The Iron Wagon

by Al Lacy

  Breanna and the girls talked about how Papa had spent time with Paul since he was twelve years old, teaching him how to box.

  “Yeah!” said Paul. “And because Papa is so good with his fists when he has to fight big, bad outlaws and he’s the one who taught me how to box, I’m gonna be a good boxer!”

  “I have no doubt of that, son.” Breanna smiled.

  “Me neither,” put in Ginny. “You’ll be the champ of your weight division, big brother!”

  “Right!” Meggie nodded. “I can’t wait to see you in the ring!”

  “Tell you what, son,” John said. “Between now and when the boxing season begins in January, I’ll teach you even more about boxing.”

  A smile spread over Paul’s handsome face. “Thanks, Papa, for being so good to me. I want to be a champion boxer.”

  John reached across the corner of the table and patted Paul’s muscular right arm. “You will be, son. You will be.”

  On Wednesday, October 3, Paul turned sixteen. A big birthday party was held that evening at the Brockman home after the midweek service at Denver’s First Baptist Church.

  It had been an absolutely breathtaking fall day in Colorado. Early that morning, snow had dusted the high mountain ranges near Denver, and the rest of the day, the sun had shone down from a cobalt blue sky. Amber, rust, red, and yellow leaves now adorned the trees in a colorful display.

  Paul had been told by his parents that he could invite some of his friends to the party. Pastor Bayless and his wife, Mary, were at the party as well as Whip and Annabeth Langford, and Uncle Matthew and Aunt Dottie. Of course, also present at the birthday party were Paul’s sisters, who were showing their love and adoration for him.

  After Paul opened all of his birthday presents, he stood before the group in the parlor and expressed his deep appreciation to everyone for their kindness.

  “Tell us what it feels like to be sixteen years old, big brother!” Meggie said.

  Paul grinned at her. “Well, I could say a lot of things about being sixteen, but the most exciting thing is that in just five years, I’ll be old enough to wear a badge. Then I will become one of my papa’s deputy United States marshals!”

  There were cheers from the group, and the loudest cheers came from Paul’s school friends, who were also his fellow athletes, and from his sisters.

  Paul turned toward his father. “Papa, thank you so much for teaching me the fast draw with a Colt .45 revolver these past few years. I know that as a deputy U.S. marshal, I’ll be facing outlaws who will try to outdraw me as you and Uncle Whip have when we’ve practiced.”

  John and Whip looked at each other; then Whip said, “Chief, the way your son is getting better and better at the fast draw and the accuracy with his new Colt. 45, soon he will be faster than me or you!”

  Paul smiled at his father, then set his gaze on Whip. “I only wish those words were true, Uncle Whip. But there is only one John Brockman, and no man can outdraw or outshoot him.”

  At her son’s words, a chill penetrated Breanna’s heart. In just five years, there will be two lawmen in this family. Lord, will I be up to this?

  Immediately, in the depths of her heart, she sensed a still, small voice in reply. Breanna, by My grace, all things are possible.

  A sweet peace settled over her heart. Her mind then went to two of her favorite verses of Scripture … 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”

  Breanna casually covered her mouth with a hand. A small, secret smile curved her lips. Yes, Lord. She looked heavenward. You will help me to handle it by Your grace.

  Whip Langford was chuckling at Paul’s comment. “Paul, I agree with you on what you said about your father, but I have no doubt you will soon be faster on the draw than your uncle Whip!”

  There was laughter in the group as Paul looked at Whip and grinned. “Well, you’re safe, Uncle Whip. We’ll never draw against each other.”

  Laughing, Breanna spoke up. “Hey, everybody, it’s time for some birthday cake!”

  A few minutes later, when everyone sat in a circle in the parlor with a small plate of chocolate cake in each one’s hands, Breanna’s sister, Dottie, said, “Well, Breanna, have Pastor Robert and Mary been told that in a few weeks you’re scheduled to go back to your job at the hospital?”

  The Baylesses looked at each other, eyes wide. Then the pastor looked at Dottie. “We sure haven’t been told.”

