by K C Norrie
"They'll smell your strange scent and wonder what you are for sure," quipped Bob Renley.
Everyone laughed.
While the men competed to see who could fill their baskets first, clouds drifted in and the sun hid behind them. The baskets teemed with berries, when the men realized they had overstayed their welcome and began the journey home. They strode back in silence scouting for game now, as evening approached.
They arrived into a familiar clearing, scarred with plundered berry bushes. A three-way argument broke out concerning which direction to take. They should not have followed Lester Simmons who insisted he knew the way. Too late, they realized Lester was wrong, and they turned back around as evening darkened the sky.
****
It was night.
The moon was full, but clouds obscured any light it cast.
It became so dark; Seth was barely able to make out the person in front of him. He felt a sting on his leg. He stopped and bent down to investigate, finding nothing but a clinging vine. He held it close to his face and sniffed at the little white flowers as he probed for thorns or nettles. When he stood back up, he was alone. He shouted, but no one answered. It became darker. Seth turned around trying to make out his surroundings and lost his sense of direction.
Whether he stood near the edge of a cliff or in the middle of a mountain meadow, he couldn't know. Sheer terror convinced him to stay where he was until daylight. Finding his way back to the settlement would be impossible until morning. Willing calmness, he lowered himself to the solidness of the ground.
Throughout the day, he had searched for proof of those burning lights he'd seen during the storm but found no indication.
I'd like one to have of those lights right about now. It was Seth's last thought before he fell asleep.
****
When he woke again, it was daylight. He was surrounded by odd dwellings and people clad in peculiar clothing. When they discovered him awake, they approached with a tray. The beverage they offered him, looked to be a red-colored tea, tasting both refreshful and pleasant. They spoke strangely, but Seth understood them, and they were very friendly.
They explained how to make the tea and a medicinal syrup from a vine gathered from the mountain. A man beckoned Seth to pull it from where it lay hidden beneath some dead leaves on the ground. It was the same plant with the little white flowers he had found when he felt that sting.
They told him a story about the full moon, the flowers, and the nectar inside them. Drops of nectar from the white flowers made up the syrup.
Seth told them about his son, little Matthew and his weakened heart. They nodded in sympathy then sent him on his way with an armful of those vines, to make tea for his settlement.
****
Now he was lost. Seth climbed higher hoping to find a vantage point that would show him the creek or something he could follow. Every rise led to another rise. One landmark was indistinguishable from the next. Seth wondered if he walked in circles. He imagined passing the same group of trees and crossing the same clearing. The quest to find his way out left him tired and discouraged.
Being alone in the vastness of the mountain heightened his imagination. He sensed great powers at work; immense powers that left him feeling as tiny as an ant. He never worried about dying or the possibility of not finding his way out. Instead, he was troubled by the thought of a malevolent power looking for him, while a kindly power kept him hidden. Brie would laugh.
"Dear God, where am I? Where is the way out?"
He caught sight of a white wolf watching him from a distance ahead. Seth stopped. He had no weapon if the wolf decided to attack, but he didn't think she would. As he studied her, the wolf disappeared through some brush and Seth followed. The wolf would lead him to water, and the water would lead him home. It was as if she knew. Whenever he lost sight of her, she would appear again, just ahead as if waiting. She led him around trees, up the rises, through fields and ravines until at last, Seth heard running water.
At the stream, Seth stopped to drink. When he finished, he looked up to find the wolf was gone. Seth continued following the stream until he spotted the settlement from up high.
"Dear God, thank you." Seth made his way down the mountain. It was near dark by the time he reached the outskirts that led to his settlement.
But what had he missed? From where Seth stood, it looked like Pastor Jones was giving an evening service lit by lantern light. As he came closer, he saw Brie wearing her best dress, a certain shade of blue. Was she crying? Had something happened to one of his children? He rushed ahead. When he was close enough, he shouted. The congregation turned as one and shouts rang out as they rushed to meet him.
"Where have you been?"
"What happened to you Seth?"
"We searched everywhere!"
Seth ignored them and hurried to Brie.
She held her hand over her mouth. Staring. All three of his children jumped up and down.
"Daddy! It's Dad!"
When he was close enough, they hugged him and would not let go.
"What’s wrong?" he asked Brie. "Has someone died?"
Brie looked at him, wide-eyed.
"We thought you did. You didn't come back with the others," she whispered into his ear as she held him. "Where have you been?"
People touched him. Patted him on the back.
"I don't understand," he answered. "Why would you think such a thing?"
Pastor Logan shouted that prayers were warranted.
"Let us pray," he said. Everyone bowed their heads.
"Thank you, heavenly Father, for bringing home our Seth safe and whole. For hearing our prayers, for reminding us that through you all things are possible. For this we give our thanks. Amen."
The pastor put his arm around Seth and led him up to the makeshift podium; nothing more than a wooden box set on its side.
Pastor Logan spoke to Seth.
"When the others stopped to make camp, you were gone. They searched during the day coming back to the settlement that night to see whether you found your way back.
