by Al Lacy
John and Breanna had seen them come in and sit down, but purposely waited until the young couple had given their order to the waitress. Leaving Paul and Ginny at the table, John and Breanna moved to the table where Dane and Tharyn were sitting. When they spotted the Brockmans, Dane rose to his feet and greeted them.
“How long have you been in Denver, Dr. Dane?” asked John.
“Just rode in a little while ago so I could spend the evening with Tharyn and go to church with her tomorrow. I can do this because Dr. Robert Fraser remains on call for me.”
“I’m so glad you have him to help in this way,” said Breanna.
“Me too,” said Dane. “I read in the Rocky Mountain New—which is delivered daily to Central City—that the Tag Moran gang was convicted, then escaped while being escorted to the Rawlins prison, Chief.”
John sighed. “Yeah. I’m very unhappy about that. That nefarious bunch are cunningly elusive. They got away from the posse that chased them, as you read.”
“Yes. Too bad.”
“Well, one of these days they’ll make some kind of mistake and get caught again.”
“I sure hope you’re right about that, Chief.”
“Where are you staying tonight, Doctor?” Breanna asked.
“I’ll get a room at one of the hotels.”
“No need for that,” spoke up John. “We have a guest room at our house. Whenever you come to Denver, you can stay with us—starting tonight.”
Tharyn smiled as Dane said, “I’ll just take you up on that offer. Thank you very much. I’ll be there later this evening then. Do you have room for my horse in your barn?”
“Sure do.”
“Okay. I’ll just ride him to church in the morning.”
“Of course.”
“And I’m planning on going to the evening service, so I’ll need to stay with you again tomorrow night. I’ll leave for Central City Monday morning. I really don’t think this snowstorm is going to amount to much.”
“That’s fine,” said Breanna.
John saw their waitress bringing the dessert they had ordered, and walked with Breanna toward their table, saying over his shoulder that they would be looking for Dr. Dane later this evening at their home.
Some twenty minutes later, the Brockmans passed by the table while Dane and Tharyn were eating, and Paul and Ginny took a moment to stop and hug Tharyn.
When Dane and Tharyn finished their meal, they put their coats on and Dane went to the counter to pay the bill. When that was done, they went outside to the buggy. It had already stopped snowing.
Dane helped Tharyn onto the seat, then hurried around the rear of the buggy and climbed in beside her. Before he took the reins in hand, he turned. “Tharyn, could I hug you?”
“You sure can!”
After the brief embrace, Dane looked into her eyes by the light of a nearby street lamp. “Tharyn, there is something I need to tell you.”
These words took her back to the night when Scott Hubbard broke her heart, and immediately she was on edge. “Y-yes, Dane?”
“I—just can’t hold it in any longer. I am head over heels in love with you.”
Tharyn felt her heart suddenly beat against her rib cage. Excess moisture was instantly in her eyes. “Oh, Dane!”
He cupped her face in his hands, looking deeply into her teary eyes. “I loved you like a sister when we were living in the alley with the other orphans. But as time passed and I grew older—having no idea where you were—my love changed, and when I thought about you, it was different. I was falling in love with your memory, though I thought I would never see you again. And—and now that I have found you, I know I am in love with you. It isn’t big brother love, it’s deep, romantic love. I’m head over heels in love with you.”
The tears began to spill down Tharyn’s cheeks. Holding his gaze, she said, “Oh, Dane, it was the same with me as the years passed. My heart yearned for you, though we were lost to each other. Since you hadn’t replied to my letters, as I told you, I figured you didn’t want to keep in touch because you would be in prison for the rest of your life. You remember Russell Mims.”
“Yes. He had ideas about you one day belonging to him. It was easy to see.”
“Well, since I had given up on ever seeing you again, I decided to let this happen between Russell and me. He was chosen by some people in California. We wrote back and forth for a while, then one day I got a letter telling me he had found the right girl for him and was going to marry her.”
“And that broke your heart.”
“Yes. Then, there was Scott Hubbard. I told you about him, and about Pastor Blandford’s talk with me concerning Isaac and Rebekah.”
“Yes.”
She took a deep breath. “Dane, my love for you is beyond the little sister kind. I know without any doubt whatsoever that I am deeply in love with you. I know the Lord has been saving us for each other.”
Thrilled at her words, Dane said, “Tharyn, could I kiss you?”
Tharyn nodded.
When they had enjoyed a sweet, tender kiss, Dane held her close and said, “Sweetheart, when we get to your house, I need to talk to your parents alone for a few minutes.”
“Oh?”
“Uh-huh. Then afterward, I’ll need to talk to you alone.”
Looking puzzled, she said, “Of course, darling. That will be fine.”
While they drove on down the street, heading for the Tabor home, Tharyn was thinking about Pastor Blandford’s talk and how it helped her to see that God had the man of His choice ready to bring into her life. She never dreamed it would be her long-lost big brother. Lord, I think he is going to ask me to marry him. Her pulse was pounding as they arrived at the Tabor home.
