Beloved Physician (2 page)

Walking very carefully several steps behind Breanna were her two children. Eight-year-old Paul gingerly held a white satin pillow with the brides ring tied securely to it with blue ribbons. He had been tutored many times over about his duty as ring bearer. His six-year-old sister, Ginny, walked at his side, strewing pink rose petals down the aisle.

Ginny was a small version of her lovely mother, both in looks and the dress she was wearing. When Breanna drew up to her place before the altar, she turned and looked at Paul and Ginny. She and John both smiled as they observed their precious children. A small sigh escaped Breanna’s lips when both children reached the front without any mishaps.

When each person in the procession was in place, the organist raised the volume to announce the presence of the bride.

In the second row of pews, Kitty Tabor rose from her seat and looked back up the aisle. The crowd followed.

Tharyn and her father moved into the doorway, silhouetted against the bright sunlight that flowed through the vestibule windows.

In the brides left hand was a bouquet of spring cut flowers.
She held onto her fathers arm with the other hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. David Tabor looked at his beloved daughter, bent down, and placed a soft kiss on her cheek through her veil. “I love you, sweetheart. Thank you for coming into our home. From the moment we chose you off that orphan train, you have always been a source of joy to your mother and me.”

Tharyn’s eyes brimmed with tears. She smiled. “I love you too, Papa. You and Mama have given me such a special life. I will never forget what the two of you have done for me.”

Father and daughter turned with nervous smiles gracing their faces and began their slow walk down the aisle.

Standing at the foot of the platform, Dane Logan was struck anew with Tharyn’s beauty: both her outward physical beauty and, even more important, her inward spiritual beauty.

Tharyn was radiant in her white gown of organza over taffeta. A wide band of lace cupped her chin and edged the long, elegant sleeves. Her delicate veil of the same exquisite lace fell gracefully over her shoulders and down her slender back, ending in a small train.

Kitty was blinking at her tears and it was quite evident that her husband was also having a difficult time with his emotions.

With the sound of the organ filling the auditorium, Tharyn looked down the aisle and riveted her gaze on the young man she had loved for so long.

Dane’s heart was pounding when his eyes met Tharyn’s. He had come so close to losing his bride in the hands of the outlaws on what was supposed to be their wedding day, but this time nothing would prevent the marriage from taking place.

As Tharyn and her father drew closer, Dane breathed a prayer of thanks to the Lord for protecting her and delivering her from the outlaws.

When the bride and her father drew up, the organ stopped.

Pastor Nathan Blandford smiled down at father and daughter.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

David’s throat was a bit constricted with emotion, but he managed to say, “Her mother and I.”

Tharyn lifted the veil with her free hand and planted a tender kiss on his cheek.

David then placed Tharyn’s hand in that of the groom. He gave a loving look to both of them, turned, and made his way toward Kitty.

Dane squeezed his bride’s hand, let go of it, and offered her his arm. As they moved toward the platform steps, they smiled at each other, each knowing the other’s thoughts:
At last, we are about to become husband and wife!

A
t the reception in the church’s fellowship hall, the bride and groom cut their wedding cake in front of the smiling crowd, fed each other a piece; then the guests began filing by slowly.

First in line were the groom’s parents from Cheyenne, Dr. and Mrs. Jacob Logan, who exchanged hugs and kisses with Dane and Tharyn.

The well wishers took their time, speaking to the bride and groom as they came by.

Dane and Tharyn were pleased to see Pastor Mark Shane and his wife, Peggy. Shane pastored the church in Central City. He and Peggy knew that Dr. Dane and Tharyn would be transferring their membership to their church as soon as they returned from their honeymoon in Colorado Springs.

When everyone else had passed by, elderly Dr. Robert Fraser stepped up, his wife Esther at his side. With them was Nadine Wahl, the widow who had worked for Dr. Fraser for many years as his nurse and receptionist.

Nadine talked to them about her retirement when Tharyn would take over in her place after the Logans returned to Central City. Both Dr. Fraser and Nadine assured the newlyweds that they would fill in for them when they were needed, just as Dr. Fraser
had done for Dr. Dane since he took over the practice.

The Frasers and Nadine also talked to the newlyweds about the house Dr. Dane had bought in Central City prior to the first wedding attempt, without Tharyn knowing it. They discussed how even though Dr. Dane wanted to surprise her, after her abduction and return to Denver, he felt he should tell her about it.

When Tharyn heard about the house, she immediately wanted to see it, so Dane took her to Central City and showed it to her, as well as introduced her to the Frasers and Nadine.

Soon the newlyweds changed clothes in separate Sunday school rooms, then in a hail of rice drove away in Dane’s buggy—which had been all fixed up by some of the people with bright-colored paper streamers and a sign on the rear that said JUST MARRIED—and headed for the railroad station.

On Thursday, June 30, Dr. Dane Logan and his bride rode to Denver from Colorado Springs by train, then hopped in his buggy at the stable where horse and vehicle had been kept and headed west toward Central City.

As the buggy bounced along the road that climbed into higher country, Tharyn held onto her husband’s arm and thought about her beautiful house in Central City. Suddenly time rolled back in her mind, and she was reliving that day she first saw the house …

When Dane turned off Main onto Spruce Street, she glanced at the sign and said, “Is this the street the house is on, or will we turn onto another one?”

Dane smiled at her. “This is the street, sweetheart. When we become husband and wife, well be living at 212 Spruce Street.”

Tharyn watched the numbers on the houses, and when she spotted 212 up ahead, her heart picked up pace. When he pulled
the buggy to a halt in the driveway, she sat speechless, just staring at the awesome house.

Seeing her eyes open wide but not hearing a comment, Dane was afraid he had made the wrong choice. Dropping the reins, he looked at her questioningly. “Wh-what’s the matter, honey? Don’t you like the house?”

