The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker Read Online Free PDF Page B

better, won’t he, Doc?”
    â€œIt’ll ache a bit tonight, lad,” Doc said. “But nothing like before. In a day or two, you’ll be right as rain.”
    Taking Daniel by the hand, Mrs. Oaks said, “What can we do by way of paying you, Doc?”
    â€œI’ll send Lucas over one of these days with the wagon. It could use a new wheel, if Eben has the time.”
    â€œWe’ll be expecting you, then, Lucas,” said Mrs. Oaks.
    â€œYes, ma’am,” said Lucas.
    Doc wrapped Daniel’s tooth in a bit of paper and asked the boy, “You want this, lad? Some folks like to keep their parts, others don’t.”
    Daniel, still snuffling, pointed to Lucas.
    â€œAh, you want Lucas to have it.” With a flourish, Doc handed the tooth to Lucas. “Here you are, Lucas. A memento of your first tooth-pulling.” He smiled.
    Not knowing what else to say, Lucas murmured, “Thanks, Daniel.”
    Mrs. Oaks said, “Lucas, when you bring the wagon, why don’t you stop by the house for a visit with Daniel? He seems to have taken a liking to you.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” said Lucas. “I will.” He felt oddly pleased.
    When he and Doc were alone once again, and Lucas was wiping the blood from the knife and pliers, he could feel Doc looking at him.
    â€œThat was a nice touch you showed with the Oaks boy,” Doc said. “I’ve often felt that it’s not so much what we do when it comes to doctoring, as the kindness we show in doing it. I dread the times when I have to cause pain to a youngster such as Daniel. But you made it go easier for him.”
    Lucas kept busy straightening up the instrument tray, but Doc’s words had stirred a warm glow in that deep, cold place inside him. Feeling Doc’s eyes still on him, he looked up. Curiously, Doc asked, “What magical words did you whisper to that boy?”
    â€œNothing much,” Lucas mumbled.
    â€œCome on now, lad,” wheedled Doc. “I let you in on all the secrets of my trade and you won’t tell me what you said to bring a smile to that boy’s face? I ask you, is that fair?”
    â€œI thought he might be afraid of being strapped down,” Lucas answered quietly. “So I told him a story. It—it’s what my mama always did when I was scared.”
    â€œAh, good thinking,” said Doc. “And the tale?”
    â€œIt was only something I made up,” Lucas said quickly.
    â€œI’d like to hear it,” said Doc.
    Reluctantly, Lucas repeated his story. His voice trailed off at the end as he looked sideways at Doc to see how he’d react.
    To Lucas’s relief, Doc Beecher let out a great bellow of laughter. “Oh, that’s a good one, lad. And where, may I ask, did you come up with a yarn like that?”
    Encouraged by Doc’s laughter, Lucas explained. “Back home, my Uncle Asa used to go to Emery Smith—he was the blacksmith—to have his teeth out. One time Asa had a toothache read bad, and he was drinking whiskey. To kill the pain, you know.”
    Doc nodded.
    â€œWell, I guess he’d drunk a whole lot,” Lucas went on. “By the time he got to Emery’s place, he hardly knew where he was. Asa didn’t remember it so good afterward, but I guess when he saw Emery coming at him with those pliers, he began to thrash about and he knocked Emery darn near senseless.
    â€œAsa felt real bad about it when he sobered up. And, of course, he still had the toothache, too. But Emery wouldn’t have anything to do with Asa after that. Told him he’d have to find somebody else to see to his tooth-pulling.”
    Doc laughed some more and shook his head wonderingly at Lucas. “You don’t say much, Lucas my boy, but when you do talk, you’re worth listening to.” He added, smiling, “I’m quite pleased with our day’s work and with your part in it, lad. Now, shall