by Al Lacy
Dr. Dane breathed a sigh of relief. “So nobody else is hurt?”
“Right.”
“Okay, Albert. Thanks.”
When Albert was gone, the woman with the bandage on her arm paid Tharyn and left. Dane had already gone to the back room.
Since there was no one else in the office, Tharyn hurried to the back room, where her husband was cleaning up the table.
Tharyn rushed up and threw her arms around him.
Dane pulled her close. “Mm-mmm! I love the hug, but is it for something special?”
“Yes! I haven’t had a moment alone with you since we came back from the first shooting incident. When I heard that Waco Belton trying to get Jake to draw on him and saw you standing close to Jake, my heart almost stopped. I’m just so relieved that nothing happened to you. I couldn’t very well hug you like this with people looking on, so now you’re getting your hug!”
He squeezed her tight. “Good! I’ll take all the hugs I can get.” He held her tight for a moment, then released her. He kissed her tenderly. “I’ll leave the rest of the cleaning up to you, sweetie. I’ve got to look in on Mike Anderson right now.”
Mabel Downing was on her front porch, watching for her niece and Rosemary to come down the street with Greg Holton. She was wondering what the second gunshot from over on Main Street meant when her eye caught sight of the Holton Coal Mine wagon coming around the far corner.
As the wagon came closer, Mabel saw Cassandra sitting on the seat between Greg and Rosemary. She left her chair, moved down the porch steps, and made her way toward the wagon as Greg pulled it to a halt.
“Did you children hear that gunshot just a minute ago?” asked Mabel.
Greg jumped down from the seat. “We did, Mrs. Downing. We don’t know any more than you do about it.”
Greg lifted Cassandra from the seat carefully and set her down. Mabel wrapped her arms around Cassandra and started weeping. Rosemary was holding on to her package while Greg helped her down.
As Greg and Rosemary moved up to Mabel and Cassandra, Mabel let go of her niece and wiped tears with both hands. “Walt and Myra Stockton came home a few minutes ago and told me about the shooting that took place in front of Wortman’s store. They saw the whole thing. They told me about the gunslinger who challenged Marshal Merrell and about his accomplice who grabbed Cassandra and put a gun to her head. They also told me what you did, Greg. What a brave thing to do. The Stocktons wanted to let me know that Cassandra was unhurt. They also told me that you two were bringing her home.”
Mabel sniffed and looked at her niece. “Are you all right, my dear?”
In a feigned, shaky voice, Cassandra replied, “Oh, Auntie Mabel, it was just awful. I’ve never been so frightened in all my life.”
Greg moved up and put an arm around Cassandra’s shoulder.
She took hold of his hand for effect. “Greg is my hero, Auntie Mabel.”
Mabel smiled at Greg. “Yes. I can understand why. He might very well have saved your life. I commend you, Greg, for your courage and quick thinking.” She looked at her niece. “Cassandra, you look a bit peaked. Let’s get you in the house so you can lie down.”
Greg put loving eyes on Cassandra. “Do you feel like walking up the porch steps, or should I carry you?”
Cassandra would take full advantage of his attention. She gave him a weak smile. “Maybe you’d better carry me.”
Greg chuckled and picked her up, cradling her in his arms.
Rosemary said, “Cassandra, I need to go on home. I’ll check on you later.”
Cassandra smiled at her. “Okay. Come on over whenever you can.”
Mabel said, “Greg, take Cassandra on in the house and put her on the sofa in the parlor. I’ll bring something in to refresh her in a few minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Greg and headed for the porch.
While Greg was climbing the porch steps with Cassandra in his arms, Mabel smiled at Rosemary. “I want to thank you, honey, for being a friend to Cassandra. You really have come to mean a lot to her.”
“I’m glad, Mrs. Downing. See you later.”
Inside the house, when Greg carried Cassandra into the parlor, she kissed him on the lips. “Thank you again for saving my life.”
Thrilled by the kiss, Greg smiled from ear to ear and placed her down on the sofa. “I’m glad I was there to take Waco Belton’s accomplice out. And I’m glad you were not harmed.”
