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

Chapter 30

August 1873Teddy

Aknock sounded at Teddy’s cabin door, and she trailed her hand along the edge of the overhead storage as she made her way to open the door. “Yes?”

The porter offered a polite smile. “Pardon the interruption, Mrs. Shankel. Your husband asked that I inform you he will be tardy for dinner. Might I escort you and your children to the dining car?”

Her children. What delightfully foreign words. “My son will assist us. Thank you. We’ll be there momentarily.”

“As you wish, madam.”

Teddy turned to see Agnes still staring out the window in wonder, her nose pressed against the soot-covered glass. “Agnes, do you feel well enough to dine with us this evening?”

The child hopped down and offered her hand and a nod but didn’t speak.

“Let’s go see if David is finished with his studies, shall we?” Teddy knocked on the door beside hers. “David, dinner time.”

“Coming, Mother.”

Warmth filled Teddy. God had given her more than she could ever have asked for or imagined. “There you are. Hungry?”

David smirked. “You have to ask? Sorry. Yes, ma’am.”

They maneuvered through the walkway to the dining car, Agnes holding on so tightly that Teddy’s fingers went numb.

Agnes pulled on Teddy’s sleeve. “May I sit by David?”

“Of course.” The smells of roasted meat and vegetables filled the car, and Teddy glanced at her neighbor’s table to confirm the menu.

She offered a brief prayer over their meal as they waited for the soup. Teddy marveled at the young girl’s meticulous manners and exceptional posture. But then, compared to David’s, anything was an improvement. Soup dripped from his overfilled spoon onto the table in his haste. He took a large bite from his dinner roll and placed it on the table just below his bread plate. Teddy counted to ten.

“When—”

Teddy held up one finger, and David chewed and swallowed before continuing.

“Sorry. When will we arrive?”

“Please place your roll on your bread plate.” She waited for him to comply. “We will disembark tomorrow morning in Poplar Bluff, then secure a wagon and continue on to Shumard Oak Bend. We should be in our new home by the end of the day tomorrow.”

Agnes lifted wide eyes to Teddy. “What about me?”

The words pulled at Teddy’s heartstrings. “You will remain with us until we learn more of your circumstances. Dr. Shankel sent a telegram to the authorities back east. Don’t you worry, Agnes. Dr. Shankel will sort this out.”

Thomas strode up to the table. “Did I hear my name? All good, I hope.”

“Thomas, wonderful. I was afraid you’d miss yet another meal.” Teddy filled her husband’s teacup, then placed her hands in her lap. She felt Thomas’s knee brush up against her skirt and pulled the fabric in to give him more room. He caught her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

She missed his touch the moment he let go. Thomas was a kind man, attentive to her needs and those of the children. He cared deeply for helping anyone in need and was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. His startling blue eyes turned her way, and she blushed at having been caught staring at him.

Thomas placed his napkin on his lap. “David. Tell me about your day. What did you learn?”

“Did you know that in 1831, Dr. Thomas Latta used saline solution intraveinly—”

Teddy quietly corrected, “Intravenously.”

“Right. Intravenously to treat cholera patients? Lots of people were dying from dehydration, and he rehydrated them, so they had the strength to beat the sickness.”

“You’re how old?” Thomas asked.

“Ten, I think. Why?”

“That’s quite the reading material. At your age, I was more interested in Robinson Crusoe.”

Teddy felt his leg bump into hers. “I was more of a Swiss Family Robinson girl myself. We will get copies of these for you, David. You’re young to be reading medical journals.”

Thomas looked across to Agnes. “And what about you, young lady?”

“I got dizzy,” she proclaimed proudly.

Thomas tensed beside Teddy, and she placed her hand on his forearm. “From trying to count trees through a sooty pane in a moving train.”

He relaxed. “I see. And how many were there?”

“I got so dizzy I lost count.”

Teddy’s heart flipped at Thomas’s laughter. Having such a wonderful man as Thomas for her husband was a blessing. If God would allow the man to one day love her as much as she loved him, she would be the happiest woman in the world.

Teddy’s legs wobbled on the wooden planking of the Poplar Bluff station. It wasn’t fancy, but the town was bustling with activity. She stood with Agnes under a shade tree while Thomas and David ensured all their belongings were accounted for.

David came running. “We found all of them. Dad says he may need to rent two wagons. Does that mean I get to drive one?”

“Have you driven a team before?” Would she ever tire of hearing the endearment he’d immediately given Thomas?

“A team?”

“That’s what I thought. Where’s your—where’s Thomas?”

“He told me to come get you to stand by our things while he goes to the livery.”

Teddy stepped over the dry ground, watching dust rise with every movement. The largest wagon she’d ever seen and an even larger man as dark as midnight, except for the gray tufts of hair over his eyes, drove past. She held Agnes’s hand tighter.

