Sleigh Bells

by Miller, Judith Mccoy

  The train slowed and then lurched to a stop a short time later. Well, here goes, he thought, the start of my life in the vast, open spaces of the West. Picking his way down the narrow aisle of the train, he slung a canvas bag over his shoulder and grabbed his black leather satchel before disembarking.

  “Phillip!” a resonant bass voice called out. “Over here.”

  Phillip turned and caught sight of General Yorke. It didn’t appear that the general had changed a bit. Perhaps the laugh lines around his mouth and eyes had grown a little deeper, and a few gray strands were woven into his dark hair, but Phillip would have recognized Clayton Yorke anywhere.

  “Good to see you, sir,” Phillip said, raising his arm in a smart salute.

  “Plenty of time for the formalities of military protocol later. Come here, boy,” he said, pulling Phillip into a bear hug. “It’s good to see you. I can’t tell you how pleased I was when I heard that you had requested to serve at Fort Riley.”

  “Thank you, sir. I’m sure it will be one of my most pleasurable assignments. Although I must admit I hadn’t expected the cold temperature—not at the end of October.”

  “This is Kansas, my boy. The weather changes here more often than most of us change our underwear,” Clayton replied, giving a hearty laugh. “Don’t tell the missus I said that. She’d have my hide,” he continued, emitting another deep belly laugh. “Come on inside. Got someone in there you’re probably going to enjoy seeing again.”

  Teddi’s head snapped upward as the depot door swung open, permitting entry to a cold gust of wind, along with her father and another army officer. She glanced toward her father’s hands. He wasn’t carrying anything. Perhaps his surprise hadn’t arrived after all.

  “Look familiar?” General Yorke inquired, nodding toward his daughter, then looking back at Phillip.

  Phillip looked more closely at the young woman, attempting to discern who she was, and hopeful he could give General Yorke the answer he was seeking. She wasn’t overly attractive. In fact, her nose was rather large, and she was somewhat thick-waisted. He forced himself to concentrate. She reminded him of someone. Just then, she turned and looked him square in the eyes. Jonathan! She looked like Jonathan.

  “Teddi?” he questioned the general.

  “Yes indeed, our little Teddi—all grown up. Come here and take a good look at this fellow,” Clayton urged his daughter.

  Teddi rose from the bench near the warm stove and hesitantly moved toward the two men as she narrowed her eyes and surveyed the visitor. She was only inches away when she looked deep into the velvet-brown eyes and then quickly turned toward her father. “Phillip?” she inquired.

  “None other,” her father proudly replied. “Now how’s that for a surprise?”

  Phillip gave her a weak smile. He was the surprise for Teddi Yorke? Somehow he didn’t quite understand what kind of surprise he could possibly be, and he wasn’t sure he wanted an explanation—at least not until he was alone with the general.

  Not sure what else to do, Phillip proffered his hand. “Good to see you again, Teddi. You were just a young girl the last time I saw you. In fact, you probably hardly remember me at all,” he said, continuing to pump her arm up and down until she finally pulled her hand from his.

  “I remember you, Phillip,” she replied, giving him a feeble smile and then turned to look at her father in what appeared to be utter confusion.

  “Really? You would have only been twelve or thirteen years old when I last saw you,” he said, grappling to make polite conversation.

  “Is this another matchmaking attempt that you merely decided to call a surprise?” Teddi whispered to her father.

  Clayton gave her a warning look. “In addition to Phillip’s arrival being a surprise, he has news that will certainly be of interest to you. Tell her, Phillip,” the general commanded, ignoring his daughter’s question.

  “Tell her what?” Phillip inquired, clearly confused by the conversation.

  “Oh, never mind. I’ll tell her. Phillip is our new doctor and chaplain. He’s been assigned to Fort Riley. There. . .now isn’t that a fine surprise?”

  “You’re going to be the post surgeon?” Teddi asked.

  Phillip thought she sounded as though that were an incredible idea. He glanced back and forth between father and daughter. Something had gone amiss, but he wasn’t quite sure just why his being a doctor would cause Teddi such surprise.

