A Heart for Home (16 page)

“What do you think Astrid will find for us to do next?” A chuckle made its way around the table at Penny’s sally.

“So what year did you come here?” Mrs. Jeffers asked Kaaren.

“We came in 1880. Twenty-four years ago. When I think of all that has happened in these twenty-four years . . .” She paused and shook her head. “More than anyone could have dreamed of, I think. Ingeborg kept us alive and saved our land after our husbands died.”

“And you refused to allow me to live in the black pit of despair that I fell into. God kept us together for a reason. Two women proving up a homestead. But we had friends. The Baards came first. I will never have a dearer friend than Agnes Baard.”

“And one winter, we were near to dying in a little shack. My father had died, and we were sick when the Bjorklunds found us and took us in.” Ellie smiled at Ingeborg. “I was such a little girl, but Andrew said right from the first that one day he was going to marry up with me. He was my champion all through school.”

Mrs. Jeffers leaned forward and looked around the table. “Is there someone here who is writing these wonderful stories down? Surely this is an important part of the history of this region. I know things were difficult for early settlers, no matter where they went, but this is fascinating.”

“I know Thorliff has written some things down. He’s turned other events into stories. Some he’s published in his own newspaper, some in others.”

“Someone needs to write a book.”

“Well, it surely won’t be me,” Sophie said. “Would anyone like more to drink? There’s still plenty of food left.”

As everyone declined, Mrs. Jeffers smiled and continued. “Didn’t my son tell me that many of the women here have businesses of their own?”

“We’ll go around the table on this one. I own a cheese house, and we ship cheese all across the country.” Ingeborg smiled.

Penny spoke next. “And I own the general store. I sold it for a while but then took it back.”

“That imposter who almost destroyed the business?”

“Yes. That was a hard time.” Penny looked to Rebecca Valders.

“I own the ice cream and soda shop, but I close it up for the winter.”

Mrs. Valders chimed in. “Well, I don’t exactly own a business of my own, but I am the postmistress, and my husband runs the bank.”

“I see,” Mrs. Jeffers said with a smile. “Important positions.”

“Sophie owns the boardinghouse. Her grandmother willed it to her,” Ellie said.

“And my mother owns a school for the deaf because her daughter Grace, my twin sister, was born without hearing,” Sophie said when it came her turn. “Mor learned sign language to teach us all how to talk with Grace.”

“I own the surgery, or rather Thorliff and I do,” Elizabeth said, continuing the introductions. “He built the house. In medicine it is called a practice rather than owning, but I’m the doctor here. Along with Astrid, when she comes home again.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Garrison own the grocery store.”

“Such industry going on here,” Mrs. Jeffers declared. “I am certainly glad that my son came here and decided to build the business here. I think we will fit right in.” She smiled at Sophie. “You are such a dear for welcoming me this way. Thank you.”

As the women stood and the conversation increased, Ingeborg stood by Kaaren. “A most interesting afternoon.”

“I agree. Kind of the lull before the storm, with harvest so close upon us. I think we need a party once all our children get home and before others leave. Why don’t you suggest it?”

“Why don’t you?”

“Because you are the party instigator, along with Sophie, of course.”

“However, if I suggest it, you know Hildegunn will argue about it, and I’ve gotten by without an argument today. I don’t want to break my record.”

Kaaren grinned and shook her head. “Maybe I can get Penny to bring it up.” She moved to Penny’s side and waited while she said good-bye to Mrs. Jeffers. As Penny turned to leave, Kaaren touched her arm.

“Yes, Kaaren?”

“Didn’t I hear you mention we needed a party before harvest begins?”

“No, but I think it is a marvelous idea. Harvest is still two weeks out?”

“I think so.”

“Good.” Penny raised her voice. “What do you all think of having a pre-harvest party?”

“Where?”

“Our barns are full of hay.”

“What about the schoolhouse? The play yard is packed hard enough for dancing. We can have a fire there and serve the food inside. If it rains we could move the party inside like we have in the past.”

