The Chapel Car Bride

by Judith Miller

  A week ago, her father had received permission and funding from the association to begin rebuilding the burned-out church in Finch. Since then, his sermons had been filled with words of encouragement and praise for answered prayer. There were excited responses from folks living in the main portion of town, those on the hillside, and even the railroaders had shown enthusiasm and a willingness to help with the project. After Bible study with Luke each morning, her father went to work clearing the debris from the church site. During the afternoons he climbed the hill to assist with repairs on the miners’ houses before returning to the chapel car to preach at both the seven o’clock and the late-night meetings for the railroaders when they were in town.

  Luke drew his brush down the narrow wooden frame. “I don’t think you need to worry about your pa. Even so, I can go down and check on him if you’d like.”

  “Thank you, Luke, but I’m sure he’s all right. He tells me I fret about him far too much. I know he’s right. I try to remember that he traveled without me for many years.”

  Luke grinned. “And he did just fine. I’m more troubled by Kirby’s failure to be up here helping with more of the work.”

  “Sometimes it helps that he’s not around.” Hope giggled as she continued brushing on a second coat of paint. “If he was here working, I’d have to get permission to put more than one coat of paint on the houses.”

  Luke wheeled around. “He’s already said one is the limit. I thought you were just touching up some spots you missed.”

  Hope waved her brush in the air. “Look at this place. The first coat has already disappeared into the wood. I don’t care if Kirby approves. I’m going to put at least two coats on the front of each house.”

  Luke pointed to the stacked paint cans. “We better make sure there’s enough. Some houses don’t even have a first coat yet.”

  “There’s going to be plenty. I’ve discovered I overestimated when I told Kirby how much to order.”

  “I thought your father did the estimates.”

  “He did, but I increased the figures on a few things before I gave the list to Kirby. Father wanted to be frugal so that Kirby wouldn’t change his mind about paying for the supplies.”

  Luke laughed. “Hope, I’m surprised at you.”

  “Are you disappointed?”

  “Quite the contrary.”

  Luke dipped his brush and wiped the excess on the edge of the can. “What would you have done if Kirby had objected?”

  “I think I could have convinced him to keep his word.” She looked up at Luke. “But it wasn’t necessary. He didn’t object at all. In fact, he asked if there was anything else we’d need.”

  “Guess it’s good he was generous with the materials since he’s not doing much to help with the work.”

  Hope shrugged and continued painting, wishing Luke wouldn’t press the issue. Kirby possessed little ability to swing a hammer, but at least he’d tried to complete a few of the minor jobs. Still, counting him as a member of their workforce added little value. “I suppose he needs to put his position at the mine first. He can’t do that and be up here painting houses or tacking tiles on roofs.”

  Luke crouched to complete the bottom portion of the doorframe. When he stood, he turned toward her. “Maybe so, but he needs to actually be at the mine to do that work.”

  She arched her brows. “What do you mean? I’m sure he’s busy in the office. Work at the mine entails more than digging coal.”

  “You’re right, but he’s not in the office. I saw Mr. Farragut the other day, and he said something about Kirby spending all his time up here helping us.” Luke straightened his shoulders. “I think Kirby has been telling everyone a different story. I wonder what he’s really doing with his time.” He shook his head. “Maybe he goes back to the boardinghouse and sleeps all day.”

  Hope weighed his words, uncertain what to think. “Did you tell Mr. Farragut he hasn’t been helping us?”

  “Naw. Not my place to get in the middle of that mess. I did say that if he was needed at the mine, we could get by without him.”

  Hope chuckled. “Since we’re doing just that, at least you didn’t have to tell a lie.”

  “True.” Luke reached for a screwdriver to pry the lid off a can of beige paint. “But I don’t want to talk about Kirby anymore.”

  “Oh?” Hope stepped away from the house and turned to Luke. “What do you want to talk about?”

  Luke cleared his throat. “Us.”

  “Miss Hope! Miss Hope!” Hope spun around and caught sight of Ned Berry waving his handkerchief overhead. “Come quick! It’s your pa.”