Dane helped Tharyn out of the buggy and stole another kiss before walking her to the door. When they went inside, Kitty was on her way down the hall from the rear of the house, heading for the parlor. She smiled. “Did you two have a nice dinner?”
“We sure did, Mama,” said Tharyn.
“Good. Come on into the parlor. Your papa’s in there reading today’s newspaper.”
When they entered the parlor, David looked up from his paper. “Well, how was dinner?”
“It was just fine, sir,” said Dane. “Ah … Mr. and Mrs. Tabor, could I have a private conversation with you?”
David laid down his paper. “Right now?”
“Yes, sir, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, of course.”
“We can go into the kitchen,” said Kitty.
Dane nodded. “All right. Tharyn, we’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Tharyn sat in silence in the parlor, her pulse pounding once again as she tried to imagine what was happening in the kitchen.
No more than twenty minutes had passed when Tharyn heard footsteps in the hall, and Dane Logan entered the parlor. He closed the door behind him, moved to the sofa where she was sitting, and looked down at her. “Sweetheart, I want to ask you something.”
Tharyn’s pulse was pounding harder than ever.
Tharyn Tabor, her heart throbbing, saw the love light gleaming in Dane Logan’s eyes. Wondering if this meant what she thought it did, Tharyn was barely able to speak above a whisper. “Of course, my darling. What is it?”
Though Dane was quite sure of her answer, there was still some trepidation in his heart. Taking a deep breath and silently praying for guidance, he knelt down in front of her and took both her hands in his own.
Tharyn looked down at this man who long ago as a fifteen-year-old boy had captured her heart. A tremulous smile curved her lips.
He squeezed her hands. “Tharyn, I have loved you since the day I rescued you from those charging horses and the wagon they were pulling. We were like brother and sister for those few short months we spent together in the alley and on the streets of Manhattan. I felt a need to protect you and to give you special care. When you came to the prison to let me know you were going west on the orphan train, and to tell me good-bye,
I wasn’t sure I would ever see you again.
“And, sweetheart, in all those years, never a day went by that I didn’t think of you and pray for you. I didn’t realize it then, but God was allowing my love for you to grow and to change from brotherly love to sweetheart love. Oh, how I prayed that I might find you again.
“And now, the Lord has answered my prayers and brought you back into my life. Since we have been together this short time, the Lord has made me understand that the love I feel for you is the sweetheart kind. I don’t want to ever lose you again.”
Tears misted her eyes. “I don’t want to ever lose you again either, my darling Dane.”
He took a deep breath. “Tharyn, I’m so in love with you. I love you with all of my heart. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”
Dane’s gaze seemed to be devouring her face. She could hardly breathe. “Dane, darling, nothing on earth would make me happier than to become your wife. I know now that from the beginning of time, the Lord had chosen us for each other. Yes! Yes! I will marry you. Oh, I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Tears misted Dane’s eyes as well, and rising to his feet, he pulled Tharyn up and kissed her tenderly—once, twice, and a third time. Then holding her at arm’s length, he said, “Sweetheart, your parents told me they were not surprised when I requested their permission to ask you to marry me. And they readily granted that permission.”
Tharyn smiled and brushed the tears from her eyelashes. “I’m not surprised about that. They both love you already. And they certainly know how I feel about you.”
“And at this moment, they are waiting eagerly in the kitchen to hear the outcome.”
She smiled. “I’m sure they already know it, but let’s go make it official.”
“Before we do, we need to talk about a wedding date, so that will be official too.”
“Okay. What do you think?”
“Well, to be proper, we need to make the engagement last a few months.”
Tharyn nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
“How about next spring?”
“All right. How about May?”
“That would be good. We’ll discuss it with Pastor Blandford and set an exact date.”
“Sounds superb to me, darling.”
They kissed again, then holding hands, they made their way to the kitchen.
When they moved through the kitchen door, David and Kitty were sitting at the table. They both stood up just as their daughter announced happily, “Hear ye! Hear ye! In the year of 1881, in the merry month of May, Miss Tharyn Tabor is going to become Mrs. Dane Logan!”
Both parents were quickly in tears and rushed to embrace her. They also hugged Dane, then Tharyn said, “We will discuss the exact date of the wedding with Pastor Blandford.”
Kitty wiped tears from her cheeks. “Oh, I’m just so happy for you, Tharyn!”
“Me too,” put in David, his own cheeks shining with tears. “I keep thinking, Tharyn, of how much you talked about Dane all these years.”
She took hold of Dane’s hand. “Papa, I thought God had Russell Mims for me, then when it was evident that was not so, the day came when I thought Scott Hubbard was the one. I’m sure glad I was wrong about that too.” She looked up at Dane. “This is the man the Lord had picked out for me all along!”
There were more tears and hugs, then Dane and Tharyn went out onto the front porch. They kissed once more, then Dane mounted Pal and rode out of town toward the Brockman place in the country.
The next morning in the preaching service, Pastor Nathan Blandford announced that he had asked Chief John Brockman to preach in the evening service. There were amens all over the congregation.
Tharyn whispered to Dane that John Brockman was an excellent preacher, and everybody loved to hear him preach.