  “Physician and chaplain. At least that’s what my orders state. Beginning Monday morning,” Phillip answered.

  “And none too soon, I might add. We’ve been without a doctor for nearly three months. Isn’t that correct, my dear?” Clayton inquired.

  “Four months. But we already have an excellent chaplain. Are we ready to go home now? I’m sure Mother is anxious for our return,” Teddi urged.

  “Have I done something to offend you?” Phillip asked once they had climbed into the sleigh and were headed back toward the post. He wasn’t an expert in matters concerning women, but he certainly realized that the chill in the air was caused by more than the unseemly Kansas weather.

  “Since your arrival a few moments ago? Of course not. I’m merely anxious to get home and have lunch,” Teddi answered.

  He gazed at her, certain that something was amiss. But surely she would have told him so. There would be no reason to keep him in the dark. Besides, what could he possibly have done to vex anyone? He’d been off the train for only a few minutes. There must be some plausible answer. Maybe Jonathan had spoken ill of him to Teddi, or perhaps it was some childhood prank he and Jonathan had played years ago that she hadn’t forgotten. But that didn’t make any sense. She would have been a gangly, twelve or thirteen year old and surely would have forgotten a childhood prank by now. His forehead creased into a frown as he continued to stare at her profile; all the while, she ignored him, gazing at the passing countryside.

  “You look as though you’re deep in thought, Phillip,” Clay-ton called over his shoulder as he urged the horses toward home. “You two should be busy talking—getting caught up on old times.”

  Teddi turned, gave Phillip a perfunctory half-smile, and then glared at her father. “Phillip is Jonathan’s friend. They would be the ones needing to catch up on old times, not the two of us,” Teddi explained, sounding like an exasperated schoolteacher attempting to teach the class dunce a rudimentary lesson.

  Clayton ignored his daughter’s arresting glance and continued as though she’d not spoken. “If you don’t want to talk about old times, Teddi, the least you could do is tell Phillip about the hospital and his waiting patients.”

  “I’m sure Phillip would rather make his own assessments once he’s arrived at the hospital.”

  “You mentioned there is already a chaplain at the post?” Phillip questioned. He certainly didn’t want his arrival to cause an argument between Teddi and her father.

  “Yes, Colonel Lane has been chaplain for the past five years. And a very fine one, I might add.”

  “Oh, I thought he was slated for retirement.”

  “You’ll have to ask Father about that. I’ve heard nothing about his leaving. How is it that the army has assigned you as post surgeon and chaplain?”

  “Guess they decided to make use of all my education. I applied for a transfer, hoping to become the chaplain, but the post surgeon position is the one that seemed to attract the most interest from my superiors. I was told that I would be able to fill both vacancies here,” he replied. “But there are few other places outside of a church where one can minister as well as in a hospital.”

  “I don’t see how you can possibly handle both positions. Not only does Chaplain Lane take care of his ministerial duties, but he also serves as librarian, and manager of House of Blazes No. 2.”

  “House of Blazes?”

  “The post bakery,” Teddi replied, obviously amazed he didn’t know what she was talking about.

  “There for a minute I thought you were referring to the after
life. You know—those who don’t get into heaven find themselves in the House of Blazes,” he joked.

  She merely gave him a weak smile and turned her attention back toward the passing scenery.

  “Here we are, Officers’ Row,” Clayton announced as they came to a halt in front of a row of limestone officers’ quarters.

  Phillip spotted Mrs. Yorke watching from the parlor window as he offered his hand to assist Teddi out of the sleigh. He wondered if Mrs. Yorke knew why Teddi seemed so distant. The general obviously had no idea! Perhaps he would have an opportunity to speak privately with Mrs. Yorke before the afternoon was over.

  “Here is my surprise,” Teddi announced, quickly nodding her head toward Phillip as the three of them walked through the front door. “You remember Phillip Hamilton, don’t you, Mother?”