  The paintbrush dropped from Hope’s fingers and she ran toward the hardware store owner. “What’s wrong? What’s happened to my father?”

  “He’s quite ill.” Mr. Berry panted, then drew in a deep breath. “The doctor is with him and said you should come right away.”

  Luke placed a protective arm around her shoulder. “I’ll come with you.”

  “You should stay . . .”

  He shook his head. “I’m coming with you. The work can wait.”

  She leaned into his shoulder, longing to draw strength from him. Never before had she felt so fearful and helpless. What would she do if anything happened to her father? “Thank you.”

  “Can you tell us what happened?” Luke hugged Hope close. “Was he in an accident of some sort while working at the church?”

  Mr. Berry shook his head. “No. He was over there clearing away the burned wood, but then came into the hardware store to check on some supplies he’d ordered last week. We visited for a few minutes, and then I left him at the counter and went into the storeroom to get his order. When I returned, I didn’t see him. There was no answer when I called his name, so I headed toward the front door to see if he was outside. When I got near the front of the store, I saw him on the floor. I called his name and shook him, but he didn’t respond so I ran for the doctor.”

  Hope took a steadying breath and swallowed the lump in her throat. “What did the doctor say?”

  “He’s not sure what’s wrong, but he said I should fetch you. I figured it must be kind of serious since he wanted me to come all the way up here.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Berry.” Hope was concerned by the man’s heavy breathing. She didn’t want him to suffer some sort of medical problem because of climbing the hill. Then the doctor would have two patients to tend to. “If you need to sit down and rest, we can go ahead without you.”

  “No, I’ll be fine.” Mr. Berry straightened his shoulders. “Let’s get going.” He hurried toward the footpath with Luke and Hope close on his heels.

  They’d descended only a short distance when Luke lifted his hand to shade his eyes. “That looks like Kirby farther down the trail, doesn’t it?”

  Hope squinted at the figure descending the path at full speed. “I think so. At that pace he’ll be back in town before we make it halfway down the hill. Wonder where he came from and where he’s going.”

  Luke looked at her. “Either he started up the hill and turned around or he was out in the woods and now he’s headed back to town.”

  Mr. Berry grunted. “I don’t think that city slicker would be out in the woods. He’s not the sort of fellow who’d be looking to shoot his next meal. He probably forgot something and turned around. I gotta say I’m glad his pa sent him to work at the mine—sure has been a help for my business.”

  Right now Hope was more concerned about her father than Kirby’s comings and goings. “Is my father at the chapel car or the doctor’s office?”

  Mr. Berry shrugged. “I don’t know. When I left, he was still on the floor in my store.”

  Hope half walked, half ran down the remainder of the hill, then headed toward the hardware store. They’d gone only a short distance when she pointed down the street. “That’s the doctor and Kirby carrying my father on a stretcher.” She shouted and waved in their direction.

  Kirby glanced over his shoulder while they cont
inued walking. “We’re taking your father to the doctor’s office,” he called.

  Mr. Berry waved them forward. “You two go on. Let me know how he’s doing as soon as you know something.”

  Hope didn’t take time to answer. Instead, she quickened her pace, and soon she and Luke caught up with the men. She clasped her palm over her mouth when she caught sight of her father. His complexion bore a gray pallor and he appeared unconscious. Luke hurried to help carry him, taking one end of the stretcher from the doctor’s hands.

  “Thanks, Luke. I was beginning to wonder if the two of us were going to be able to carry him the rest of the way to my office.” The doctor shot a half smile in Luke’s direction before glancing at Hope. “Why don’t you go ahead of us and open the door, Hope. My wife should be in our living quarters at the rear. Knock on the door and ask her to prepare the examination room.”

  Hope hesitated. “Is he going to be all right? Do you know what happened?”

  The doctor shook his head. “I’ll be able to tell you more once I get him in the office and complete an examination. Go on now.”

