The Heart Remembers

by Al Lacy

  “Yes.”

  Still wrapping the bandage, Dane said, “All right. I’m almost finished. Go ahead and prepare her for surgery. I’ll be there in less than five minutes.”

  Seconds later, Tharyn entered section number four. Running her gaze between the anxious mother and father, she said, “I must prepare Robin immediately for the surgery. Doctor will be ready in a few minutes. I’ll need both of you to go sit in the waiting area. She’ll be fine, believe me.”

  Both parents leaned down, and each kissed one of their daughter’s cheeks. Clara said, “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. You heard the nurse say you will be fine. Mama and Papa will be right out there in the office.”

  Tears were in Robin’s eyes, but she managed to nod and give them a brief smile.

  “If other patients come in while you’re waiting,” Tharyn said, “will you tell them that I’m assisting the doctor with the surgery on your daughter, and that I’ll return to the office as soon as possible?”

  Both parents nodded and walked away slowly.

  While Tharyn was with Robin and her parents in the back room, Melinda was doing her best to be patient as she sat in the waiting area. But to her, time seemed to drag.

  She kept glancing out the window for any sign of Tim and her parents, then at the clock on the wall above Tharyn’s desk. She wondered if the clock was in need of repair. The hands seemed to move so slowly.

  Unable to sit still another minute, she rose to her feet, stretched her back, then circled the empty room several times, always stopping at the large window to peer anxiously at the street and hitch rail. Each time she surveyed the street, there was no sign of her loved ones—and she took another slow walk around the tidy room.

  She was just sitting back down on her chair when she saw Ben and Clara emerge from the back room, and she heard them talking about the impending surgery on their little girl. She could see that they were on edge. The elderly gentleman with the bandage on his hand moved on past them and out the door.

  As Ben and Clara sat down near her, Melinda said, “Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, my name is Melinda Kenyon. I was here when you brought your little Robin in. Do I understand correctly that she’s about to undergo surgery?”

  “Yes,” said Ben. “Mrs. Logan called it peritoneal surgery. But she assured us that Robin will be all right. Dr. Logan is about to do the surgery right now.”

  Melinda pressed a smile on her lips. “Well, let me assure both of you that Robin is in the best of hands. Dr. Dane Logan is an excellent surgeon.”

  Clara took hold of Ben’s hand. “Thank you, Miss Kenyon. It is Miss Kenyon, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m waiting right now for my fiancé and my parents to arrive.”

  Even as she spoke, Melinda’s attention was drawn out the large window as she saw a buggy pull up to the hitch rail. Her heart leaped in her chest as she jumped to her feet and bolted for the door. “There they are now! They’re here! They’re here!”

  Outside, George Kenyon was helping Hattie out of the buggy while Dr. Tim Braden was tying the reins to the hitch rail when they saw Melinda burst through the door, tears flowing.

  Tim vaulted the rail, gasping, “Oh, thank God! Thank God! Melinda, sweetheart, I love you!”

  “I love you, too, darling!” she cried as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her soundly.

  They clung to each other, both weeping for joy.

  When George and Hattie drew up, tears flowing from their eyes, Tim let go of Melinda and stepped back so they could embrace her. People on the street were looking on, as were Ben and Clara McDonald from the office window as both George and Hattie took Melinda into their arms.

  Tim waited a minute or so, then joined them, making it a four-way embrace.

  Melinda caught her breath, and anxious to tell Tim and her parents all about her experiences, found her words tumbling on top of each other. She stopped, took a breath, and said, “I’m sorry. Let me start again.”

  “Whoa, now, honey,” said George with a lilt in his voice, “let’s find a quiet place, and you can tell us where you’ve been, and all about what happened to you.”

  “Oh Papa, of course. I’m sorry to run on so, but I’m so very eager to tell you all about it. Let’s go inside the doctor’s office. I’ll slow down and start at the beginning.”

  “Good girl,” exclaimed George, giving his daughter another quick hug.

  Taking Tim’s arm, Melinda retraced her steps back inside the office while her parents followed.

  Ben and Clara were seated once again, but smiled as the group came in. Melinda introduced Tim and her parents to the McDonaldses, explaining that Dr. Logan and Tharyn were doing surgery on their ten-year-old daughter at the moment. She then said to Ben and Clara, “You can tell that we’re having a reunion here. You’ll understand it all when you hear me tell my story to Tim and my parents.”

