Little Men

"Farewell Appearance"

Chapter Two: The Scene Changes

Plumfield was in a buzz with the news of Dan and Bess' engagement and the arrival of Franz and Isabelle only made things that more exciting. Franz had left Arizona, attended Harvard and then went back to marry Isabelle and teach at the local school. Ranching and marriage had actually seemed to agree with the scholar and little Johann Fritz Bhaer was born soon after, with Lily following him the next year. Now, the four year old Johann and three year old Lily were into absolutely everything, taking after Isabelle of course. The last day of class instigated the beginning of summer and Emil and Dan's completion of their schooling. Emil had hopes of becoming a sailor someday. Yet, his uncle, of course, would see to it that Emil had completed the remainder of his education at the very best university. And the newly engaged Dan was looking forward to adventures in California. Jo couldn't have been more pleased. Her students had grown to be fine young men and while she was sad to see them go, she wished all the best for Dan and Emil and she knew that Fritz would have been pleased as well.

"You're home." Jo replied as she stepped on to the gravel carrying little Sam on her hip and then kissing her husband. "How was Boston?"

" 'Bout the same." Nick stated kissing Jo and his daughter. "Bess and Dan engaged-that little devil. I had no idea." Family life agreed with Nick Rielly, while the sea still called to him, he was more then willing to give up that life for Jo and his daughter.

"It is quite a shock…This little miss has a surprise for you." said Jo as she put the little dark haired girl on the ground. Slowly and a bit wobbly Sam placed one foot in front of the other, until she had reached her father's feet. Behind them nearly half the household had appeared on the porch to greet Nick home.

All except Dan.

The young man sat on his bed holding a towel to his nose to stop the bleeding that was seeping out from it. Unbeknownst, to any one, but himself, this hadn't been his first nose bleed. For months, he had hidden these nuisances from everyone around him, blaming it on his nerves and excitement. Getting up to head back downstairs before he was noticed, Dan's weakness gave in and the boy tumbled down the flight of stairs.

Dan lay resting in his bed, fortunately he had not broken any bones, but that was the least of his worries. Everyone had gathered around Dr. Pierce and, his nurse, Nan in the boy's bedroom. The last time Dan had been in bed like this had been when he had sprained his ankle when he had gotten lost in the woods with Nan. That seemed so long ago to Dan, they all were just kids then, with nothing more to worry about then what punishment Mrs. Jo was going to give them. Now he was ready to leave them all and that scared Dan more then anything. What if California turned out to be nothing like how he expected it to be? What if he never became a sheriff? What if he came back to Plumfield with nothing to offer Bess? With nothing to show Mrs. Laurence that he would be a good husband to her daughter?

"I wish I had better news to share." Dr. Pierce began, it was hard to look at anyone in the room now. "I'd have to take a blood sample to confirm my diagnosis, but I think it will just state what I already know."

"I thought you said he was fine?" Bess stated worried as she moved over toward her fiancée and took his hand.

"Far from it young lady. The nose bleeds, weakness, dizziness, fatigue. I'm sure you have been noticing this for months Dan and that you've been feeling a lot worse then you've let on." Dr. Pierce continued.

"What exactly is wrong with Dan, Dr. Pierce?" Jo questioned.

This time it was Nan, who stood so unusually quiet, who spoke up. Nan had become Dr. Pierce's nurse when she turned sixteen. Hopefully, once she finished Plumfield, she would go to medical school and become a doctor. Tonight reminded Nan of the first patient that she had seen die when she was only thirteen years old. Dr. Pierce had thought she was too fragile and well- too female- to continue helping him with his practice-she had proved him wrong. Still, now as she prepared herself to tell her friend that he would not be getting better she couldn't help, but want to runaway and hide. "He has the cancer. He's dying…months at most."

Silence engulfed the room. It seemed that in a matter of moments, all the happiness that had inhabited the household was suddenly let go.

Dan knew he would be lying to himself if he said that he hadn't felt tired and drained for several months, but he had figured that the work he was doing at the homestead, the excitement of going out West, and Bess' answer to his proposal had caused it. That had to be it, Dr. Pierce did say that he had to do more tests. This couldn't be the end of his life, heck he hadn't even started it yet.

Finally, it was Nat who broke the silence. "You can't just say that. Dr. Pierce. You can't just give up. Dan's young and strong. There must be something you can do?" This was not the way that it would end for Dan. It couldn't be. It was Dan who saved Nat from the streets of Boston, who helped him time and time again, who became a big brother to him. Nat also knew how much Dan wanted to see the world and how much he loved Bess- he was only eighteen years old-his friend deserved to do all these things, to die an old man perhaps a father or off on some adventure in some foreign country.

"I am sorry." Dr. Pierce said and then turned to leave. "He will continue on like this this for awhile, days maybe weeks, and then his symptoms will worsen, there will be nothing you or I can do to save him… again I'm sorry,I'll see myself out."

When the household had finally left Dan to his thoughts, he felt numb. What was he to do now? He was suppose to be on a train in two days, he was suppose to marry Bess in two years. Should he leave and let whatever was suppose to happen to him happen away from all that knew him? Or should he stay and become a burden to his family?

He needed to think. The weakness that he'd felt just before the fall had past now. Today he felt as good as ever, perhaps Dr. Pierce would find another diagnosis once the blood test was done. Perhaps all this fear was for nothing, perhaps he was just fine after all. Dan would ask Nan, the doctor must have conducted the test by now. Mrs. Jo had forbidden Dan to get out of bed, but it of course was not in Dan's nature to stay put or do what he was told.

"Nan?" Dan called as he found his young blonde haired friend. Against all her protests Nan had bloomed into a real lady, her once short straight hair was now flowing and long, though often uncombed. She would be quite a beauty if she cared and Dan knew that other men then Nat were sweet on her. Tommy was always by her side asking if he could help her with some experiment or another, but Nan would have none of it and saw only her medical degree in front of her eyes. Besides, Nat was still too shy to do anything about it. Dan knew Nat and Nan would be together eventually, but that would be some time yet.

"I'm really busy right now Dan. Anyhow you should be resting." She was avoiding Dan, wrestling with her guilt.

"I feel fine." Dan replied, wondering why Nan was ignoring him. "Which is why I wanted to ask you: what were the results of the blood test?"

Nan turned to look at Dan, but then couldn't look him in the eye. She had failed him, failed them all, Dr. Pierce and herself. Why hadn't she seen the signs? Why hadn't she noticed? How could she save others when she couldn't save her friend? "Same as before….He even called in a specialist from Boston. Everything points to cancer."

"Well," Dan thought. "I guess I am dying."