A Basket Brigade Christmas

by Judith Mccoy Miller

  Jacob sighed. There wasn’t time to write her a note. He’d have to rely upon Mrs. Wingard. “Tell her I was wrong and I’m sorry.” He grasped the older woman’s hand. “Will you do that for me?”

  “Of course I will. Anything else?”

  He shook his head then hesitated. “Yes. Tell her I’ll give her a proper apology next time I come through Decatur.”

  The older woman smiled and patted his hand. “I’ll give her your message. Now, hurry or you’ll have to run to catch the train.”

  Mrs. Wingard had been right. Had he remained in the station a few more seconds, he would have missed the train. Still gasping for breath when he entered the car, Jacob dropped onto one of the seats. Over the chugging of the train, he heard someone mention Sarah’s name. Wanting to know what was being said, he stood and moved down the aisle a short distance.

  One of the soldiers said, “I think that young lady should get a medal for kindness.”

  Another agreed and added, “She’d get my vote, for sure. Too bad he died so quick. Would have been nice if he could have had a little more time to recall the kindness shown to him.”

  Stunned by the response, Jacob continued down the aisle. A blanket had been drawn across the burned soldier’s face. Jacob looked at the man across the aisle. “When?”

  “Right after she left the train. He breathed one of them long ragged breaths. This time it rattled deep in his chest and that was it.” The soldier nodded toward the dead man. “Another soldier checked him, said he was dead, and covered him up. Sure am glad that lady was so nice to him. If you see her again, be sure and tell her, would ya?”

  Jacob swallowed hard and gave a slight nod. “I’ll do that.” He should have said more, but the words stuck in his throat. When he returned to his seat, Jacob bowed his head and asked God to help him overcome his jealous nature and direct his future—a future he hoped would include Sarah.

  On the way back to the depot, Sarah considered how she’d reacted to Jacob’s reprimand. Granted, he had no right to speak to her in a condemning fashion, yet part of what he’d said was true. She’d let her emotions rule her actions—something her own mother had advised against. Yet she didn’t feel a great deal of regret. The boy had been so thankful for her meager offering of kindness. She prayed he’d get well, yet it was clear his prognosis was dismal.

  Her thoughts skittered between the badly burned soldier, Jacob, and Johnny’s grandpa, Herman Folson, who’d kept Johnny at the livery stable today. When she’d approached Mr. Folson, he’d been annoyed and had dodged her questions with a curt remark that he had work to complete and that he needed Johnny’s help. He’d added that the boy was gone far too much helping everyone else when he was needed there. She’d attempted to gain more insight, but the old man had shooed her away as though she were a pesky fly.

  When she stepped inside the depot, the train had been gone for more than fifteen minutes and only a handful of the women remained. Most of them hurried home once they finished serving the soldiers each day, and Sarah understood their need to depart. They had families waiting on their evening meal. Once inside the depot, Clara Wingard waved Sarah forward. “I have a message for you from the good-looking soldier.” When Sarah didn’t respond, Clara continued. “The one who seeks you out each time he passes through. The corporal. Jacob Curtis.”

  Sarah gave a slight nod and waited.

  With her gaze fastened upon Sarah, Clara repeated Jacob’s message then added, “Oh, and he said the next time he’s in Decatur he’ll give you a proper apology.” She winked and tapped her fingers against the bodice of her dress. “I think you’ve won his heart. He seems like a nice young fellow.”

  Heat raced up Sarah’s neck. “Thank you for delivering the message, Clara.” Sarah gestured toward the empty tables as she twisted around. “Let’s move these tables, and then we can go. I’m sure you have work at home that needs your attention.”

  “Not much. Without a husband or children around, I don’t have to worry about serving supper on time like some of the other ladies.” She grinned. “We’re kind of alike in that regard, Sarah, but I’m thinking maybe that’s going to change for you. There’s no denying that corporal has set his sights on winning your heart.”

  Sarah’s cheeks flamed. While she hoped Jacob truly desired to win her heart, his jealous outburst had dampened her increasing affection for him. Although his words had struck a chord of truth, she’d been less than pleased with his bitter avowals. Still, he’d attempted to apologize. Only time would reveal if he’d been sincere.

