“You’ve done a great job. I’m sure you probably have your own housekeeping and shopping to tend to. Thank the Lord it’s safer now for a woman to walk alone in Cheyenne. There are still some unsavory characters out there, but it’s so much nicer.”
“Yes,” Melody said, again forcing a smile. “Thank you for understanding. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She hurried out of the house, hoping to avoid any further discussion. She didn’t want to explain matters to her employer. At least not now. Faith Cooper was a good woman and would be sympathetic and understanding, but Melody had no desire to share her sorrows just yet.
The day was warmer than usual. Melody worried they’d have an unbearably hot summer and further Da’s misery. Would he even be around for the summer months? How much time did he have left? She bit her lower lip. No matter how much time, it wouldn’t be enough.
Melody headed to the railroad’s hospital. Dr. Latham had been with the railroad for some time and knew the physical conditions of most of the UP employees. She knew her father respected the man.
When she arrived at the hospital, Melody learned that Dr. Latham was busy with a patient. She told the nurse she would wait—that it was important she speak with him. She sat and thought of exactly what kinds of questions she might ask. Her list was quite long by the time the doctor agreed to see her.
“Miss Doyle, it’s a pleasure to see you.” He ushered her into a tiny office and motioned to an empty chair. “Please have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
“What can I do for you?” he asked, taking a seat at his cluttered desk.
“Da told me about his kidneys. He said there’s nothing that can be done, but I find that hard to believe.”
Dr. Latham frowned. “It’s sadly the truth. Your father’s kidneys haven’t been functioning well for some time. We just didn’t realize it.”
“Could something have been done if you had known sooner?”
“It’s doubtful,” the man replied. “There are so many things we just don’t know about the body. We might have been able to stave it off for a time, but even that is uncertain.”
“I can’t believe there isn’t a doctor somewhere who specializes in this kind of thing. We could travel to him, if I knew where he was.”
The doctor nodded. “Your father and I discussed that very possibility, and I put out word to several colleagues back east and in California. No one could offer me much in the way of help. So, you see, we aren’t just relying on my limited knowledge.”
“But there has to be something we can do,” Melody insisted.
“I’m afraid there isn’t. His body isn’t functioning well. His appetite is very low, and you know for yourself he’s lost a lot of weight. I’ve given him medicine to help with the pain, but it doesn’t help much.”
She had no idea of Da having medication for the pain. He had said nothing about it. But then, he’d said nothing about being ill.
“I’m truly sorry, Miss Doyle. But even if there were a doctor elsewhere who had advanced treatments, I’m afraid your father is too sick to even make the trip.”
Melody shook her head. “He doesn’t seem that bad. He seems tired and isn’t eating a lot, but...” She fell silent, seeing the look on the doctor’s face. The truth of the matter was fixed. There was no hope of Da getting better.
“So there’s not much time left?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
“No. Like I told your father last week, it could be justabout any time. The kidneys are an important organ in our body, and when they fail, the body cannot survive. I’m so sorry.”
Melody drew a breath, but it was more of a sob. She barely managed to make it outside before she burst into tears. Her mind refused to accept the truth, but her heart knew there was nothing more to be done.
She did what she could to control herself and headed home. What else could she do? She had to be there for Da. Had to make his final days as comfortable as possible. A cloud seemed to come over her mind, and she found reasoning and planning impossible. In something of a daze, she continued walking.
“Melody?”
She heard her name called after a time. She stopped and looked around, uncertain of where it had come from. Then she spied him. Charlie. Where had he come from? How did he know she needed him more than ever?
But he hurt me. He lied to me.
No. He hadn’t lied.
He drew near, and Melody felt her knees buckle. Thankfully, Charlie was close enough to catch her.
“What is it? What’s happened?” he asked, helping her to stand.
