Faithful Heart (5 page)

“Nurse, you sure are a welcome sight! I—” Dr. Laird straightened up, turned all the way around with a bloody scalpel in his hand, and gasped, “Breanna!”

“Hello, Doctor,” she replied, smiling. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Same here, dear lady,” he sighed. “We’ll talk later. Wash
basin is right over here. Get washed up as quickly as you can. I needed you two hours ago.”

“I see you haven’t changed a bit,” she said.

“Can’t teach an old dog new tricks, you know.”

Breanna had the attention of the men on the cots as she made her way to the cupboard, her ankle-length skirt swishing. She placed her medical bag on the counter, asked Colonel Lynch to work the pump handle, and scrubbed with lye soap. Then she took her place on the opposite side of the operating table, a surgeon’s mask covering her mouth and nose. Colonel Lynch was feeling a bit light-headed from the sights and smells and excused himself.

The young soldier on the table had an arrow in his chest. His bloody shirt lay over the back of a nearby chair. Breanna saw two other bloody arrows lying on the floor. She could see that the young corporal was in serious trouble. The Shoshoni arrow had come dangerously near his heart, and there was much bleeding.

Breanna steadied the arrow while Laird carefully cut around it and finally was able to remove it. Small pieces had broken off the arrow tip and had to be removed one by one. Breanna adjusted artery clamps as needed to give the doctor space to work, and dabbed at oozing blood with cotton pads to keep the opening as clear as possible.

While she worked, she told Dr. Laird about John Stranger coming into her life, that John was well-experienced with wounded men, and that he would be there to help after he had sent a wire to the marshal in Denver. Laird commented about John’s last name and told her he was glad she had met the man of her dreams. He said he would welcome John’s help.

“What can you tell me about Colonel Moore, Doctor?” Breanna asked as the surgery on the young soldier continued.

“I’m afraid it’s his heart. At first I thought it was pleurisy, but the more I study him, the more I’m convinced he’s having heart pains. He told me about the death of his son—how the boy sacrificed his own life to save him. He also told me how rough he’d always been on the boy, accusing him of cowardice. I think the heart pains may be mostly stress related, brought on by the guilt he’s feeling.”

“Maybe he’s got a more tender heart than one might think, given his crusty manner,” Breanna said.

“Well, I’ve told him he mustn’t go on with the wagon train. He needs complete rest. I’m treating him with sedatives, but it’s rest that’s going to get him over it—that and reconciliation with his wife.”

“He must’ve told you that she’s been pretty cold to him since Jason was killed.”

“He spilled it all to me.”

“Good. I’ve gotten to know Mrs. Moore pretty well, Doctor. I have no doubt she’ll make the effort to reconcile.”

“The man is strong. With proper rest and things right between him and his wife, I feel confident he’ll be all right.”

Dr. Laird and Breanna worked like a precision team together. When the corporal started to come around, Laird instructed Breanna to apply more ether. He was pleased at the skill he saw in her hands, a skill he had admired since the first day they had worked together in Las Cruces.

“What’s this young man’s name, Doctor?” Breanna asked.

“Lenny Pinder. Farm boy from Iowa. I’ve gotten to know him well. In fact, I know every one of these men on the cots.” He looked in their direction and said, “We’re working as fast as we can, fellas.”

One of them spoke up. “I wasn’t in much of a hurry till she came in, Doc. Now, I can’t wait for attention.”

The others laughed in spite of their pain.

“With such a pretty nurse to look after me, I think I’ll stay sick for a long time,” another said.

They laughed again. Blushing, Breanna turned and looked at them. Her smile was hidden by the mask she wore, but they could see it in her eyes.

“Complications, Doctor?” Breanna asked when she turned back and saw the concern on Dr. Laird’s face.

“Yes,” he nodded, keeping his eyes on his work. “The heart has sustained some damage. I’ve done everything I can do. We’ll close him up and leave him in the hands of God. Unless God intervenes, he’s not going to make it. He could easily hemorrhage to death.”

Breanna looked down at the pale, boyish face and wondered if Corporal Lenny Pinder was a Christian.

While the doctor sutured the wound, Breanna looked up to see John Stranger step through the open door. The eyes of the soldiers on the cots followed his towering figure as he strode past them, giving them a warm smile.

Breanna introduced John to Dr. Laird, who asked him a few questions to test his knowledge of bandages and bleeding. Satisfied, Dr. Laird gave him instructions on what to look for and how to care for the wounded men until he and Breanna could get to them.

Corporal Pinder was moved to a cot, and the man in the next most serious condition was laid on the table. Hours passed. At suppertime, other soldiers fed the wounded men and a couple of privates brought food and drink for Dr. Laird, Breanna, and
John Stranger. The three ate quickly, then returned to their work. It was just after nine o’clock when they finished the last of the medical work and surgeries. The first three men Dr. Laird had worked on were critical. All three had taken arrows, one in the back and the other two in the chest.

As the doctor and his helpers were washing up, Colonel Lynch and Captain Meyer came in and commended them for the excellent job they had done. Laird took the colonel and the captain aside and explained that three of the men were in critical condition. He would stay in the infirmary with them all night. If they survived until morning, they had a good chance of making it.

Laird returned to John and Breanna and said, “I want to thank both of you for your help. Without it, some of these men might be dead by now.”

“I’m just glad we arrived when we did,” Breanna said.

“You do well for someone who’s never had formal medical training, Mr. Stranger,” the doctor said. “You should have been a physician.”

“Thanks, Doc, but I don’t think so.”

“Well, you sure have talent in that area,” Laird said.

“He has talents in many areas, Doctor,” Breanna said. “I never knew a man who could do so many things well. He’s even a great preacher!”

Colonel Lynch’s face lit up. “Is that so? Well, tomorrow’s Sunday, and at present Fort Bridger has no chaplain. Mr. Stranger, would you consider preaching our Sunday services for us?”

“I think Miss Baylor’s estimate of my preaching may be a little biased, Colonel, but if you can talk Mr. Clayson here into
delaying the wagon train’s departure for a day, I’ll be glad to preach for you.”

All eyes swung to the wagon master, who had entered the infirmary moments before. Rip rubbed the back of his neck for a moment, then said, “Well, we’re already running nearly two weeks behind schedule, Colonel, but I’ve heard about John’s preaching from several sources. I’d like to hear him myself. Okay. We’ll pull out first thing Monday morning.”

“Good!” the colonel exclaimed. “Then it’s settled. I’ll put the word out to the men.”

Breanna quickly told John and Rip that Dr. Laird was prescribing extended rest for Colonel Moore and that the Moores would not be traveling further with the wagon train. Breanna, John, and Rip decided to go see the Moores and went together to the room in the officers’ quarters where Marian sat beside her husband’s bed. Marian was relieved to hear that Dr. Laird thought her husband would be fine if they wintered at the fort. The colonel smiled and said they would join the first California-bound wagon train that came through next spring.

“In the meantime,” he said, “Marian and I’ve got a lot to talk about together. I guess the Good Lord knew what I needed more than I did.”

“He always does,” Breanna said. “Always.”

Morning came with a few puffy clouds scudding across a clear sky. Colonel Lynch was awakened at sunrise by Dr. Laird, who told him that two of the three critical men had died during the night. Only Lenny Pinder was still holding onto life. Pinder seemed better, but the nature of his wound left the doctor
wondering if he would make it.

During breakfast the sad news of the two deaths spread through the fort. The two men would be buried that afternoon. Just before the morning service, John and Breanna visited the men in the infirmary, doing what they could to cheer them up. Colonel Lynch and Dr. Laird came in while they were talking to Lenny Pinder, who was quite weak but getting some color in his face.

“I just asked Doc if you men could attend the preaching service this morning,” Lynch said, “providing some of your fellow-soldiers carry you outside on your stretchers. He gave permission for everyone except Corporal Pinder. How about it?”

There was immediate response from the five wounded men. They all wanted to attend the service.

“Colonel, are you going to hold the services just outside the infirmary like usual?” Pinder asked weakly.

“Yes. It’s not cool enough to move us inside the mess hall yet.”

“Good,” Pinder said. “Then I can hear Mr. Stranger preach, too.”