  “Of course I do. It is absolutely wonderful to see you, Phillip. How are your parents? Doing well, I hope. Get out of those wraps and come into the dining room. Florence makes the best chicken and dumplings I’ve ever tasted, and she’ll not soon forgive me if we let them get cold,” she rattled without taking a breath.

  “Do I take that to mean we are to join you in the dining room for our noonday meal, my dear?” the general asked with a glint in his eye.

  “Well, of course,” she replied, laughing at herself.

  “My parents are doing very well and send their regards to all of you,” Phillip answered, once they were seated in the dining room. “They were delighted that I would be serving under your command, General Yorke.”

  “I hope that one day Jonathan will have the privilege of serving under your father’s command,” Clayton replied. “You have fine parents. I’ve often wished that your father and I would be assigned to the same post once again.”

  “My father said the same thing when I told him of my assignment to Fort Riley,” Phillip replied.

  “How did you ever end up with this dual role as physician and chaplain?” Mrs. Yorke inquired after they’d given thanks for their meal. “I don’t believe that I’ve ever heard of such a thing. Have you, my dear?” she asked as she offered Phillip a large tureen of fatback-seasoned green beans.

  “Can’t say as I have,” Clayton replied, ladling a serving of the steaming chicken and dumplings onto his plate. “Smells wonderful, Florence,” he complimented the maid, who was heading off toward the kitchen.

  “Serving the Lord is now my first love. While attending medical school, I received God’s call upon my life and knew that He wanted me to serve Him. I find that the two professions complement each other.”

  “So you feel the Lord wanted you to minister to our families and young men in the army! Well, I’m glad He’s sent you to us. It’s going to spread you a bit thin, having to serve in two positions, but you’ll have Teddi to help you at the hospital. You couldn’t ask for any better help than our Teddi. She’s a fine nurse. You just ask any of those patients over in the hospital,” General Yorke stated, nodding his head for emphasis.

  “I don’t doubt that. I’m looking forward to a close relationship with your daughter—working relationship, that is,” he quickly added.

  “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve finished my meal and have some matters that need my attention upstairs,” Teddi stated as she pushed away from the table.

  “Teddi. . . ,” Isabelle began.

  “I’m sure you don’t need me sitting here. You go ahead and catch up on old times,” Teddi replied as she exited the room before anything further could be said.

  Moments later, Florence scurried to the front door in answer to a resounding knock.

  “General Yorke, you’re needed back at headquarters for a staff meeting,” the maid announced as she entered the dining room.

  “Well, at least they waited until we had finished our meal. My apologies for running off, my boy, but I’m sure you understand. I’ll be back at around three o’clock and show you to your quarters. I think you’ll find the house more than adequate. If Teddi comes back downstairs, you might ask her to give you a tour of the hospital and chapel. I’ve left the sleigh tied outside,” he suggested while he threw his military cloak around his shoulders and began walking toward the front door.

  “Let’s move to the parlor and have our coffee in there,” Mrs. Yorke, ever the perfect hostess, suggested.

  Phillip nodded in agreement, carried the tray and cups into the parlor, and then seated himself opposite the general’s wife. “Mrs. Yorke, I believe I may have offended Teddi in some way. She seemed very displeased by my arrival. Can you tell me if there’s something I’ve done—something she may have mentioned to you? We’re going to be working together, and I certainly don’t want us starting off on the wrong foot,” Phillip explained.

  “Perhaps you should ask Teddi,” Isabelle tactfully suggested.

  “I did, but she merely stated I’d done nothing to offend her since my arrival. If she’s concerned about working with me, I want her to be assured that I’ll do nothing to risk losing a fine nurse. What I mean to say is, I wouldn’t be pursuing a romantic relationship with her.”

  Isabelle merely nodded at the last remark. She was relieved Teddi was upstairs, out of earshot. Phillip’s quick assessment that he found Teddi undesirable as a romantic interest would only reinforce her daughter’s belief that appearances were all that mattered to the opposite sex.

  “Then I thought it might be something that occurred when we were youngsters. Perhaps some childhood prank? Can you help me?”

  “What did you say? Some childish prank?” Isabelle questioned, obviously embarrassed that she hadn’t been following Phillip’s conversation.