  She wavered a moment longer. She wanted to help, but a part of her wanted to remain at her father’s side. After one more look at her father’s lifeless form, she ran and did as the doctor asked.

  Mrs. Burch bustled about, insisting there was nothing Hope could do to help other than stay out of her way. She pointed to the other room. “Just take a chair in the outer office, my dear.”

  Hope paced back and forth until she finally heard the men approach, but their first words were for her to step aside. She felt like an unnecessary appendage. Once the men had placed her father on the examination table, Dr. Burch ordered them out of the room, and his wife closed the door with a firm click.

  Hope dropped to one of the chairs and looked at Kirby. “Did he speak at all while you were with him?”

  Kirby shook his head. “No. He was out cold the whole time I was with him. I was on my way to the mine when the doctor called to me from the hardware store and asked for help.”

  Luke frowned. “From where?”

  Kirby lifted an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, the hardware store wouldn’t be on your way to the mine if you were leaving the boardinghouse, so where were you coming from?”

  “It’s the middle of the afternoon. Why do you think I’d be leaving the boardinghouse?”

  Luke stiffened. “’Cause it’s where you live.”

  Hope pressed a knuckle to her lips to keep from shouting at the two men. Clearly, Luke was trying to bait Kirby or catch him in a lie. Right now, she didn’t want a petty argument between the two of them.

  “We saw you coming down the path a few minutes before us.” Luke’s voice had an edge to it. “Since you hadn’t been up on the hill helping with repairs . . .”

  Kirby twisted around toward Luke. “I had started up the hill, but once I was about halfway up there, I recalled I needed to stop at the hardware store and order something we need at the mine. Does that answer your question, Luke?” His earlier defensive tone was replaced with a defiant one.

  Hope removed a handkerchief from her pocket and twisted it between her fingers. “Gentlemen, the only thing that matters right now is my father. You should both be ashamed.”

  Luke’s gaze dropped to the floor. “You’re right, Hope. I’m sorry. The only thing that matters is your father. I’m going to do everything I can to help you through this.” He reached over and touched her arm. “You can depend on me.”

  Kirby cleared his throat. An air of discomfort surrounded him as he took a backward step toward the door. “And you can depend on me, as well. Whatever you need.” He glanced over his shoulder at the door, seemingly eager to be on his way. “I need to get back to the hardware store. I never did place my order with Mr. Berry.”

  “Kirby, don’t go just yet. I thought perhaps the three of us could pray before you leave.” Luke gestured to one of the chairs.

  Kirby winced and shook his head. “I’d like to stay, but I need to get that order placed. Can’t afford to wait too long for those supplies.” He turned to Hope. “I’ll stop back later to see how your father’s doing.”

  Hope stared after him. Why couldn’t Kirby take a few minutes to pray with them? Could Luke be right about the man after all?

  Near the base of the path that descended the hillside, Luke stooped down and picked a bright pink bloom and tucked it into his hand. This one would give the wildflower bouquet a little more color. The handful of flowers wasn’t much to look at. His choices had been limited due to a late-night storm that had beaten the blooms off most of the foliage dotting the hill. Limp though they appeared, he hoped they would cheer up Hope.

  He hurried across the railroad tracks and knocked on the door of the chapel car. Hope smiled when she appeared in the doorway. “Luke! What a nice surprise.” Her attention shifted to the flowers.

  He wasn’t certain if her pleasure was due to the bouquet or his arrival, but it didn’t matter. He was pleased to see her smile. He extended the bouquet. “Sorry they aren’t in better condition, but maybe they’ll perk up after they have time to recover from last night’s storm.”

  “They’re lovely. Thank you.” She took the bouquet and gestured for him to follow her inside. “I’ll put them in one of my beautiful vases.” She grinned and held up a glass quart jar that had been filled with canned peaches his mother had sent with Nellie a few days ago. She filled the jar with water, tucked the stems into the container, and placed it on her father’s desk. “They brighten up the place, don’t you think?”

  He nodded. “Not near as much as you, but they do add color to your father’s desk.”

