Sleigh Bells

by Miller, Judith Mccoy

  Copyright

  ISBN 1-58660-071-0

  All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

  © 2000 by Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher, Truly Yours, PO Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683.

  All of the characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover illustration by Gary Maria.

  one

  Fort Riley, Kansas—October 1870

  Theodora Yorke stared out across the parade field, where her father was leading his unit through the rigors of cavalry tactical training. The soldiers, in their blue, wool uniforms and buffalo coats, appeared unaffected by the light snow that had been falling for several hours and now dusted the ground. Plumes of cold air fanned out from the horses’ nostrils, and steam rose off the animals’ glistening bodies as they snorted and raced back and forth across the field, the soldiers drawing their sabers in mock battle.

  “How much longer is Father going to keep those poor men out there? At this rate, they’ll all be admitted to the hospital by nightfall,” Teddi complained.

  “You seem a bit agitated, my dear. Your father isn’t drilling the men any longer than normal, and they’re not going to freeze. It’s more likely they are overly warm in those heavy buffalo coats. Do move away from the window and come have some tea,” her mother replied as the maid carried a flowered porcelain teapot and cups into the parlor and, with a practiced ease, placed each piece of the tea service on the cloth-covered table. “Sitting there with your nose pressed to that frosty windowpane isn’t going to hurry him along.”

  Teddi rose from the chair and absently moved about the room. She straightened the tatted edge of a doily, then moved a vase from the small, marble-top table beside the sofa to one end of the thick wood mantle before returning it to its original position. Moving back toward the mantle, she ran her finger along the metal stripping on the edge of the fire screen standing in front of the fireplace. Startled by the heat, she hastily stuck the finger in her mouth.

  “A bit warmer than you anticipated?” her mother asked with a chuckle.

  “What? Oh, my finger. . . Yes, I didn’t think about the metal being so hot,” Teddi replied as she walked back toward the window.

  “Teddi, please come over here and sit down,” Isabelle urged. “Let’s have our tea; perhaps your father will complete his training exercises, and the two of you can be off to the train station by the time we’ve finished.”

  Isabelle Yorke smiled at her youngest child. After giving birth to four sons, Isabelle had given up on the idea of ever having a daughter. During her final pregnancy, Isabelle had been determined she would not be disappointed with another son. In fact, she had done everything in her power to avoid thinking the possibility even existed that she might give birth to a daughter. In keeping with that decision, she chose a suitable name for the yet unborn child—Theodore Edward. When the midwife announced that she’d had a daughter, Isabelle held fast to the name she had chosen for the baby. Clayton had briefly suggested that they name their daughter Lydia, after an old family friend, but Isabelle said they would merely alter the name to Theodora Edwina. It hadn’t taken long for the baby girl’s four older brothers to nickname their little sister Teddi. And that moniker had remained.

  Jonathan, their youngest son, had just turned four, and William, the eldest, had been twelve when Isabelle gave birth to the long-awaited baby girl. Smiling as she recalled those fond memories, Isabelle once again beckoned her daughter to the tea table. That darling baby girl had grown into the independent-thinking, twenty-two-year-old woman who now walked toward her.

  Because Teddi was the only girl among four boys, Isabelle and Clayton had understandably taken great pleasure in indulging their daughter. Fortunately for all of them, Teddi was not a demanding child, and, through no effort of her parents’, their little girl had not become the spoiled, petulant child that one would have expected. She was bright and well mannered, although she was more of a tomboy than Isabelle would have preferred. But, as Clayton was always quick to point out, what could one expect with four older brothers and a father who enjoyed boisterous play? Isabelle was pleased that Teddi had acquired her stylish taste in clothing and home decor, but it was evident to even the casual observer that Teddi Yorke’s physical appearance was not inherited from her stunning mother.

  Teddi stood at the window and pulled back the heavy, burgundy drape for one final glance. With a long, deep sigh, she allowed the curtain to fall back into place as she walked to the table, sat down, and began stirring her cup of tea with a vengeance.

  “You certainly are out of sorts today. Is your grumpy behavior due to the fact that your father wouldn’t share his secret?” Isabelle inquired as she poured a splash of cream into her steaming cup of tea.

  “I don’t think he has a secret. I think he just wants company when he goes to the train station. Now that I’ve agreed to go, he’s bound and determined to keep me waiting. At this rate, I won’t get anything accomplished this morning. I really should be at the hospital checking on patients. You know those two orderlies won’t take care of things properly.”

  “I’m sure the hospital will be just fine without you for one morning. Besides, those few patients should be ready to return to duty soon, shouldn’t they?”

  “Well, yes,” Teddi admitted begrudgingly. “But they are still entitled to decent care until their release. After all, they’ve had only the most rudimentary medical treatment as it is.”

  “I wouldn’t say that! You’re an excellent nurse, and the hospital is very fortunate to have you—especially during these past few months.”

  “Having me available is not the same as having a qualified doctor on hand,” Teddi argued.

  “Perhaps. But I’d wager those young men would much rather have you caring for them than all the doctors the military has to offer.”