  Breanna smiled and nodded. “John and I were planning to tell you and Mary quite soon, Pastor.” She then looked at Matt, her brother-in-law. “My boss and I have agreed that I will be back on the job, mainly as a surgical nurse, the first full week of November.”

  Matt swung his gaze to Annabeth. “Annabeth and I, as well as all the other Mile High Hospital staff, are very much looking forward to having Breanna back.”

  Annabeth clapped three times. “We sure are!”

  Breanna’s eyes filled with tears. “I am so grateful to our dear Lord for making it possible. I’m walking much better each day. It is truly a miracle, and I will never forget how God has blessed me. I pray I can share this miracle with other Christians in the future who need their Lord’s help and give them hope.”

  Much joy was in the room as the guests showed their delight at Breanna’s news. It was even on the faces of Paul’s high school pals.

  Annabeth laid her cake plate on a small table beside her chair, rose to her feet, and went to where Breanna was sitting. Bending down, she wrapped her arms around Breanna and hugged her tightly. “Oh, praise the Lord! I have very much missed working with you.”

  Breanna’s arms wound around Annabeth’s neck, and she choked up a bit. “And I have very much missed working with you too.”

  Annabeth kissed Breanna’s cheek. “It’s going to be wonderful having you back at the hospital.”

  “It’s going to be so wonderful to be back at the hospital!”

  When the party was over and the Brockmans stood on the front porch watching their guests riding away in the moonlight, John ran his gaze over his wife and children. “Before we go upstairs for the night, I want us to pray together.”

  “Amen, Papa,” Paul said. “You want to sit down and pray right here on the porch?”

  “Sure.” John took Breanna by the hand and led her to the most comfortable chair. When she was seated, John eased onto the chair next to her and took hold of her hand. Paul, Ginny, and Meggie quickly chose their chairs close by.

  Still holding Breanna’s hand, John said, “Let’s bow our heads. I will lead in prayer.” As heads were bowed and eyes closed, John said, “Thank You, dear Lord, for this celebration today and this evening of our son’s sixteenth birthday. Breanna and I thank You for this wonderful son You have given us and for his desire to serve You and mankind. When Paul becomes one of my deputy marshals, his desire is to help make this area a safe and peaceful place for all who live here.”

  “Yes!” Paul said in a loud whisper.

  “Also, dear Lord, Paul, Ginny, Meggie, and I want to thank You that in answer to prayer, our precious one will indeed go back to work at the hospital on November fifth.”

  “Yes, thank You, Lord!” Paul, Ginny, and Meggie all spoke the same words together.

  John said, “Bless this precious family of mine, Lord. You know I trust You to keep them in Your loving care. In Jesus’ blessed name I pray, amen.”

  A chorus of “amens” followed from John’s family as they gathered around him, and Breanna tenderly squeezed his hand.

  On Monday, November 5, just before dawn, John Brockman was awakened when he felt movement next to him. It was Breanna rising from the bed. He opened his eyes and stared at her shadowed form. “Sweetheart, are you all right?”

  “Sure am!” Breanna slipped into her robe. “I’m just so excited about getting to go back t
o my job at the hospital.” She took a deep breath. “You stay right here and rest, my darling husband. I’ve got to get ready now so I can eat breakfast with you and the children and we can be ready when Annabeth arrives to take the children to school on our way to the hospital.”

  John yawned and sat up. “I’ll go ahead and get up too. You can get dressed and fixed up here in the bedroom while I shave and comb my hair in the bathroom.”

  Breanna smiled. “Whatever you say, honey.”

  As John left the bedroom, Breanna moved to the large mirror on the wall, took a hairbrush from the dresser, and brushed her long blond hair. She bound it in a bun at the nape of her neck, then went to the closet and took one of her white nurse’s dresses off a hanger. She inspected it closely and said to the empty room, “Looks like it’s in order.”

  She removed the robe, slipped on the dress, and fastened the row of buttons on the bodice. Then opening a dresser drawer, she took out one of her nursing caps and inspected it as she had the dress. She placed the cap on her head and turned about in front of the mirror. “Well, it looks like nurse Breanna Brockman is ready to go to work.”

