He Hideth My Soul: Orphans of the West, #3

By Faith Blum

He’s never had the courage to love anyone…

The only thing Otis Miller has ever wanted to be is a doctor and he wants to be the best. A surprise talk with his Aunt Eleanor days before his twenty-first birthday leads to a visit from his grandfather’s lawyer and the discovery that he is the heir to a large fortune. With all the papers signed, Otis heads to Chicago to follow his dream.

After graduating from Jenner Medical School, Otis goes to the mine he owns in Colorado to see how things are and to provide medical care for everyone in town. He finds horrible working conditions and learns to make difficult decisions that will be best for all

Will Otis learn to let God cover him in the depths of His love? Can Otis hide in God’s presence whenever he doesn’t know where to go next?

Note: 50% of my income from this series will go to the World Orphans organization.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Faith Blum
• Release date: Feb 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386775973

Book preview

Other Titles by Faith Blum

Hymns of the West Series

A Mighty Fortress

Be Thou My Vision

Amazing Grace

Lily of the Valley

The Solid Rock

Hymns of the West: The Complete Series

Hymns of the West Novellas Series

I Love Thee

Pass Me Not

Redeemed

Hymns of the West Novellas: Volume One

Just a Closer Walk

Just As I Am

Blessed Assurance

Hymns of the West Novellas: Volume Two

Short Stories

Where the Light May Lead

Heaven’s Jubilee And Other Short Stories

Faith is the Victory

The Light Leads to Hope and Peace

Christ Arose

Orphans of the West

Savior, Like a Shepherd

All the Way My Savior Leads

Orphans of the West Novellas

’Tis So Sweet

To all those who save lives and care for the sick and wounded.

Your sacrifices are noticed and appreciated.

Table of Contents

1. Inheritance

2. Joshua

3. Dr. Benson

4. Lincoln Parker, Esq.

5. Decisions and Problems

6. Tyrel

7. Preparations

8. Fort Wayne

9. Picking Apples

10. The Mill and Factory

11. Amy

12. Chicago

13. Tragedy

14. Robert

15. Colorado

16. Changes

17. Sarah, Olive, and Ellis

18. A Beginning and an Ending

19. Trouble

20. Marriage and Threats

21. Letters

22. Engaged

23. Wedding Bells

24. Conflict

25. Lunchbox Social

26. Running

27. Decisions

28. He Hideth My Soul

Epilogue

Special Preview of ’Tis So Sweet

Special Preview of He Leadeth Me

Special Thanks

About the Author

1. Inheritance

April 14, 1889

Dear future wife,

These letters are my way of trying to keep from going deep into despondency again. At least that is my hope. In them, you will learn more about me than anyone has ever known before.

The thing I’ve most wanted in my life was to know how to love—truly love—but Pa had taken that from me. Now I just want to be more than just a country doctor. There is nothing wrong with country doctors, but I want to know more. Is that too much to ask for? I pray not. But Jenner Medical School is always just out of reach.

Someday. Someday, I will get there. Someday I will be able to help people like my mot—. No, I can’t talk about that right now. Not even with you.

Sincerely,

Otis Miller

***

A month after writing the letter, Otis Miller walked home from Dr. Benson’s to his Aunt Eleanor’s cottage. The snow had finally all melted, allowing some grass to grow as well as a few brave flowers.

Aunt Eleanor opened the door before he had a chance to knock on it, her grin almost outshining the sun. She pulled him in for a tight hug and he gladly hugged her back.

It is good to see you again, Aunt Eleanor.

I’m so glad you came, too. Come sit down.

He followed her into the small home and sat in the chair furthest from the fire. How have you been?

Aunt Eleanor waggled her eyebrows. Is this a professional visit or a personal one?

Otis chuckled. Personal.

Aunt Eleanor nodded once. Good. I am doing just fine. You know you shouldn’t worry about me. But enough about me, I actually had a few things to tell you. When is your birthday again?

Otis cocked his head. May twentieth. Why?

She leaned back in her chair. When I first arrived here, I told you my father was a wealthy man and had disowned Grover—your father—for something he had done.

He nodded but said nothing. Had she invited him over for a family history lesson?

When Father came shortly after I did, it wasn’t just to see Grover. He also came to visit his grandchildren, especially you.

Otis started. Why me?

Aunt Eleanor leaned back. My parents had only two living children. Me and Grover. Father wanted to keep the inheritance in the family from son to son. Father came to see if you would turn out like Grover in any way. When he got back to Fort Wayne, he rewrote his will to make you his heir as soon as you turn twenty-one unless he lived longer than that. She looked down at her lap. Since he died two years ago, and you turn twenty-one soon, you will inherit it all.

The tea kettle whistled, and Aunt Eleanor got up, poured the tea into two cups, brought one to him, and kept the other.

Otis wrapped his hands around the cup. What does that all mean exactly?

It means you are a young man who can now do pretty much anything with his life.

Why wasn’t I told sooner?