  Teddi smiled. “Only because I spend more time listening to their complaints. But thank you, Mother. You always seem to cheer me. I’m sorry I’ve been acting like such a bore.”

  “Here’s your father now,” Isabelle said as she rose from the table and greeted her husband with a warm embrace. “Ohhh, your face feels like a chunk of ice!” she exclaimed, pulling away and shaking her finger at him when he persisted and buried his freezing face in her neck.

  Teddi laughed at her parents’ antics but fled when Clayton headed in her direction. “Afraid of a little cold?” her father called after her when she took refuge in the dining room. “Better get your warmest cloak, and then let’s get going. The train should be arriving soon.”

  Teddi shook her head as she walked into the parlor. “I’ve been waiting for an hour; he’s home for one minute and tells me I should hurry,” Teddi said to her mother, feigning indignation.

  “Oh, you know how he is. Just because he’s a general, he thinks everyone should jump to his command,” Isabelle replied, giving her husband a mock salute.

  “What is this? The two of you carrying on a conversation about me as though I’m not even in the room?” Clayton asked, unable to keep the sparkle out of his eyes. “You continue with that behavior and you’ll never know my secret,” he teased.

  “I don’t think you have a secret. I think you just want company going to the train station,” Teddi countered as she fastened her fur-trimmed, red, wool cloak. Pulling the matching fur-trimmed hat down on her head, she peeked up at her father. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

&
nbsp; “No, you’re not right. But if you’d rather stay home. . .”

  “I didn’t say I wanted to stay home. I’m coming. See?” Teddi asked, holding out her hands to emphasize the fact that she was pulling on her gloves. “We’ll be back soon, Mother. Are we bringing the surprise home for Mother to see?”

  “Yes, as a matter-of-fact, I believe we’ll do just that,” Clayton replied while he winked at Isabelle.

  “I saw that! Do you know what the surprise is, Mother? You do, don’t you? And you’ve let me stew and fret all morning, acting like you didn’t know a thing!”

  “Go along with your father, Teddi; don’t concern yourselves if the train is late. I’ll have Florence hold the noonday meal until your return,” Isabelle replied, ignoring her daughter’s question and walking off toward the kitchen at the rear of the house.

  ❧

  A gust of wind whipped across the open expanse of the parade grounds, and Teddi snuggled more deeply under the heavy, wool lap robe. Her father gave her a grin as he flicked the reins and the team of horses pulled the sleigh into motion. “First sleigh ride of the winter. Are you warm enough?” he cheerily inquired.

  Teddi nodded. “You do love winter, don’t your, Father?” she asked, giving him a broad smile.

  “Best season of the year, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve always loved the snow and cold weather—and then there’s Christmas, of course,” he replied with a wink.

  She shivered as the unrelenting wind whipped the blanket and a gush of cold air rushed down her neck. “Christmas is two months away. I think we could agree that winter has arrived, even if the snow holds off a little while longer.”

  “Perhaps. But the more snow, the better, as far as I’m concerned,” he replied, puffs of frosty air billowing forth with each word he spoke. “Pull my buffalo robe over you if you’re cold,” he offered, pointing toward the furry animal hide lying on the opposite seat. “We’ll be in Junction City soon.”

  It was too cold to carry on a conversation, Teddi decided. Besides, the only thing she really wanted to know, her father wouldn’t tell her. He’d been teasing and dropping hints about his surprise for the last three weeks, much as he did as Christmas approached each year. Her father loved keeping secrets even more than he loved wintertime! And this secret was particularly annoying because she hadn’t been able to figure out even one of the clues her father had given.

  At first she had thought her brother Jonathan was coming home for a visit before he began his military assignment at Washington Barracks in Washington City, D.C. When her father had told her that she was wrong, Teddi had been extremely disappointed. General Yorke was devout in his Christian convictions, and his daughter knew he wouldn’t lie. It had always been a strict rule in the Yorke household that lying would not be tolerated. The children grew up memorizing Bible verses, but Clayton and Isabelle were in agreement that it was most important that the children also put those memory verses into practice. Never ones to believe that their children should look elsewhere for a good example, the Yorkes practiced what they preached.

  Even on the few occasions when one of the children would correctly guess a Christmas surprise, Clayton would readily admit to the truth. This, of course, caused no end of difficulty for Isabelle. Knowing the disappointment her children would experience if they had no surprise on Christmas morning, Isabelle would scurry about, attempting to find some other exciting yet inexpensive Christmas gift. On each such occasion, Isabelle had been successful, serving to reinforce Clayton’s stance that no matter what the circumstances, telling the truth was the best policy.

  Hearing that Jonathan would not be on the train seemed to suddenly deepen Teddi’s longing to see him. She had formed a close relationship with her youngest brother as they were growing up. Her other brothers had been gone from home by the time she was old enough to become a pesky little sister. She was sure there was no one quite as wonderful as Jonathan, and when he left for college, she was sure she would die of loneliness. Then, after three years of school, he came home and announced he was planning to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. Although Clayton had been sure that the boy would change his mind when they received word he would be required to enter the academy as a freshman, Jonathan had been undeterred, and Teddi had been distraught that he would once again be leaving.