  Two days later, an apologetic Jacob arrived on the train returning from Chicago to Cairo. Though she’d expected to see him later in the week, Sarah was surprised when he walked into the bakery. He’d never stopped to see her on his return trips from Chicago. Because the train didn’t stop long enough for him to come and visit her home, he’d normally make a dash to the livery and leave a letter with Johnny Folson. As soon as Johnny’s grandpa would give him permission to leave, he’d deliver the missive to Sarah.

  Jacob grinned as he approached the interior of the bakery. “I’m pleased you’re here. Are you surprised to see me?”

  “How did you manage? Has the train already departed for Centralia? Will you get in trouble?”

  He shook his head. “I won’t get in trouble. I had a little extra money, so I caught the early train out of Chicago. There’s another train passing through going to Cairo in about an hour. I’ll get on board when it stops.”

  She was pleased to see him but was sorry their argument was the reason he’d spent his extra money on a train ticket. When she heard her father’s footsteps, she turned.

  “Papa, this is Corporal Jacob Curtis, the soldier who has been helping me when I board the train with the Basket Brigade.”

  Her father beamed and hurried forward with his hand outstretched. “I am pleased to meet you, Corporal. Our son, Samuel, is serving at the front with the Union troops. We hear very little from him, but when he has free time, it is more important he rest than write letters—at least that is what I tell my wife. I’m sure Sarah has already told you about Samuel.”

  Jacob nodded. “She has, and I know you must be very proud of him. I had hoped to serve at the front, but instead I’m assigned to the hospital trains.”

  “All soldiers must serve where they are sent, Corporal. In wartime, every position is important.” Her father pointed to the case of bakery items. “Tell Sarah what you’d like. It is my small gift to you for helping her and the injured soldiers. I must return to my wife upstairs, but I am pleased to have met you.”

  “Thank you, Mr. McHenry. It is a pleasure.” After her father left the room, the two of them sat at one of the tables near the front window and Jacob reached into his pocket. “I brought this for you.” He’d tied a piece of twine around his letter and attached a sprig of holly with red berries. “I wanted to tell you in person how sorry I am for the way I spoke to you. I needed to know if you would forgive me.”

  She brushed his fingers as she accepted the envelope. “Of course I forgive you. Clara told me you had apologized. You didn’t need to make a special trip.” She hesitated and smiled. “But I’m pleased you did.”

  “So am I.” He clasped her hand. “Very glad.”

  Chapter 8

  Sarah glanced at the bakery clock before rushing toward the door. She grabbed her woolen cloak from the peg as her father returned downstairs. “Where are you rushing off to? It’s not time for the train to arrive.”

  “I need to stop at the mercantile before I go to the depot. We’re in need of some additional napkins, and Silas Tait said he had some old ones the store would donate. I want to pick them up before the store closes.”

  “If you have time, you should stop at the doctor’s office. He said he would bring some cough medicine for your mother, but I haven’t seen him.”

  “I will, Papa.” With a quick wave, she exited the bakery. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she spotted the glow of a lam
p in Dr. Kirkland’s office window.

  The bell over the door jangled, and the doctor looked up as she stepped inside. “Sarah! I’m sorry you had to come out in the cold. I didn’t get the medicine over to your mother. I was needed at a farm out in the country and just returned.”

  “No need to apologize, Dr. Kirkland. I was on my way to the mercantile, so stopping here isn’t an inconvenience.”

  The doctor pushed back from his desk and strode toward the adjacent room. “It won’t take me long to prepare the mixture.”

  As Sarah turned toward the window, she caught sight of Johnny Folson across the street. She yanked open the door and waved at him. “Johnny, can you come over here? I need to speak to you.”

  The jangling bell and her loud comment brought Dr. Kirkland rushing back to the front office. “Is something wrong, Sarah?”

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. She didn’t usually exhibit such a lack of decorum. “No, I want to speak with Johnny Folson.”

