“You’re right, of course,” she said.
“It appears that Jonathan and Margaret are ready to leave,” he said, pointing toward her brother and Margaret, who were now standing beside the sleigh.
By the time they had piled into the sleigh and were ready to head back home, only a few couples remained on the ice, and several of the men who had gathered around the fire were discussing how soon they should depart. Jonathan suggested that Teddi sit up front with Phillip and keep him company while he and Margaret sat in back. Giving her brother a knowing smile, she held out her hand and allowed Phillip to help her up beside him. The sun was beginning to set as Phillip pulled on the reins and a half-hour later brought the horses to a halt in front of the Yorke residence.
“Everybody out,” he ordered as he jumped down, came around the sleigh, and assisted Teddi down.
“I told your father that you children would be home in time for supper,” Isabelle announced as she pulled open the front door. “Didn’t I, Clayton?” she asked, turning toward her husband.
“That you did, my dear. But, more importantly, you told Florence. Had you told only me of your belief, they would all go without supper since I’ve not yet learned to cook,” he announced with a laugh.
“Where’s George?” Isabelle asked while pointing at Jonathan’s feet and motioning him toward the rug in front of the door.
“He went with Ruth Ann and some others that were heading into Junction City. They promised to bring him home. I thought he might already be here,” Teddi replied.
“Well, if he went to Ruth Ann Langely’s house, I’m sure he’s sitting down to supper right now. Kathryn Langely never misses an opportunity to have a guest for dinner. You children get your coats off and come in the parlor and warm up,” Isabelle encouraged.
“I think you and Kathryn have a lot in common,” General Yorke surmised as he gave his wife a broad grin.
Teddi noticed Isabelle’s eyebrows rise after realizing it was Margaret Willoughby whom Jonathan had escorted home. Signaling her mother toward the kitchen, Teddi quickly recounted the day’s events, told her mother she would answer any questions later, and graciously returned to the parlor with the report that dinner would soon be served.
Florence was at her culinary best, serving fried pork chops, mashed potatoes swimming in butter, and warm, flaky biscuits accompanied by her famous apple butter. After General Yorke gave thanks for the meal in his customary fashion, it became abundantly clear that the afternoon of skating had stimulated the appetites of the younger set, and, much to her delight, Florence was soon scurrying back to the kitchen to replenish the bowls and platters. Once their initial hunger had been appeased, their eating slowed to a normal pace, and the sounds of congenial conversation began to fill the room. Jonathan proudly announced that Margaret had mastered several new ice-skating maneuvers, and he was especially pleased to announce that she could now skate backwards.
Margaret soon joined in, acknowledging that she had been somewhat successful but confessing that her talents weren’t nearly as admirable as Jonathan was boasting.
“After all, I did fall down four times and never did triumph totally unassisted. You were holding onto me,” she admitted, giving Jonathan a sidelong glance.
“Success comes with patience and lots of practice, my dear,” the general encouraged. “Jonathan will have to get you back on the ice soon. You’ll be able to skate backwards unassisted in no time.”
“Perhaps it’s better that she doesn’t learn too well, Father. I enjoy holding onto beautiful young ladies,” Jonathan replied.
With the exception of Isabelle, who, Teddi decided, seemed somewhat distracted, their voices rose in laughter at Jonathan’s comment. None of the others seemed to notice her mother’s rather odd behavior until Isabelle, without warning, rose from the table and requested Teddi’s assistance in the kitchen.
“Ring for Florence. You don’t need to be running off to the kitchen when we have guests,” the general stated as he motioned toward the small bell sitting by Isabelle’s plate.
Isabelle complied and gave the bell a gentle shake, which caused Florence to hastily reappear.
“Yes, ma’am?” Florence questioned, wiping her wet hands on a cloth napkin.
“I was going to go to the kitchen and prepare coffee, but the general insisted that I remain at the table,” she explained.
“But you always take your coffee in the parlor after dessert,” Florence replied, her confusion evident.
“Well, I thought I’d do things differently this evening,” Isabelle answered.
“So you want coffee now? Before I serve dessert?” Florence questioned.
“Oh, never mind. We’ll have our coffee in the parlor after dessert, as usual. Well, I am permitted the privilege of changing my mind, aren’t I?” she asked, obviously noticing the baffled look on Clayton’s face.
“Of course, my dear. I’d never tell a woman she didn’t have that privilege,” he replied. “Now, then, what were we discussing? I believe you were telling me that you moved here when your father opened the dry goods store a year ago,” the general continued, turning his attention back to Margaret.
“That’s what you were talking about, Father. I was going to ask Teddi to give me a list of dates and times for the holiday social activities in order to gain Margaret’s assurance that she’ll attend them all with me,” Jonathan jovially interrupted.
“Well, I suppose that should take center stage,” Clayton agreed. “Let’s test your memory, Teddi. What’s the social calendar look like for the next few weeks?”
“I’m not sure I can remember everything, but it’s all written down in my journal. The next thing is the Hornbys’ whist party on Tuesday, and then on Friday the party at Bert and Hannah’s.”
“Have the Mahoneys returned? That party may be canceled if they don’t get back soon,” Isabelle interjected while fidgeting with a small cameo brooch fastened to the collar of her dress.