Thomas ran like a boy at Christmas and helped the man down, then gave him a long hug. They patted each other’s backs, even though Thomas had to stretch to reach the man’s. She hurried their steps.

Thomas kept a hand on the man’s massive arm. “Moses, it sure is good to see you. I heard you weren’t feeling well, but you’re looking right as rain to me.” Thomas spoke loudly enough for her to hear, even from this distance.

“The Lord’s been good to me. This your family?” The man turned, and Teddy felt Agnes move behind her skirts.

“This is my lovely bride, Teddy, my new son, David, and that little one peeking around the skirts is Agnes.”

“Your mama said you were bringing a ready-made family. Good thing your daddy dreams big.”

Teddy watched confusion cross Thomas’s face and was thankful it wasn’t just her who didn’t understand. She offered her hand. “It’s a pleasure . . .”

Thomas touched his ear and pointed up.

Teddy raised the volume of her voice. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Moses. Thomas speaks highly of you.”

“Thank you kindly.” His broad lips parted into a smile as large as he was.

“I’m David.” The boy stuck out his hand. “You’re big.”

“That I am. That I am.” The gray eyebrows moved up and down as the man’s head bobbed.

Agnes moved farther out. “Are you Goliath?”

Teddy could tell Moses had not heard. “She’s asking if you are Goliath from the Bible.”

Moses’s roar of a laugh caused the girl to again retreat behind Teddy’s skirt.

“No, little missy, I’m not that big or that old.” He turned to Thomas. “Let’s get you loaded and head on home. Delphina fixed us a meal. You can thank her later. Rachel was going to cook it.”

Teddy had heard enough stories about Rachel’s cooking to laugh with the men. “Thomas, I’m going to go to the general store to see if they have a particular item Agnes requires. Do you three men need anything?”

She watched David square his shoulders and lift one end of a large crate with Thomas.

Thomas grunted. “Get what you need. We’ll be ready to go in thirty minutes.”

Now that the train was gone, the two crossed the street with ease.

The bell tinkled as they entered, and a female voice came from somewhere in the back. “Welcome. Be with you folks in a moment.”

Teddy moved to the ready-made items and riffled through a haphazard array of undergarments until she found what appeared to be the right size. She fingered the dresses, but the cost astounded her, and she hurried on. Harriet had sent plenty of fabric, and she’d learn to sew—or swap her nursing skills in fair trade.

An elderly woman with a kind face approached them. “Are you finding everything to your satisfaction? What an adorable daughter. Looks just like you.”

“Thank you,” Teddy struggled to get out. She hadn’t considered it before, but Agnes had her eyes and the same chestnut brown hair with just enough wave to make it unruly. “We only need these items, please.”

The woman looked Agnes over from top to bottom, then moved behind the counter. “What brings you to these parts?”

“My husband—he’ll be the new doctor in Shumard Oak Bend.”

“You don’t need any dresses or heavier boots for your girl? That kid leather won’t last a Missouri winter.”

Teddy didn’t want to share too much information, but she decided staying as close to the truth without giving fodder for gossip was best. “The Lord will provide for our needs.”

“Did you say doctor or preacher?” The woman laughed. “What’s your name again?”

Teddy hadn’t given it. The door opened, and Thomas walked in.

“You two pretty girls about ready?” He looked at the woman behind the counter. “How much do I owe you?”

The woman gave Thomas the once over as if determining if she approved of him as a match for Teddy and Agnes. “Are you the new doctor?”

“That I am. Thomas Shankel. Headed home to Shumard Oak Bend.”

“Well, I’ll be. Are you U.S. Marshal Clint Shankel’s boy?”

“One and the same, though he retired many years ago.”

The woman pulled a hanky from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes. “Your father saved my husband’s life. It was back in . . .”

Agnes pulled Teddy’s sleeve and whispered, “Mama, I need to use the—you know.”

One simple word stopped Teddy’s heart. Emotion filled her soul and overflowed into the rest of her being.

The woman stopped speaking to Thomas. “Where are my manners? You and your mama come with me.”

She led a stunned Teddy and a wiggly Agnes through a curtain and out a back door.

“Right there. Let yourself back in when you’re finished.”

Teddy stood outside, trying to rein in the emotions that threatened to escape her eyes as Agnes took care of business. “Agnes, why did you call me mama?”

“She said I was your daughter; that makes you my new mama.” The door creaked, and the girl came out. Teddy pulled at the bottom of Agnes’s skirt, which was caught in her drawers.

“What about your real mama? You haven’t spoken of her.”

“She and Daddy are in heaven.” The matter-of-fact statement didn’t seem to bother the child.

Teddy was speechless as she walked back into the store. Thomas held a crate under his arm. His smile carried a hint of sheepishness. She lifted an eyebrow. “What in the world did you buy? Harriet gave us enough canned goods to last two winters.”

“Not with David to feed. Mrs. Benton here gave Agnes a box of clothing.”