She sighed and took a sip of her tea. Father wanted it to be kept quiet until your twenty-first birthday. Grover had many bad moments as a child, but he didn’t go really wild until he was eighteen. Father didn’t want a repeat of that. He needn’t have worried, though. You are nothing like your father, and I commend you for it.

His face grew warm and it wasn’t from the tea he had been drinking. Only by God’s grace. There was a pause as Otis hesitated to ask the question on his mind. What did Pa do to get disowned?

Aunt Eleanor scrunched her nose and rested the teacup in her lap. I was afraid you would ask that. She took a deep breath. He refused to marry the mother of his first child.

Otis’s hands shook, and he set the cup down on the table in front of him before he spilled the tea. We have an older brother or sister?

She nodded and kept her eyes down. A sister; Serena. Her mother married a wonderful young man who welcomed Serena as his own. They have three other children as well.

Does Serena know who her real pa is?

No, Hannah didn’t want her to know.

Where does she live?

Aunt Eleanor smiled. Fort Wayne, Indiana, the town I grew up in. She was the schoolteacher there after I left to come here until she married about four years ago.

He saw the look of longing cross her face. You miss her, don’t you?

She stared into the distance. Yes.

Otis picked up his cup and drank the last of his tea before leaning forward. Back to Grandpa. Do I have to go somewhere to claim this inheritance, or is it now sitting in my bank account?

Aunt Eleanor shook herself. Father’s lawyer is on his way here as we speak to give you all the details. You’ll have to make a few decisions about some things, I think. But I’m sure he’ll be fine with you taking a few days to think about them and ask for counsel.

Do you know what all is in the inheritance?

She shrugged. Not really. I know Father had a farm, a mill for planing wood into boards, and a furniture factory in Fort Wayne. There may be more, too, but I don’t know.

He stroked his chin. Lots to think about, I guess.

Yes, it is. I will keep praying for you.

Thank you.

But maybe now you can go to Jenner Medical School.

Otis blinked. I... I suppose I could. If there’s enough money.

Aunt Eleanor smiled. Of course.

Otis stood up and put his teacup with the rest of her dirty dishes. I should get home before Ellis and Carter eat all of the food without me. Thank you for telling me before the lawyer arrived.

You’re welcome. I knew you would need the warning.

He smiled and gave her a hug. Thank you. Take care of yourself. Apparently I’m a rich man now and can take care of you if you ever want to stop teaching.

She pushed him away and stood up. I’m perfectly healthy. I may be nearing fifty, but I can still handle the older boys at school and they know it.

He grinned. All you have to do is raise your eyebrows in a certain threatening way and stare them down and they’ll stop. That look is downright scary.

Aunt Eleanor chuckled. Make sure you never do anything requiring me to use the look. Even if you aren’t in school anymore.

Otis saluted. Yes, ma’am. I’ll certainly try. I should get back home or I’ll be late for supper.

She shooed him toward the door. There’s no call for you to keep an old woman company when family is waiting, especially when you have such good news to tell. Go on now, and I’ll see you in a few days when the lawyer comes.

He gave her a peck on the cheek. Goodbye, Auntie Ellie.

She swatted at him, and he dodged out of her reach.

Goodbye, you rascal, she called as Otis rushed out through the front door.

He laughed as he walked toward the ranch. She had always hated the name Ellie, and when his sisters, brothers, and himself teasingly called her Auntie Ellie once, she had a fit. They rarely called her by the name anymore and then only when they wanted to annoy her.

Partway to the ranch, it suddenly hit him that he would have the money to go to medical school now. He could finally learn more so no one else would have to suffer as his mother did. At medical school, he could learn everything he needed to know to treat anyone who came to him. With an extra bounce in his step, he hurried home.

***

Otis got home just in time for supper, but that wasn’t unusual. Dr. Benson never really had set hours and so neither did he. He decided to ease his hunger pangs before he told the family the news of the day. He had always worded things better on a full stomach, and he hadn’t had time for lunch today.

Around the table with him were Mr. and Mrs. Brookings, an older couple with five grown children of their own, who had taken him, his brothers, and his sisters in after their father abandoned them. Also there were Olive, his beautiful nineteen-year-old sister; Ellis, a very precocious and mischievous sixteen-year-old; Mary, fourteen, quiet, and unassuming; and the baby of the family, Carter, who was eleven and much the same as Ellis.

When he’d almost finished eating and there was a lull in the conversation, Otis decided it was time. I talked to Aunt Eleanor today.

How’s she doing? Olive asked.

Better than most women her age, he said. She told me something interesting today, though.

Carter set his fork down. What?

Grandpa Miller made me his heir before he died.

No one so much as twitched for a full fifteen seconds. And yes, he did count.

Ellis recovered first. What?

Otis chuckled. I was surprised, too.

Does that mean you’re rich? Carter asked.

I don’t know, Otis said. It might. And it might not. I’ll know more in a few days when the lawyer comes.

Does this mean you’ll be leaving us? Mary asked.

He put a hand on her arm. Maybe. If I can get accepted to Jenner Medical School, I would be leaving.

