The Heart Remembers (18 page)

He frowned slightly. “What?”

“I am also thrilled to be your wife. God not only made you a physician and surgeon. He made you a missionary as well!”

Dane nodded. “Something He wants all Christians to be—telling everyone who will listen the good news of salvation. Since we have a few minutes before patients with appointments are due to come in, how about we pray together right now?”

They entered Dane’s private office and knelt down at a worn leather couch. Hand in hand, the doctor and his wife lifted their heartfelt prayers to the God in heaven Who was able to draw souls to Himself through His Word.

The afternoon was a busy one, and between patients, Dr. Dane was reminded by his wife that he had several house calls scheduled for tomorrow, and that Dr. Robert Fraser was planning to be there all day.

Dane was wiping the microphone of his stethoscope with a clean cloth as Tharyn was speaking. He met her gaze. “I sure hope Dr. Fraser’s back is doing better.”

“I do too,” she said, “but I really don’t think he is going to be able to continue filling in here at the office much longer.”

“His age is telling on him. He’s going to have to retire completely, soon. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I mentioned Dr. Tim Braden to you recently.”

“Yes. He’ll be finishing his internship at Mile High Hospital next May. Have you given more thought to trying to bring Tim here?”

“I have. We need to get back to our patients. I’ll talk to you about it this evening.”

It was nearly five-thirty when Dane and Tharyn closed the office and headed home. They put horse and buggy in their small barn, then entered the house through the back door and walked into the kitchen.

Tharyn looked around, and with a contented sigh, smiled at him and said, “Isn’t it good to be home in our own little haven of peace and quiet?”

“It sure is, honey,” Dane said, removing his coat and hanging it on a peg near the door.

“I know we have a busy schedule with our practice, but I intend to enjoy every moment when I can be home.”

Dane grinned and let out his own sigh. “I’m with you, sweetheart. The patient load seems to grow daily, and my only free time is on Sunday, and that day is filled with church services and fellowship with our church family—which I love—but it would be nice just to have a ‘free’ day once in a while.”

“Why don’t you build a fire in the stove for me, then during supper, you can tell me all about your plan involving Tim Braden. I’m eager to hear about it.”

Dane went to the stove, quickly built a fire, and told her he would build one also in the fireplace in the parlor. When he returned, he sat down at the table, which Tharyn had already set.

“I hope you don’t mind some tomato soup and warm crusty bread with butter for your supper,” she said, while she was at the stove.

“Sounds good. You know I’m not a picky eater. After living on the streets of New York City, a hot bowl of soup and warm bread sounds like manna from heaven.”

Stirring the soup in its pan, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. “I guess we’ll never forget those hungry days, will we? We
have so much to be thankful for. Starting, of course, with finding each other again after it looked so hopeless.”

“That’s for sure, sweetheart. My life just wouldn’t be right without you.”

Tharyn poured the soup into two bowls and set them on the table, then went back to the cupboard for the plate of bread. She stepped up behind Dane and kissed the top of his head. “If you’ll lead us in prayer for the food, we can eat now.”

Tharyn sat down, and they clasped hands over the table. Dane led in prayer, and when he finished, she said, “All right, tell me what you’ve got in mind about Tim. I’m excited to hear it, because my best friend will be coming with him if he does come.”

Dane chuckled. “Of course. With Melinda here, you’d be elated, wouldn’t you?”

“I’ll say. All right, go ahead.”

“Well, for sure our practice is growing steadily. I figure we won’t be able to pay Tim a big salary at first, but if you agree, I’d like to offer him the job as my assistant, then one day when we can afford to establish a clinic, I’d like to take him in as my partner.”

Excitement showed on Tharyn’s countenance. “Oh, yes, I wholeheartedly agree, darling! When you offer Tim the job, I think he’ll jump at the opportunity. Oh, I’m so thrilled at the prospect of having Melinda living right here in Central City!”

Dane swallowed the piece of bread he was chewing. “Well, the next time we’re in Denver, I’ll talk to Tim about it and see if he’s interested. If he jumps at the opportunity like you think he will, we’ll make plans in a hurry. Since his internship at the hospital ends in early May, I’d like to have him and Melinda move here by the first of June.”

“The first of June will be great!”

The Logans finished their supper and spent the evening in the parlor talking about how they would set up things at the office when Tim came to work for them. Intermittently, Tharyn brought
up how she and Melinda would spend time together just enjoying each other’s company.

At bedtime, they read their Bibles, then prayed together, spending extra moments praying for Chief Tando, that Dane’s witness to him would result in his salvation.

Less than an hour after Tharyn had fallen sleep, she found herself dreaming. She was in her kitchen at midmorning on a bright, sunny day, and while standing at the sink, she looked out the window into the backyard. Her heart felt a warm sensation when she saw her little five-year-old daughter swaying back and forth in her swing.

This time the child was facing the house. Tharyn rushed out the back door and hurried toward the little girl, saying, “Elizabeth Ann, I just had to come out here and tell you that I love you.”

Elizabeth Ann smiled and her dark brown eyes sparkled as she said, “I love you, too, Mommy!”

Suddenly Tharyn awakened with her heart pounding, and gasping for breath. Dane lay beside her, fast asleep.

