Hannah's Journey by June Venable Page A

and let them check.”
    “Right. Hand her to me and I’ll take both girls. The horses are still jumpy, but the carriage seems to have escaped damage.”
    “Just let me pick her up, Mr. Logan,” Tom said. As he did, she moaned.
    “You’re all right, Hannah. Just rest and let us take care of you.”
    Handing Hannah to her uncle, Tom pulled himself up. Then, each carrying a child, they hurried away from the storm-damaged area. Placing the unconscious girls in the carriage, David turned to the young man. “Can you take my wife and daughter, Tom? I’ll go ahead to the hospital with the girls.”
    “I’ll be glad to.”
    “Thank you. You’ve been a great help today.” He turned to his wife. “Tom will see that you and Caroline get to the hospital, Margaret. I’ll go ahead and you can follow.”
    Margaret Logan nodded, casting a worried glance at the two girls. “Please drive carefully, David. We’ll come along shortly. I’d like to go home and check on Delia first.” Arriving at the town’s only hospital, David Logan drew the carriage as close to the doors as possible. The area, crowded with other tornado victims, looked chaotic. Leaving the carriage for a moment, David ran inside to the reception desk and asked if someone could help him. An orderly overheard and offered his assistance.
    When Hannah and Rosie had been placed on stretchers and taken into examining rooms, David breathed a sigh of relief and waited for his family.
    “Papa, we’re here,” Caroline called as she and her mother hurried into the hospital a little later. “We had Tom Valentine take us home first. Mama was worried, but Delia is all right. She’s cooking since I told her the food blew away.”
    Relief washed over David. Caroline was apparently all right and had not suffered any ill effects from the traumas of the day.
    “As you know, Delia thinks a hearty meal will fix anything,” said Margaret “I also sent Tom to get Rosie’s mother. I hope I did the right thing.”
    “That’s a wonderful idea, Margaret. I almost forgot how worried Mrs. Williams would be. Rosie must have come to the picnic with that group of school children.” As they talked, a young doctor came into the lobby and looked around. Approaching them, he asked, “Are you the parents of Hannah Monroe who came in with injuries from the tornado?”
    David Logan stood and introduced himself and his family. “We are Hannah’s guardians.”
    “Hello. I’m Doctor Layton. Hannah has a badly sprained ankle, a concussion, and a cut on her cheek as well as a few bruises. She’ll be fine, but I’d like to keep her a couple of days for observation if that’s all right with you.”
    “Certainly, Doctor, whatever you think best.”
    “Good. I’d like her to rest tonight, but do come back tomorrow and see her. Looks like you could use some rest yourself,” the doctor said nodding toward David’s forehead.
    “Try putting some ice on that.”
    “Thank you, Doctor,” said Margaret Logan. “Please give Hannah our love and tell her we’ll come tomorrow at visiting hours, and I’ll see that my husband has a quiet evening.”
     
    CHAPTER NINE – NEWS OF A LOST FRIEND
     
    Hannah’s eyes fluttered open. Where am I ? Then, the events of yesterday came flooding back—church, the picnic, the tornado and finding Rosie. The pictures swirled around her mind as if driven by the force of the gale winds. She tried to sit up, but her head whirled. She eased back onto the pillows.
    A familiar face appeared in the doorway. A pretty young woman dressed in a volunteer uniform stepped into the room. “Good morning, Hannah. How do you feel?”
    “A little dizzy, but I think I’m all right.”
    “Good. Do you remember me? We met a few weeks ago.”
    Hannah thought for a moment. “Yes, I remember. You’re the piano lady.”
    “That’s right, Sylvia Cooper. It’s good to see you again, though not as a patient.”
    “Do you work here now?” Hannah asked.
    “I volunteer