by Gail Sattler
Something in Louise’s chest tightened. Of course, she was happy for her papa that his leg was healed and he wouldn’t be so restricted. The past seven weeks had been difficult for him, because as well as the cast being heavy and awkward, the last couple of weeks had been highly uncomfortable for him, just as the doctor had predicted.
Soon the cast would be removed, and there would be no need for Elliott to remain to do her father’s chores for him.
Every day the calendar in her head flipped another page.
Her mama moved to the side as Elliott began to descend the ladder, balancing the storm window in his arms as he struggled to keep his footing on the ladder. “Next Sunday his barbershop quintet will be singing in church. I look forward to it. They were so beautiful the other time they sang for everyone.”
“It’s called a barbershop quartet, Mama.”
Her mama grinned. “No, it’s not. There are five of them, and that makes it a quintet.” With her words, her mama fetched the next screen for Elliott to put up and left it leaning against the house. Louise held the ladder more firmly as it shook with Elliott’s movements as he continued to come down.
Once his feet touched the ground, he rested the storm window against the house, picked up the screen, and ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back off his forehead. “It’s getting hot up there. Isn’t this weather great?”
Louise looked into his face. Since he’d been staying with them, he’d changed so much. He’d put on some weight, and although he was still thin, he looked good, even handsome. She noticed he smiled more often, and occasionally he repeated jokes he heard, although he sometimes missed the delivery on the punch line.
In many ways, she couldn’t believe he was the same man she’d found desperately eating wild strawberries, only seven weeks ago, but in the ways that counted, he was exactly that same man.
Louise felt the burn of tears starting in the back of her eyes. She couldn’t let him see her cry. “You look thirsty,” she mumbled. “Let me get you something cool to drink.”
With that, she turned and ran to the house.
She knew at that moment, she’d fallen in love with Elliott Endicott, and in eight short days, he would be gone.
Seventeen
Elliott gave the other men the signal for the close of the worship song, and they all cut off the final note at the same instant, leaving an awed silence in the sanctuary. In the back row, he could see Nick’s wife dabbing at her eyes and blowing her nose. As he scanned the room, he could see many women sniffling, as well as a few of the men trying to discreetly wipe their eyes.
Elliott’s step faltered slightly as he started to walk off the platform to take his seat.
This was it. His last Sunday with this church family. John’s cast had been removed on Saturday. John would be using the crutches for a few more days off and on, but he was doing well. Soon he would be completely on his feet unassisted again, and life would be back to normal.
The new lead hand had arrived yesterday. They’d done the track inspection together, and as Heinrich had said, the new man was experienced and a good worker, sure to be an asset to John’s section gang.
They no longer needed him. Elliott’s work here was done.
Rather than prolong the agony and in order to make a clean break for the new man to start the next day, Elliott had planned not to draw out a painful departure. He would be leaving on the 3:15 train today, not as he’d come, but as a paying passenger.
He inhaled deeply and stepped down from the platform, but as he did, Pastor Galbraith called his name from the pulpit, then addressed the congregation.
“In case any of you don’t know, this is Elliott’s final service with us. Elliott, would you like to come and share a word with the congregation?”
Elliott’s stomach clenched. He’d never spoken in front of a group before. Even though this congregation consisted of some very friendly people and he’d spoken to everyone individually at some time in the last eight weeks, the fact was that in the present situation, he would be speaking to a collective audience.
He turned around, about to decline, but everyone seated smiled and nodded at him, making it impossible to refuse.
“Hi,” he mumbled.
“Speak up!” someone called from somewhere in the middle of the congregation.
Elliott cleared his throat. “I don’t know what to say. I suppose I can start by saying what a blessing it’s been to be a part of this fine community for the short amount of time I’ve been here. You’ve welcomed me as a friend and as a Christian brother when I was a stranger.”
He smiled to the congregation, ready to step down, but the smiles and nods of many people kept his feet rooted.
He fixed his sights on a piece of paper on the pulpit and continued. “When I arrived here, I had literally nothing. I lost my job, my home; and the only family I have left has enough troubles of their own without me. I thought I was following the only option I had left, but on the way I was robbed and what little I had left was taken from me.
“I’d never imagined what it would be like to have to accept charity from strangers as a means of survival, with little or no hope in sight. It’s not a pleasant place to be. I can now understand the despair and depression that drives some people to the brink of taking their own lives.
“Living off the freight trains is dangerous and difficult, and I was not prepared for what lay before me when I chose that path. In the state I was in, I’m not sure I would have survived if God hadn’t placed me in the path of the Demchuck family. They fed me, clothed me, encouraged me, and treated me as their equal. They even gave me a job when I had nothing to offer in return. They gave me the means and the will to carry on when I had nothing left down to the depths of my soul.”
He paused for a few seconds to compose himself, and a hushed silence permeated the crowded room.
“John, Anna, and Louise, thank you. I owe you my life.”
Elliott swallowed hard, knowing he was about to lose control.