Teddy turned to the woman. “Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do to repay the marshal for his kindness.”

Agnes offered a slight curtsy. “Thank you kindly, Mrs. Benton.”

“What a sweet child. You are most welcome, dear.”

“Ladies, time to go. Mrs. Benton, it’s been a pleasure. I’ll thank my father for you.” Thomas held the door, then offered his free arm to Teddy.

A passing man raised his arm to them. “Best of luck to you, Doc,” he said, then continued walking.

“Does everyone know you?” Teddy asked.

“Not me, but the Shankel name gets around. We’ve a long ride ahead of us. Ready?”

She was so tired of this train and eagerly anticipated a change of scenery. She yearned for something new beyond the repetitive views glimpsed from her train seat.

She was so done with this wagon travel. If she’d thought days on a train were tedious, the monotonous movement of the wagon was worse. At least on the train she’d been able to stretch her legs. Moses had only stopped for a cold lunch, a quick break, and a snack of apple turnovers late in the day before pressing on.

Agnes laid her head in Teddy’s lap in the small section of the freight wagon not loaded with their belongings. Teddy was thankful they didn’t also have furniture.

“How much longer, Mama?” Agnes asked.

Teddy caught Thomas’s gaze and shrugged her shoulder at the name the child had given her. “How much longer? Agnes is pretty tired.”

“Agnes, doll, we only have about thirty more minutes. Would you like to crawl up here and sit with me?” Thomas offered.

The child scrambled from Teddy’s lap, and Thomas lifted her over the crates. He mouthed to her, “Are you all right?”

“Just tired,” she replied.

He winked at Teddy, and her insides melted.

With the space to herself, she moved her skirts around and bunched them under her knees for a cushion. As wrinkled as the fabric was now, doing this would make no difference in her appearance. She leaned her elbows on the crate in front of her, peered between Thomas and David, and listened as Moses’s deep voice carried on the wind.

“We’ll leave the wagon at the livery, then you’ll spend the night at the boarding house. Tomorrow morning, it being Saturday, the local folk will help get you unpacked and settled. Church folk, including your family, will be here on Sunday. Your mama mentioned a wedding, and with the whole town here anyway, that’ll be right after the service.”

Thomas stole a glance at Teddy. She was so tired she didn’t care what they’d planned. All she wanted was to stop moving. “That’s fine,” she whispered when he didn’t turn back.

Thomas raised his voice. “That sounds like a marvelous plan. Agnes, do you see that? Up there on the hill. That’s the church steeple. We’re almost home.”

Teddy didn’t look at the church. She watched Thomas as he put one arm around David and, with the other, pulled the girl closer, her head resting on his chest. Where she wanted to be.

They pulled into Shumard Oak Bend as the sun was setting. Teddy remembered being introduced to Mr. Finch, the livery owner, but she couldn’t have repeated what he looked like. It felt good to walk. Moses and Thomas led the family past faux-front buildings and one large stone structure, centrally located on the main street. Its front entrance was adorned with strategically placed rounded river rock, making the word “Bank” stand out in stark contrast to the lighter and larger rock completing the wall.

The setting sun drew Teddy’s attention to the end of the thoroughfare, where a stately two-story building greeted them, its terracotta colors enhanced by the evening glow.

A sprite woman with red hair and freckles across her nose greeted them with a lilting Irish tone. “Welcome, you must be exhausted from your travels. I’m Katie. Everything’s prepared for your stay. You’ve fresh linens in your room, and I’ll bring hot water up straight away.”

Teddy froze. She hadn’t prepared for this. “Katie, Thomas and I—”

“Are in separate rooms. You and the girl can stay together.”

“Thank you. How did you know?”

Katie pulled the boiling kettle from the stove. “Yer not getting married until Sunday. Come on with you.” She led the way up a flight of stairs. “Truth is, I guessed. I’ll not be making assumptions. Make yourself at home. If you get hungry, there’s bread and butter on the counter. Help yourself.”

Teddy thanked her and got Agnes ready for bed. Teddy hated getting into the crisp clean sheets without a proper bath but did her best with what she’d been given. She’d be dirtier tomorrow with all the unpacking. She snuggled next to an already-sleeping Agnes.

Teddy took a deep breath and relaxed into the bed. “Lord, I don’t know what to expect tomorrow, but I certainly didn’t expect all the wonderful things You’ve done so far. I’m looking forward to the surprise. Whatever is before me, I trust You to supply all my needs.”

The need for sleep and desire to spend a quiet moment with the Lord fought with each other. Agnes mumbled in her sleep.

“And Lord, please help me understand Your ways if my desires are not yours.” Teddy brushed a curl from the child’s face. There were so many unknowns. Visions of a little shack of a doctor’s office to work in and a house the size of Harriet’s floated through her mind as she closed her eyes.

“Your will. Not mine.”