One More Sunrise (27 page)

“Sure will. I’ll get a room at one of the hotels later.”

David Tabor was glad to see Dane with Tharyn when he pulled up in front of the hospital.

At the supper table, the Tabors and Dane talked about his new practice.

Dane then changed the subject by saying, “Didn’t the Ross family used to go to your church?”

“They sure did,” said David. “It was really hard to see them move away. So many of us in the church got very close to Mike and Julie and those precious handicapped children they had adopted off the orphan trains.” Suddenly David frowned. “How do you know the Rosses?”

“Well, when I was on the orphan train that ended up taking me to Cheyenne, I had a little friend named Kenny Atwood.”

“Kenny!” exclaimed Tharyn. “You were on the same orphan train with him!”

“Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Ross came to Cheyenne to pick him up, because they had already arranged with Charles Loring Brace to pick him up there. Did Kenny do all right with his wooden leg?”

“He sure did,” said Kitty. “The Rosses had a prearrangement like that with a blind girl named Leanne Ladd, only it was a train that was coming to Denver. Tharyn and Leanne were on the same orphan train. Even though Mike sold his law practice here in Denver and moved to Bozeman, Montana, to take over a practice
there, Leanne and Tharyn still write to each other often.”

Dane grinned. “Isn’t that something? Kenny and I still write back and forth. It’s hard to believe that he’s eighteen now.”

Dane noticed Tharyn grinning at him. “What’s that grin about?”

“Oh, it’s just because you’re going to be so surprised when you see a certain person at church on Sunday.”

“You mean somebody I know who came here on the orphan train with you?”

Tharyn closed her eyes and moved her head back and forth. “I’m saying no more. You will have to wait until Sunday to see who it is.”

Dane chuckled. “Okay, smarty. I’ll wait till Sunday.”

Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman and his three deputies arrived back in Denver at seven-thirty the next morning. At the office, John told the other deputies who were present about capturing the Tag Moran gang, and their upcoming trial next week. There were cheers.

At the Brockman place, Breanna was sweeping the front porch when she saw the big black horse with the tall man turn into the lane at the road and head for the house.

Although Breanna had learned over the years to always trust her lawman husband to God’s protective care, and though she already knew he had safely captured the Moran gang, a sweet feeling of relief came over her as she watched him riding her direction.

She leaned the broom against the wall, tugged the shawl she wore up around her neck, and descended the steps.

John drew Ebony to a stop, slid from the saddle, and took her in his arms. He lifted her feet off the ground and swung her around
in a circle. “I declare, Mrs. Brockman, you just get more beautiful all the time! I didn’t think you could become more beautiful, but somehow God, in His marvelous handiwork, finds a way to do it.”

Breanna laughed as he lowered her back to the earth. “You sure are good for a woman’s ego, Chief United States Marshal John Brockman.” She placed a hand on each side of his face, and while her own face glowed happily, she said, “Thank the Lord you’re back home safe once more, my love.”

She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed the man who so long ago had captured her heart.

Suddenly they were interrupted by two squealing voices. “Papa! Papa!”

John let his arms fall from around Breanna, turned, and opened them to his children.

Later, over lunch, Breanna looked across the table and said, “John, darling, Dr. Dane Logan is back and will be going to Central City on Monday to take over Dr. Fraser’s practice.”

“That’s good.”

“He will be coming to church with the Tabors tomorrow. Since you’re back now, I’d like to have the Tabors and Dr. Dane for Sunday dinner.”

“Great idea! After all I’ve heard about this young physician, I can’t wait to meet him.”

Breanna smiled. “And I want to invite another family too. Dr. Dane is in for a surprise at church tomorrow, and I want to sort of add some icing on the cake.”

John grinned. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

Sunday morning was bright with a slight chill in the air. The church was on the west edge of town, almost in the country.

As the Tabor buggy pulled into the churchyard, other vehicles were being parked in the parking lot. People were moving in small
groups toward the front of the white frame building. Tharyn pointed out the couple at the door who were shaking hands, telling Dane they were Pastor and Mrs. Nathan Blandford.

Dane noticed Tharyn looking around as they made their way to the porch. He wondered who this person was that she was so secretive about.