  Leaving the bedroom, Breanna moved down the hall. Unaware that John had already awakened the children and gotten the girls cooking breakfast, she descended the stairs, carefully holding onto the banister. When she entered the kitchen, John and Paul were sitting at the table while Ginny was placing a platter of hot pancakes on the table and Meggie was pouring hot coffee into cups for her parents.

  “Oh, Mama!” Ginny exclaimed. “It’s so good to see you in your nurse’s clothes again!” A small frown lined her brow. “Are you sure you feel up to going back to work?”

  Breanna smiled at her. “At this moment, I feel perfectly capable of going back to work, sweetie. A few hours from now, I may not be so sure, but I need to get started sometime, so today is the day.”

  “Just don’t forget to rest a little bit between jobs,” John said.

  “Oh, I’ll do that, honey.” She smiled at him.

  When breakfast was over, John kissed Breanna and the girls and hugged Paul. Then he quickly went out, hopped on Blackie, and rode away, heading toward Denver to begin a busy day at work.

  Annabeth Langford arrived some twenty minutes later. Paul helped his mother into the buggy, and when he and his sisters were aboard, Annabeth put the horse into motion.

  Paul and his sisters were delivered to their schools; then Annabeth happily drove to the hospital, thrilled to be taking Breanna with her for the first day of work since her injury.

  As they pulled up into the parking lot of Mile High Hospital, Annabeth looked at Breanna. “Hear me now. At the first sign of fatigue, you speak up loud and clear, and someone will relieve you.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Breanna replied with a smile gracing her face.

  When Breanna entered the office of her boss and brother-in-law, Dr. Matthew Carroll, he welcomed her back. “I have you scheduled to work with a surgeon you know well, Dr. Duane Gifford. His first surgery of the day is on the left kidney of a fifty-five-year-old woman.”

  “I’ve assisted doctors in that kind of surgery many a time,” Breanna said.

  As Dr. Carroll walked Breanna to the surgical unit on the second floor, hospital staff warmly welcomed her back. They entered the surgical unit, and Dr. Gifford approached them. “Welcome back, Nurse Brockman! I’m happy to have you assist me during the surgery.”

  Dr. Carroll left to return to his office, and Dr. Gifford and Breanna prepared for surgery. “Our surgery scheduled after this one is an appendectomy on a seventeen-year-old boy,” Dr. Gifford said.

  Breanna looked confident. “I’m ready, Doctor.”

  The fifty-five-year-old woman was brought in on a cart, placed on the surgical table, and the surgery began.

  During the operation, Breanna felt the excitement of being back, doing the medical work she so dearly loved, but she soon found that being on her feet at the side of the surgical table caused some pain in her spinal column. Not wanting to say anything to Dr. Gifford, she stayed right there and aided him competently, using all of her skills to do her best for the patient.

  By the time the operation finished, Breanna’s pain caused her some weakness, and she was a bit dizzy. Again, she didn’t let on to Dr. Gifford. She got a brief rest before the second surgery began, but during the appendectomy, pain hit her spinal column once more.

  After a while, as the pain was getting worse, a sheen of perspiration formed on Breanna’s brow. The dizziness became stronger. She struggled to do her job in assisting the surgeon but did not let on. However, as Dr. Gifford finished the operation and began stitching up the teenage boy’s incision and knowing her part of helping during the surgery was over, Breanna took a step back from the table, blinking.

  Dr. Gifford looked up, noting the sheen of perspiration on her forehead and paleness of her face. “Breanna, are you all right?”

  She looked him in the eye. “I—I’m all right, Doctor. J-just a bit weary and a little dizzy.”

  Pointing to a nearby chair with his chin, Dr. Gifford said, “Go sit down over there, and I’ll be with you shortly.”

  Breanna staggered dizzily to the chair and sat down.