He faced the congregation, so many of whom had become more special to him than words could say.
“God bless you all, as He has truly blessed me.”
Without another word, he walked quietly to his seat.
Pastor Galbraith returned to the pulpit. “There is nothing I can say today to add to that. I think I’ll save this sermon for next week. If the men’s group would like to return to the front for another song of praise and worship, then we’ll close the service.”
Elliott rose once again, and the men took their place in a row. Louise played a single chord on the organ, and they sang “Rock of Ages.” As they neared the close, Elliott had to struggle not to let his voice crack. Not only was “Rock of Ages” his favorite hymn, but it was also what Louise had been humming the first time he’d met her. He found it disquieting to be singing it now, as a reminder that in an hour he would be gone and he’d never see her again.
He barely held himself together, but mustering all the strength and dignity he had within him, Elliott made it to the end of the service and endured a number of teary good-byes before he excused himself to be with Louise.
That not a word was said the entire trip back to the house seemed strangely fitting. He had so much he wanted to say, there wasn’t enough time if they’d had all day.
Once they arrived at the house, he tucked his last few belongings into his new suitcase and zippered it closed while Louise watched.
“I can’t really believe you’re going,” she said, her voice far too quiet to be Louise.
“I know. For one of the few times in my life, I’m completely lost for words.”
The slam of the back door told him they were not alone. John and Mrs. Demchuck walked into the living room and stood beside him.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us, Elliott. I will always believe it was God’s perfect timing to deposit you here, waiting for me, the day of my accident.”
“I know. I feel the same. And I d
on’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done for me, either. The Lord really does provide.”
Elliott reached forward to shake John’s hand, but when their hands clasped, John pulled him into a quick embrace, still holding one hand and patting him on the back with the other.
Elliott squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn’t make a fool of himself and patted John’s back as well.
When he pulled himself away, he turned to Mrs. Demchuck, who was standing beside him with tears streaming down her face.
“Thank you, Mrs. Demchuck. I don’t know what else to say. Except that I’ll miss you.”
At his words, Mrs. Demchuck flung herself at Elliott, wrapped her arms around him, and sobbed. He couldn’t make out a word of what she said, so he hugged her back and said nothing. Not that he could have said anything if he wanted to.
“Anna, come with me. Elliott’s train will be pulling into the station in five minutes. Let’s let him say good-bye to Louise.”
Mrs. Demchuck backed up and rested her palm on his cheek. “Write soon and write often. And may the Lord be with you, night and day, Elliott. Now go to the station. You don’t want to miss that train.”
Elliott picked up his suitcase, and he and Louise began their last trip together to the train station. About halfway there, he felt Louise’s hand touch his. She linked her fingers between his, then clasped his hand. Elliott closed his fingers around hers, then gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
The train arrived at the station at the same time as they did.
He lowered his suitcase to the ground, but he didn’t let go of Louise’s hand.
Her lower lip quivered and one tear rolled down her cheek. “I’ll miss you, city boy.”
Elliott thought his heart was in a vise. Every beat hurt. He couldn’t breathe. His stomach felt like a rock.
If he didn’t do this now, he never would.
He let go of her hand and cupped both cheeks in his palms and brushed a few tears away with his thumb. He gazed into her beautiful green eyes one more time, his eyes drifted shut, and he lowered his head until their lips were almost touching. “I love you, Louise,” he ground out in a ragged whisper. And then he kissed her with all the love and longing in his heart and empty soul.
When her arms slid around his back and tightened, Elliott thought he’d died and gone to heaven. For a second their lips separated, but he could still feel the heat of her breath on his cheek, and he didn’t want to let her go.
“I love you, too, Elliott,” she whispered back, and then she kissed him the same way he’d just kissed her.
“All aboard!” the conductor called out.
He struggled to get his next words out. “I have to go.”
Louise stepped back. Elliott picked up his suitcase, and she walked with him to the edge of the platform. He handed the conductor his ticket.
“Luggage?” the conductor asked.
“Just one and I’m carrying it with me.”
The conductor returned his ticket. Elliott started to go up into the coach but stopped on the first step. Louise shuffled forward to stand on the platform beside the steps extending from the car’s entrance. He turned sideways, and with his free hand, he brushed his fingers on Louise’s cheek, rubbing his thumb over the line of tears. “I’ll write,” he muttered, then hopped aboard the train, and took his seat.
The conductor closed the door, which brought up the steps. He pulled the cord to signal the engineer that all passengers were aboard, and the train started to move.
Elliott stared out the window, watching Louise standing on the platform getting smaller and smaller.
This part of his journey had ended, and a new one had begun.
❧
“Louise! You’ve got another letter from Elliott!”
Louise dropped her bucket of chicken feed, picked up her skirt, and ran to the house. In a single motion, she grabbed the envelope from her mama’s hands and tore it open.
“What did he say? He’s been gone over a month, yet he still must be sending three letters a week. He’s sent your papa another letter this time, too, but you get far more letters from him than your papa does.”