When they reached the door, David introduced Dr. Dane to the pastor and his wife, who welcomed him heartily.

When they stepped inside, Tharyn saw the Brockman family and hurried to show Dane to them. John Brockman warmly shook his hand, telling him how glad he was to meet him.

Tharyn then guided Dane to other people and introduced them to him.

All the while, her eyes were roaming over the auditorium. Suddenly she saw the person for whom she had been looking. She waved to her, then pointed at Dane. The young woman smiled and nodded. She said something to the people she was with and hurried toward Tharyn.

Dane happened to look at Tharyn at that moment, then followed her line of sight to the young woman who was smiling at Tharyn as she wove her way through the crowd toward them.

He fixed his attention on her and blinked his eyes. “Tharyn! Is this your surprise?”

She looked up at him. “Uh-huh. Tell me who she is!”

“Why—why, it’s Melinda Scott!”

Tharyn giggled. “It sure is. Only her last name is Kenyon now.”

Melinda drew up and smiled at Dane. “Hello, Dr. Logan. Do you remember me?”

Dane was smiling broadly. “I sure do! You’ve grown up, Melinda, but I knew you the instant I saw you coming this way. Tharyn told me she had a surprise for me, that someone I knew would be here at church.”

Melinda had tears in her eyes. “It’s been a long time since those days in the Manhattan alley, but you were so good to me. And more than anything, it was your witness to me about Jesus that brought me to salvation.”

As she spoke, she reached toward him and embraced him. Tharyn looked on and smiled.

Melinda used a hankie to dab at her eyes. “I’ve told my adoptive parents stories about you so many times, Dane, how you took such good care of the rest of us orphans in the alley. And then, of course, since we moved here from Topeka, Kansas, three years ago, Tharyn and I have talked much about you. I was so surprised when she told me you had shown up at the hospital and were now a doctor in partnership with your adoptive father in Cheyenne. Then just this past week, she told me that you are buying Dr. Robert Fraser’s practice up in Central City.”

Dane smiled. “Yes, and I’m looking forward to my new life there.”

Melinda dabbed at the tears in her eyes with the hankie again. “I want you to meet my parents and my fiancé, Dane.”

Tharyn and Dane followed her to the people she had been with moments before, and Melinda introduced him to her adoptive parents, Frank and Hattie Kenyon, then to her handsome young fiancé, Dr. Tim Braden. While the two doctors shook hands, Tim explained that he was a graduate of the Kansas City School of Medicine and was now doing his internship at Mile High Hospital.

“Oh, really?” said Dane.

“Yes. I’m just starting my second year. Melinda and I are planning to get married after I finish my internship and find a place to work in a practice wherever the Lord leads us.”

“That’s great, Dr. Tim. I wish you the very best.”

“Thank you, Dr. Dane. Say, I heard about the marvelous job you did on Elsa Johnson’s hip. It’s the talk of the hospital.”

Dane smiled. “So she’s doing all right?”

“She sure is. Dr. Jess White was bragging about you in a staff meeting on Friday.”

Dane chuckled. “Well, I’m flattered.”

The organist started playing the pump organ, and people began finding places to sit in the pews. David and Kitty Tabor had just drawn up. Hattie Kenyon ran her gaze over the small group. “Frank and I would like to invite you to come to our place after the service this evening for a snack. Okay?”

The Tabors agreed, and everyone soon found their place just as the song leader called for everyone to stand. The Sunday school service was opened with a rousing gospel song.

John and Breanna Brockman sat in the same pew with the Tabors and Dr. Dane Logan. Just before the man who taught the auditorium class stood up to teach, Tharyn whispered to Dane that he would enjoy the snack time at the Kenyons’ after the service. She told him that the Kenyons lived in the country near the Brockman place.

Dane found the Sunday school lesson very interesting, and commented to Tharyn about it when Sunday school was over. The congregational singing in the morning service was uplifting. Dane was pleased when at announcement and offering time, he was introduced by the pastor, along with a man and wife who were newcomers to Denver and were also visiting for the first time.

Dane very much liked Pastor Nathan Blandford’s preaching, and was glad to see the man and woman, who had been introduced at the same time he was, walk the aisle at invitation time and receive Jesus as their Saviour.