  SIX

  Nurse Brockman stayed on the chair, silently asking the Lord to give her strength and to stop her head from spinning. Within a few minutes, Dr. Gifford finished his work on the teenage boy, then smiled at Breanna as he headed for a nearby wooden counter where there was a large glass pitcher. “I’m going to get you a cup of water, Breanna.”

  She returned the smile. “I appreciate that, Doctor.”

  Seconds later, the doctor handed her a cup full of water. “I’m going out in the hall right now to see if I can get one of the orderlies to take that boy to his hospital room. I’ll be back shortly.”

  Breanna swallowed a drink of water and nodded. “All right, Doctor.”

  Dr. Gifford hurried out the door into the hall, letting the door close behind him.

  While drinking more water, Breanna looked at the boy on the operating table. He was still under the anesthetic.

  Less than five minutes had passed when Dr. Gifford came back through the door, glanced at the teenager who was still unconscious, and went to Breanna. “The water helping?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Frowning, the doctor looked down at her. “It’s obvious that standing this long on your feet at the surgical table has been too much for you. You’d best not try it again for at least a few months.”

  Breanna nodded. “I—I agree, Doctor.”

  He smiled at her. “Good. The orderly will be coming to take our patient to his room in a few minutes. Right now I’ll take you to Dr. Carroll and let him know how you were affected by assisting me with these two surgeries.”

  Dr. Gifford held on to Breanna as he walked her down the hall to the stairs, then carefully helped her descend them. They moved down the hall of the first floor to the office of the hospital’s chief administrator, and when they entered, Dr. Carroll was at his desk. He looked up, smiled at both of them, and rose to his feet. “Well, how did it go, Breanna?”

  The surgeon explained the effect that assisting him with the two surgeries had on Breanna.

  When Dr. Carroll heard it, his face resembled an ashen mask. “Breanna, I’m so sorry I let you come back to work before you were ready.”

  Dr. Gifford said, “I believe that Nurse Brockman shouldn’t try to work as a surgical nurse for quite some time—at least a few months.” He looked at Breanna. “I know you love being a nurse, but you’ve got to take care of yourself.”

  Breanna’s lower lip was quivering, and her eyes showed her disappointment. “Matt,” she said softly, “it’s not your fault that I went back to work so soon. It’s mine. I told you I thought I could do it. I’m sorry. You were only trying to make me happy. Looks like I proved to myself and to both of you that I’m not up to it yet.”

  Dr. Carroll moved around the desk. “Breanna, l
et me examine your back. I want to see if any damage has been done.” He carefully pressed his fingers across her back, moving them slowly so he could examine her effectively. After a few minutes, he said, “I’m satisfied that no damage has been done.”

  His sister-in-law smiled at him. “Oh, that is so good! I don’t think I could stand to give up nursing, at least not until I get too old to do it.”

  Dr. Gifford looked at the chief administrator. “Could you possibly give her an easier job until she’s ready to go back to nursing so she could still be in the medical field?”

  Dr. Carroll’s face assumed a gracious look, and he gestured toward two wooden chairs that faced his desk. “Please, both of you, sit down.”

  As Dr. Carroll returned to his desk chair, Breanna and Dr. Gifford eased onto the chairs.

  “Breanna, what I’m about to tell you struck my mind while I was examining your back. I was about to tell you of it.”

  Her eyes widened a bit. “Something good?”

  “For you, yes. You know my secretary, Maybelle Nelson.”

  Breanna nodded. “Of course.”

  “Well, just this morning Maybelle told me that she and her husband are moving to St. Louis, Missouri, immediately because of his job. His company’s head office is in St. Louis, and her husband has been given a promotion that will demand he begin working in the St. Louis office as soon as possible.”

  Breanna’s eyes were fixed on the chief administrator as she waited for his next words.

  “Since the secretarial job in my office is now open, if you’ll take the job, Breanna, I know you can handle doing paperwork for the hospital. And this way, you’ll be able to do most of your work sitting down.”

  With a touch of sadness in her heart because of her body’s reaction to working that day as a surgical nurse, Breanna smiled. “Yes, Matt, I will take the secretarial job. As Dr. Gifford said, at least I’ll still be in the medical field.”