Book online «Searching for Anna, Jenifer Carll-Tong [cheapest way to read ebooks TXT] 📗». Author Jenifer Carll-Tong

Go to page:

well, but if I can lead a church alone, I can surely travel alone. I don't need an escort. I don't need a guide. This isn't my first train – "

"Already bought my ticket."

"I mean no disrespect, but – "

"Listen, darlin' I know you're prepared for this mission God is sending you on. I believe you can do anything God calls you to do. As your pastor, I'm proud of you and your determination. But as your father," he looked her in the eyes, "As your father, I need to make sure you get to your assignment safely. This father needs to baby his daughter one last time – before he has to finally admit that she's all grown up and doesn't need him anymore. You won't deny me that, will ya?"

"No, Daddy," she said, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"Good. Well, we had better get on board. John, you'll be sure to check in on Ruth and Sarah for me? I'll be back within the week."

Once on board, Phoebe located a window seat where she could see her family on the platform.

"Daddy?" she said as he sat down beside her.

"Yes?"

She tried to form words to express what the gesture of accompanying her meant — sure, she talked bravely to Sarah, and there had been no difficulty in loudly proclaiming her intentions once the decision had been made, but inside, secretly, Phoebe was scared to death. In the end, she could only manage a weak, "Thank you."

He patted her hand. "No, darlin'. Thank you."

Phoebe waved frantically out the window as the train pulled away. Sarah ran alongside the train, waving and hollering goodbye until she ran out of platform. Phoebe watched her until her silhouette was so small, she was unrecognizable among those around her. It was at this point, when Phoebe could no longer see her sisters or her mother, that it became real to her. Very real. There was no turning back. She was moving hundreds of miles from home, away from everyone she loved. She was moving to the Upper Peninsula – a place she had never even visited.

Try as she might, she couldn't keep tears from welling up. She glanced over at her father. His eyes were closed.

'Dear God,' she prayed silently. 'How am I to answer your call to Iron Falls if I can't make it five minutes from Lansing without breaking down?'

She began playing her father's prayer over in her mind, and it comforted her. He had prayed for guidance and for workers to help her. She remembered him asking for strength in the tough times. Right now is one of those times, Lord. He had also prayed that God would begin preparing the hearts of her congregation before she'd even arrived. Knowing how big God was and believing that he was already at work brought joy to her heart.

The more she thought about the prayer, the calmer she became. She laid her head back and allowed her mind to replay more of the prayer. He had asked that she listen to God's plan, even when it didn't align with her own. This made her smile. How well her father knew her! Sometimes Phoebe got so caught up in doing God's work, that she forgot to listen to God's voice.

Then she remembered the end of his prayer…he had prayed for Will. He prayed for his safety and thanked him for the sacrifices he makes…

"Daddy?"

"Hmph?" her father answered without opening his eyes.

"Your prayer for Will – you mentioned sacrifices he has made for our family. What did you mean by that?"

"Well, I guess that's a story for Will to tell, not me."

"I guess I'll never know, then."

"Hmph," he grunted and pulled his hat over his eyes.

The first leg of the trip was exhausting. All the jerking and constant stopping gave Phoebe a headache but didn't seem to bother Reverend Albright in the least. More than once Phoebe had to elbow her father because his snoring had become so loud that others were beginning to stare.

When they finally stopped for lunch, Phoebe was elated to stretch her muscles. Most of the passengers funneled into the dining establishment in the station, but from Phoebe's experience, those restaurants were overpriced and the food under-seasoned. Besides, Mrs. Albright had been so afraid they would go hungry that she had packed a basket full of enough food for the entire passenger car, and Phoebe was sure there would be some of her favorites in there.

Several outside tables were set up for passengers to use, but by the time Phoebe and her father stepped off the train, they were all taken. One table, on the very end, had only one gentleman seated at it. Reverend Albright approached him.

"Excuse me, my boy, but would you mind if my daughter and I shared your table with you?"

The young man looked up, and Phoebe saw that he was indeed that – a young man. He couldn't have been a day over fifteen. He smiled and Phoebe recognized him from the Grand Trunk Station.

"Yes sir, I'd be happy to share." He looked at Phoebe and blushed.

"You're from Lansing, too," she said as she sat across from the boy. "I saw you saying goodbye to your mother."

He pulled at his collar. "Yeah, my ma made quite a scene. It was embarrassing."

"I thought it was sweet," Phoebe said, remembering the older woman's loud crying. "It just shows how much she cares."

Phoebe opened their basket. Just as she thought… plenty of all her favorites: roast beef sandwiches, cold fried chicken, berries from Mrs. Albright's garden, a jar of her pickles, apple turnovers and nut tarts.

"I wonder where I can find a water pump?" Phoebe wondered out loud.

"Let me get it for ya, ma'am," said their lunch companion, grabbing the cups Phoebe held and running off.

Phoebe smiled after the boy. She turned to her father, who was frowning at the table.

"I'm feeling mighty over-blessed right about now," he said, motioning to the young man's lunch.

Phoebe's eyes followed her father's. An unwrapped piece of brown paper lay on the table, its only contents: three hard boiled eggs and two apples.

Phoebe shrugged. "Well, I guess we know why mother packed so much food – God knew who we were going to sit with all along."

Her father's face softened and looked at her doubtfully. "If he'll accept it. You don't want to bruise his pride."

The young man returned with the cups full of cold water.

"Thank you so much," Phoebe said. "Oh dear, we don't even know your name."

"It's Wendell. Wendell Jackson, ma'am."

"Well, Wendell Jackson, I am Phoebe Albright, and this is my father, Reverend James Albright."

"Pleased to meet ya both."

"Wendell, we appreciate you sharing your table," Phoebe said. "But I have another favor. You see, my mother packed far too much food, and there isn't any way we could possibly eat it all. Would you be a dear and help us eat this lunch?"

"Oh, I couldn't, ma'am. I couldn't eat your lunch."

Despite his youth, Wendell Jackson donned a manful pride far beyond his age. His shoulders, not quite the width they would reach some day, straightened and lifted, as if accustomed to bearing a weight the world could not see. His eyes spoke another story, though, one that although silent to Phoebe, tugged at something deep inside of her. That hidden story, and the gaunt appearance of the boy caused Phoebe to stand her ground. Pride, no matter how noble, would not fill a growing boy's stomach.

"But it will just go to waste. You don't want that, do you?"

His shoulders lightened a little and he laughed. "No, ma'am. Of course, I don't want that."

"Then, that's settled." Phoebe smiled and began dividing the food.

"But I…" Wendell sputtered, looking back and forth between his lunch partners, seemingly at a loss. "I didn't say –"

"So, Wendell, where ya headed?" Reverend Albright asked, ending the conversation.

Still appearing a little stunned, Wendell picked up the sandwich Phoebe placed before him. "The Upper Peninsula, sir, to a town called Iron Falls."

"Hey, you don't say! That's where Miss Albright here is headed as well."

The young man's face lit up. "Really? That's great!" He began to blush again. "I mean, well – " he stammered a bit. "Well, you must be meetin' your husband up there?"

"No, Wendell. I'm not married."

He looked confused. "Then why ya headin' up there? Most girls wouldn't be caught dead going to the U.P."

Phoebe suppressed a laugh. "I'm the new pastor of Iron Falls."

His brow furrowed as he looked at her. "Are you teasin' me?"

"No, I promise you I am very serious."

He thought for another moment, nodded his head, and smiled.

"Well, I think that's great. My Ma would have made a great preacher, you know. She's always lecturing to me from the Bible. You excited?"