The fellowship was sweet at the Brockman home during the luscious meal Breanna had prepared—with Ginny’s help, of course.

After dinner, Dane and Tharyn spent some time alone, walking around the six acres of the Brockman place. As they strolled
leisurely across the pasture, they talked about how they missed each other all those years.

When Dane saw tears in Tharyn’s eyes, he stopped. “Little sis, may I hug you?”

Tharyn reached for him, and he took her in his arms. They held on to each other for several minutes, then Dane took her hand as they walked on. Neither one voiced what they were feeling, but in their minds, they were both wondering if maybe the Lord had chosen them for each other.

Dane said, “You haven’t mentioned a man in your life.”

She looked up into his eyes. “There isn’t one.” She told him in brief about her relationship with Scott Hubbard, then followed by telling him about Pastor Blandford’s talk to her about Isaac and Rebekah, and how it helped her to see that Scott was not the man God had chosen for her.

“That’s really good,” said Dane. “God’s Word has answers for all of our questions, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does. Dane?”

“Mm-hmm?”

“Is there a young woman in your life?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m just waiting for the Lord to send that right girl to me.”

No more was said, but that part of the conversation had them both thinking that possibly God was doing this very thing in their lives right now.

They returned to the house, and Tharyn and Dane went home with her parents.

After the evening service—which Dane enjoyed very much—the Tabors went to the Kenyon home in the country for the snack Hattie had prepared. Dr. Tim Braden was also invited, which didn’t surprise anyone.

During the time of fellowship, Dane was told by the Kenyons how Frank and Hattie had chosen Melinda from among the orphans at the Topeka railroad station. Tharyn spoke up and told of the emotional parting she and Melinda experienced, and how hard it was for them to separate. The Kenyons gave Tharyn their address in Topeka so she would write to Melinda once she had been chosen farther down the line. As soon as Tharyn was chosen by the Tabors in Denver, she wrote to Melinda, and from that time on, they corresponded regularly by mail.

Frank then explained to Dane that he had been employed as assistant manager at the Denning Hardware Company store in Topeka. Then, in June 1877 he was approached by the owner and offered the manager’s job at Denning Hardware Company’s store in Denver. He accepted the offer, and he would never forget how happy it made Melinda when she learned that they were moving to Denver.

“We’ve had so many wonderful times together since they moved here, Dane,” said Tharyn.

Dane grinned. “I can imagine.”

Tharyn chuckled. “Melinda has become quite a horsewoman since they moved here. She’s let me ride Abe many a time when I’ve come for a visit, but I can’t compare to her when it comes to riding. She’s really good. She rides Abe for an hour or better every morning, Monday through Saturday. Except in bad weather, of course.”

Dane nodded, then looked at Melinda. “Your horse’s name is Abe?”

“Uh-huh. He’s a four-year-old bay gelding with white blaze and white stockings. I named him after my favorite president of the United States.”

“Abraham Lincoln.”

“Right.”

“He was a great president, for sure.”

At that point, Dr. Tim pressed Dr. Dane, wanting to know how he had learned to do an ivory ball hip replacement. Everyone else listened intently as Dane told his story.

Soon it was time to go. The Tabors and Dane thanked the Kenyons for having them as their guests. Frank Kenyon told Dr. Dane that he and his family would be praying for him as he took over the practice in Central City from Dr. Fraser.

Dane and Tharyn enjoyed the ride back into town, sitting side by side in the backseat of the buggy. When they arrived at the hotel where Dane would stay for the night, Dane bid David and Kitty goodnight, then kissed Tharyn’s hand and told her he would come by the hospital in the morning and see her just before he headed for Central City.

The next morning, Dane went to a stable and bought a horse. Soon he was at the hospital, and found Tharyn at the nurses’ station in the surgical wing. She explained that she had just finished assisting one of the doctors perform a surgery, and had a few minutes before she was to do another one.

“I’ll walk with you to the door,” she said.

“That would be great.”

While they moved down the corridor that led to the lobby, Dane said, “Tharyn, I’ll be back to see you as soon as I can. I’m going to come to Denver as often as possible so we can have time together.”