At that moment, they heard Aunt Mabel come through the front door and make her way into the foyer.
Both of them glanced toward the hall and heard Mabel’s footsteps pass the parlor door, then fade in sound as she neared the kitchen. Cassandra raised her arms to him. He leaned down, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, looking deeply into his eyes.
He lowered his lips to hers, and after the brief kiss, she said, “Greg, there is something I want to tell you.”
“Mm-hmm?”
“I—I have fallen in love with you.”
Greg’s eyes widened. Overwhelmed to hear these words from the beautiful young woman, he said softly, “Cassandra, I want to tell you something, too.”
Her eyes danced. “What?”
“I’m in love with you, too.”
They were about to kiss again when they heard Aunt Mabel coming down the hall. Greg stood up straight.
Mabel entered the parlor, carrying a pan full of cool water and a soft cloth. “Here, dear,” she said, placing the pan on the small table at one end of the sofa. “I want to bathe your forehead with this water. It’ll make you feel better.”
“Tell you what,” said Greg. “I need to be going. I must complete the errand I was on when I drove into town. Cassandra, I’ll be by to see you again as soon as I can.”
She put on a mock frown. “Don’t let it be too long.”
He grinned. “If not today then tomorrow.”
“All right.”
Mabel said, “Greg, how can I ever thank you for going to Cassandra’s rescue?”
“No need, ma’am. I’m just glad I was there to do it.”
“May I walk you to the door?”
“Sure.” He looked down at Cassandra. “See you soon.”
She smiled and nodded. “Soon.”
While her aunt was walking Greg to the front door, Cassandra smiled to herself. The day will come when I’ll have lots of dresses. Expensive ones, too!
Mabel returned, dipped the cloth into the water, and bent over her niece. “Are you sure you’re all right, Cassandra?”
“I’ll be fine once I get over that awful episode. I’m still a little shaken up by what that horrible man did to me.”
Mabel placed the cool, wet cloth on Cassandra’s forehead. “This will make you feel better, dear.”
Cassandra closed her eyes.
Holding the cloth in place, Mabel said, “Honey, you should thank God that Greg was there to knock that man out. He might well have shot you.”
Cassandra’s eyes came open. She fixed them on her aunt. “I can’t thank somebody who doesn’t exist,” she said levelly. “There is no God. I did thank the person who rescued me—Greg Holton.”
Mabel sighed. “I’ve told you before, and I’m telling you again, Cassandra, the Bible says two times, ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.’ If you refuse to believe God’s Word, refuse to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, and refuse to repent of your sin and receive Him as your Saviour, you will die lost and go to a fool’s hell.”
Cassandra reached up and patted her aunt’s hand. “You can believe all that if you want, Aunt Mabel, but since there is no God to produce a Bible, it is only the words of some man to say that I am a fool for being an atheist.”
SIXTEEN
Since Mayor Mike Andersons home was only a short distance from the doctors office, Dr. Dane Logan chose to walk. Carrying his black medical bag, he made his way along the boardwalk, greeting people with a smile and a friendly word. The sun was shining down from a clear sky, and it
was obvious by the heat of the day that it was mid-July.
As he turned off Main Street onto a side street, Dr. Dane came upon a group of a dozen or so boys who were from ten to twelve years of age. Three of them had toy guns in holsters on their hips while facing one boy who stood alone, also in a gunfighter’s stance. The lone boy was one of his patients. The other boys in the group looked on excitedly.
Dr. Dane slowed as he heard the lone boy with his hand hovering over his gun while facing the trio say, “All right, you guys, I’m Marshal Jake Merrell. Unbuckle those gun belts, drop ’em on the ground, and put your hands up. I took care of that Waco Belton and his pal, and if you resist me, I’ll take care of you in the same way!”
Dr. Dane stopped, noting that the boy who was pretending to be Central City’s marshal had a toy badge pinned to his shirt.
One of the trio said, “Hah! I don’t care who you are, tin star! I’m Billy the Kid, and I’m challengin you to a fast-draw. Go for your gun!”