  Ben said, “Maybe we could go elsewhere, so—”

  “Oh, no,” Melinda said. “You need to be right here when Dr. Logan comes out to tell you about Robin’s surgery. We’ll just go over here in the corner.”

  The foursome sat down together with Melinda facing them, and George, Hattie, and Tim each touching her as she slowly related her story, starting with her fall into the South Platte River. Ben and Clara listened intently.

  As Melinda told the story in detail, every eye was glued to her, and they hung on every word.

  When Melinda finished the account, tears streamed down Hattie’s face and a small sob broke the silence. “Oh, Melinda, how courageous of Dr. Logan to tell Chief Tando he wanted to take you with him! And how grateful we are for our heavenly Father’s faithful care of you all of this time! We—we thought you had drowned … that the river had claimed your life. What a marvelous miracle to find you alive and well! I—I guess in one sense we owe Latawga a debt of gratitude. He did save you from drowning.”

  Melinda drew a shuddering breath and wiped tears. “Yes, he did, Mama. And I thanked him for that. But I have no desire to ever see that village again.”

  George wiped a palm over his mouth. “Well, those Indians made a servant of you, honey, but they did feed you, and they never harmed you. I’d at least like to tell them that I appreciate this. And I’m sure Tim does, too. Maybe Dr. Dane would accompany Tim and me to the village, and we could express our appreciation to them.”

  Tim was holding Melinda’s hand. “I’d be happy to ride with you and Dr. Dane to the village, Mr. Kenyon. The chief’s son saved Melinda from drowning, and in that sense, also gave me my life back. Or if Dr. Dane would tell us that our going to the village would not be good … maybe next time he sees Chief Tando and his son, he could convey our appreciation for us.”

  Just then the back room door came open, and Dr. Dane appeared with a smile on his face. He glanced toward Melinda and her small group, and his smile broadened as he nodded at them, then said to the anxious parents, “The surgery went well, and Robin will be fine. I found the source of the infection, and it’s taken care of.”

  Clara’s eyes misted. “Oh, thank God!”

  Dr. Dane looked at Clara. “I’ll give you some medicine to ease Robin’s pain for the next few days, and I’ll give you instructions on how to keep the incision from getting infected. She’s coming out from under the ether now. I suggest that you find a way to cushion the ride home for her. I’ll come to Nederland in a couple of weeks and remove the stitches.”

  Tharyn came from the back room carrying Robin, and soon the couple drove away with their drowsy daughter in Clara’s arms on the back seat of the buggy.

  The Logans, the Kenyons, and Dr. Tim Braden then had a good time rejoicing in Melinda’s return. The Logans closed the office and led the rest of them as they walked to a nearby café.

  When they first began eating, George brought up the gratitude he felt toward Latawga and Chief Tando. When he asked Dr. Dane if he would accompany them to the village so both he and Tim could express their gratitude, Dr. Dane said, “I really don�
��t think it would be wise for Melinda’s father and her husband-to-be to present themselves at the village, though your intentions are good. Tell you what, I’ll be seeing Latawga and the chief on Monday. I’ll express your appreciation to them for you.”

  George and Tim accepted this, and thanked Dr. Dane for doing this for them.

  As lunch went on, Dr. Dane said, “When we’re done here, I’d like to take all of you to the parsonage so you can meet Pastor Mark Shane and his wife, Peggy. Pastor Shane has had the church praying for you all as you’ve carried the grief of Melinda’s death.”

  “Bless his heart,” said George. “I’d love to meet him and his wife.”

  “We’d have let the Shanes know Melinda was alive yesterday, but they’ve been out of town and were to arrive back this morning. They’ll sure rejoice when they get to meet the living Melinda and her loved ones!”

  “This will be good,” said Hattie. “We certainly want to thank Pastor Shane for having the church pray for us.”

  “Then we’d best head back for Denver,” George said. “You want to ride to the parsonage in our buggy?”

  “That’ll be fine,” said Dr. Dane. “The church is several blocks from the office.”