Breanna leaned over and placed her hand on the corporal’s shoulder. “You’ll be able to hear him, Lenny. John speaks softly most of the time, but when he gets to preaching, his volume rises.”

John Stranger gave Breanna a look of indignation and everyone laughed. Even Lenny Pinder.

Most of the Fort Bridger personnel attended the preaching service. They sang gospel songs and hymns by memory, then the colonel introduced John Stranger, making a few joking remarks about his name.

John went along with it, added his own touch of humor, then opened his Bible. His heart was heavy over the recent deaths of the soldiers, and he chose Hebrews 9:27 as his text:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment.”

He reminded all of his hearers that as death had come to their comrades, so one day it would come to them all. With tears in his eyes, John warned of hell and judgment for those who die in their sins, and made it clear that salvation comes only by repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. At the close of the message, several men, including three of the five wounded ones, responded to the invitation to receive Christ.

After the wounded men had been carried on their stretchers back into the infirmary, Corporal Pinder spoke to Dr. Laird and asked if he would tell John Stranger he wanted to talk to him. Moments later, Stranger entered the crowded log building, spoke to the wounded men on their cots, then stood over Lenny Pinder.

“Colonel Lynch said you wanted to see me,” he said, smiling.

“Yes, sir. I heard your sermon. And … and I want to talk to you about it.”

Stranger picked up a straight-backed wooden chair, placed it beside the cot, and sat down. “Questions, Lenny?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Shoot.”

“Well, sir … in your sermon you said that Jesus died for sinners, and that we’re all sinners, right?”

“Yes. He sure did, and we sure are. Romans 3:23 says,
All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
. And Ecclesiastes 7:20 says,
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”

Pinder nodded. “I believe that, Mr. Stranger, but what if … what if a man stole something from someone and never got caught? And because he never got caught, the thief never made restitution.”

Stranger leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “You talking about Lenny Pinder as the thief?”

Pinder hesitated, then said, “Yes, sir. I … I won’t go into details, but I stole something very valuable from a neighboring farmer when I was eighteen. My conscience has eaten me alive, Mr. Stranger. I wanted to go to the man and confess my crime before I joined the army, but I just couldn’t work up the courage to do it. And now … now, I’m dying.”

“Lenny, Dr. Laird says you’re better today, and—”

Lenny rolled his head back and forth on the pillow. “No, Mr. Stranger. I know. Somehow I know I’m not going to make it. I … I want to be forgiven for my crime, and for all my other sins. Help me. Please.”

John Stranger told young Pinder the story of the dying thieves at Calvary. One thief railed at Jesus and died in his sins, but the other admitted he was getting what he deserved. Before he died, he asked Jesus for salvation, including forgiveness for his crimes and all his other sins.

When Stranger told how Jesus promised the dying thief they would be together that very day in paradise, Lenny Pinder’s lower lip quivered and tears filled his eyes. “Mr. Stranger,” he said weakly, “if I asked Jesus to forgive me and save my soul right now, He would do it, right?”

“He sure would, son. His Word says,
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
. And Jesus said,
Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out
. You call on Him right now,
I guarantee you, He won’t cast you out.”

“Then … that’s what I want to do. Will you help me?”

“Of course,” Stranger said, laying a hand on Lenny’s shoulder.

John Stranger helped Corporal Lenny Pinder word his prayer, as the farm boy from Iowa called on Jesus Christ to save him. When Lenny was finished, Stranger spoke words of assurance and comfort. Weak and sick as he was, Lenny smiled and wept for joy, knowing he had been forgiven for all of his sins and would go to heaven when he died. The other patients who had become Christians that morning rejoiced with Pinder, sharing the sweetness of salvation.

John Stranger found Dr. Laird and asked what he thought about young Pinder’s chances of living. Laird said that the damage to his heart and the wound next to it could result in his death. Only time would tell.

Stranger went to Breanna, who was removing a splinter from a soldier’s hand. He was part of the burial detail for the soldiers who had died during the night and had gotten the splinter from the handle of the shovel he was using. They were sitting on a bench in the sunshine. Stranger waited till she was through and the soldier had gone, then he sat beside her and told her of Lenny’s conversion. Breanna was elated at the news and took John by the hand and hurried to the infirmary.