Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) (9 page)

“Not sure my stomach could handle that either.” Clive said with a grimace.

“Mine turned the moment I got home last night. Still feeling a bit sour from the memory.” JQ shared. His frown was exaggerated and Angela fought off the giggles.

Angela was already enjoying the banter between father and son.

“How is it possible you have a grandson old enough to be married?” Angela asked to see how they would both respond.

“Well, since you seem old enough to know about the birds and the bees, I figure you know how. But as my unusual vigor and handsome youthful appearance has fooled many onlookers I have had to explain this before.” Clive lifted his hat and did a quick vain stroke of his salt and pepper locks before settling back on his head. “I had J.Q. when my bride and I were quite young. We moved out west and she was settled here and I set traps all up and down the coast while she manned the Hudson Bay store nearer to the coast.  J.Q. and his brother were 8 and 10 when their ma passed on of yellow fever, some of the Indians had it and she was always checking on the families. She had such a loving heart. The boys and I made do for a while until we headed back east and settled in Indiana when I had remarried again. I got the itch to come west again and had a few job offers from the government to translate and communicate with some bureaucrats in Washington. I also did some peace talkin’ with a few tribes I was in good relations with.

We came back and resettled in the West and my sons help me now with the stores I have spread along the coast. I miss trappin’ sometimes. It is a quiet, peaceful way to live. The forest being a mysterious thing to tame, but running my stores and keeping my family gainfully employed is always a challenge.” Clive shared.

J.Q. Harrumphed. “Gainfully employed… We allow you to do what you want to do, which is to gallivant around like a stray dog.” J.Q. winked at Angela and was rewarded with a smile.

“Stray dog.” Clive huffed. He had no quippy comeback so he let it drop, he wasn’t truly offended. Just amused that his son had him pegged.

Angela left after getting more details from Clive about the trip they would be taking in a few days. She felt confident that Clive knew what he was doing. She could trust him to keep her safe.

She had some goodbyes to say before she left, also some packing to do and had a few walks to take before she went away.. She wanted to take Oregon with her because she knew this was that closest thing to home she had had in way too long.

* * * * *

The church was newly built and sturdy, the community pitched in together and built it as a schoolhouse for those on the outskirts of town. The rural community liked its location just on the edge of town. It was easier for the children to get there and the family thought the location for church services was a good one too. They didn’t have to go all the way into town.

Angela enjoyed the preaching from the minister, Pastor Whittlan. He was witty and charming in his style and wasn’t one to yell as he preached. Corinne and Lucas sat in the same row with the Chelsea and Russell. Brody was trying to make mischief but with so many family members in the row he wasn’t allowed much trouble. He ended up in Angela’s lap for at least half the service. He was a little squirmy at first but Angela was finally able to concentrate on the service.

The sermon was a one that was very practical about taking the time to lean on God and tell him your troubles. Angela felt compelled to spend more time in prayer and trusting God to guide her steps. She was enjoying the camaraderie of the small church and since she knew so many people already from the extended family of Corinne, she fit right in. She knew she was leaving the next day and had that twinge of regret that she would be halting the growth she had begun in this community.

With the service over and the young boy free from her lap, she stood and turned around to see Marie behind her. Marie gave her a wave from two rows back and Angela excused herself through the talking crowd to talk to Marie.

“I wanted to make sure I said goodbye.” Angela said.

“I will miss your company, Angie.” Marie said with sincerity in her voice.

“I do not know how long I shall be gone but I know I will be coming home.” Angela stated. “You all have made my life vastly better and I cannot express how much you mean to me.”

“My prayers will be daily for you and your brother.” Marie promised. “I will write and pray. I have started an afghan for you and hope to give it to you when you return.”

Angela was touched. “You have such a generous heart, Marie. Thank you.”

Marie and Angela talked for a few more minutes about her trip and John came over and said “goodbye.” Cooper gave her a hug around her middle and even squeezed out a few tears.

“I hope you will be back by the spring. I wanted to do more fishing. I catch the best fish in the summertime but the mud is good for catching worms in the spring.” Cooper stated. He was frowning and it melted Angela’s heart.

“I will miss you Cooper.” Angela said and meant it.

“Okay, just bring me back some gold dust.” He said seriously.

“Deal. I will try and get you some genuine gold dust.”

* * * * *

Corinne and Lucas helped her load up her two trunks and they all had dinner at the hotel downtown. It had a nice restaurant that served good food. Angela shared her hotel room that night with Corinne. Lucas rode back on horseback and left the buggy for Corinne at the stables next door.