  When lunch was over, they left the café and walked toward the doctor’s office. They were almost there when Tharyn pointed to a buggy moving along the street and said, “Look, Dane. There’s Pastor and Peggy now. They must just be getting back to town.”

  “Sure enough,” said Dane, and stepped into the street, waving his arms at the Shanes. Tharyn moved off the boardwalk and stood beside her husband.

  The pastor guided the buggy to a halt where Dr. Dane and Tharyn stood. He smiled and said, “If you’re looking for a good doctor, mister, I can recommend one.”

  Dr. Dane laughed. “Really?”

  “Mm-hmm. Dr. Robert Fraser. He used to own the practice that Dr. Dane Logan owns now. Dr. Logan’s office is right over there, but Dr. Fraser is presently semiretired. He just works for Dr. Logan when he needs him. But Dr. Fraser is really very good. I highly recommend him.”

  By this time, both Tharyn and Peggy were laughing.

  Dr. Dane motioned for Melinda to come to him. When she drew up, he said, “Pastor Shane, I’d like to introduce you to this fine Christian young lady.”

  The preacher nodded with a smile, and stepped down from the buggy.

  “All right. And just who is she?”

  The doctor grinned. “Melinda Kenyon.”

  Peggy Shane sucked in a quick, sharp breath, her eyes bulging as she looked at Melinda from the buggy seat.

  Mark Shane’s eyelids fluttered and his shoulders twitched with an involuntary shiver. “Mel—Melinda Kenyon? Tharyn’s friend who was drowned—I … I mean—”

  “Who was presumed drowned, Pastor,” cut in Dr. Dane. “But as you can see, she’s very much alive!”

  Peggy bounded out of the buggy and hurried up to Tharyn and Melinda. “Tell us about it!”

  “Yes!” said the pastor. “This is wonderful! Tell us!”

  Dr. Dane said, “Let me introduce you to these people, first, then I’ll tell you the story.” He called for Dr. Tim and the Kenyons to step up, and made the introductions, then told them Melinda’s story.

  The Shanes marveled at how the Lord had used Dr. Dane to free Melinda and to bring Chief Tando to the place where he was willing to sign the peace treaty.

  The pastor said, “I’m sure going to tell the story to my people at church on Sunday morning!”

  Good-byes were said, and when the Shanes drove away, George said, “Well, we’d better head for Denver.”

  Tharyn and Melinda clung to each other for a long moment, tears flowing. Tharyn wiped tears and said, “Melinda, we can work out the details by mail, but let’s agree to get together again real soon.”

  “I’m all for that!”

  Melinda then turned to Dr. Dane with tears still flowing and embraced him. The Kenyons and Dr. Tim Braden also thanked him, and Dane and Tharyn stood in front of the office, waving as the Kenyon buggy drove away.

  The next day was Saturday, and the Logans were kept very busy at the office all day.

  On Sunday morning, the people of the church indeed rejoiced when Pastor Mark Shane told them that Melinda Kenyon was alive, and explained the story in brief, including the upcoming signing of the peace treaty. There was much rejoicing.

  After the service, Dr. Robert Fraser and his wife, Esther, approached Dr. Dane and Tharyn in the foyer as they were about to leave. “Hey, you two!” Dr. Fraser said. “Not so fast! Esther and I are so thrilled at the good news. We want to hear the details of Melinda’s story.”

  Dr. Dane smiled. “Well, that will take a little while.”

  “No matter,” said Esther. “I’ve got a nice big roast in the oven at home. Come and eat dinner with us, and Robert and I will get to hear every detail. Okay?”

  Dane and Tharyn looked at each other.

  She said, “Sounds good to me, darling.”

  Dane chuckled and set his dark eyes on Esther. “Sounds good to me, too!”

  At the dinner table, Dane was asked to pray over the food, and as soon as they started eating, Dr. Fraser said, “Okay, we’re all ears.”

  The Frasers rejoiced over and over as Dane told the whole story. They also rejoiced when they were told the details of how Chief Tando had shown a change of heart toward white people, and was willing to sign the peace treaty with the United States government.

  Dr. Fraser then said, “Well, my boy, since you’ll be leaving early in the morning for the Ute village, it seems to me that your assistant here should plan to be at the office all day.”