His bride-to-be turned to him with tears in her eyes.

Dane swallowed hard. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

She laid a hand on his arm. “Oh, darling, there’s nothing wrong! I—I’m just in awe of it! What a beautiful house you have provided for us! I never dreamed it was anything like this!” She sniffed and shook her head. “See these? These are happy, happy tears!”

Dane let out a big sigh of relief. “Boy, you had me worried, little lady. I sure didn’t want to do anything to disappoint you!”

Tharyn cupped his face in her hands and kissed him soundly. “You, my dear, are wonderful! I already love this house. Take me inside. I want to see it.”

When Dane lifted his bride-to-be out of the buggy, she stood gazing at the house, memorizing each detail. “It isn’t very old, is it?”

“No. Just five years old. As you can see, the people who owned it previously took very good care of it.”

“That’s for sure,” she said, still running her gaze from side to side and top to bottom.

The frame house was painted a soft gray with brilliant white trim. The many mullioned windows sparkled in the late spring sunshine.

Tharyn noticed that there were no curtains adorning the windows and made a mental note that this would be one of the first decorating chores she would attend to. Her happy heart looked forward to making this fine house into a warm and cozy home. Already she was planning a flowing garden beside the wide front porch as they ascended the stairs leading to the front door.

Seconds later, standing in the parlor, Tharyn stared around her in amazement then smiled at the love of her life. “You just never cease to astonish me, darling. This house is so lovely.”

“Well as you can see, the previous owners took their furniture, curtains, drapes, and decorations, and I haven’t purchased any of these things because I knew that was something you would want a hand in doing.”

She embraced him and they kissed. Tharyn smiled. “It will be my joy and pleasure, Doctor, to fill this house with whatever will make
both
of us happy.”

Dane chuckled joyfully and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. “When we get back to Denver, we’ll go to all three furniture stores and both department stores. You can pick out everything you want, and we’ll have it delivered between now and the wedding. Two weeks should be long enough to get most everything delivered here from Denver. When we get back from our honeymoon, you can enjoy turning this house into
our
home.”

“Oh, Dane, I will love doing that. Thank you, sweetheart.” She paused. “Of course, I’ll have to do it on my off hours from working at the office, since Nadine is retiring right away.”

Dane grinned. “I have an idea you’ll get it done pretty fast, anyhow.”

“I sure will. Well, I want to see the rest of the house.”

Dane slipped his arm around her waist and led her into all the other rooms in the spacious two-story house.

Suddenly back to the present, Tharyn saw that they were pulling into Central City on Main Street. She squeezed Dane’s arm. “Oh, darling, I just love this town already! I’m going to love living here as Mrs. Dane Logan, and as the nurse-receptionist for that handsome young doctor!”

Dane chuckled. “I know we’re going to be very happy, sweetheart. And it’s going to be great having you working with me at the office.”

She looked into his eyes. “May I remind you, Doctor, that we agreed I would work as your nurse and receptionist for two to three years; then we would start our family. Of course at that time, you will have to find someone else to take my place.”

Dane took hold of her hand and squeezed it gently. “Sure. Two to three years will be enough. I most certainly want to have children. I at least want a girl who looks like you and a boy who looks like me.”

Tharyn laughed, then looked up ahead at Dane’s office. “Darling, could we go to the house first, so I can freshen up before we see Dr. Fraser and Nadine?”

Dane nodded. “Certainly.”

“Thank you, darling. And besides, I haven’t seen our house since all the furniture and other things we ordered have been delivered.”

Moments later, as they approached 212 Spruce Street, Tharyn could hardly sit still on the seat. “Oh, I’m so excited!”

“Me too,” said Dane, smiling broadly. “But remember, honey, everything is sort of piled in the rooms. It’ll take some time to sort it all out and put it where you want it. The furniture has been placed in the proper rooms, if they did as I left instructions, but you are going to be one busy lady getting it all organized.”

“I will absolutely love setting everything in order, darling. Nothing could make me happier!”

“Good girl! You should be superbly happy. Just keep in mind that anything you need help with, you save until I’m home, okay?”

“Yes, Dr. Logan, sir,” she said, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Some thirty minutes later, Dane guided the buggy up to the hitch rail in front of the office and hopped out. Somebody in a passing
wagon called out to him and waved. He smiled and waved back, then dashed around to the other side and helped Tharyn down.

She paused and looked up at the sign next to the door:
Dane Logan, M.D
.

She sighed. “Oh, it’s so wonderful that you have your own practice, just like you dreamed when we lived as street waifs in the alley in Manhattan so long ago.”

Dane grinned. “It sure is wonderful, sweetheart. The Lord has been so good to me. Just think! I’ve got my own practice, and I’m married to the most beautiful woman He ever created. What more could I ask for?”

Tharyn laughed. “There are a lot of husbands who would argue with you on that most beautiful woman’ bit.”

Dane clipped her playfully on the chin. “Can I help it if those husbands are fooled?”

Laughing together, they entered the office and found Nadine Wahl at her desk, doing some paperwork. She looked up and smiled. “Well, if it isn’t the newlyweds! Welcome home, boss and boss’s wife!”

They both greeted her warmly. She said she hoped they had a wonderful honeymoon and told them that Dr. Fraser was with a patient in the examining room at the moment. He should be finished in a few minutes.

While they were talking about Tharyn taking over Nadine’s job, Dr. Fraser came out of the examining room with his patient, a middle-aged man. Dr. Fraser introduced the man to Dr. Dane and Tharyn. The man shook hands with Dr. Dane and told him that Dr. Fraser was just telling him a lot about the new doctor. He said he was glad to meet Dr. Logan and his wife, then went on his way.