After the service, Dane and Tharyn approached the pastor and asked if they could have a few minutes with him after the evening service. Blandford gladly granted their request.
That evening, John Brockman walked into the pulpit, Bible in hand, after being introduced by the pastor. Eager to hear him, Dane let his gaze go to the pew across the aisle where Breanna, Paul, and Ginny sat. Paul had an especially proud look on his face.
John had the congregation open their Bibles to Genesis 24.
A tingle went down Tharyn’s spine at the mention of that particular chapter.
While John was preaching about how God had chosen Isaac and Rebekah for each other and how He brought them together, Dane leaned over and whispered, “Does John know about Pastor Blandford using this passage to help you when Scott dumped you?”
Tharyn shook her head. “No. The Lord is just using him to seal His act of bringing you back to me so I could become your wife!”
Dane took hold of her hand, squeezed it, then let go. She smiled at him.
Both Kitty and David had heard the exchange between Dane and Tharyn. David whispered to Kitty, “Isn’t it great? John doesn’t know it, but the Lord is using his sermon to clinch in Tharyn’s mind exactly what Pastor Blandford said about the passage.”
Kitty nodded and smiled at her husband.
After the service, Tharyn made it a point to go to John and tell him what a blessing his sermon was to her. She did not reveal why the sermon meant so much to her, but felt she should at least let him know that it indeed was a blessing.
Moments later, Dane and Tharyn sat down in front of Pastor Blandford’s desk in his office. Looking at them across the desk, he said, “Well, what can I do for you?”
“We want to set a date to get married, Pastor,” Dane said without hesitating.
The pastor’s eyebrows arched. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You know a little about our past,” said Tharyn. “You know that Dane once saved my life when we were teenagers in New York.”
Blandford nodded. “I vividly recall your telling me that when you were explaining about becoming an orphan.” He looked at Dane. “Tharyn brought your name up quite often over these years. I picked up that you really meant a lot to her. She seemed so sad that the two of you were no longer in contact.”
“So was I, Pastor. We’ve talked it all out, and we both understand why we lost contact. The main thing is that we’re back together now. The Lord’s hand is quite evident in it all. The brother-sister feelings we had for each other have now become a deep romantic love. I proposed to Tharyn last night after obtaining her parents’ permission to do so.”
The pastor shook his head and chuckled. “Tharyn, isn’t it something that John Brockman would preach from the very passage tonight that I used to comfort you when Scott had broken your heart? You have told Dane about Scott, I presume.”
Tharyn nodded. “Yes, sir. And I told him about your talk with me about Isaac and Rebekah, and that you said when it was God’s time to do so, He would send my Isaac to me.”
“Well, young lady, you are now Dane’s Rebekah, and he is your Isaac.”
The couple looked at each other, smiling.
“Hello, Rebekah,” said Dane.
She giggled. “Hello, Isaac.”
“Well, young people, you certainly have my blessing. When do you want to have the wedding?”
Dane adjusted himself on the chair. “We have agreed that in order to be proper, we should be engaged at least a few months.”
The pastor nodded. “Yes.”
“So we want to get married next May.”
Blandford smiled and opened a desk drawer. “I just happen to have an 1881 calendar here.” He took out the small calendar, laid it on the desk top, and opened it to the month of May. “What day of the week would you like to have the wedding?”
“What would you suggest?” asked Tharyn.
“My favorite time to perform weddings is on Saturday afternoon.”
Dane and Tharyn looked at each other.
“Sounds good to me,” she said.
“Me too.”
The pastor grinned. “Which
week in May?”
“How about the third week?” asked Dane.
“Well, May next year begins on a Sunday, so the end of the third week is Saturday, the twenty-first.”
The couple exchanged glances again.
“That sound all right to you, sweetheart?” asked Dane.
“Mm-hmm.”
“All right,” said the pastor, “how about two o’clock that afternoon?”
Dane and Tharyn looked at each other and nodded.
“Two o’clock it is, Pastor,” said Dane.
“All right, I’ll put it in my personal calendar. When the time grows closer, we can get down to details.”
“That’s fine,” said Dane. “One other thing, Pastor …”
“Yes?”
“Even though there is a good Bible-believing church in Central City, I would like to have my membership in this church until Tharyn and I marry. I will be coming to Denver as many weekends as possible until then. When the weather is bad or my medical work keeps me from coming, I’ll attend the church in Central City.”
“Well, we’d love to have you as a member of our church until you marry this lovely young lady and take her away from us.”
“All right, Pastor. If I’m able to make it to Denver next weekend, I’ll join the church next Sunday morning.”
On Monday, October 25, Lucinda Moran and Kathryn Tully went morosely about the cabin, sweeping and dusting. Since reading in the Fort Collins Gazette of the capture of the Moran gang, they lived in total grief.
When they had finished their housecleaning, they sat down in the parlor, both of them sighing.
Kathryn set her sad eyes on her friend. “Lucinda, what are we going to do? Right now, we have plenty of money here in the cabin. But since our husbands are going to spend the rest of their lives in prison, we’ll use it up before we’re ten years older. How will we survive then?”