“Wait a minute!” said the boy next to him. “I’m John Wesley Hardin, the world’s greatest gunfighter, and you’re gonna draw against me, Merrell!”
“No, he ain’t!” blurted the third boy. “I’m Wild Bill Longley, and I’m really the world’s greatest gunfighter. Go for your gun, lawman, and I’ll show you!”
Suddenly, the boy playing the part of Marshal Jake Merrell noticed Dr. Dane Logan standing there. “Oh! Hello, Dr. Logan.”
The doctor quickly had the other boys’ attention.
Dr. Dane nodded. “Hello, Donnie.” He turned to the trio, and said, “Boys, I know you’re just playing, but why don’t you all be good guys?”
The boy who was pretending to be Billy the Kid said, “Just because a guy’s a gunfighter don’t mean he’s bad. I wanna be a real gunfighter when I grow up and make men tremble when they see me comin’.”
“Me, too,” said the boy who was pretending to be John Wesley Hardin.
“Me, too,” said the other one.
Dr. Dane spoke to the latter boy. “Do you realize, son, that Wild Bill Longley was hanged in Texas three years ago?”
The boy’s jaw sagged. “Really?”
“Really.”
Dr. Dane set his gaze on the one who was pretending to be John Wesley Hardin. “Do you know where the real John Wesley Hardin is?”
The boy shook his head. “No, sir.”
“He’s in prison at Huntsville, Texas, with a twenty-five-year sentence. He’ll be an old man when he gets out.”
The boy swallowed hard.
Dr. Dane turned to the third boy. “Do you know that Billy the Kid is dead?”
The boy blinked. “No, sir.”
“He was shot and killed two days ago in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, by a sheriff named Pat Garrett. I saw it in a newspaper this morning.”
The trio exchanged glances, eyes wide.
“When you’re playing with toy guns, boys,” said the doctor, “why don’t you all be good guys? Donnie’s being a good guy, pretending to be Marshal Jake Merrell. The rest of you pretend to be lawmen like Sheriff Bat Masterson, Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman, or Sheriff Pat Garrett. Don’t aspire to be grown up and be gunfighters. They’re not heroes. And they end up dead or in prison as very young men.”
“But how can we play with our guns and all be lawmen?” asked the boy who had been pretending to be John Wesley Hardin. “There won’t be any bad guys to shoot it out with.”
Dr. Dane chuckled. “Just let the bad guys be imaginary. It’ll work.”
Donnie said, “That’s a good idea, Dr. Logan. That’s what we’ll do. Okay, guys?”
The other three smiled and agreed. The boys who had been looking on also agreed. Each of the trio told the doctor they would plan to be lawmen.
Feeling better about the aspirations of the trio, Dr. Dane started down the street.
He stopped when he heard Donnie call after him, “Dr. Logan?”
“Yes, Donnie?”
“I just changed my mind. Instead of bein’ a lawman, I want to be a doctor like you. You sure did fix up my foot when Pa ran over it with the carriage.”
Dr. Dane smiled. “Okay, Donnie, you just set your mind to be a doctor. We need lots more here in the West.”
Feeling even better, Dr. Dane moved on down the street.
A few minutes later, Betty Anderson opened the front door of the house in response to Dr. Dane’s knock. “Hello, Dr. Logan. Mike and I figured you’d be coming by today since you and Tharyn are going to Denver on Monday. Please come in.”
Dr. Dane stepped in, removed his hat, hung it on a peg by the door, and used his handkerchief to mop the perspiration from his brow. “It’s a mite warm out there today.”
Betty grinned. “I think the proper word is hot. How about while you’re checking Mike over I fix you a nice tall glass of cool tea? Our well is deep, and even in the summer the water comes up almost cold.”
“Sounds good to me.”
As they were walking down the hall toward the bedroom where the mayor was resting, Dr. Dane asked, “Mike’s doing okay, isn’t he?”
“Yes. He’s doing quite well, thanks to the Lord and Dr. Dane Logan.”
Dr. Dane chuckled. “At least you got it in the right order.”
As he followed Betty into the bedroom where Mike Anderson lay in the bed, she said with a smile, “Look, honey, it’s Central City’s beloved physician here to see you!”
