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

Chapter 33

August 1873Thomas

Thomas fidgeted like a restless child on the last day of school.

Gabe leaned in. “How in the world can you be nervous? You already married her once.”

Thomas resisted the urge to elbow Gabe like he’d done in their growing up days. How could he explain how he felt? Yes, he was legally married, but this was different. Teddy and the children would move into his home tonight. It was more anticipation than nerves.

Hans gave the signal, and music played. The doors to the back of the church opened, allowing in a much-needed breeze. The congregation seemed to catch Thomas’s anticipation, and the room quieted.

Thomas rocked forward and back on his feet, feeling Gabe’s hand on his shoulder.

“Steady there, partner,” Gabe whispered.

Thomas jutted his chin out, hoping to loosen the collar. He reached up and adjusted his tie. Agnes walked down the aisle, dropping petals from a basket, her smile lighting the way for what was to come.

The congregation stood, and Thomas took a step forward to see down the aisle. David offered his arm, and Teddy appeared in a gown of flowing white. Her graceful stride was purposeful, and her radiant smile outshone the sun coming in the doors behind her.

The two locked eyes, neither wavering until she finally stood before him. Thomas’s heart swelled with love and awe of what God had done. Teddy bent and kissed David’s cheek, then offered her hands to Thomas.

When Teddy looked into his eyes again, Thomas prayed she could read the promise of love and the declaration of devotion in his.

“Dearly beloved . . .” Hans began.

Thomas listened to the sacred words of love and commitment he vowed to follow all his days. God had given this woman to him, and he would treasure her for all time. Gabe nudged him and handed Thomas a ring.

Thomas’s sly smile met Teddy’s surprised one. He slipped his birth mother’s gold band next to the one already on Teddy’s finger, sealing their bond with the symbol of everlasting love and devotion.

Hans’s voice was low and for their ears only. “You may now kiss your bride.”

Thomas looked into Teddy’s luminous eyes and bent to kiss her. He felt a surge of anticipation, ready to seal their vows with a tender gesture of affection. However, as her hands gently touched his cheeks, he remembered her earlier request not to push her, to allow her the space she needed. His smile faded into a gentle understanding, his eyes softening as they met hers. In that moment, he recognized the significance of her pause, realizing that this was Teddy’s way of asserting herself, of taking control of a moment that was meant to be shared between them.

Thomas prayed his silent acknowledgment of accepting her boundaries and his deep respect for her wishes shone in his gaze. He heard nothing as they stood there. He would give her all the time she needed. Thomas knew that their bond was not just about grand gestures but also about the quiet moments of understanding and acceptance that made the love he had for her truly enduring.

Her voice was but a whisper. “On my terms.” She winked and pulled his face to hers for a kiss that left no question she was his wife.

December 31, 1873

Thomas heard his wife’s heels on the wooden floor.

“David,” Teddy called from the bottom of the stairs. “Where is that boy?” Her exasperated tone made Thomas chuckle.

Thomas poked his head out of his study. “His nose is probably still in a book, living out adventures in The Swiss Family Robinson.”

Teddy moved into his arms. Her warmth was better than any fireplace.

She lifted her hands to his chest and tugged on his sweater, pulling him into a kiss. “This time last year, you were engaged to a petite blond. Still happy with whom you ended up with?”

He pulled his wife closer, trapping her arms, which she wiggled until they wrapped around his neck. “I was never engaged.” He kissed her forehead. “And you are the only one for me.” He kissed her nose. “It just took me a while to figure that out.” His lips caressed hers.

“Ew. That is so gross.” David stood on the bottom stair, open book in hand.

Thomas grabbed Teddy’s hand from behind his head and twirled her around. “Practicing our dancing. It’s New Year’s Eve.”

Teddy flushed and brushed at Thomas’s pant leg. “Now you have flour all over you.”

David’s eyes grew. “What are you making?”

Teddy pushed a wayward curl from her face. “Agnes’s favorite. Gingerbread.”

Agnes came down the hall, a cloud of flour trailing behind her. “Mama’s about to put them in the oven. Do you want to help us decorate when they’ve cooled?”

Thomas watched the slow smile form on Teddy’s face. His heart filled with thanksgiving to the Lord, who had seen fit to allow Agnes to become a permanent part of their family.

David looked first at Teddy. “Can I?”

“That depends. Have you finished cleaning your room? It looked like whirligigs and marbles had exploded in there the last time I checked.”