  The moment Dr. Kirkland returned to the adjacent office, she again motioned to Johnny. He’d stopped in the middle of the street, no doubt hoping to escape her questions. Moving ever so slowly, he finally drew near.

  She kept her tone soft. “Where have you been? You promised to help at the depot.”

  He danced from foot to foot and attempted to answer in sputters and spurts before finally meeting her gaze. “Guess I should just tell you the truth. Matthew told me to stay away. He said I wasn’t needed so often.”

  Sarah frowned. “Why didn’t you check with me to make sure that was what I wanted?”

  The boy hiked one shoulder. “Matthew said if I knew what was good for me, I wouldn’t tell you. He acted like it was a surprise and that you’d be pleased.” The boy pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “I gotta get going.”

  Her stomach roiled at the thought of Matthew going behind her back to keep Johnny away. How dare he do such a thing! Then again, she shouldn’t be surprised by Matthew’s cunning behavior. He’d seen through her efforts to elude him and had done his best to outwit her. Perhaps a confrontation was now in order. They’d been playing this game of cat and mouse far too long.

  While she completed her errands, Sarah silently rehearsed what she would say to Matthew. He needed a good upbraiding, and she needed to be prepared to meet the challenge. It wasn’t until she was tying her horse outside the depot that she recalled Matthew’s warning to Johnny Folson. She couldn’t confront Matthew unless she betrayed Johnny’s confidence. Would he hurt the boy? She wilted like a flower in need of a drink.

  Sarah braced herself as she entered the depot. “Hello, Sarah. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to appear.” Matthew stepped to her side as she crossed the threshold. He glanced at the clock. “You’re a little late, aren’t you?”

  Sarah shrugged and continued across the depot. When Matthew attempted to help her remove her cape, she turned. “I don’t need your assistance. I can remove my own cape, and I can set up the room by myself. Surely you must have work in the hotel that requires your attention. If not, I’m sure your mother would appreciate extra help in the café.”

  His eyes opened wide, as though her remark came as a surprise. “I know you are able to set up the room on your own, but I want to help you.” He stepped closer. “I like being near you. I care for you, Sarah. If you’d just give me a chance, I’ll show you I can offer you more than Corporal Curtis ever can.”

  She blew out a long breath. After what she’d learned from Johnny, she wasn’t going to engage in a conversation about Jacob or any other soldier. “I have work to do, Matthew.” The sound of his footsteps followed her as she crossed the room.

  When she came to an abrupt halt, he stopped at her side. “A group is going ice-skating tomorrow, and I thought you might want to join us. I could come by the bakery and we could ride out to the pond in my sleigh. More gals than fellas, but it should still be fun.”

  Of course there would be more girls. Most of the able-bodied men were off fighting in the war. “Since there are so few men, I’m sure one of those girls you mentioned will be pleased to have you as an escort.”

  He rested his hip against the doorjamb. “Do you plan to sit at home and pine for Corporal Curtis until the war ends? Even if he doesn’t get orders to the front, once this war is over, do you really think you’ll see him again?” He didn’t give her a chance to respond before he continued. “Soldiers don’t get much of a chance to talk to womenfolk anymore, so they’ll say just about anything to gain a woman’s attention for a few minutes. You need to remember that I’m the one who’s here right now. And I’m the one who’s gonna be here when the war ends. I don’t think you can count on Jacob Curtis.”

  Rather than displaying his usual anger, Matthew remained calm, his demeanor more confident than when he’d previously spoken to her about these matters. Instead of creating the softening effect he’d likely hoped for, his attitude only served to deepen her anger.

  She wheeled around to face him. How she longed to confront him and tell him she knew he’d gone behind her back and told Johnny to stay away. She balled her hands into tight fists and dug her fingernails into her palms.

  “I’m still waiting for an answer about the ice-skating party.”

  Her anger mounted, and she glared at him. “Stop it, Matthew! I don’t want to go anywhere with you, so quit asking me. In fact, I prefer if you didn’t talk to me at all!”

