Sleigh Bells

by Miller, Judith Mccoy

  “Teddi’s wisdom never ceases to amaze me!”

  “Our Teddi may not be a raving beauty, but she’s a very special woman, and that’s a fact,” Jonathan concluded as he drove the sleigh toward the front of the hospital.

  “Well, whatever you and Margaret decide, I’m rooting for you. Just remember that I expect to be the one presiding over your vows,” Phillip said while giving Jonathan a slap on the back.

  “The cold air seems to have enlivened your spirits,” the general said as he approached the sleigh. “It always does the same for me. Nothing better than cold weather and an invigorating snowfall.”

  Phillip attempted to give Teddi an encouraging smile as he entered the house, encircled by her father and brothers. She was searching his face, obviously looking for a clue, but he followed the general’s advice and waited until after dinner. Isabelle and Florence were nowhere in sight, but the mouthwatering smells that permeated the house sent all four of the men searching after food. They had the scent and were like dogs to the hunt, unwilling to stop until they located their quarry.

  Isabelle appeared from the kitchen, an apron tied around her waist and her cheeks flushed from the oven’s heat. She carried loaves of freshly baked, crusty bread and placed them on cutting boards at either end of the table. A sharp knife and small crock of churned butter sat beside each loaf. A large tureen of beef stew was centered on the table.

  “I thought we’d have a simple meal this evening. Thinking we may have some private matters to discuss, I told Florence she could have the evening to herself,” Isabelle explained as she removed her apron before seating herself.

  “That was an excellent idea, my dear. But if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather wait to talk until after dinner,” Clayton replied.

  “After dinner Teddi and I will be busy serving coffee and clearing the table. Since we’re the only ones who don’t know what happened this afternoon, I’d prefer that we talk during dinner—if it won’t upset your digestion,” Isabelle added with a grin.

  “There’s not much that upsets my appetite or my digestion, but I’m hungry and would rather eat than talk. However, you’re right. It’s not fair to keep you two in the dark. I’ll eat and you can tell them about this afternoon’s happenings, Phillip,” he said with one of his boisterous laughs.

  Her father’s upbeat conversation and jovial laughter seemed to relax Teddi, and Phillip now worried that she would consider the general’s buoyant spirits a signal that things had gone well. Both women turned their gaze upon Phillip, but their looks of expectation were more than he cared to deal with at the moment. The general had cleverly sidestepped discussing the issue himself, and Phillip couldn’t blame him. It was, after all, his own foolishness that had caused this predicament, and thus far, his prayers for a quick, quiet resolution to the situation had gone unanswered.

  General Yorke was well into his second bowl of stew by the time Phillip had finished divulging the brutal details of the meeting with Herbert. His words had managed to erase any visible trace of joy from Teddi’s demeanor, her face now etched with concern and dismay. His attempts to keep the mood lighthearted had fallen flat, and Teddi now looked at him as though he had utterly and completely failed her.

  “I know it’s of little consequence since the damage is al-ready done, but how has Herbert managed to be so long absent from his military assignment, Clayton?” Isabelle asked, breaking the silence that had hung in the room.

  “My guess would be that his commanding officer allowed him to come back to Junction City to spend time with his deceased wife’s family—advise them of her death. I doubt his company would be leaving on a campaign until spring, so it’s probable that he was given leave. I don’t think he’s a deserter, since one of his reasons for marrying Teddi is to help advance his military career.”

  Isabelle nodded her head, gave Teddi an encouraging smile, and began clearing the table. “I’ll bring coffee to the parlor when you’re ready,” she said as the men began moving away from the table.

  “Let the dishes go, Isabelle. I want you and Teddi to join us. We need all the help we can get if we’re going to devise a plan that will set things aright,” the general stated.

  They talked, they prayed, and then they talked some more until finally the general announced it was time they get to bed. His decision was met with unanimous approval, although none of them was sure that anything had been solved, or for that matter, that anyone had even come up with one good idea.

