Beloved Physician by Al Lacy Page A

thing you could dofor me, but tell you what. I would sure like to have some time with you. Maybe dinner at one of the restaurants and a buggy ride in the moonlight.”
    A smile broke over his face. “Hey, I’d like that! Dad’s cook and housekeeper already has supper planned for this evening, but could I take you to dinner tomorrow evening?”
    Cassandra’s features brightened. “Of course!”
    “All right. Dad has two buggies at the house, so I could come and pick you up in one of them.”
    “Oh, I’d love it!”
    “Do you have to get your aunt’s permission to go out with me?”
    She giggled. “Greg, I’m nineteen years old. I can do as I please. I’ll tell Aunt Mabel that I’m going out with you tomorrow evening.”
    Greg’s heart was pounding and his eyes were dancing. “All right! I’ll pick you up at your aunt’s house at six o’clock tomorrow evening.”
    “It’s a date!”
    “It’s a date!” Greg echoed with exhilaration, his face beaming. “See you then.”
    He returned to the wagon and climbed up onto the seat. He took the reins in hand, put the team in motion, and wove into traffic. Once he was moving down the street, he looked back at her and waved.
    Smiling broadly, Cassandra waved back. She watched him until he passed from view, feeling the excitement of having a date with the young man who was no doubt richer than any other man his age in Central City.
    With her heart banging her ribs, she headed down the street, walking briskly. Moments later, as she was just three doors from the general store, she halted in front of a clothing store, and looked through the window. On display were some colorful ready-madedresses. Taking a cursory glance at them, she sighed, threw her hands up in despair, and moved on to the general store.
    When she stepped inside, she heard the sound of her aunt’s voice. Following the sound, she found her between two long rows of shelves, talking to a tall, thin man in his seventies. He spoke kindly to Mabel and walked away.
    Mabel saw her niece coming and noted the frown on her face.
    Cassandra drew up and looked in the direction the man had gone. “Who was that man you were talking to, Aunt Mabel?”
    “That was Mr. Wells, the owner of the store.”
    “Oh.”
    Mabel studied the frown on her nieces face. “What’s wrong, dear? Did your talk with Greg not go well?”
    “Oh, it couldn’t have been better. He’s going to take me out to dinner tomorrow evening. The problem is, I have nothing nice to wear for the occasion.”
    Mabel took hold of her niece’s hand. “When we get home, we’ll look through your clothes. I’m sure with a little sprucing up of one of your dresses, you’ll look just lovely.”
    Cassandra sighed. “Well, it’s going to take a miracle to put something presentable together by tomorrow night.”
    “Well, let’s finish getting what we need and head for home so we can work on that miracle.”
    The next morning, Dr. Dane Logan stood over a boy of twelve years in a cabin in the mountains. “Johnny, I really think you should heed your mother’s warning next time she tells you not to climb that birch tree out there by the front porch.”
    Johnny lay with his arm in the fresh cast and sling and nodded. He looked at his parents, who stood together on one side of the bed, then at the doctor, who stood on the other side. “Yes, sir. I’m not gonna climb it again.”
    “Good. I’d advise you not to climb
any
trees. Find some other way to have fun, okay?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The doctor turned to the small table beside the bed, closed his black medical bag, and picked it up. “Like I told your parents, Johnny, I want to check on your arm in three or four days.”
    “We’ll bring him in to your office, Doctor,” said Johnny’s father. “Now how much do we owe you?”
    “Three dollars will do it.”
    The man’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure? Seems like it ought to be more than that. After all, you came immediately when I entered