“Good, I’ll tell Thorliff to put an announcement in the paper.” Ingeborg smiled at Mrs. Valders. “So good to see you, Hildegunn. You are usually behind the counter. I’m glad you could take time off to join us for the tea.”

“Why, thank you. It’s good to see you too.”

Ingeborg could tell by the puzzled look on her nemesis’s face that she’d caught her off guard. Maybe that was the best way to handle the woman, so there would be no more confrontations. Maybe.

13

R
OSEBUD
I
NDIAN
R
ESERVATION
S
OUTH
D
AKOTA

“Dear Lord, do I take them with me or hope they come on their own?”

Astrid paced the width of the infirmary building again. Not that pacing helped her to think any better or to pray with more attention, but she couldn’t seem to sit or stand still. While she’d written of her idea in the letter to Elizabeth, there had not been a way to get an answer back before they left. Her far and the boys had the wagon packed with their things, including some gifts from her grateful Sioux friends.

If only Red Hawk were there. If only she knew for certain he was coming to this forsaken tribe rather than going to the main Rosebud station. If only. She knew better than to think that way. God said He would provide, and He would. When and how being the only questions.

This particular question involved the two older women who had been so faithful in caring for the sick members of their tribe. While she could tell they didn’t always agree with her methods, they were willing to learn and to follow her instructions. Wouldn’t that be a remarkable gift to give to Red Hawk – two nurses, minimally trained, for sure, but ready and eager to learn more? When they returned they would be able to bring medical supplies back with them, if the people of Blessing would continue with their generosity.

So now what to do?

“Dr. Bjorklund, are you all right?”

“Yes, of course.” She turned to greet Mr. Moore, the Indian agent. “How may I help you?”

“Mrs. Moore said she talked with you, and you told her that all her symptoms indicate she is . . .” He heaved a sigh and stared at his dusty shoes, then looked up at her again, red heat creeping up his neck. “Uh . . .” Another deep breath.

Astrid took pity on him and said gently, “In the family way?”

His nod and flash of a smile thanked her. “She wants me to take her back home to her mother, so she will be closer to a doctor.”

“I know.” She schooled her face so as to conceal her opinion of his wife’s idea.

“Do you think that is necessary?”

Oh, I wish you’ d not asked me that.
Astrid swallowed a sigh. “That is between the two of you. I know she is not happy here.”
But she is
making no effort to make friends or show any caring for the Indians.
“Cooping herself up in the house is not good for her health or the baby’s. She needs to walk or garden or do something to build the muscles for childbearing.”
Even scrubbing the floors would help, or
cooking. She needs to get moving.
If only she dared say these things aloud.

“I wish you could stay here or come back when she is close to her time.”

Heaven forbid. She would be up in arms if I told her what I believe
is necessary for a successful pregnancy
.
Sitting around in corsets and all
those clothes can only cause problems.
Astrid knew that nearly fifty percent of babies didn’t make it to their first birthday, if they even lived through delivery. And so many women died in childbirth, mostly, she was convinced, because of the corset and lack of exercise. Farm women did far better than city women. Why couldn’t women listen to common sense?

He heaved another sigh and slowly shook his head. “I was just beginning to get things in order here, and to leave it now means that by the time I can return, I will have to start all over again.” He sounded so sad, Astrid felt even worse for him.

“You could get her to the train and let her return to her home that way. That wouldn’t take as long.”

He half snorted. “Perhaps. If I had any sense of certainty that she would return.” He looked out across the hills. “I am just beginning to see the beauty in this place, to value these people that I am serving, to see them responding. Thanks to you and your folks here, there is still enough of the tribe alive that they can grow again and return to being the proud people I recognize them to be.”

“Mr. Moore, I wish there were some way I could help you, but I don’t see how.”

“Yes, well, thank you for trying. Thank you for keeping these people alive. I do hope that when Dr. Red Hawk comes, he will continue your good work.”

“Thank you.” She paused, trying to decide whether to confide in him or not. “I have an idea that I would like to discuss with you.”

