Healing of the Heart: A Shumard Oak Bend Novel (Discerning God’s Best Book 4)

Chapter 29

July 27, 1873Thomas

Weathering storms was exactly what they’d endured since leaving Teddy’s family farm. Storm clouds seemed to follow them on their trek through the central states, both literally and figuratively.

Teddy and David were enjoying each other’s company, playing endless hours of games, balanced with schooling to get the boy caught up. Teddy bragged about how quickly the boy learned. Anyone would do their best with Teddy’s encouragement.

The problem was him. A dark cloud loomed over his head, getting darker with each passing mile.

Teddy slid into the dining car seat across from him. “There you are. When I left David at your cabin, I expected to see you poring over your medical journals.”

“Not today. I can’t seem to focus.” Thomas raised his hand to the waiter and indicated his wife’s need for a cup.

“You’re broody.” Concern filled her eyes.

“I am no such thing.”

“Sullen. Moody. Cross. All doom and despair.” She wrinkled her brow. “Those lines are going to become permanent.”

Thomas laughed at her ridiculous look. “Nathaniel Hawthorne would say broody men are irresistible.”

Her laughter was like sunlight breaking through the dark clouds. “So, you agree?”

“No.” He winked at her. “But you do find me irresistible.”

She waved him off, accidentally hitting the server in the arm. “Oh. Pardon me.”

“Not to worry, ma’am. Here is a cup and a fresh pot of tea. Might there be anything else?”

“No, thank you,” she replied, then turned to Thomas. “Hawthorne often wrote of inner struggles in his male characters. Is that what’s going on with you?”

Thomas sipped the tea she’d poured. “Perhaps. I’m not very good at sorting through my emotions.”

“That’s one benefit of being married.”

“There’s more than one?” He lifted both eyebrows and gave what he hoped was an irresistible grin.

She shook her head but otherwise ignored his comment. “Talk to me. You promised we would be partners. Start here, now. Let me help you work through what’s bothering you.”

Her words were a ray of sunshine poking a hole through the dark clouds and letting light and warmth shine through. “I don’t know where to start.”

Teddy put her cup down. “You’ve met my family and survived all my crazy sisters, their husbands, and all the children without incident, thankfully.” She grew quiet.

“Don’t forget the dogs. Lots of dogs.” When she didn’t respond, Thomas placed his hand over hers, pulling her from the view out the dining car window. “Now you’re the brooding one. What just changed?”

She looked at their hands and flushed, slowly pulling hers away to pick up her cup. “Family.”

Her cryptic response could mean anything. “Your family? Our family? My family we’re headed to meet?”

She sighed and put the cup back down. “All of it. When my parents declined attending the wedding because of the crops, I understood. For farmers, these are long, busy days. But when I saw the state of things and the way my parents have aged, I better understood. I suppose that was the last time I’ll see them this side of heaven.”

“We could have stayed longer,” Thomas started.

“No. Our short visit put them behind as it is.”

“I could have—”

“Thomas, I’m fine. Really. Just a bit melancholy. I’ve spent years working to be independent of them and only now realize the consequences of my decisions. My parents are thankful I married a godly man. As with all my sisters, that has been their goal. They were afraid I’d end up an old maid, so they’re quite happy.”

Her laugh sounded forced, and Thomas wished he’d been more thoughtful. “What else?”

Teddy dropped her hands to her lap and lifted her shoulders, then dropped them. “Get used to moody, Thomas. It’s something women cycle through. Now that you’re married to one, you’ll soon figure it out. As far as family? I’ll miss our boarding house friends, Harriet, and my friend Armilda, but we can write. Do you miss Jimmy?”

“I do. I sent word but didn’t receive a reply before we left. What about the family you are about to meet?”

“If they’re anything like you, we’ll get along just fine.” Her smile was genuine and warm. “But as we get closer to seeing yours, it’s your mood that has changed. You’ve told me of your parents and siblings and those who live on your parents’ land. I know of Martha and her husband, the sheriff. Henry, right?”