Louise only half listened as she read. She broke out into a smile as she skimmed through. “He’s asking about the chickens, and he’s come up with names for all of them so we won’t eat them.” Louise lowered the letter and grinned openly at her mama. “Before he left, I could tell he had a few favorites in the chicken coop, almost like pets.”
“I suppose I’m not surprised. How is his job working out?”
Louise continued to read. “No different than his last letter. He says it’s hard, but it’s good, honest work.” Louise stopped to giggle and covered her mouth with one hand. “He says he’s put on five more pounds, and he doesn’t look like a city boy anymore.”
“That must mean he’s keeping it on. I was worried for awhile. This is good.”
“Oh! He was telling me about this in his last letter. That ministry he’s developing with the other men in the logging camp—he says he’s working on starting a small church there. There are also a few married couples living out there, some even with children.”
“Really?”
“I’ve told you that before, Mama. It’s a large place.”
“Louise! Your chickens are escaping!”
Louise tucked the letter into her apron pocket as she ran to catch her chickens. Already, she had thought of a number of things she wanted to say to Elliott, even though she’d last mailed a letter to him only three days ago.
It nearly tore her heart out every time she mailed a letter to him, because it reminded her of how far away he was. On the other hand, reading a letter from him was almost as good as seeing him in person. They’d been pouring their hearts out to each other in their letters, to the point that Louise knew she had found her soul mate. If only he didn’t live so far away.
Just as Louise caught the last chicken and returned it to the coop, the road master’s car rode onto the siding, and Heinrich and her papa got out.
Louise’s heart sank. She had reluctantly gone out with Heinrich once since Elliott had left, but nothing had changed, and nothing ever would. She felt nothing for Heinrich, regardless of what he felt for her.
Her papa walked inside, and Louise knew he would be getting something out of his desk before the two men went into the toolhouse to check the speedster.
Instead of waiting at the toolhouse, to her dismay, Heinrich approached her.
“Good day, Louise.”
She nodded and wiped her hands on her apron. “Greetings, Heinrich.”
“I don’t have much time, so I’ll say this quickly. As you no doubt know, I’m quite fond of you.”
She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing.
“But it is more than obvious to me that your heart is elsewhere. Would I be correct to say it’s far away, with Mr. Endicott, your father’s temporary lead hand?”
“I’m sorry, Heinrich, that is true. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He sighed. “Such is the way of life, Louise. I know with him so far away, this has not worked out the way you would have wanted it, either, but alas, life often disappoints. I just wanted to thank you for our time together and tell you not to worry. But if one day your feelings for Mr. Endicott do change, please, let me know.”
Louise smiled and reached out to touch her fingers to Heinrich’s forearm. “Thank you, Heinrich,” she muttered. “You are a good man, and one day, with God’s blessings, that right woman will come to you.”
Her papa’s voice from the step stopped Heinrich before he could reply. “Heinrich! I’ve found that report you were looking for.”
Heinrich smiled and nodded once. “Until next time, Louise.”
Louise smiled, turned, and ran into the house. She didn’t care that she couldn’t use her papa’s desk; she would sit on the floor if she had to, to write back to Elliott and get the letter away before th
e next train came through for the mailbag.
❧
A knock on the back door nearly made Louise drop the potato she had been peeling. She glanced up at the clock, but as she suspected, according to the time, the train that had just pulled into the station was a passenger train, not a freight train. If it wasn’t a hobo begging for food, she had no idea who it could be, because anyone who knew them would be knocking on the front door.
Her mama had gone upstairs to get a new apron, so Louise answered the door.
“Greetings.”
“Elliott!”
Her head swam as he enveloped her in his arms, kissed her, and twirled her around so fast her feet left the floor. The second her feet touched the floor, he kissed her again.
She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, not wanting to let him go as they spoke. “What are you doing here? I should be angry with you for not telling me you were coming.”
“I did write, but I suppose I’m on the same train as the mailbag.”
He grinned, sending Louise’s heart into a tailspin.
She grinned back. “We’re having chicken for dinner. Are you staying?” She almost blurted out a name for the chicken she had in the oven when suddenly all foolish thoughts left her and her stomach tied into a painful knot. “Why are you here? Did you lose your job?”
Elliott shook his head. “No. The opposite, in fact. I’ve been promoted to a supervisory position, with the help of a good recommendation from our friend and road master, Heinrich Getz.”
“Heinrich gave you a recommendation?”
“Yes. And I’m here to ask you if you’d like a job. Two jobs, actually.”
“A job? But Papa wanted me to go to college in the fall, which is coming up in two weeks.”
His calloused palms cupped her cheeks, and Louise leaned into his warmth.
“I’ve already got permission from your papa, but now, I’m going to ask you. First of all, the logging camp is in need of a head cook for the cookhouse, and I was wondering if you were interested in the job.”
Louise’s heart stopped, then started up in double time. “Me?”