Gates of Paradise (Casteel 4)

"Some man called my mother and told her to

get me and get over here as soon as possible to get

you out and home."

"Troy!" I exclaimed. Who else could it be?

"What's that?" Luke questioned.

"Nothing . . . thank God you came back." "We'll git ya outta here in a jiffy, Annie honey." "You can't take her out of here without .talking

to the doctor. She's an invalid; she needs special care,

special medicine." Tony was red as a beet, agitated and grasping for control. His eyes were big and his hair on end. He looked like someone who had just

gone through a terrible electric shock.

"Don't listen to him, Aunt Fanny," I pleaded.

"You could give her a terrible relapse . maybe even

cause her death."

Aunt Fanny turned slowly and lowered her

hands to her hips. Her shoulders rose. She looked like

a hawk about to pounce on a mouse.

"Seems ta me yer the one who might give this

child a relapse. Look at her. She's pale and peaked,

shut up in this"--she sniffed--"sickly-sweet smellin'

tomb. This place is jist what I thought it would be." "I'm going to . . . to call the doctor."

"Call him. What kinda doctor is he anyway?

Look at what this place looks like. What's he, blind or

stupid or jist not as smart as these fancy doctors claim

ta be? How could he leave ma niece in this place? It's

a big dump. Smells damp and rotten."

"I won't stand here and take this kind of abuse,"

/>

Tony asserted, his Tatterton pride and arrogance

glowing in his face. He left the suite, but I didn't

expect he would go far away.

Aunt Fanny turned her attention back to me. "Don'cha worry none now, Annie. Ya goin' home with us. Luke, lower them there bars so she kin get herself off the bed. I'll find a suitcase and round up