Mike grinned. “Hello, beloved physician! It’s nice to see you.”
Dr. Dane’s face tinted. “You two embarrass me with such a title. I’m just plain Dane Logan, M.D.”
Betty touched his arm. “Well, because of what you did for my husband, in my heart you will always be Central City’s beloved physician.”
The mayor was still grinning and nodded.
Dr. Dane shook his head slowly. “You two could give a fella a big head. Well, let’s get down to business.”
“I’ll go fix you that glass of tea I promised,” said Betty.
He smiled and nodded.
The doctor checked his patient thoroughly and removed the old bandage. As he was finishing with the new bandage, Betty came in with the glass of tea in her hand.
“Here you are, Doctor.”
Dr. Dane thanked her, took the glass, and drank half of it immediately. “Your husband is showing signs of healing well, Betty. I have Dr. Fraser planning to look in on him while Tharyn and I are in Denver.”
Betty smiled. “Thank you, Doctor. And I sure hope Nelda Cox’s surgery goes well.”
“Me, too.”
“Mike and I sure were thrilled when you told us on your last visit that Eric and Nelda both opened their hearts to the Lord.”
“Amen,” said Mike.
Dr. Dane nodded. “They have a sparkle in their eyes that wasn’t there before. Eric is going to be baptized at church in the morning. Nelda will have to wait till after she heals up from the surgery.”
Dr. Dane tipped up the glass and finished his tea.
“Wish I could be there to see Eric baptized,” said Mike. “But at least Betty can tell me about it when she gets home.”
Dr. Dane chuckled. “Sure enough. Well, I’ve got to move on.” He handed Betty the empty glass, thanked her, then looked down at the mayor. “See you when we get back, Mike.”
“Okay.”
“Hopefully, you’ll be able to return to your office in a few more weeks and start running this town again.”
Mike’s face lit up. “Boy, will I ever be glad when that day comes, Doc!”
Betty turned her head away so neither man could see that she was smiling with anxious anticipation for that day.
In the preaching service the next morning, Eric Cox was sitting with the Logans. At announcement and offering time, Pastor Mark Shane said to his congregation, “I’m asking that all of you hold Dr. Dane Logan and Tharyn up in prayer as they travel to Denver tomorrow. Most of you know that Dr. Logan is going to do a hip replacement at Mile High Hospital on M
rs. Nelda Cox, with Tharyn’s able assistance. Mrs. Cox’s husband, Eric, is going with them.”
Some of the people in the pews were smiling.
The pastor smiled. “A few of you already know what happened at the Cox home this past week. But for the rest of you, let me tell it. Last Tuesday evening, a wonderful thing happened. Dr. Logan and his wife were in the Cox home, making plans for Nelda’s upcoming surgery. While they were there, they witnessed to the Coxes about the Lord Jesus Christ and had the joy of leading them to the Lord.”
There were amens all over the congregation.
“I visited the Coxes after Dr. Logan had said that they had become Christians and both of them plan to be baptized. They want to become faithful members of our church.”
There were amens again.
Pastor Shane explained that Eric was going to be baptized after the morning service and that Nelda would be baptized as soon as possible after her surgery.
After two ladies from the choir sang a duet, it was time to preach his sermon. Pastor Shane stepped to the pulpit and opened his Bible. “Turn in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 4.”
When the sound of fluttering pages faded, Shane pointed out that the Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome when this epistle was written and would soon be executed for his faith in Jesus Christ. He then read Paul’s inspired words in verses 6 through 8, showing that Paul knew his martyrdom was imminent.
“Now, look at verse 9. Paul says to Timothy, ‘Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me.’ We can see that Paul desperately wanted to see his spiritual son Timothy once more before he was martyred.”
People were nodding all over the audience.
“Now, look what Paul said in verse 10. ‘For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.’ Let me point out that there is nothing said about Crescens and Titus forsaking him. They had simply gone on errands of usefulness to various other places. But Demas had forsaken Paul, having loved this present world. He was not interested in spiritual things. Now look at verse 11.