Free The Wishing Stone by Allison Smith Page A

hospital.
    Eyes closed, he thought back over the short time he had spent with Lara. When the sun set tonight, he would take her away with him, somewhere where neither Marissa nor Steven would ever find her.
    Not wanting to frighten her more than his ridiculous tale already had, he had omitted telling her the truth about Steven.
    No, she would never need to know that.
    ****
    Lucien decided to visit a hospital before joining Lara this evening, so he concentrated on a small European town he hadn’t visited in a few years.
    The paint on the walls inside the hospital was cracked and peeling, confirming that this was indeed a poor hospital and couldn’t afford the latest life-saving equipment that most hospitals boasted, let alone new paint for its walls. The moans and cries of the patients tugged at his conscience. The rooms were crowded with the sick and dying, young and old.
    There were no private rooms here. Only the contagious ailments were kept in a separate area. A small staff of nurses hurried from patient to patient, trying to offer some kind of comfort until the doctor got to them. The doctor appeared older than one would expect, but the nurses were happy to see and assist him.
    Standing at the rear of the room, away from any activity, Lucien watched the older man attend each person as if he or she was a member of his own family. Smiles of relief were left in his wake, until he came to a small boy who was having great difficulty breathing. Holding his stethoscope to the thin, narrow chest, the doctor listened intently, then sighed and silently shook his head in response to a nurse’s whispered question. At that point the doctor noticed the visitor in the rear of the room.
    “May I help you?” he called out, hurrying to the next patient.
    Walking toward the doctor, Lucien relied, “No, but I would like to help you and your hospital if I may.”
    Curious, the older man hesitated over the next patient. “That is very kind of you. As you can see we are in need of a great many things here, and we would welcome any assistance you may have to offer. Do you have a family member here?”
    Ignoring the question, Lucien stared down at the boy whose eyes were clouded with fear and pain. “What is wrong with the child?”
    “Juan has had weak lungs since he was born. Sadly, we do not have the means or equipment to make them strong. I’ve been very selfish in trying to keep him alive instead of letting God take him. I am just an old man with high hopes that some miracle will happen to save him, but I am not having much luck.” The doctor shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
    “I would like to make it possible for Juan to get the assistance both you and he need.” Pulling a wad of bills out of his pocket, Lucien silently settled them in the older man’s gnarled hand. “There will be someone here in a couple of days to determine everything you and your hospital need to save the lives of the people in your village. If you would please have a list ready for them, they will make certain it will all be taken care of as soon as possible.”
    The doctor’s eyes misted with tears, which he hurriedly brushed away.
    “Now I can tell Juan that his miracle has finally happened. What is your name, so that we may mention you in our prayers?” the physician asked.
    “The person I intend to send to you will be here on behalf of Saint Enterprises.”
    With a sad smile on his lips, Lucien looked at the man.
    “I would truly appreciate any and all of your prayers,” he finished, walking toward the exit and back out into the dark night.
    ****
    Appearing in Lara’s small living room around one in the morning, Lucien found her curled up on the sofa with an opened newspaper lying across her lap. He smiled down on the sleeping woman he wanted and needed.
    Sitting on the couch next to her, Lucien gently eased her over so that her head rested in the crook of his arm. Now he could hold her while she slept, something that he had wanted to do for