  ❧

  When Teddi didn’t arrive at the hospital the next morning, Phillip was certain she had washed her hands of him, most likely deciding that the only way to make a clean break was to quit working with him. And why should he blame her? She would once again be subjected to ridicule, her name spilling off the wagging tongues of local gossips. It saddened him to realize how foolhardy and reckless he had been. When all was said and done, he’d be lucky if there would be any church that would have him, and his military career would certainly be in ruins. Perhaps, if he were lucky, he would be able to skulk away and practice medicine in some small community needing a doctor. It was a foregone conclusion that he could forget his plans for preaching the Word and winning souls for Christ. No church would desire a man who lacked the ability to keep himself free of such personal adversity.

  It was sometime after one o’clock when he heard the door to the hospital open. He certainly could have used Teddi’s assistance today. It seemed that every child living on the post had been dragged into the dispensary with varying complaints throughout the morning, and now it sounded as though it was going to continue through the afternoon hours.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get word to you that I wouldn’t make it in this morning,” Teddi said as she greeted him in the hallway. “Have you been busy?”

  Just seeing her caused his heart to lighten. “I’m so happy to see you,” he exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face. “Let me take your coat,” he offered as he rushed to assist her. “I was worried when you didn’t arrive, thinking perhaps you’d decided it better to stay away from the likes of me.”

  “Do you think I have so little character that I would actually desert you, Phillip?” she asked in a pain-filled voice.

  He took her hands in his own and met her intense gaze. He was certain her eyes were filled with as much love and concern as his own. Turning over each of her hands, he bent his head down and tenderly kissed the palms of her hands, his lips trailing up each hand until he reached her fingertips.

  “I am so very sorry,” he murmured, his head still bowed. “Can you ever forgive me for being such a fool?”

  “Is your memory so short that you don’t remember I’ve already forgiven you, Phillip?”

  “You forgave me, but that was before we knew all of this was going to turn into a public spectacle. The court-martial will turn into a feeding frenzy for the gossips, and I know how much you detest being at the center of such idle chatter.”

  “My forgiveness wasn’t conditional. If there’s one lesson that God has recently taught me, it’s forgiveness. I don’t want to make the same mistake with others that I made with Margaret. Public humiliation is a small price to pay for doing what is just, and only God knows what will eventually happen. We both know that He is at work in every situation, and I feel an assurance that no matter how all of this turns out, we’re going to be fine,” she said.

  “I should be ashamed of myself. I’m a preacher, supposedly a man of God, yet I need you to keep me grounded in my faith. You are, in every way, the woman I have prayed I would find. Now I pray that I won’t lose you,” he whispered.

  “Oh, Phillip, you won’t lose me. We’re going to stand our ground, declare the truth, and rely upon the hand of God to see us through,” she replied confidently.

  fifteen

  Teddi sat beside her brother on the settee while Isabelle perched on the edge of her rocking chair, staring at them in disbelief. No one spoke for several minutes, and the crackling fire was th
e only sound that broke the deafening silence that hung in the room.

  “You need to give this more time, Jonathan. We’ll discuss it with your father and get his opinion,” Isabelle asserted, her chin jutting forward as she spoke.

  “I didn’t tell you in order to secure your permission or your opinion, Mother, although I would be pleased to have your blessing. However, whether you and Father agree has nothing to do with my decision. I plan to marry Margaret. You and Father may be as involved in, or detached from, the process as you wish.”

  “Oh, good, here’s your father now,” Isabelle stated, projecting herself from the edge of the rocker and rushing toward Clayton. “I’m so glad you’ve come home. We have another crisis.”

  “I don’t have time for another crisis, Isabelle. I merely came home to gather some papers and a map I need at my office. I’m sure you can capably handle any household crisis that has arisen with more expertise than I could muster,” Clayton replied.

  “This isn’t a household matter. Jonathan is getting married,” she announced without further fanfare.