  “I wondered if Teddi might be upset about some childhood prank,” Phillip repeated.

  Isabelle leaned over and patted his hand. “I’m not sure exactly what is bothering Teddi, but I’m certain that when the time is right, she’ll take you into her confidence.”

  three

  Teddi sat staring at her reflection in the oval mirror that topped an oak chest in her bedroom. It was just an insignificant childhood event that he doesn’t even remember. Yet that incident had been the cause of a great deal of pain throughout her growing years—it still caused her pain, or perhaps it was embarrassment. But if Phillip didn’t even remember, there was no need to be embarrassed. And he had appeared truly baffled by the whole situation. Perhaps he couldn’t recollect, or perhaps seeing that she had grown into what her mother called a somewhat plain young woman, he had no desire to remember her childish infatuation with him.

  “Teddi, dear,” her mother called from the bottom of the stairway. Teddi wanted to ignore the pleading tone in her mother’s voice, but she couldn’t. After all, her mother had nothing to do with Phillip Hamilton’s reappearance in their lives.

  “Yes, Mother?” Teddi responded, walking to face her mother from the top of the steps.

  “Your father suggested that you take Phillip on a tour of the hospital and chapel. Do you feel up to doing that?”

  “I’m not ill, Mother.” The last thing Teddi wanted Phillip Hamilton to think was that his presence could so unnerve her that she would become physically ill. He would think her one of those fainthearted women who couldn’t possibly be trusted to help run a hospital.

  “Well, no, I realize you’re not ill. But I didn’t know if you wanted to go outdoors in this chilly weather,” Isabelle replied, obviously wanting to give her daughter an excuse to remain at home if she so desired.

  “I’ll be down in just a moment. Tell Captain Hamilton that I’ll escort him if he feels up to braving the snow and wind.” Turning on her heel, she returned to the bedroom, ran a brush through her reddish brown hair, and then pulled the unruly locks into a cascade at the back of her head. Leaning in close to the mirror, she carefully checked her reflection. Puffy eyes would be a certain giveaway that she had been crying, and she wouldn’t want Phillip Hamilton to think she would cry over some silly childhood occurrence. After patting her face with a cool cloth, she carefully applied a light
dusting of powder under each eye. Checking the mirror one last time, she shook her head in disgust. Why did she even bother? No amount of powder was going to hide the size of her nose or cause her imperfect features to appear beautiful.

  “Are you ready for your tour?” she asked as she entered the parlor a few minutes later.

  “Absolutely! Whenever you are,” Phillip answered as he bounded out of the collapsible Huntzinger chair in which he’d been seated. The piece of furniture folded and went crash-ing to the floor. “I’m sorry,” he stammered as he sat the chair aright and then fumbled to replace the fringed tapestry cushion upon the seat.

  Teddi grinned as she watched his attempts to rearrange the cushion. He had the fringe turned to the back of the chair instead of the front but hadn’t yet discovered his error. When he turned toward her, she pointed to the chair. “I think that you need to turn the cushion—the fringe should be facing the front,” she instructed.

  “It’s all right. I can fix that after you two have gone,” Isabelle stated. “It happens to folks all the time, Phillip. Don’t look so concerned.”

  “Mother! I don’t remember that ever happening before,” Teddi chastised. “You wouldn’t be telling a fib to make the chaplain feel better, would you?”

  “I most certainly would not!” her mother replied haughtily. “It’s happened to your father several times, and you may feel free to inquire if that’s not the truth. In fact, he now refuses to sit on a Huntzinger chair.”

  “I’m sorry, Mother. I should have known you wouldn’t tell a lie—especially to someone as upstanding as Phillip,” she said.

  Seeing Phillip in a disconcerting situation seemed to relieve her anxiety. In fact, he appeared almost as uncomfortable as she was, and that thought gave her satisfaction.

  “You want to drive the team or shall I?” Teddi asked as they reached the sleigh. The snow was no longer light and feathery but had turned to damp, heavy flakes that had accumulated to well over three inches of new snow.