  For a moment, it appeared he would heed her request to remain silent, but he soon regained his composure. “You need to think about the future, Sarah. There won’t be many men coming home from the war—at least not men who will be the same as when they left. Either they’ll be missing an arm or leg, or their minds will be messed up from all the bloodshed that’s surrounded them. Is that what you want for yourself? To be tied to half a man who won’t be able to take care of you? I’ve talked to Jacob. He wants to go to the front. He told me so himself. If you think he’s set his mind on courting you and traveling back and forth on that hospital train, you’re sadly mistaken. Me and Jacob have had us a couple of sensible talks about the future.”

  His last comment stung. Jacob had told her of his desire to go to the front and fight—but he’d added that his aspirations had changed upon meeting her. Was he still making attempts to have his orders changed and not telling her? She couldn’t be certain, but she wouldn’t give Matthew the satisfaction of knowing his remarks had caused her worry. She’d have a talk with Jacob when he arrived.

  Though she’d privately vowed to ignore Matthew’s attempts to talk to her, Sarah felt a need to dispel his observations. “Jacob told me that he’d enlisted because he wanted to fight and he’d been unhappy to be assigned to the hospital trains.” She wanted to ask when he’d talked to Jacob about a reassignment but decided any questions would give Matthew too much satisfaction.

  Matthew arched his brows. “And what about your brother?”

  She jutted her chin. “What does Samuel have to do with any of this?”

  “I thought you two were going to take over the bakery and go into business together.” He tapped himself on the chest. “Me? I understand that idea because I live here and know you and Samuel, but do you think Jacob is gonna marry you and move to Decatur? What’s he supposed to do while you and Samuel run the bakery? You gonna teach him how to make cakes and expect him to be happy? I got me a job right here at the depot hotel, and I’d be happy to have my wife working with her brother at the bakery.”

  Sarah’s eyes widened. It seemed as if Matthew had been giving a lot of thought to her future. Truth be told, she’d not even considered what might happen if she and Jacob eventually decided to wed. Their letters had provided an opportunity to learn about each other, but letters weren’t the same as personal visits, in which matters of importance could be discussed. And there hadn’t been much time together. With a letter, one could take time to think of a proper response, but inquiries made in person required a direct answer. And though she’d ask
ed Jacob numerous questions, Sarah hadn’t asked if he would ever consider living in Decatur. Such an inquiry would be far too bold.

  “What Jacob and I decide about the future is none of your business!”

  Though she’d responded with conviction, Matthew’s question created a modicum of doubt. Had Jacob and Matthew discussed the future? Perhaps she’d been wrong to discourage him when he’d mentioned using his pay to purchase train tickets as he had when he’d delivered his apology letter. They would have had additional time together, yet she didn’t believe the expense warranted the short visits they would have gained.

  “I’m glad you’re taking a little time to reconsider my offer.”

  Matthew’s remark was enough to pull Sarah from her thoughts of Jacob. “I was not reconsidering your offer.” She straightened her shoulders and marched toward the far side of the room. “Please leave me alone. I need to get set up for the train’s arrival.”

  “You go right ahead with your duties. I wouldn’t want you to be unprepared when it’s time to serve those soldier boys. But when the war is over and all the soldiers have gone home, don’t forget I made a proposal.” He shrugged. “Who knows? I might let you take me up on my offer if I haven’t married someone else by then.”

  As if anyone would have him.

  Sarah set to work with thoughts of Jacob and the future weighing heavy on her mind.

  Chapter 9

  By the time the train arrived, Sarah had been able to think of nothing but her conversation with Matthew. He’d spoken with such authority that she worried there might be a speck of truth in his words. Had Jacob indicated that he wouldn’t want to live in Decatur? Bold as it might be, there was only one way to find out.

  Sarah gathered her courage as the train came to a halt outside the station. While the other ladies exited the station, she checked her basket one last time and watched for Jacob. Working together, they’d developed a routine that permitted them to serve the soldiers in Jacob’s car as well as lend additional help to some of the other ladies. Panic knotted inside her stomach. Where was he? All the other ladies had boarded the train, yet he still hadn’t disembarked.