“They got back yesterday,” Clayton advised. “Bert said they had a good time, visited with relatives, and got some much-needed rest. Oh, he’s brought another hunting dog back with him.”
“And of course, there’s the masked ball on Saturday,” Teddi continued.
“Are you spoken for on those nights? I’d be proud to escort you to each of those parties. Please say yes,” Jonathan implored a bewildered-appearing Margaret.
“She probably can’t give you an answer right now, Jonathan. Besides, I thought you’d be escorting Teddi to the Christmas festivities,” Isabelle replied before Margaret could speak.
“Why would Teddi want me as an escort when she can have Phillip?” Jonathan inquired, turning his full attention toward the beautiful, young woman at his side. “Have you agreed to attend with someone else?” he once again quizzed.
“No,” Margaret answered softly.
“Then you’ll allow me to escort you,” he confidently remarked.
“I suppose, if you really want to, and if your family doesn’t mind,” she murmured.
“Well, if we’re going to take care of these matters right now, I suppose I’d better do the same. Teddi, may I have the honor of escorting you?” Phillip inquired.
“Why don’t we discuss our arrangements later?” Teddi responded, sure that Phillip now felt required to invite her. But she wouldn’t be anyone’s obligatory date. She’d been attending social functions with her parents since Herbert’s departure, and if her brother George wasn’t available, she would continue to do so.
The logs in the dining-room fireplace had begun to turn an ashen white by the time Florence announced that coffee would be served in the parlor, as usual.
“I’m afraid my parents may begin to worry if I don’t get home soon. Perhaps I could forego coffee?” Margaret inquired meekly.
“Of course! Clayton, why don’t you see if one of your soldiers can take Margaret back to Junction City,” Isabelle suggested to her husband.
As soon as the words had been
spoken, a host of confused looks were once again cast in Isabelle’s direction. A deafening silence filled the room until Jonathan gained his composure and spoke.
“Why would Father need to do that? Margaret is my guest, so I’ll be escorting her home. Mind if I use your sleigh, Phillip?”
“Not at all. I’ll walk back to my quarters, and you can have the privilege of caring for the horses upon your return,” Phillip replied in a lighthearted voice as the group rose from the table.
ten
“What were you thinking, Mother?” Teddi inquired after Phillip had bid them good night, and Clayton had excused himself to go over some paperwork upstairs.
Isabelle didn’t lift her eyes from the piece of embroidery work upon which she was carefully stitching. “I thought that Margaret should probably ask her parents before accepting Jonathan’s invitations,” Isabelle replied.
“No, mother, I’m inquiring about everything. Why did you treat Margaret so rudely, suggesting that one of the soldiers take her home and making it obvious you didn’t want her to accept Jonathan’s invitations? Why, you didn’t have one kind thing to say to her all evening. I’m shocked at your behavior, especially after what I told you in the kitchen,” Teddi angrily replied.
“It’s one thing to forgive her past mistakes, Teddi. But I don’t want your brother keeping company with her. What if he should fall in love with Margaret and want to marry her?” Isabelle asked, putting her sewing aside to give Teddi her full attention. “It could have a lasting impact on his personal life as well as his career. Right or wrong, I want the very best spouses for my children, and I don’t think Margaret falls into that category.”
“You thought Herbert Albright was an excellent choice for me, and look what happened there,” Teddi countered. “And is it truly forgiveness when there are exceptions such as those you’re imposing, Mother? What if Jesus had placed such limitations on His forgiveness?”
“I want to discuss this with Jonathan as well as your father. I’m sure neither of them knows anything about—”
“Knows anything about what?” Jonathan asked as he walked in the front door. Stomping the snow off his feet with great bravado, he pulled off his overcoat and walked into the parlor, immediately making his way to stand in front of the fireplace.
“We were having a private conversation,” Isabelle replied.
“Well, I heard you say that you wanted to discuss something with me. Here I am,” he said, giving her a winsome smile. “So let’s discuss!”
Isabelle looked as though she wanted to flee from the room, but there appeared to be no escape. Jonathan was wide awake after being out in the cold, late-night air, and Teddi had settled back into her chair with her hands folded in her lap, awaiting her mother’s opening remarks.
Isabelle absently picked up her sewing and began making tiny satin stitches, the needle moving in and out of the piece of fabric at breakneck speed. She cleared her throat several times and then, while keeping her gaze focused on the sewing, began to question her son’s earlier decisions.
Teddi watched her brother stiffen as Isabelle began re-counting the events of Margaret’s past, his irritation growing more and more evident as Isabelle continued her speech while never once raising her eyes. Finally, Jonathan took three long steps to where his mother was sitting and stood directly in front of her.
“Why won’t you look at me, Mother? Do you find what you’re saying so embarrassing that you can’t meet my eyes, or is it that you know you’re wrong, and I would see the deceit if you met my gaze?”