  “Well, that’s good news. I was beginning to think you would never take a wife,” Clayton stated as he walked into the parlor and embraced Jonathan. “So what’s the crisis, Isabelle? You can’t find a new dress in time?” Clayton asked, emitting a loud guffaw.

  “Oh, stop it, Clayton—this isn’t funny. And before you go any further with your congratulations, I think you need to know who it is your son is planning to marry,” Isabelle chastised.

  “If I were a betting man, which I’m not, I’d put my money on Margaret,” Clayton said. “Am I right?”

  “Yes, you’re right,” Jonathan replied.

  “Well, congratulations to you. I doubt that you could do better. She’s bright, pretty, and devout in her Christian beliefs. Couldn’t ask for much more than that. Can she cook?” Clayton asked, once again laughing at his own question.

  Isabelle dropped into her rocker with a thud. “Is that all you have to say?” she asked.

  “What else is there to say?” Clayton asked as he gathered up papers from the dining room. He waved his paperwork in the air as he hastened toward the front door, leaving as quickly as he’d entered. Jonathan had settled back onto the settee beside Teddi, while Isabelle vigorously rocked in her chair. Except for a faint squeak from one of the rockers on Isabelle’s chair, silence reigned.

  Finally Isabelle ceased her rocking and rose from the chair. “I’d like to talk to Margaret. Go into town and fetch her. She can eat lunch with us, and then we’ll talk—alone,” Isabelle instructed her son.

  Jonathan didn’t argue or comment. After donning his coat and gloves, he bid them good-bye, stating that he and Margaret would be back in time for lunch.

  “See to preparations for lunch, Teddi. Florence can help you. I need to go upstairs,” Isabelle commanded.

  “Mother, Phillip is expecting me at the hospital. I’m already late,” Teddi replied.

  “This is more important. I’m sure that if there’s an emergency, he’ll send one of the soldiers over to advise you,” Isabelle absently replied as she marched up the stairs.

  ❧

  As if on cue, her mother descended the stairs at the exact moment Jonathan and Margaret entered the front door. Teddi watched as her mother greeted Margaret with a seemingly genuine hug and exchanged pleasantries about the weather and the approaching holiday festivities. Isabelle had changed her dress, and although her eyes seemed slightly red and puffy, she appeared in good spirits as she presided over lunch.

  Jonathan appeared somewhat edgy when Florence was serving her warm bread pudding for dessert, and by the time the meal was finally completed, his complexion had paled, and he looked as though he would grab Margaret and bolt from the room. Margaret, however, seemed relaxed as she chatted about the new arrival of goods at her father’s store, including some special items that he had received just in time to delight Christmas shoppers.

  “Teddi, you’d better hurry on over to the hospital. Jonathan can take you in the sleigh. Do stay and visit with Phillip for a while, Jonathan. Margaret and I are going to have a little chat of our own,” Isabelle stated.

  “I think I’ll remain here. You don’t mind taking the sleigh by yourself, do you, Teddi?” Jonathan inquired.

  Before Teddi had an opportunity to reply, Isabelle was rising from her chair. “Don’t be difficult, Jonathan. It’s an excellent opportunity for you to spend a little free time with your friend. Once you return to Washington, you don’t know when you’ll be back to Kansas. Oh, and ask Phillip if he’d like to join us for supper. You will stay for dinner, too, won’t you?” Isabelle asked as she turned toward Margaret.

  Margaret looked toward Jonathan, obviously unsure how she should answer. “You may plan on our being here for dinner,” he began, “unless—”

  “Good,” Isabelle said, interrupting her son. “Now get along to the hospital,” she ordered, waving her arms at them as though she were shooing chickens out of the barnyard.

  “If necessary, I think Margaret can hold her own with Mother,” Teddi said as she and Jonathan left in the sleigh. “Not that she would ever be disrespectful, but Margaret is a strong woman who has a great deal of courage. Don’t worry,”

  “I don’t feel quite so confident, but when Mother asked Margaret to stay for dinner, I took that as a good sign. Either that, or Mother has totally convinced herself that she can dissuade Margaret from accepting my proposal. Do you think that’s possible?” Jonathan asked with a note of alarm in his voice.