  Dane grinned. “I was going to get to that in another minute or so. Will you take over for me tomorrow?”

  The elderly physician’s eyes were beaming. “I sure will!”

  Early on Monday morning, Tharyn waited for her husband at the back porch of their house while he saddled Pal, then led him from the small barn to where she was standing.

  Dane took her into his arms, kissed her soundly, and said, “I love you so much, sweetheart.”

  She smiled up at him. “I love you so much, too. You be careful, won’t you?”

  “I sure will.” He kissed her again, then mounted up and rode toward the street.

  Tharyn hurried alongside the house, stopped at the front porch, and watched him trot Pal along the street. When he was about to pass from view, he pulled rein, hipped around in the saddle, and threw her a kiss.

  She threw one back, then as he rode from sight, she said, “Thank You, Lord, for the way You used Dane to help Chief Tando see the error of his ways. And, please, Lord. Keep Your mighty hand of protection on my wonderful husband.”

  FOUR

  as Dr. Dane Logan trotted Pal out of Central City, he thanked the Lord again for bringing Melinda Kenyon back to her parents and to Dr. Tim Braden. He smiled to himself as he thought of next May when Tim would finish his internship at Mile High Hospital. He recalled hearing Tim and Melinda talking together on Friday and renewing their plan to marry as soon as Tim was through at the hospital.

  Soon horse and rider were in high country. Dane studied the mountains directly ahead of him as he headed due south. He loved the sight of the towering Rockies boldly cutting their bite into the blue sky.

  Dane thought about the one time in his life when his parents took him, as a ten-year-old boy, to northeast New York into the forested mountain wilderness of the Adirondacks. He recalled the many scenic gorges, waterfalls, and lakes. He thought of how high the New Yorkers thought their mountains were with peaks at just over five thousand feet above sea level, then once again let his gaze roam over the towering Rockies all around him. There stood the vast long chains of mountains, all clad with pines and firs, some speckled with birch and aspens, with peaks ranging from eleven to fourteen thousand feet above sea level, many already capped with snow.

  Just as Dane topped the crest of a rise, he caught sight of two rider
s coming toward him. They were close enough that he quickly recognized one of them as Central City’s chief lawman, Marshal Jake Merrell.

  Dane then recalled that at church yesterday, Merrell’s deputy, Len Kurtz, had told him that the marshal wasn’t at church because he was on the trail of a Central City man named Earl Dubose who had slapped around his invalid wife, Dora, in a fit of anger for defending their five-year-old son, whom Earl had whipped far too hard for a minor disobedience.

  As Dane drew nearer the riders, he saw that Earl Dubose was in handcuffs and had black and blue marks on his face and his right eye was almost swollen shut. The marshal was leading Dubose’s horse.

  Marshal Merrell lifted a hand to signal the doctor to stop.

  “ ‘Mornin’, Marshal.” Dr. Dane squinted at Dubose, then said to Merrell, “Len told me at church yesterday why you were on Earl’s trail. What happened to him?”

  Dubose glared at the marshal as Merrell said, “Well, since you know why I was chasing Earl, it’ll suffice to say that he resisted arrest, and knowing what he did to his wife, I wasn’t too gentle in beating down his resistance. I have a hard time with a man who beats on a woman. Especially when she’s an invalid.”

  Dubose glowered at the lawman. “Okay, okay, so I had it comin’. But I don’t think I ought to do jail time for it.”

  “Well, you and I think differently. If you give me any lip, it’ll be longer than I’m planning on right now.” Then to Logan, “Doc, you got anything in your medical bag that could help take down the swelling in Earl’s eye?”

  “I do, but I’m on a very important mission right now. Dr. Fraser is filling in for me today. After you lock Earl up, go to the office and tell him to come over to the jail and tend to the eye. Explain that we met here on the road and that’s what I suggested you do.”

  Dubose showed his teeth. “You shouldn’t be too busy to tend to a man who’s hurtin’, Doc.”

  Dane met his gaze with hard eyes. “Like I said, I’m on a very important mission right now, and I have to keep moving. But I’ll say it real plain. I have the same feelings Marshal Merrell has about men who beat up on women. So you’ll just have to hurt a little till Dr. Fraser can see to the swelling around that eye.