"We gathered a search party and went back out the next day and the day after that. We've been searching for you going on two weeks now. We prayed for a miracle, but we thought we had lost you. We were in the midst of holding a memorial service for you. Welcome back Seth!"
Seth looked at his friends and family waiting for an explanation. He was confused. Two weeks! Two weeks? He'd only been gone a couple days.
****
After hearing his story, everyone was convinced that a snake or venomous insect bit Seth leaving him unconscious and poisoned. Even Seth believed the story; there was no other explanation. A friendly Native tribe must have taken mercy on him. It made sense that Natives lived in the mountains. There were peaceful tribes as well as hostile tribes weren't there? No one knew much about the Natives, but they were grateful to them for taking care of Seth, just the same.
Shortly after his return, Seth dried the vines he brought back and prepared the red tea for the settlement. Everyone commented on its unusual flavor, and all agreed it was pleasant tasting.
"It makes me feel my best," said one of the children. Everyone nodded. That was exactly what happened after they drank it. They felt their best.
Seth told the story about the full moon that the tribe told to him. A star shattered. Seth couldn't remember why. Its pieces scattered far and wide throughout the universe. The star belonged to a planet that resembled our moon. When the moon was full, fallen pieces of the star lit up for the planet to find. If the vine was gathered during this time, the flowers held drops of a something that could be diluted into a syrup with special healing powers.
A few weeks later, Seth led a large group up into the mountain. They camped around the perimeter of a mountain meadow and waited for the clear blue sky to change into star filled darkness. They lit no lanterns or campfires.
As the full moon rose, thousands of tiny white flowers opened and glowed beneath the brig
ht moonlight. Truly one of God's own glories lay before them. The white flowers were small thumbnail-sized, star-shaped with five small points. One could see the reasoning behind the folklore story.
He gathered vines along with Brie and James. Matthew was too fragile for the climb, and Sarah too young. They stayed behind watched by another family. Seth hoped the syrup from the flowers would help Matthew. He was only eight years old, but a harsh cough made it hard for him to catch his breath. He grew weary while walking and slept much of the day.
Seth caught sight of bats hovering and fluttering above them, attracted by the glowing flowers. He normally did not like bats, but these felt almost friendly. He became aware again of the forces at war, but it no longer bothered him. The malevolent power still searched, but Seth sensed he was invisible from it. Drinking the tea rendered him invisible.
****
He gave Matthew the syrup as soon as it was ready. Seth wasn't ill but swallowed a spoonful to show Brie it was safe. She watched him boil water and add the drops of nectar from the flowers.
"A little makes a lot." That's what the mountain people told him, or some similar adage.
After the liquid turned to syrup, Seth poured it into waiting bottles. When it cooled, he tasted it while Brie studied him for over an hour before she let Matthew take a spoonful.
After a week of taking the syrup, Matthew seemed his old self again. The doctor was amazed and told them most people never recovered.
A small expedition set out to locate the tribe and thank them properly. They were in their debt for saving Seth, for the tea and the syrup that could heal them. They brought simple gifts of food or treasures from Pennsylvania. Seth brought them to a meadow he was convinced was the same in which the people stayed, but the field was empty. Even nomads would have left some trace of having been there. It was an immense mountain range, and everyone assumed Seth brought them to the wrong place.
As they searched for signs of the people, Seth also searched for the white wolf. He found no trace of her either.
****
A few years later, Seth watched Brie, all smiles, hand their new daughter, Hope Bethany McMahon, to Pastor Logan for baptizing. The baby cried loud healthy cries as the pastor poured water over her head.
It was 1844 and another good year. The settlement now known as Settlers Way prospered. They lived outdoors in the beginning, but nowadays, every family had their own home either built along the main road that ran through their little town or outwards on farms raising crops and farm animals.
These past few years, their prayers had been answered. The harsh bitter winters were behind them. The red tea and yellow syrup were treasured gifts.
Common illnesses no longer threatened their well-being. People recovered quickly from injuries. No one went hungry. There were cattle for beef, chickens for stewing, eggs and plenty of wild game. While there were no trees bursting with fruit, the seeds for fruit-bearing trees they brought from Pennsylvania were doing well. In a few more years—Seth could already taste the apple pie.
"It seems we have found our way," said Pastor Logan one morning.
****
One day, a peddler's wagon arrived at Settlers Way. The people traded their red tea leaves and healing syrup for needed goods. The peddler was so entranced with the red tea he came back often.
The distance between other groups of settlers grew closer. Bands of newcomers were always invited to stop at Settlers Way. Rectangular tables were brought out from houses and lined up outdoors with benches and enormous feasts of fresh caught venison, root vegetables, bread, and fruit were served, along with fresh water from the creek and the red tea.
The travelers brought news from the outside as Settlers Way offered hospitality. For all, the journey west was harsh and difficult. Those passing through Settlers Way arrived weary and dispirited. It gratified the residents to watch their guests revive after a warm meal and a hearty cup of the red tea.
Some groups who traveled through Settlers Way stayed on. Joining an established community was easier than starting with nothing somewhere else. Other congregations merged in, and Settlers Way became home to three churches.