“O Lord,” Tharyn whispered, “someday, will You let me have a baby girl we can name Elizabeth Ann? Of course, I want to have a boy, too. It makes no difference which You give us first … a boy or a girl. But when You give us the girl, she is going to be my precious Elizabeth Ann.”

The next morning—Friday, September 23—Dr. Dane Logan left home early to begin his house calls. Some were as far as twenty miles from Central City.

When Tharyn arrived at the office half an hour before opening time and began preparations for the day, her thoughts were divided between the dream she had last night and the prospect of Melinda and Tim coming to Central City to live.

She thought back to the days when as young teenagers, she and Melinda lived in the alley in New York with the other orphans. She relived moments that were precious to her, both in the alley and on the orphan train that brought them to their new lives in the West.

Tharyn had the office and back room ready for the day by ten minutes before eight, and was sitting at her desk when she looked up and saw Dr. Robert Fraser come in.

The elderly physician smiled as he closed the door behind him and moved toward the pegs on the wall behind her desk. “Good morning, Tharyn.”

She smiled in return. “And a good morning to you, my dear friend.”

She noticed the dark circles under his pain-filled eyes, and was aware of how slowly and deliberately he walked. “Dr. Fraser, are you having a bad day with your back?”

“Well, my dear, it’s just one of those days. I didn’t get much sleep last night. I couldn’t find a comfortable position. I’ll be all right, though. Don’t you worry about me. I’m sure we have a full schedule, so I’m ready.”

Tharyn left her chair and gave the dear old man a gentle hug.

He patted her back as she was hugging him and said, “Esther and I learned from neighbors last night about the incident that took place here at the office yesterday. She and I are both glad it turned out all right.”

“Me, too. I was quite concerned at first because so many in the crowd showed such anger at Dane’s having allowed Indians into the office.” She smiled. “But praise the Lord, He made it turn out all right.”

“Our God has a way of doing that, Tharyn.”

“That He does. And you’ll be glad to know that Dane and Pastor Shane talked briefly with Chief Tando before he left for
home yesterday about the Bible and the Lord. He seemed interested. Dane is planning to talk to him about Jesus when he goes to the village to check on Latawga next week.”

“Great! I’ll tell Esther about it. We’ll be praying for Chief Tando and his people.”

The first patient of the day was coming toward the door from the hitch rail outside.

Tharyn looked at Dr. Fraser and thought,
I must ease his load as much as possible. Lord, would You please ease the discomfort in his back and help him through this difficult day
.

A smile was in place as she greeted the first patient. Dr. Fraser took the man into the back room, and moments later, more patients began coming in. There was a steady stream of them as the morning progressed.

It was almost eleven o’clock when the regularly scheduled stagecoach from Denver arrived in town. A few minutes later, Central City’s Wells Fargo agent, Cliff Ames, came into the office with a copy of the
Rocky Mountain News
in hand. Tharyn and Dr. Fraser were talking together at Tharyn’s desk.

Cliff unfolded the newspaper to expose the front page. “How about this?” he said with a smile.

Tharyn and the elderly physician noted the bold headline:

“Looks good!” said Tharyn.

“Let me read the article to you.” Cliff read every word to them, which told of the peace treaty signed last Tuesday at Fort Junction, as reported by General Joseph G. Dayton. The article went on to praise Dr. Dane Logan of Central City, whose kindness and compassion to the wounded son of Chief Tando had led to the chief’s signing the treaty.

When Cliff finished reading, Tharyn smiled. “My dear husband is going to be embarrassed by General Dayton’s accolades.”

Dr. Fraser laughed. “Well, Tharyn, dear, even if Dr. Dane does get embarrassed, he most certainly deserves those accolades!”

THIRTEEN
 

a
s the hours passed on Friday, people came into Dr. Dane Logan’s office just to talk about the
Rocky Mountain News
article in the light of yesterday’s incident over Chief Tando, Nandano, and Latawga being allowed in the office. Each time, Tharyn had to explain that her husband was out making house calls. The people then asked her to pass their comments on to Dr. Dane. Tharyn found herself extremely proud of her husband.

Late that afternoon, Tharyn was at her desk taking payment from a woman who had just been treated for a sore throat. As Tharyn placed the money into the cash drawer and thanked the woman, the front door opened and Tharyn saw Kirby Holton come in.

The wealthy owner of the Holton Coal Mine just west of town smiled at the woman and held the door open for her as she moved outside.

Tharyn smiled up at Kirby. “Hello, Mr. Holton. Dr. Logan isn’t in at the moment, but Dr. Fraser is here.”

Kirby grinned and shook his head. “I don’t need a doctor’s attention today, thank goodness. I just came by to commend your husband for being instrumental in bringing about the signing of the peace treaty by Chief Tando. Last night I heard about
yesterday’s incident with the crowd and all, and I just read the article in the
Rocky Mountain News
. Dr. Logan did us all a favor, and I’m anxious to tell him how much I appreciate him for it. Will he be back soon?”

“Well, it will be a while yet. He’s out making house calls. But I certainly will tell him that you came by.”

“You go ahead and do that, but I’ll come back tomorrow so I can talk to him personally. I’m very much relieved to know that the vicious Chief Tando is now at peace with us white folks. I hope Chiefs Yukana and Antono will soon give up their war on us also.”

Tharyn nodded. “I’ve heard lots of people here in town talk about how hateful and brutal those two chiefs and their warriors are toward white people.”