  “Why, thank you. You do know how to make a lady feel better.” She ran her index finger beneath one eye. “I don’t think these dark circles brighten up much of anything.” She sat down opposite him at the small table.

  “Not sleeping well?” he asked.

  “I’d like to blame the storm, but I find myself worrying about Pa. I know he’d tell me that worrying doesn’t change a thing and I should spend more time in prayer, only it’s hard to control my thoughts when I go to bed at night.”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve been through a lot since you left your home in Pittsburgh.” He hesitated a moment. “And even before that, what with the death of your aunt Mattie.” He reached across the table and covered her hand with his own. “I don’t think your pa would fault you for worrying a bit. Nellie said you were fretting because you couldn’t get your washing and ironing done, what with spending so much time with your pa over at Doc Burch’s place, so I was thinking I could go and spend the rest of the morning with him.” When she brightened at the offer, he continued, “If you like, I could spend time with him on the days when I’m not scheduled to work at the mine.”

  “I could sure use the time here at home to get some things done, but I don’t want to take you away from your work at the church building. I know Papa would want to keep things moving, and with him laid up, I’m guessing most of the men won’t want to take charge.”

  Luke smiled. “Don’t you worry yourself about that. So long as we have the needed supplies, I can make sure the men keep working on the church.” He gently squeezed her hand. “Does that ease some of your worries?”

  “Yes. Thank you, Luke.”

  He pushed up from his chair and nodded toward the wicker basket. “Then I better get myself over to the doc’s so you can get started on that washing of yours.”

  Hope washed the few dishes she and Nellie had used last night, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Luke had been true to his word; Kirby had not. While Luke had been her stalwart companion and assistant during the weeks following her father’s injury and ongoing recovery, Kirby had done little to help. She couldn’t have managed without Luke. In truth, she still couldn’t.

  Dr. Burch assured her that soon her father would return to normal, yet as the weeks passed, she wasn’t so certain ab
out that. The doctor provided excellent care and had insisted her father remain with him during the early weeks of convalescence. Hope had reluctantly agreed, mostly because their quarters were cramped and holding meetings in the chapel car while her father regained his strength and memory would have likely proved impossible.

  The doctor was vague in his answers concerning her father’s accident. Since there had been few injuries other than a cut and large lump on his head, the doctor had surmised her father either suffered a seizure, apoplexy, or a heart attack, although her father had never mentioned any sort of pain in his chest. In his fall, he’d taken a blow to the head, and the jolt had resulted in memory loss. While he’d quickly regained a portion of his memory, much had not yet returned.

  Hope convinced Luke that his daily Bible studies with her father over the last several months, together with his personal knowledge of the Bible, had prepared him to stand in for her father as an interim preacher. At first he’d objected, but then finally agreed that if folks continued to attend, he’d preach until her father regained his ability. That still hadn’t occurred, and she’d recently begun to wonder if it ever would.

  Every time Luke stepped up to the pulpit, Hope found her feelings of admiration growing for him. Not only did he possess a deep faith, he also lived that faith in his actions every day. He was steadfast and devoted, especially to the Lord.

  She touched the tiny feather he’d given her, which she now carried in her pocket. He’d told her it was to remind her of Psalm 91:4—“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust.” Yes, God was covering her, but as her friendship with Luke continued to blossom into much more, she also felt he was covering her with protection and prayer.

  He was sitting in one of the pews in the chapel car when Hope stepped through from the living quarters. He glanced up when she appeared. She offered a bright smile. “Preparing your sermon for this evening?”

  “Yes.” He gestured for her to sit down on the bench. “I always do better when you’re close by.”

  She settled beside him and leaned close to see what he’d been writing. He laid his hand atop hers and created warmth that radiated through her body. Besides being her protector, he’d become her adviser, confidant, and problem-solver. When Hope had expressed fear over staying alone at night, he suggested his sister Nellie spend her nights with Hope in the chapel car. His suggestion had been met with quick agreement by both women.