Beloved Physician Read Free Page B

back to her paperwork in the office.
    Art Berman asked Dr. Dane if he could stay as long as he stood back from the table. Dr. Dane agreed.
    Tharyn caught Dane’s eye as he began removing Ben’s shirt. He gave her a little smile and nodded his head to tell her he knew she would have everything ready and waiting for him to work on his patient.
    Dr. Fraser moved up and stood at the foot of the table, indicating that he was there if needed, but would not get in Dr. Dane’s way.
    Tharyn stepped to the far side of the table and waited for her husband to tell her what to do next. A thrill of pure satisfaction reached her heart.
Well, here we are
, she thought.
Dane and I working together. This is exactly where God wants us to be, and I couldn’t be happier. What a wonderful—
    “Tharyn,” came Dane’s voice, “would you please wash the coal dust off of Mr. Frye’s face and clean the cuts on his temple and his neck? I’ll go wash my hands and be right back.”
    Tharyn quickly began washing the injured man’s face.
Thank You, Lord
, she prayed in her heart,
for letting me be here at Dane’s side. Please give him wisdom as he tends to this patient
.
    While washing off the coal dust, Tharyn spoke softly to the mine foreman, explaining that when she had removed the coal dust, she would be using pure alcohol to clean his cuts. She warned that it would burn some. At the same instant, Dr. Dane drew up to his position on the opposite side of the table.
    Ben Frye nodded and closed his eyes, putting himself in their care. He winced and a small groan escaped his lips when she applied the alcohol to the first cut on his temple.
    Dr. Dane began making a thorough examination of the injured mine foreman from the waist up, where the pain was centered. At the same time, he asked Art Berman how the fall happened and how far the foreman had fallen.
    Berman explained that Ben was standing at the edge of one of the mine shafts, talking to a miner. The cage in that shaft was on its way down into the mine, carrying two miners and an empty rail car. The cage was about forty feet below the earths surface when a strong gust of wind came down off the high peaks, causing Ben to lose his balance and fall into the shaft. He landed on the top of the cage, which made his fall right at forty feet.
    “Forty feet, eh?” said Dr. Dane. “That’s like falling from the fourth story of a building. Enough to do some serious damage.”
    Dr. Dane asked Dr. Fraser to move up beside him as he continued the examination, wanting the older physician’s experienced eyes and hands nearby if needed.
    Knowing how far the foreman had fallen, the doctors worked carefully to ascertain just how badly he was injured. Tharyn stood by to help.

THREE

    N adine Wahl was just entering the office from the examination and surgical room when she saw Greg Holton and his father coming in from the boardwalk.
    Kirby Holton, who was in his late forties, was obviously very much concerned for his foreman as he stepped ahead of Greg and said, “Nadine, how’s Ben doing? How bad is he hurt?”
    Nadine smiled. “I’m glad to tell you that his life is not in danger, Mr. Holton.”
    Kirby sighed and put an arm around his son, who was now standing at his side. “Oh, Nadine, I’m so glad to know Ben’s not going to die.”
    “We all are, Mr. Holton. As soon as Dr. Logan advised Art Berman that Ben would live, he went back to the mine.”
    “Good. Since Ben’s not there, Art sure needs to be. What are Ben’s injuries and how serious are they?”
    “It’s best that I let Dr. Logan explain the injuries, Mr. Holton. Why don’t you and Greg sit down over there in the waiting area? I’ll advise Dr. Logan that you’re here. I’m sure he will come and talk to you as soon as he and Dr. Fraser are finished getting Ben all bandaged up.”
    Kirby thanked her, and as he and Greg were heading for thenearby waiting area, Nadine hurried through the door that led to the examination room.
    As