“Of course, I am at your service.”

“You know the two women, Gray Smoke and Shy Fawn?” At his nod, she continued. “I would like to invite them to come with me back to Blessing and give them some training in medical things so that when Red Hawk comes, these two women will be able to assist him.”

“And you are leaving? When?”

“Tomorrow morning. But I could delay one more day, if they would come.”

“Have you mentioned this to He Who Walks Tall?”

“No. Nor to the women.”
Nor to any of the people in Blessing, other
than in my letter to Elizabeth.

“What does Mr. Bjorklund say about this?”

“He is ambivalent. My father has a gift of seeing both sides of a situation. The good and the bad.”

“The bad being they would leave their own people and their way of life and stay with white strangers who do not know the Indian way of life,” he said. “Some of whom may be anti-Indian.”

“Yes, but the good side is that they will return with skills to help their people and Dr. Red Hawk. They could learn some of the white man’s language. Red Hawk, by the way, speaks excellent English and could be a fine doctor anywhere. He has a deep appreciation for the needs of his people. Hopefully, these women will see Christian love in action and be drawn to faith.”

“You wish you could help me, and I wish I could help you.” He stuffed his hands into his back pockets and studied the ground, shaking his head. “You could talk to He Who Walks Tall. He could help you the most.”

“Thank you for your time, Mr. Moore. I shall continue to pray about this. And I will pray for you and Mrs. Moore too.”

“Thank you.”

“Go with God.”

She turned and walked back to the wagon, where Haakan was greasing the axles. Samuel and Johnny were brushing the horses and checking the harnesses.

“What did he say?” Haakan asked, looking up from his task.

“His wife wants to go home to her mother to have their baby, and while he didn’t say so exactly, he wants to stay here.”

“Ah, quite a quandary.”

“He asked if I would come back near her time, but Red Hawk will be here by then, and he knows how to birth babies.”

“You can’t be everywhere at the same time.”

“I know. But I am back to my ongoing question. What is it God wants me to do in this particular instance? Take the two women back with me for training or leave them here? Offer to return for Mrs. Moore’s lying in? I have a feeling she will not listen to my advice and will have a hard time carrying the baby and birthing it too, let alone recovering from the ordeal. I feel sorry for Mr. Moore.”

“Ja, me too.” Haakan straightened and twisted his body from side to side. “I am ready for my bed at home. I know your mor is praying and watching for us every day. I believe our job is finished here – at least for now. And I am glad Red Hawk will be here before the fall sets in. Perhaps he can be more instrumental in the tribe receiving all they have been promised.”

“One thing I know for certain: Red Hawk believes in the value of education and learning to live and thrive in the white man’s world. Yet he is very proud of his heritage as a Lakota Sioux Indian.”

She found He Who Walks Tall sitting under a tree, his back board braced by the trunk so he could breathe more easily. After they exchanged greetings, she sucked in a breath and began. “I have a favor to ask of you, involving something that will be of benefit to your people.” He nodded for her to continue. “I would like to take Gray Smoke and Shy Fawn with me to Blessing to be trained as nurses. I could ask Dr. Red Hawk to stop in Blessing when he is done in Chicago and bring them back here with him. They have been a great help to me, and if they could learn more skills, you would have better health care here.”

He studied her, his face so impassive that at first she wasn’t even sure he understood what she was asking. Except she knew he spoke English but disliked using it.

“What if they do not want to go?”

“That would be their choice.”
But I know that if you as the future
chief ordered them to go, they would do so.

“And your people are inviting them?”

That was the sore point. “Some are . . . Well, most would be.”

“And Dr. Red Hawk approves?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. But I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t. I will contact him as soon as I am able.”

“And send them back if he says no?”

“I know he wishes for all his people to be educated, and this would be an education for the two women. I have a feeling they were beyond school age when the tribes lived closer.”

“You are correct.”

“But they learned quickly as they helped me.”

“My people are not stupid.”

“No, of course not. I meant . . .” Astrid heaved a sigh of frustration. Why was he twisting her words?