.
I heard the white noise of the doctor talking again as he led Joe and me out the observation room door. We were about to join White Bird in the next room. I took a deep breath before the doctor opened that door and without thinking, I grabbed for the pinkie of Joe’s hand. I clutched both hands around his finger as if it was the most natural thing to do. Joe didn’t look as if he minded being my lifeline.