Isabelle’s head snapped upward at his remark, her face now filled with anger. “Can’t you see that I’m trying to protect you from a future of misery and shame? I don’t dislike Margaret. I suppose making her confession in front of the congregation was commendable, although I’m not convinced it showed good judgment. And I’m certain her parents would have preferred that she remain silent about her past. All of that happened before she moved to Junction City, so I’m not sure why she felt it was necessary to make it known. It’s almost as though she’s proud of having had a child and giving it up.”
Jonathan dropped onto the sofa across the room from the two women. “I can’t believe this is my mother speaking. Margaret was very honest with me. We hadn’t even circled the ice when she told me all the things you’ve recounted. Perhaps she wouldn’t have felt it necessary to do that if people around here had truly forgiven her. I knew all of those things before I invited her to be my guest, and I’ll be proud to escort her.
“There are things in my past that I’m not proud of either. But I didn’t have Margaret’s courage. I merely confessed my sins to God and asked His forgiveness, rather than that of my fellow man. We’re a strange lot, we humans, feeling rather smug with our deep, dark secrets privately tucked away from the world. But let one brave soul come forward, making public a past failure and begging our forgiveness, and what do we do? We pay lip service to their courage, tell them all is forgiven, and then politely ignore the fact that they exist. Quite noble, don’t you think?”
“I know my feelings are unjustified, but. . .”
“But what, Mother? Your statements are in total opposition to the Bible’s teachings. There is no justification for that, and I’ve never known you to defy the Word of God. Is the opinion of other people so important to you?”
Isabelle rose, placed her sewing in the basket near her chair, and turned her tear-filled gaze upon Jonathan. “I need to pray about this,” she said as she turned to leave the room. Her shoulders were slumped and her gait slow and measured as she walked to the staircase and made her way up the steps.
“You don’t agree with her, do you?” Jonathan asked, quickly turning his attention toward his sister.
“No. In fact, I had been questioning her behavior toward Margaret before you returned home. She’s trying to protect you, Jonathan. I know, I know,” she said, holding up her hand to stave off his interruption. “You don’t need protection. But parents don’t quit doing that just because their children reach a certain age or leave home. Trust her when she says she’ll pray about it, Jonathan. She will! And I am certain she’ll re-ceive clarity on the issue. I can’t completely condemn her because I haven’t treated Margaret any more civilly than the rest of the community,” Teddi replied. “Come on—we’d better get to bed.”
“I’m not tired. I think I’ll wait for George,” he answered. “Any of Florence’s pie left in the kitchen?”
“Of course, and I’m sure you’ll be able to find it without much difficulty. Good night, Jonathan,” she said, rising up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek.
“Thanks for your support with this whole thing. Margaret is a wonderful girl, and I don’t intend to lose her,” Jonathan replied.
“And beautiful, too,” Teddi added.
“Very beautiful,” he responded.
“And that’s the most important thing,” she muttered to herself while walking up the stairway to her bedroom.
❧
Phillip had been at the hospital only a short time when he heard the front door open. Jumping from his chair, he turned for a moment as the anatomy book he’d been reading went tumbling to the floor with a resolute thud. Leaning down, he grabbed the book, threw it back onto his desk, and rushed to the vestibule. Teddi had just arrived, the bottom of her long, woolen coat covered with a dusting of snow that was beginning to melt and drip onto the small rug at the entryway.
Moving with a long, determined stride, he reached out to assist her as she removed her coat.
“Thank you, Phillip,” she said with a look of amusement on her face as she hung the coat, careful to ensure that the melting snow would fall upon the small, braided rug.
“You’re smiling. Did I miss something amusing?” he inquired.
“No. I’m just not used to having help with my coat. I’m sure you have much more important things to do.”
“Not at the moment. I wanted to have our discussion this morning before we got t
oo busy. Why don’t you come into my office?” he offered.
“Our discussion?”
“Yes. Last night you said we would discuss our arrangements later—about my escorting you to the upcoming social events. Several of the parties are only a few days off, so I thought we should probably—”
“Have our chat so you have time to make other arrangements once I’ve freed you from your obligation to escort me,” Teddi interrupted.
“What? I don’t feel obligated, as you so ineptly put it. I would consider it a privilege to have you on my arm. I thought we would be making arrangements about the times and dates, not about whether we were actually going to attend the parties as a couple.”
“You expect me to believe that you intended to invite me before my brother made his ill-spoken remark at dinner last night?” she asked, giving him an incredulous look.
“Yes. Why would you find that so hard to believe?”
“Let’s see. Perhaps it’s because you couldn’t keep your eyes off Helen Hanson at the cast party. Or perhaps it’s because you were completely infatuated by her beauty and charm at the skating party, until she offended you with her treatment of Margaret. I think you’d be happier with someone whose appearance you find more pleasing, and wearing a gown isn’t going to change me into a beauty,” she candidly answered.
“I’ll not deny that initially my head was turned by her beauty. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that she’s a shallow, vain, young lady and that we have nothing in common. I apologize for my behavior and promise that it won’t happen again if you’ll agree to accompany me. Don’t I get a second chance?” he asked, giving her a doleful look.
“I suppose we all deserve at least a second chance,” she agreed, giving him a halfhearted smile. “You can call for me at eight o’clock on Thursday evening.”
“What about Friday and Saturday?” he quickly interjected.
Sleigh Bells Page 9