They were always welcoming during those early years. Some people moved on after only a short time, saying they felt watched and uneasy.
Others fled to Settlers Way after separating from their original groups. After the long journey over land, not everyone continued to get along. They came to Settlers Way because they remembered being welcomed when they had visited before. Years passed.
Settlers Way was recognized as a legal establishment entitled to all the protection and laws thereof, by the United States government in 1848, when the area became part of the United States. In 1850 Settlers Way became a village in California.
They decided to govern the village with an eight-member council that could be added to, as the population grew. Every four years they would hold an election to re-decide their choices. Seth was voted one of those first members and so was Pastor Logan.
Chapter 9
Abbey and Elijah Fielder showed up one day with nothing but a bundle of extra clothing, some water, and a little food. They went straight to Pastor Logan asking him to marry them. They looked sixteen or seventeen and were obviously in love.
Pastor Logan listened to their story. Their families had some falling out with each other, and each side refused to give in, keeping Abbey and Elijah apart. The feud stretched back before their migration out west. Abbey and Elijah met secretly throughout the treacherous journey. They told their story in turns, finishing each other's sentences.
"Our families came through here a month ago. We weren't allowed to sit near each other, but we both remembered how friendly everyone was to us."
"Our group settled on the other side of the mountain. A place they are calling Highview."
"My parents were making plans to move away again. Further south," sobbed Abbey. "Elijah and I would never see each other again."
"We ran away. We left notes for our parents."
"We decided to come here. Everyone was kind to us. Elijah figured out that Settlers Way would be just on the other side of the mountain. We climbed up and found the creek. Then we followed it here."
Pastor Logan had a dilemma. He felt for the parents who lost their children, but also felt these two needed to be married. There was no other way.
He married Abbey and Elijah after a few days wait. Everyone in Settlers way attended the service.
The newlyweds were moved into an empty cottage. People gifted household goods.
Pastor Logan wrote a letter to each set of the parents and planned to have the peddler bring the letters over to them the next time he came through.
Perhaps they could reconcile the families. He guessed they'd become grandparents before the year was out. Was there a bit of swell to Abbey's belly?
****
Abbey screamed. Julia, the midwife, along with Brie and a few more women attended the birth. They expected a healthy baby. When Abbey was discovered pregnant, she seemed frail and sickly with frequent nausea and weight loss. The women doused her well with the syrup and red tea. Soon she was glowing with health. They kept her on the daily dose as a safeguard.
They held their breaths as they watched the miracle of life emerge from between Abbey's legs. As many times as they had witnessed and experienced birth, each event seemed its own miracle; but something was wrong this time. The crowning head was too blue. The women glanced nervously at each other and Abbey noticed.
"What is wrong? Is something wrong?" and she screamed again as the contraction pushed the baby further out into the world.
Julia told Brie to fetch the pastor as she tried her best to cut the cord that had wrapped tightly around the baby's neck. It was too late though. The baby had stopped breathing long before it was born. The spoon of syrup sat uselessly in the baby's mouth. Another woman, Dinah, dressed the stillborn in the christening gown she had used for all her own children, and then handed the bundle
to Abbey.
When Pastor Logan finally arrived, he brought Elijah into the small bedroom with him. A tearful ceremony christened the tiny baby boy Mason Austin Fielder.
Afterward, Abbey would not let anyone take the baby from her. Elijah stood up to everyone and insisted they leave.
"We just need some time alone together. Just a little longer. Please," he implored.
They gave way.
The women left to ready things for the funeral the next day.
Pastor Logan insisted on staying the night in the cottage's front room. This was an unusual circumstance. A joyous occasion had turned into tragedy. In good conscience, he could not abandon them. Seth, who had come along with Pastor Logan, stayed on as well. He felt a strong power stirring in the atmosphere like what he had felt during the big storm and felt he should stay to help, should the need arise.
Elijah did not want to sleep. He was too heartbroken. Grief-stricken. He sat on a chair beside his wife, just touching her shoulder to give her comfort as she cried and held on to their lifeless baby.
Some hours passed.
Elijah was getting drowsy in his chair but still not ready to sleep. He could sleep later, tomorrow after the funeral. Abbey was in a half sleep; her eyes were closed, but she was still crying.
"I love you Abbey," Elijah whispered into the dark. He blew out the lantern and despite his resolve to stay awake; he fell asleep in the dark still sitting in his chair.
He was awakened by Abbey's scream. Elijah cried out and jumped up in startlement. Pastor Logan and Seth burst into the room.
But it was nothing. Just a bad dream. Real life has turned into a nightmare, thought Elijah as he held his wife's hand. Waking up gives no relief, he thought.
****
It was morning. Women came to help Abbey and the baby dress. Men helped Elijah. Ralph Jenkins had spent the night building a tiny oak box that would hold Mason Austin. Elijah teared up at that neatly carved name on the lid of the coffin along with the date. Two angels had been carved on either side of the name. He imagined Ralph working through the night; bending over the little box and doing his best to create the letters just so and then adding the angels.