David looked sheepish and hid the book behind his back. “Hey, Agnes, want to play a game while they cook? It’s called Who Can Clear the Floor the Fastest? I do it all the time, but it’s a lot more fun with a second player.”

“Sure,” Agnes exclaimed. She untied her apron and handed it to Teddy, who patted the girl on the head before the child ran after her brother.

Thomas shook his head. “Maybe a different book would have been wiser. I believe Agnes has fallen to the fate of an older and wiser brother.”

Teddy held out her hand. “Join me for a cup of tea while I put the cookies in?”

The now-smooth skin touched Thomas’s rough hand. “I can do that.” He wasn’t prepared for the disaster that greeted him when he followed Teddy in.

Teddy filled the teapot. “Would you mind wiping down the table while I put this on?”

His laughter filled the room. “I’d say I’m now the one who’s fallen victim to the older and wiser, but I’ll just stick with wiser.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Teddy said.

Thomas didn’t miss the smirk but got to work. “So, Nurse Shankel, are you ready to join me at the clinic next week?”

Teddy spun around. “When? I so miss my days in the clinic with you. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a wife and mother, but I’ll be thankful when school resumes.”

“Neither of us expected to have two children so soon. Besides Gabe’s weekly treatments, I’ve only had the usual colds and flu, so you haven’t missed much.”

“How is Gabe?”

“I believe he’s improved,” Thomas began, his voice carrying a note of optimism. “His heart change has made the biggest difference in his healing.”

Teddy’s eyes brightened with hope. “Really? That’s wonderful.”

Thomas nodded. “It is, but I believe the upcoming date with Betsy has helped as well.”

Teddy’s hand found its way to Thomas’s. “That’s wonderful news. You’re quite the healer.”

Thomas leaned in, warmth and affection for this woman he loved filling him. “I don’t know about that. But I know you healed my heart.”

Teddy’s eyes sparkled with emotion, reflecting the love that had grown between them. “And you healed mine.”

In their shared moment of connection, amidst the challenges they faced and the triumphs they celebrated, they acknowledged the healing power of the Father above. For, in their union, they had found not only happiness but also the promise of a brighter future—a future built on love, guided by faith, and blessed with hope.

If you enjoyed Thomas and Teddy’s story, preorder the next book, “Written on My Heart,” coming May 2025.

Written on My Heart

It’s hard to hear God’s voice when you’ve already decided what you want him to say.

In the wilds of the rugged West, Betsy Smith discovers beauty in every corner—from the blazing sunsets to the wind murmuring secrets through the mountains. Yet, it’s the magnetism of Gabe Manning, with his dark complexion and dashing demeanor, that draws her gaze. Having known him since childhood, Betsy sees in Gabe the embodiment of the heroes she admires from her novels: a stalwart protector of the innocent, a champion of justice, a man of unshakable integrity, and a paragon of honor, guided by principles as steadfast as the mountains themselves—all while reconciling with his Arapaho Indian heritage. Yet, amid her admiration, Betsy longs for God’s reassurance that Gabe is the one for her.

As deputy of Shumard Oak Bend, Missouri, in 1875, Gabe “Little Sun” Manning sees the allure and harshness of frontier life. Amidst the chaos, he finds solace in the presence of Miss Betsy Smith, a compassionate schoolteacher whose independence and intellect captivate him as profoundly as her beauty. Yet, as their bond deepens, Gabe wrestles with doubts about his ability to fulfill the desires of her heart. He knows she’s willing to forsake her career for a future with him, but can he offer her the family she seeks? Haunted by the secrets of his past and desperate for redemption, Gabe faces his most formidable challenge yet.

Written on My Heartis a powerful Christian historical romance full of resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of the human spirit. In award-winning author Heidi Gray McGill’s fifth installment in the Discerning God’s Best series, you’ll be transported to a world of Wild West adventure and heartwarming romance.

For fans of Misty M. Beller, Lacy Williams, and Linda Ford, this standalone novel in the Discerning God’s Bestseries will capture your heart and leave you breathless. You’ll love this book if you enjoy gripping historical drama and compelling characters. Binge-read the entire series on Kindle Unlimited.

· Full-length Christian historical fiction

· A standalone novel in the Discerning God’s Best series

· Includes discussion questions for book clubs

· Timeline: 1875–1876

· For fans of Misty M. Beller, Lacy Williams, and Linda Ford

Book One: Desire of My Heart

Book Two: With All My Heart

Book Three: Matters of the Heart

Book Four: Healing of the Heart

Book Five: Written on My Heart