Thomas nodded.

“The boarding house owners, the Kohornens—is that how you pronounce it?”

“Yes, he’s from Finland. She’s from Ireland. You’ll like Katie. She should have her orphanage up and running by now. He’s also the blacksmith and the pastor.”

“Busy man. I look forward to meeting Robin and her husband, Pete, is it?”

“Impressive.” His chest constricted.

“But I’m going to venture a guess by the change in your face just now that it’s their son, your friend Gabe, that’s causing you stress. Did you have an argument?”

“No. Not exactly.” This woman was a marvel. A gift from above. Thomas reached over and placed his hand on hers and was pleased when she didn’t pull away this time. He let the warmth of her skin melt whatever kept the angst from dissipating. “Gabe is ill, and my family expects me to figure out what’s wrong with him. I haven’t dedicated the time to research his condition until now. I’ve combed through the few medical journals I didn’t pack.” He ran his hand down his face.

“Have you prayed about it?”

He hadn’t, nor had he prayed for Gabe in recent months. Thomas shifted his fingers and touched the soft underside of Teddy’s. She turned her hand over and exposed her palm, allowing him to rub his thumb over her skin.

Her words came out breathy. “You are only a man, Thomas. This won’t be the only time you’ll need to allow the Great Physician to work in your stead.”

“You’re amazing. Do you know that?”

“I do.” She laughed at his expression. “Thomas, I made a vow to you, and I intend to fulfill those promises.”

“All of them?”

She pulled her hand away. “I’m adding incorrigible to your list of attributes.”

A voice pulled Thomas’s attention from the beauty before him.

“Incorrigible. I–N–C–O–R–R–I–G–I–B–L–E. Incorrigible.” The boy grinned.

Teddy patted the seat beside her. “Well done. Hungry?”

“Always,” David and Thomas said in unison.

A train attendant approached their table. “Excuse me, Dr. Shankel?”

“Yes?”

“We have a passenger who needs help.” The man looked at David as he drew out the last word.

“Of course. Let me get my bag.” Thomas stood. “Would you mind bringing something back to the cabin for me to eat, David?”

“Sure thing, Dad.”

Thomas swallowed the rising responsibility.

The assistant cleared his voice. “Time is of the essence, sir.”

The man followed Thomas to his cabin for his medical bag, then led the way to the back of the train, passing through several intermediate vestibules until arriving at what appeared to be only a cattle car with slatted sides for ventilation. Thomas recognized the quality of horseflesh secured in each stall.

“There, sir.” The man pointed to a small child curled up in a pile of hay at the end of the car. “Found her this morning. She’s breathing, but we can’t get her to wake.”

Thomas moved matted hair from the girl’s face and gently shook the child. Her warm body curled into a tighter ball. He checked her breathing and pulse. Rapid, but with her dry tongue and cracked lips, she was likely only dehydrated.

“You say you found her? Has someone inquired as to a missing child?”

The assistant pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “No, sir. I found this pinned to her shirt. I was afraid she’d stick herself, all curled up like that.”

“Well done.” Thomas took the note that revealed the child’s name was Agnes, age eight. He turned the paper over. “That’s it?” He looked around. “No bag? Nothing?”

“No, sir. It happens more than I’d like to say. Usually stowaways. When they get hungry enough, most get off, and we find evidence they were here. This one looks like someone put her on the train.”

“I’m glad you found her. See if you can find a family with a child her size who might have extra clothing. I’ll pay for the garments. Can you carry her to my wife’s compartment? She’ll care for the girl until we figure something out.”

“Of course, sir.”

The man lifted the limp form and turned his head. “Maybe a wash basin and towel are in order. I believe she started her journey at the wrong end of a horse.”

Thomas held the door for the man. It looked like their little family had just gotten bigger. At least until they figured out who the girl belonged to.