You want to go to medical school? Carter asked.

Otis nodded. I want to know as much as I can so... his throat clogged up and he cleared it, ...so nothing would happen like it did with Ma.

Mrs. Brookings rubbed her chin. What do you mean?

Otis kept his eyes on the table and picked at the grain of the wood. Pa refused to let us get Dr. Benson when Ma was dying. That’s when I started wanting to become a doctor. I know I can’t help those who refuse to tell me their problem, but I want to be able to help everyone who does ask, no matter their illness.

There was silence for a while in the room. Otis didn’t think he could break it without choking on his words.

Mary leaned closer to him. I’d miss you a lot, Otis, but I think you will make an excellent doctor.

Otis patted her hand. Thank you, Mary.

What about the rest of the money? Does he have any properties? Ellis asked.

Aunt Eleanor said he has a farm, mill, and factory. Otherwise, I don’t know yet. I’m waiting to find out what all I own first and then decide what to do about it. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch.

Good idea, Mr. Brookings said.

No one seemed to know what to say next, so after a short pause, he asked, Would it be all right for me to go to Joshua’s and tell him and stay overnight if he’ll let me?

Mr. and Mrs. Brookings exchanged a glance and both nodded.

That is a good idea, Mrs. Brookings said. Joshua will want to know.

Thank you, Otis said. He ate the rest of his meal hurriedly, skipped dessert, and cleaned up his dishes, then packed a saddlebag for an overnight stay.

Otis didn’t have many friends; lots of acquaintances, but few were real friends. Joshua was one of those few. They had hit it off right away when Joshua was home long enough. They had even gone on a trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and back once. Boy, that trip was exciting. Rescuing a kidnapped baby, wrapping up some loose ends on one of Joshua’s cases, and all sorts of things. But that’s another story.

Joshua and Otis were quite different in many respects, but they still became good friends. Of course, the fact he had three of the most adorable children in Montana probably helped some.

As soon as he had a change of clothes and his Bible packed, Otis headed out to Joshua’s house on his horse, Blaze.

2. Joshua

May 13, 1889

Dear future wife,

Today I learned that I would inherit all of my grandfather’s money and property in about a week. I don’t know what all it contains yet and I don’t really care. What I do care about is that I can most likely go to Jenner Medical College.

In my last letter, I mentioned that I couldn’t talk about why I wanted to be more than a country doctor. Well, I told my family and the Brookings family, so I suppose I should tell you. It’s kind of silly, actually.

My mother died in childbirth because my father refused to let the doctor come. After watching her slowly die an agonizing death, I was filled with the desire to become a doctor. Even though no doctor could have saved my mother since Pa refused to let them come, I want to become the best doctor possible so I can heal people no matter their ailment. Silly, right? But that’s who I am.

Sincerely,

Otis Miller

***

Unca Otith! a little voice exclaimed as the door opened at his knock.

Otis laughed, picked the three year old boy up, and spun him around. How’s my Andrew tonight?

Not tired, but Mama wanth me to go to bed.

An exasperated sigh alerted Otis to another presence. Andrew, your father is waiting for you.

Otis set him down and knelt next to him. You need to listen to your mother. She knows what is best for you.

He pouted. But I wanna play wif you.

Soon, but not tonight.

Promise?

I promise.

His lower lip inched out more and Otis gave it a tweak. Goodnight, Andrew.

Andrew shuffled to the back room, and Otis stood up with an apologetic smile. Sorry.

Priscilla chuckled lightly. Don’t be. He was being disobedient before you came.

Has Joshua done the evening chores yet?

No, I haven’t, but they can wait, Joshua said from behind Otis. What brings you here tonight?

Priscilla cleared her throat. Perhaps we should go sit down?

Joshua hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. Right. Sorry, it’s been a long day.

Otis smiled. Not a problem.

Priscilla led them to the parlor and went to get some tea.

How have you been? Otis asked.

Not too bad, he replied. Life’s ups and downs make things difficult and interesting, but have hopefully made us trust God more, too.

Otis nodded. It usually does if you are trying to follow Him in the first place.

Priscilla returned with the tea and gave both of them a cup. So what does bring you here tonight? It must be exciting.

Otis blinked. Why do you say that?

Priscilla sat down and cuddled close to Joshua. I know you like to hide your feelings a lot, but the ready smile is something you only do when you are excited.

Otis sighed. Detectives. You can’t hide anything from them, can you? I feel sorry for your children.

Joshua laughed. I’m about to burst from curiosity. What’s happened?

Priscilla picked up her knitting, and Otis told them the events of his day since leaving work. Joshua’s mouth dropped open, and Priscilla’s knitting slowed. Otis waited almost half a minute for a response.

I’m very happy for you, Otis! Priscilla exclaimed.

Joshua nodded. Me, too. Any idea why Miss Miller teaches if she’s from a rich family?

Otis shrugged. She loves teaching and I don’t think she’d like to sit around and do nothing.

Does this mean you’ll be going to Indiana? Priscilla asked.

"Probably. I’m waiting to make plans until after