  Since his departure to the academy over four years ago, he had come home for only one visit. Teddi had fervently hoped he would return after graduation last spring, but once again she had been disappointed. They had received a letter shortly before his graduation, advising that he had received orders to report to Washington City, D.C., and there would be no time for him to return home for a visit. Her parents had taken it in stride, saying it was a part of military life, but not Teddi. Likely, we’ll never see each other again, Teddi thought, knowing her father would chuckle and call her melodramatic if she voiced her opinion. Smiling, she waved at a couple of young boys with ice skates slung over their shoulders as they headed toward the river.

  “That ice isn’t thick enough for skating,” her father called out to the boys as their sleigh continued onward across the Republican River Bridge.

  Perhaps she could visit Jonathan in Washington next spring after he had an opportunity to settle into his new command. After all, Aunt Nina and Uncle Frederick lived in the nation’s capital, and she could stay with them during her visit. She would discuss the idea with her mother when they returned home. Just thinking of the prospective visit warmed Teddi’s spirits.

  “Here we are,” her father announced as he pulled back on the reins, drawing the team to a halt. The horses perked their ears at the sound of a train’s shrill whistle in the distance. “Won’t be long now.” He gave Teddi a broad grin as he tied the reins to a rough wooden hitching rail and then returned to assist her out of the sleigh. “Let’s go into the station and wait. I’m sure Harold has a fire burning that will warm you.”

  Teddi didn’t hesitate. Stepping down, she quickly grabbed her father’s arm and rushed toward the depot. An iron, potbellied stove stuffed with wood sat in the center of the room, the firebox glowing a bright reddish orange.

  “Better get the lid off that pail,” Clayton hollered in greeting to the stationmaster. Teddi looked toward the stove and spotted a syrup bucket sitting on top of the heating device.

  “Thanks, Clayton. I meant to take the lid off that bucket, but then I got busy,” Harold replied, stepping quickly toward the bucket and carefully removing the lid. He peered into the container and then gave them a smile. “Good thing you came in. My soup’s already boiling. A minute or two more and we’d have had us one fine explosion! I’d be cleaning up soup for days to come.”

  Teddi took a deep whiff of what smelled like a savory beef and barley concoction. The pleasurable aroma and her growling stomach served as a reminder that it was past noon, and, except for a few bites of leftover cornbread that she’d grabbed while passing through the kitchen much earlier in the day, she’d not yet eaten.

  “What brings you into town in this cold weather?” Harold asked while Teddi moved closer to the heating stove and held her hands out toward its warmth.

  “Meeting the train,” Clayton replied. “Can’t tell you any more than that, or I’d spoil Teddi’s surprise.”

  Harold nodded and motioned Clayton to come nearer. Teddi watched as the two men leaned closely together and spoke in hushed tones. A few moments later, Harold slapped Clayton on the back, and the two men shared a deep belly laugh. Teddi shook her head at the men and turned away. She was determined not to ask any more questions about her father’s surprise.

  “Won’t have to wait much longer,” Harold chortled as the train slowly chugged closer to the depot. “I’d better get out there,” he said, pulling his heavy coat from a peg and then shoving his arms into the sleeves of the woolen jacket.

  A gush of cold air and featherlight snow surged into the room, causing Teddi once again to retreat toward the black iron stove. “Don�
�t you want to go out to the platform and wait? The train’s coming to a stop,” her father urged, obviously anxious for her to catch an immediate glimpse of the secret.

  “Too cold out there—you go ahead,” she smugly replied. She wasn’t about to let her father have any more satisfaction than he’d already enjoyed with his mysterious surprise!

  two

  Captain Phillip Hamilton leaned forward and peered out the dirty train window that was now frosted from the cold. He felt as though he’d been traveling for months, although his journey had taken only a week and had even permitted him the luxury of a relaxing overnight stay in St. Louis. Now his dark blue uniform was rumpled, and his calf-high, black boots had lost their luster. Nothing a good spit-shine wouldn’t fix, but there would be no time for such last-minute repairs before his arrival in Junction City.

  He leaned back against the hard, wooden seat, ran his fingers through his thick, chocolate-brown hair, and once again told himself that he’d made a sound decision. Fort Riley would be a new beginning, his first assignment as a military chaplain. A new beginning with a few old friends to assist him with his adjustment to army life on the prairie.

  How long had it been? At least seven or eight years since he and Jonathan Yorke had become best friends at Fort McHenry, where their fathers had both been serving as army officers. They had attended high school together, and when Phillip’s parents were required to leave for their new military assignment two weeks before graduation, Phillip had remained behind with the Yorkes. They had been his surrogate parents that summer before both boys left for college.

  The boys had formed a rare friendship that had not dimmed through the years. They had remained in contact and enjoyed occasional visits, although their fathers had never again been stationed at the same military post. In fact, Phillip had managed a visit to West Point for Jonathan’s graduation ceremonies in the spring. Each of them was still amazed that the other had chosen a military career. Unhappy with the separations that the military had caused in their lives, both boys had vowed never to choose such a career. Now, however, they were both officers in the United States Army. Phillip smiled at the thought.