Corinne tried to be brave and not cry about her closest friend leaving but she lost her composure once or twice.

“I won’t stay away too long. I promise.” Angela said when Corinne teared up near bedtime. “I have to try and find him. It’s the right thing to do. He has money set aside for him. And he needs to know that I am here now.” Angela didn’t really need to explain but she felt sad about causing pain to her friend.

“I truly know this. I do not begrudge you the right to reunite with him.” Corinne sniffed and held her handkerchief near her red nose. “I just pray you find him soon and bring him back to Oregon.”

“I have no idea if he would want to come to Oregon. But I can sure try.” Angela smiled to try and cheer her friend.

“Oh, I got this for you.” Corinne said and handed her a wooden box with a cross on top.

“You have given me too much already, wardrobes and shoes and allowing me to live at your home.” Angela protested.

“Oh hush. I ordered this months ago. Just open it.” Corinne said with a smile returning to her lips.

“Alright.” Angela shrugged and opened the lid with a squeak of new metal hinges.

The Bible had shining black leather and the gold letters on the bottom right corner spelled out. ANGELA FAHEY

“Clive told me about it then helped to place the order. Isn’t it wonderful?” Corinne knew she was talking nervously but she could see that Angela liked it.

Angela felt the raised gold letters with her fingers and turned the pages. Corinne had filled in the first page.

This book is presented to Angela Fahey by Corinne Grant in November, the Year of Our Lord 1849.

“Corinne, it’s stunning.” Angela said breathlessly.

“You can fill in your family tree. Your legacy is ready to be written now.” Corinne grabbed her friend’s hand and held it fast.

“This reminds me of the hotel we stayed in…” Angela said. “In Independence, Missouri. When your husband Andrew was off preparing the wagons. We knew that change was near. We had a long road to travel but we had each other.”

“We survived the separation, we can do it again.” Corinne said bravely.

“I will write often.” Angela kept promising.

“You know I will too.” Corinne was equally sincere.

They thumbed through pages and Angela read a few of her favorite verses aloud before they both determined it was time to rest. The morning would arrive and Angela had to be up and ready before dawn.

Part 3

Chapter 11

The plank to get on the steamship was wet and muddy from many boots tromping across it. Angie could smell the scent of Clive’s pipe tobacco clinging to him.  His strong presence made her feel safe. He was in his trapping clothes, a tanned leather jacket and a sturdy wide-brimmed hat.

They stomped on wet feet to a very small room with six port rooms. Basically triple bunks with a thick curtain to pull closed for privacy. Clive announced that her bunk will be on top and he would be right below her for safety. Angie never would have guessed that these rooms were coed. The thought made Angie shiver a bit but she regained her composure and allowed her luggage to be settled up high next to her ‘bed’. Angie was already thinking ahead on how in the world she would change her clothes in that small space.

“I made sure that Marie provided you with a dressing gown. You can get changed in the changing room before lights out.” Clive’s mouth had the smallest perceptible smirk as he read her thoughts so easily.

“You have a devilish humor, Mr. Quackenbush.” Angie teased and accepted his look with a laugh.

“All the better to make you blush young lady.” Clive helped her out of her heavy coat and hung it on a hook nearby. “Will you be warm enough?”

“Let’s find a seat near a warm stove. This sweater is warm enough for now.” Angela suggested.

They found a seat inside a sitting room with some windows at the far end. The chugging of the water wheel and the slapping of the water could be heard even in the middle of the vessel. Clive and Angie got settled in a comfortable pair of seats next to a warm sheet stove. Angie had a book and a lap blanket she brought from her luggage that she grabbed before they left the port room.

Corinne was very nice to share some of her book collection and Angie was lost in a dramatic story in no time. Clive settled into the warm chair and happily watched the people around them until the warm room and the swaying and chugging of the steamship lulled him to sleep. Clive woke from his nap and saw his young charge happily still reading by his side. Reserving this floor of the steamship had been expensive, but to have all this space and privacy was well worth the expense. The crush of people in some of the lower decks made the four-day journey cramped, smelly and tiresome. Clive figured that Angie had had enough bad journeys to last a lifetime. His goal was to make this her best adventure yet. His prayers were set on keeping her safe.

The days aboard went quickly with the books and meals served. Clive found himself surrounded nearly every evening after the first night of sharing stories of his travels. He told Angie all about how Corinne won over the Indians with her special oils.  Then shared a story about snakebite canyon when he was trapped for three days in a sandstorm and only made it out alive when his horse found him. Angie and others were vocal and challenging the fact or fiction of his story but he swore to tell the truth. His claim, “The Truth is always more interesting than a made up story.”

“I can understand that.” Angie agreed. Her life already was a strange contradiction to itself. She has been born of a wealthy family, reduced to being a pauper and a servant, only then to have her fortune returned to her and now on the other side of the world having another adventure. “What will happen next for me Clive?” She asked him.

“Only good things Red, blessins and happiness fer you chile’, iffen I could promise I would my girl.” His words made Angie feel better.

* * * * *

San Francisco, California Territory

The port of San Francisco was a nightmare. Getting in was a maze. The steamboat could only get so close for there were too many ships left abandoned right in the bay. The buzz around the steamboat was that the ships were left by the entire crews, every man for himself for the gold and fortune just lying about the ground.

Clive and Angela gave each other a look whenever people talked about the gold. They had their own thoughts about their doubts of the gold found being so plentiful for everyone just to pick it up off the ground.

The crew sent out a few longboats to shore and the passengers all had to unload the hard way, in small groups unloading their luggage and then had to crawl down the ladder. It was hard to do in skirts, Angela mused aloud to Clive as he waited below her in the longboat. Her new boots did not like the chain ladder on the side of the ferry and it wanted to tangle and twist around her ankles between every step.

“I cannot see to fix it around my skirts!” Angela yelled over the sounds of the harbor. The wind was starting to pick up and the sway of the longboat underneath her did little to help.

“Try and hold it wide and still with your arms and lift your left foot…”

Angie pushed at the chain ladder and got the ladder to be a little more still and it stopped the twisting. She lifted her foot quickly and got another two rungs down before she got all twisted up again. Her red hair was escaping her bonnet but she got through the next few minutes with as much pride as she could. She watched three men scramble down the ladder with ease after her and she grumbled to herself about stupid skirts and petticoats.

A few minutes later the longboats reached the large dock. The boat was not quite tall enough to reach the high dock, so Angie was man-handled a bit to get herself up. After being lifted by the shoulders like an infant from a burly shouldered man she was plopped on the dock.  She was glad to be on dry land, she would block the visual of herself playing the part of the ragdoll from her memory.

Clive had all her trunks loaded up on the dock and she waited patiently and watched the activity buzzing around her with amusement. It reminded her a bit of Independence, Missouri, when it was nearly time to leave for the Oregon Trail. She and Corinne were in a battle of wits with Corinne’s first husband about their servant - master relationship. It seemed so silly now but then it was deadly serious. Mr. Temple’s threat was to leave Angela behind. He made good on it later in the journey. Angie had to often push aside the remembrance of the night Mr. Temple forced her to search for firewood on a moon-less night with an empty oil-lantern. Angie could still remember the fear of stumbling around in the darkness, the animals around her fighting and the ravine that she fell into. She lay there for many endless hours of pain and confusion, some of it crying, some time spent begging God to just take her. Angela tossed her head to shake the memory from it. She grabbed a handkerchief from the inside of her sleeve and wiped a runaway tear that escaped, she blamed the wind.

“
None of that now, Angie Fahey
,”
Angie scolded herself. She had too much to be thankful for to be feeling sorry for herself about the past. She was in a better way now. That was all that mattered, God had gotten her through the worst of it.

* * * * *

“Angela Fahey, meet Gabriel and Amber Quackenbush.” Clive beamed from ear to ear as he gave his introductions. Gabriel gave Angie a firm but friendly handshake and a smile that he got from Clive.  Amber was small in stature just like Angie and already well grown with child.

“I am so glad to have another woman around.” Amber gave her hand a shake but it quickly turned into a hug. “Sorry, love, I am so glad to meet ya. Clive told us all about ye in his letters and I am so pleased to have an Ireland lass with me. I came over with my parents when I was a youngin’ too.” Amber’s hair was a rich auburn, her eyes a soft brown. Her freckles and easy blush made Angela feel at ease.

“Clive is good at keeping secrets, he did not tell me there was an Irish lass waiting here. We shall have to punish him won’t we Mrs. Quackenbush?” Angie gave Amber a wink. She felt an instant bond.

“Please call us Amber and Gabe. Quackenbush is quite a mouthful.” Gabe said and grabbed Angie’s trunks and gave them a strong heave up to the wagon box.

“Well Gramps, now I got two Irish gals with red hair in the house. I am outnumbered. What if the bairn is one too?” He laughed and Clive joined in. Their laugh was similar, as well. Angie gave Amber a look and they silently communicated their noticing how much alike the men were. The women climbed up into the wagon box and soon the wagon made its way down the bumpy road toward the mercantile.

Angie was surprised to see so many buildings. She expected this to be practically a wilderness with just a few ramshackle buildings thrown in to make a shantytown. It had a large bank and the mercantile that was three stories tall, a few empty buildings stood nearby with “for sale” signs up. The one next to the Hudson Bay store where they were standing, had a “sold” sign.

“We are to have some neighbors soon. My husband heard from the bank that a family wants to start a restaurant. I was dearly praying it wasn’t another saloon. The bank was nervous as well. We have enjoyed our peaceful side of the street this year.” Gabe told all this to Clive but Angie overheard and was grateful, too. A noisy saloon would not make a good neighbor.

“I do hope you enjoy your stay with us Angela. We have been praying so hard about how we can help you find your brother. We will get you settled in and get to work right way.” Amber’s sweet smile was friendly and warm. They were adding themselves to the ever-growing list of people that were genuinely kind and good-natured. Angie was hoping to shatter her ideas about people always wanting to hurt her. The more people showing their goodness, the more she could allow her walls down.

“I do hope that I am a help too. I know that your pregnancy will make it harder for you to run the store and take care of yourself properly. I hope there is a doctor in town.” Angela said without thinking. In this part of the world there was no guarantees for any kind of medical help. She felt a bit foolish and reckless for even bringing it up.

“Well yes, but he is stretched pretty thin. We just keep our prayer that God will watch over us and keep us safe.” Amber said. Her eyes had no fear in them. Angela was relieved.

“I helped a few women deliver babies when I was on the trail. There were no complications, I can help as much as I know how.” Angie volunteered and saw Amber’s large warm smile again.

* * * * *

Angela’s room was next to a large linen closet on the third floor. The young married couple was across the hallway. Angela felt bad that Gabe had to carry her trunks up the stairs so far but he seemed to handle it well with no huffing and puffing.

Angela set out two dresses quickly and hung them on the simple hooks on the wall. She wanted to get the wrinkles out of them soon. The dress she was wearing looked rumpled and already was showing white dots from the salty spray from being aboard the steamship deck for hours that morning.

She was relieved to see fresh water in the washbasin on a quaint little table by the door. It had a lovely mirror above it and she unpinned her hair. She brushed it into submission and pinned up the front. She let the back stay long and wavy. She was still a little young to be wearing it up. She got used to it on the trail for convenience, but Corinne was always reminding her that she was allowed to wear it down, she wasn’t under the servants guidelines anymore.

She washed her face and hands thoroughly and dried off on the towel hanging off the edge of the table. She felt a little more like facing the world. It was still early in the day but so much had happened already. She would lunch with the Quackenbush family and perhaps nap this afternoon. She was travel weary but she put on a brave face before she left the room. She wanted to have Gabriel and Amber know how thankful she was for their hospitality.

She realized she had no need to feel strange around her new friends soon though. Gabe and Amber were friendly and very obliging to her. They made her feel welcome and she was laughing through lunch with all the stories and jokes told.

Gabe and Amber were teasing Clive a lot and he knew how to tease right back. Angela felt at ease immediately with the easy-going nature of the household. There was no formality at the table. Angela didn’t participate much in the conversation yet but she was more than ready to join in the laughter.

* * * * *

“Are you Mrs. Q’s sister from Ireland?” Was the question of the day. Every customer that had been in the store before seemed to ask that same question.

“That would be quite an honor but I am just a friend of the family.” Angie answered the customers as she helped them with their purchases.

“But you have the a bit of an accent.” One gentleman teased a little about her lilting accent that persisted, even more so now that she was talking with Amber so much.

“Yes, I came over as a young girl with my parents and my brother, Sean.” It was the perfect opportunity to mention how she was looking for him and his companion, Ol’ Willie.

“Ol’ Willie, I wonder iff’n that’s Old William Shipley? I will ask around bout for ya, darlin’. I’ll be back in a few weeks fer supplies. I will send word if I hear anything before then.” The miner said.

I thanked the man and helped the next customer. After two days of learning the counter Angie was allowed to be at the front alone. Knowing the revolver was right below the counter was comforting.  Gabe and Clive were nearby at the loading dock just twenty feet away. Even still, she saw someone peek their head around the corner every few minutes to keep a close eye on her.