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Doc Penny
Not far from Blister, Kansas Penelope Jean Cartwright was up to her elbows in the blood of the shotgun guard lying in the dirt beside the stagecoach. As four outlaws were relieving the passengers of their valuables, the shotgun guard had growled, "You bastards!" And the gang leader had responded by slashing him across his torso with his saber, opening the wall of his stomach.
After washing the guard's wound with alcohol, she began rapidly suturing the gash closed with perfect, evenly spaced stitches. As she completed her forty-fifth and last stitch, the stage driver remarked, "Well, I'll be damned! You're a fine doctor, in spite of being a woman."
Penny sighed, but she bit back her irritation and reluctantly gave him a smile for his "compliment."
She was well-acquainted with attitudes that devalued women's worth and competence. A year ago, after graduating from medical school in Amsterdam, she returned home to Philadelphia to establish her practice. She had done everything she could to acquire patients and become recognized as a competent physician, but because she was a woman she was routinely passed up in favor of doctors who were men.
Now age twenty-one, Penny was an independent, petite and attractive auburn-haired woman with much to give. Learning from her failed attempts at establishing a practice in Philadelphia, she changed tactics and bought a medical practice in a little town in Kansas where she hoped the residents' needs for a physician far outweighed their reluctance to be doctored by a woman.
After washing the guard's wound with alcohol, she began rapidly suturing the gash closed with perfect, evenly spaced stitches. As she completed her forty-fifth and last stitch, the stage driver remarked, "Well, I'll be damned! You're a fine doctor, in spite of being a woman."
Penny sighed, but she bit back her irritation and reluctantly gave him a smile for his "compliment."
She was well-acquainted with attitudes that devalued women's worth and competence. A year ago, after graduating from medical school in Amsterdam, she returned home to Philadelphia to establish her practice. She had done everything she could to acquire patients and become recognized as a competent physician, but because she was a woman she was routinely passed up in favor of doctors who were men.
Now age twenty-one, Penny was an independent, petite and attractive auburn-haired woman with much to give. Learning from her failed attempts at establishing a practice in Philadelphia, she changed tactics and bought a medical practice in a little town in Kansas where she hoped the residents' needs for a physician far outweighed their reluctance to be doctored by a woman.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2025
26 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 1, 2026
Cute
DOC PENNY, Roger Vesperman, 01/31/2026 -
A woman doctor is a new concept in the old west, so Doc Penny must challenge people to accept her. Told with humor and heart, it is a mildly interesting book. Author Vesperman desperately needs a proofreader and an editor. Misspelling, poor grammar, and incorrect punctuation detract from the story. And Chapter 27 is almost word for word the same as the Epilogue.
DOC PENNY, Roger Vesperman, 01/31/2026 -
A woman doctor is a new concept in the old west, so Doc Penny must challenge people to accept her. Told with humor and heart, it is a mildly interesting book. Author Vesperman desperately needs a proofreader and an editor. Misspelling, poor grammar, and incorrect punctuation detract from the story. And Chapter 27 is almost word for word the same as the Epilogue.
February 8, 2026
A truly feel good book
So glad I picked this book to read. Sometimes I get so tired of fast paced, action packed book and want to read an upbeat happy story. O doubt about it this book fits the bill.
You will enjoy both Doc Penny and Sam’s characters and their love of town and people.
So glad I picked this book to read. Sometimes I get so tired of fast paced, action packed book and want to read an upbeat happy story. O doubt about it this book fits the bill.
You will enjoy both Doc Penny and Sam’s characters and their love of town and people.
January 19, 2026
a fun little read
So nice to read something so pleasant and positive. Life is so sad right now, this really helped. Thank you
So nice to read something so pleasant and positive. Life is so sad right now, this really helped. Thank you
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews