A Heart for Home (15 page)

“I just tucked in a jar of raspberry juice and some of the cookies you baked yesterday. I know there will be a lot of children there, and you know how they love cookies and swizzle.”

“Meaning Inga and Carl. You’d take the moon along for those two.”

“Anna is staying with little May. I am delighted that Ellie is getting to go. She misses out on so many things during the winter because Carl catches so many colds. I keep thinking there must be some kind of remedy to help that. Maybe I need to do more research again.”

“Ellie is picking you up?”

“Yes.” Ingeborg checked the mirror to see that her Sunday-best straw hat was on straight. “I hear them now. You can telephone me, you know, if something happens.”

“Like what would happen? I’ll be out in the garden or out at the cheese house.”

“I do wish you would come.”

“Have a nice time. And don’t let Mrs. Valders irritate you.”

Ingeborg rolled her eyes. “Heaven forbid.”

“Grandma, Grandma!” Carl bounced on the seat of the buggy. “Sit with me.”

“Where else would I sit?” Ingeborg set her basket on the floor and stepped up into the swaying buggy. “There now. Thank you for driving today, Ellie. Andrew said he’d hitch up the horse, but I’d rather ride with you. How is May today?”

“Just fine. You’d never know there had been anything wrong.”

“Good. Elizabeth said I did the right thing. A child not breathing like that is so terribly frightening.”

“Seeing you fall to the floor was just about as bad.”

“Grandma sick?”

“No, Grandma is not sick.” She kissed the little boy’s nose and then his cheeks, making him giggle. “Grandma feels better than she has for a long time.”

“Grandma sick on floor.”

“That scared him pretty bad too. He plunked himself down beside you and kept crying and patting your hand. Talk about having the whole family involved.”

“That’s just the way it should be. I asked God if it was time for me to go home, and He must have been smiling, because there was such a radiant light around me. He said, ‘Not yet,’ but that I must rest for a while. I guess I did just that.”

“I guess so.” Ellie covered Ingeborg’s hand with one of her own. “I am so grateful He left you here with us. I never would have forgiven myself.”

“Oh, Ellie, please don’t think that way. You would do anything to save your child, as would I, and that’s the way it is supposed to be. If we don’t forgive ourselves, it’s like saying the crucifixion didn’t count. That Christ died for nothing.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way before. No, I believe that Jesus died for us and forgave our sins.” She puffed a sigh. “We sure do have the most enlightening discussions.”

“Me too,” Carl said.

Trying not to laugh out loud, Ellie and Ingeborg stared straight ahead.

“I received a letter from Ma yesterday, to say she cannot come next week.”

“Oh no, I was so looking forward to seeing her. What is wrong?”

“She says she cannot leave Pa alone.”

“Oh, Goody . . .”

Ellie handed Ingeborg the letter.

Ingeborg looked up when she finished reading. “Ellie, I am so sorry. Maybe you should take the children after harvest and go see her.”

Ellie nodded. “I’ll talk to Andrew. Maybe you could come too.”

“We’ll see.”

Ellie tied up their horse in the shade of a cottonwood tree at Sophie’s house, and the three of them walked through the gate of the picket fence and up to the door.

Ellie picked up Carl. “Do you want to knock?”

“Yes.” He leaned forward and banged the heel of his hand on the wooden door, more like a thud than a rap. “Use your knuckles, like this.” Ellie showed him how, and a nice rap sounded.

Carl grinned at his mother. “You good.” At her nod he copied her actions.

“How about we do this together?” Mother and son rapped on the door, and it flew open, with Inga and five-year-old Grant as greeters. Carl flailed his arms until Ellie put him down, and he ran to the other two cousins.

“Play now?”

“Come with us.” Grant took his hand, and the three dashed off.

“I think the welcoming committee is headed to the backyard to play. We’ll just go on in.” Ellie and Ingeborg followed the sound of female voices to the parlor, where all their friends were gathered.

“Oh, Ingeborg, Ellie, I didn’t hear the doorbell.” Wearing a dress designed to disguise her expanding middle, Sophie crossed the room and took their hands. “Let me introduce you to Mrs. Jeffers. She is such a delight.”

Ellie and Ingeborg allowed themselves to be led across the room and waited while Hildegunn Valders chatted with the newcomer. Finally Sophie interrupted. “Mrs. Jeffers, I’d like you to meet Ingeborg Bjorklund and her daughter-in-law, Ellie. Ingeborg is one of the original settlers who founded Blessing. Ellie is married to Ingeborg’s younger son, Andrew.”

Ellie nodded and smiled. “I am glad to meet you. Welcome to Blessing.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Bjorklund.” Mrs. Jeffers turned to Ingeborg. “My son has spoken of you and your husband so often that I feel like I know you already.”

“Thank you. We did meet the day you arrived on the train, but you were so weary, you probably don’t remember.”

“I remember being greeted by a gentle-voiced woman. Thank you for making me welcome that day too. My time here has been greatly recuperative, and now I am glad to meet so many delightful people.”

“You have a fine son, Mrs. Jeffers. I know he will be a great asset to our community.”

“He most certainly is,” Hildegunn said. “Why, think how much we’ve needed a real business to come to Blessing. Producing machinery that will be available to farmers across the country,” she said, waving her arm in a wide circle. “Isn’t that just marvelous?”

Ingeborg and Kaaren exchanged glances across the room. Farming was not a
real
business? Inside Ingeborg could feel her fume heating up. Her cheese house was not a real business either? Leave it to Hildegunn Valders to sidle up to the new woman in town and at the same time set those who already lived there on edge. She relaxed her jaw and saw Penny standing behind Mrs. Geddick, who was whispering with Mrs. Magron.

“Shame that Mrs. Garrison could not be here,” Sophie whispered as she walked by, the set of her shoulders giving away her disgust. “I know she and her husband are too busy working at their business to relax for an afternoon tea, but I was hoping.”

“What about Maydell?”

“She says that morning sickness is a lie. Even a gentle ride to town was not possible. You think Dr. Elizabeth should go to see her?”

“Perhaps I’ll go see her. She might need a mother more than a doctor. Thanks for telling me.”

The doorbell rang, and Ingeborg went to answer it this time – a good way to get out of the room and back in control of her tongue before she said something unwise.

“Sorry I’m late,” Mary Martha Solberg said as she entered. After one look at Ingeborg’s face, she paused. “Oh-oh. Trouble already. Let me guess, Hildegunn’s mouth is – ”

“Is running away with her, as usual. I’m glad you could come, and I hope you stay nearby to pinch me if I start to respond.” They strolled to the parlor. “Let me introduce you.”

“Will we get a word in edgewise?” Mary Martha, who was excellent at pouring sweet oil on troubled waters, gave Ingeborg a bit of a nudge.

“Pardon me, Hildegunn. Sophie has asked that I introduce Mrs. Solberg to our new guest.”

“Oh, of course.” Hildegunn was all smiles and sweetness again. “Mrs. Jeffers, this is our dear pastor’s wife, Mary Martha Solberg. If you ever need anything, she is a good one to call.”

“Why, thank you, Mrs. Valders,” Mary Martha said. “I am delighted to meet you and so grateful that Sophie, er, Mrs. Wiste, thought to invite us all like this.” Mary Martha leaned forward the slightest bit. “I do hope you will love it here in Blessing like the rest of us do.”

“I’m sure I shall,” Mrs. Jeffers answered, leaning forward herself. “Could you possibly show me the way to the ladies’ room, please?”

“Of course. Right this way.” Mary Martha stepped back, managing to bump Mrs. Valders as she sat next to the guest’s chair. “Pardon me, Mrs. Valders, we’ll be right back.”

As the two walked down the walnut-paneled hall, Mary Martha said, “First doorway on the right.”

“Thank you. This is indeed a lovely house, isn’t it?”

“Yes, and Sophie loves to welcome people both here and at the boardinghouse.”

Mrs. Jeffers continued down the hallway to the bathroom, and Ingeborg joined Mary Martha.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“I am. Just taking a breather.” Mary Martha gave a little snort and straightened, shaking out her skirt in the action. “John keeps reminding me that God loves everyone equally, but I sometimes think some people must try His patience more than others.”

“Of course we are not mentioning names.”

“Right. Nor are we letting a plethora of nonsense –
Plethora
, isn’t that a nice word?”

“It is.”

“We won’t let a plethora of nonsense disturb our serenity and joy in being together for a change.”

“Amen to that.”

“I will go brave the lion’s den, and you will escort our guest to the dining room, where the tea will be served.”

“Yes, my friend, I will do that. I suppose that escaping outside to enjoy the children would be considered a faux pas?”

“Indeed it would.” The two women smiled at each other. “We need to do this more often.” Mary Martha sailed back down the hallway and into the fray.

“Oh, Mrs. Bjorklund . . .” Mrs. Jeffers said as she emerged from the bathroom.

“Yes. Mrs. Solberg had something to attend to. We didn’t want you to get lost here.”

“I see.” Mrs. Jeffers tucked her lawn handkerchief into her waistband and paused. “Isn’t the laughter of children one of God’s greatest gifts?”

“It is. Do you have grandchildren?”

“One for sure and one on the way. My daughter’s children. I am hoping they will decide to come here to Blessing too, as I know Daniel has his heart set on building the business his father dreamed of.”

“You must miss your husband terribly. After all the not knowing what happened.”

“I know my Daniel is in a far better place. The Lord said He has prepared a home for us. For a time all I wanted to do was follow him there, but my son brought me here for a reason, and now I am looking forward to learning my place here.”

Ingeborg nodded. “You have come a long distance, both in miles and in faith, I would say. And health too.”

“I have. Thank you for recognizing that.” She sighed. “I would appreciate it if you called me Amelia.”

“And I am Ingeborg. Your son is named after his father, then?”

“Yes, they even have the same initials, but their middle names are different. My son is Daniel Jacob and his father Daniel John. That is why he is not titled
Junior
or
the second
. I don’t know why we did that. It is confusing.”

“Thank you for the information. Sometimes we did things when younger that we wonder about as we get older.”

“So true. I have a favor to ask. I would like to talk with Mrs. Knutson if you could arrange that.”

“I’ll make sure she sits next to you.” When they entered the dining room, Ingeborg caught Kaaren’s eye. “There, she has a place available beside her.” The two women made their way down the table length. “Kaaren, Mrs. Jeffers – Amelia – has something she’d like to discuss with you. May she sit here?”

“Of course. How fortunate I am.”

Mrs. Jeffers sat down and Ingeborg went to help Sophie and her sister-in-law serve the platters of tiny sandwiches, bars, cookies, even filled tarts and fancy cookies cut across a two-toned roll.

“How absolutely lovely.”

“I found a book on serving teas, and we used those receipts. We need to do things like this more often.”

Knowing she would opt for more simple fare, Ingeborg agreed on principle. Quilting had been left until fall because, with all the gardening and putting food by for the winter, the women felt there just wasn’t time. And there wasn’t, but everyone had commented on how much they missed their get-togethers.

“Have you heard anything more from Astrid?” Mrs. Geddick asked when Ingeborg held the platter for her to choose from.

“No. Nor from Haakan either. But they should be home this week, according to Pastor Solberg.”

“I am so relieved and grateful that our supplies were able to save lives like that. God has given us great opportunities to share the abundance we have been given.”

“He has indeed blessed us mightily,” Ingeborg said.

“Well, it isn’t as if we haven’t worked ourselves nearly to death for what we have,” Hildegunn chimed in.

“That is true,” Mary Martha said. “But the Bible never says we would have a life of ease. Just the opposite. God commends the hard worker in many places and castigates the slothful.”

“Jesus said we are to sow our seeds in good ground, and we have that here,” Dorothy Baard said as she helped herself to the delicate offerings. “My brother settled in northern Minnesota, and he often says he would like to take a wagonload of our good dirt home with him.” Dorothy smiled at Ingeborg. “Your Roald and Carl did a fine job choosing this location with its good soil.”

“Ja, they were careful and strong men of God. Roald often said that this was our promised land, that God led us here and said to stay here.”

“Even now we have things so much easier than you did in the beginning.” Mary Martha shuddered. “I remember living in the soddy. I’ve never been so cold in my life as that winter. Four feet from the stove, and the water bucket had ice on it.” She smiled at those around the table. “Remember how we had to make hay twists to have something to burn in the stove? The clinkers along the railroad tracks were pure gold.”

“I remember when we bought the buggy. Riding in that made me feel like the queen of the land,” Kaaren added. “So when God sends us someone in need, as He has the Indians, I think he is asking for our coat. But Jesus said to give the cloak too. I feel guilty that I have not gone that far.”

“Because we give of our abundance, not like the widow who gave a mite, and Jesus knew it was all she had.”