  Teddi giggled and threaded her arm through her brother’s. “Oh, Jonathan, I don’t think anyone could convince Margaret that you weren’t created by God for the sole purpose of becoming her husband.”

  “I think that I would have to agree with that statement. Except, perhaps, that God may have had one or two other things for me to accomplish in addition to my marriage. But I won’t tell Margaret that,” he replied, giving his sister a broad smile. “Speaking of marriage, how are things with you and Phillip?” he asked with a grin.

  “When I was late to work yesterday, he was convinced that I hadn’t been able to forgive him and wouldn’t be returning to work at the hospital. It took a bit of persuasion to convince him that my days of only paying lip service to forgiveness ended when God convicted me of my behavior toward Margaret. I think I’ve convinced him that my forgiveness wasn’t based upon whether it would be easy or difficult to face the eventual consequences of his actions—or my own conduct, for that matter,” she added. “I should never have left the party and gone off to the dressing room with Herbert, even if I did think he was Phillip. It wasn’t appropriate behavior, and now I’ll suffer the consequences. I’m sure Herbert will leave no stone unturned in his attempts to prevail, but I wouldn’t marry him if he were the last man left standing,” Teddi vowed.

  “Well, I hope that your late appearance today hasn’t caused Phillip additional worry,” Jonathan said as they arrived. “Let me help you out. Tell Phillip that I’ll be in as soon as I’ve taken care of the horses. If he’s busy, I’ll just wait in his office.”

  Teddi nodded and rushed up the steps and into the hospital. After hanging her cloak in the vestibule, she peeked into Phillip’s office, but when she noticed he was nowhere to be seen, she walked down the hallway and into the ward. Phillip was sitting beside the bed of a young soldier and was deep in conversation, so Teddi began checking charts and giving necessary medication to several of the men.

  “I’m glad to see you,” Phillip murmured as she stood by one of the soldiers who was suffering from a severe case of tonsillitis.

  “Private Lowry seems to be responding to treatment and will be ready for discharge,” Teddi commented.

  “Private Lowry and I have agreed that perhaps he’s enjoying the pleasure of extra rest and attention just a bit too much. We’ve agreed he’ll be moving back to the barracks and assuming his regular duties tomorrow,” Phillip advised with a slow, easy grin.
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br />   Teddi nodded her head. “That sounds like an excellent decision, gentlemen. By the way, my brother is in your office. He thought that the two of you might have a visit if you weren’t too busy. I can finish up in here if you’d like to join him.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Of course I don’t. You two need to have some time to visit. Besides, I’ve been gone all morning, but Jonathan can explain that,” she told him. “Oh, Mother invited you for dinner this evening if you’re free,” she added after he had turned to leave.

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” he called back over his shoulder.

  ❧

  Phillip made his way down the hall, trying to assume his usual jaunty step. He believed that Teddi had truly forgiven him, but the fact that he would be forced to meet with Herbert tomorrow after church loomed in his thoughts, a veritable thundercloud floating overhead, just waiting to deluge him.

  “Jonathan, good to see you,” Phillip cheerfully greeted him as he entered the office, his hand outstretched in welcome.

  “Is that an act, or are you really feeling lighthearted?” Jonathan asked with a smile.

  “You know me, my friend. I’m attempting to fight the good fight, but it hasn’t been easy the past few days. It appears that Herbert isn’t going to back down. I’ll advise him that he and Helen can go ahead and file whatever charges they care to conjure up. Your father tells me we can push to have the board convene quickly. However, I’m concerned that you and George will be gone before the court-martial begins. And I’d guess that Herbert is counting on that fact. Barring a miracle, this may prove to be the darkest hour of my life. We’ll all need to continue to pray that some good will come from all of this,” Phillip replied.