Angela's Hope (Wildflowers)

by Banicki, Leah

  “We have prayed about it often, Angie, do not be concerned. We are all adults and can communicate with each other. There is nothing that God cannot help us through.” Corinne wanted to be sure that Angela knew that she was welcome. “This cabin has plenty of room and you are more than welcome.”

  “I want to make sure you both have privacy when you need it. I know that married couples need space and time to talk out issues and things. I know I would be able to stay with John and Marie for a day or two here and there should you need some time alone.” Angela offered. She had been thinking about options too.

  “My father and Marie have already made that suggestion to us for when it was needed.” Corinne cleaned up the lunch dishes as they were talking.

  “I am glad. I was worrying a little bit about the long term effect my stay could have here.” Angela said with relief in her voice.

  “Stop your fussing. There is nothing to worry about.” Corinne dried her wet hands on a towel and then pointed at the jackets at the front door. “Let’s walk off lunch and go see how Marie is fairing. She doesn’t want my help today but I can be support from the sidelines at least. If anything we can try and be underfoot.” Corinne said with a giggle.

  Angela enjoyed seeing her friend so relaxed and light hearted. Last year on the Oregon Trail it had been stressful and difficult dealing with her first husband, Andrew, who had laid down his own set of rules on Corinne. Now to see her in this new way was a full turn around. Corinne was happy in her new life. It did good things to Angela’s heart to see it.

  The September breeze had the smallest hint of a chill to it but the sun was still warm enough to feel like summer was trying to hang on. Corinne and Angela enjoyed the in-between weather and were pointing out the bits of color showing up on the mountainside in the distance. It was a lovely valley and was restorative to Angela every day she was there.

  Marie was finished serving the harvesters and was elbow deep in wash water when the girls arrived. Corinne hung her coat on the hooks by the door and then sauntered over to Marie, scooped up a finger full of bubbles and deposited them playfully on Marie’s cute little nose.

  “No fair!” Marie exclaimed and they all heard Cooper hooting with laughter from across the room. She wiped at the bubbles with her shoulder and gave Corinne a non-malicious glare.

  “Couldn’t resist.” Corinne said and scooped up her stepbrother Cooper.

  “I think you are just showing off for your friend.” Marie stated and gave Angela a wink.

  “She and I have always been a little silly together. I am glad she hasn’t grown out of it.” Angela said with a smile and sat next to Corinne and Cooper at the dining table.

  “I never stoop to silliness. I don’t know what you are talking about.” Corinne said and got a few more healthy belly laughs out of Cooper.

  Cooper was a bundle of energy and ran back over to help his Mama dry dishes a minute after tussling with his ‘sister’. They had a growing relationship that was a happy one. Corinne had been an only child and was really happy with the new arrangement.

  Corinne and Angela stayed and chatted with Marie for more than an hour. They made plans for the week that included shopping and maybe a trip to the ocean before the winter snows flew for Angela.

  “You must see the coast!” Marie exclaimed. They talked about the waves and the surf.

  Angela had been to the east coast beaches a few times with her mother and brother but not been recreationally allowed to do so since. The thought had appeal.

  The girls left with thoughts on pleasant things when they took a turn around the property. Corinne took her to the pastures and they got a good look at the horses getting broken by some rough lads with ropes. The girls both gave each other knowing smiles when a few rustlers gave them a nod or attention at all. John Harpole ran a clean ranch and the cowboys were respectful. But that didn’t mean that they didn’t look a little at two pretty young ladies in their midst. Corinne and Angela would admit to being flattered at the attention only when pressed.

  Corinne was a good tour guide and they wandered into her greenhouse eventually. It was nowhere near the size of the enormous greenhouses in Boston but it was a pretty house of glass that was warm and moist inside. The plants were green and there were flowers blooming and other plants in early growth stages.

  Angela did not recognize many plants but that was not her specialty, Corinne named a few things and Angie just tried to keep up with her happy friend. Corinne was in her world again, just like at the Apothecary Shoppe.

  After being shown around Angie was beginning to tire, her fatigue from the journey suddenly catching up to her. Corinne walked Angela back to the cabin just fifty steps away from the greenhouse by a stone path Lucas had just set up the month before. During the rainy season the ground could get quite muddy between these buildings. The flat stones would keep their feet from tracking so much mud into the house.

  Angela was glad to catch a nap before dinner, Corinne made a quick visit to her father’s home next door and Marie sent a dinner basket loaded with goodies for them.

  Corinne woke Angela up and told her dinner was ready an hour later. Angela walked out to see Chelsea and Russell Grant at the door shrugging off their jackets. Chelsea let out a pleasant laugh and ran to hug her friend with her free arm. Her other arm held a baby girl.

  Angela gave her old friend a hug then gave her attention to the pretty blue-eyed girl with sandy brown hair.

  “She looks like Russell and Lucas…” Angela said and touched the baby’s cheek. Babies’ skin was always like satin.

  “Yes, she has the Grant look to her. They all take after their pretty mama.” Chelsea said and gave her girl a kiss.

  “I do not like being called ‘pretty’” Lucas laughed and his brother grunted in agreement.

  Lucas was handing plates to Corinne who was setting them on the dinner table.

  “Well your mother was very pretty and so are her boys.” Chelsea laughed at the men’s protests. “Angela, I hope you are recovering from the trip well. It took me a few weeks to feel like myself again, but I also was pregnant at the time.” Chelsea shrugged.

  Corinne took the baby for a few moments while everyone got settled around the table.

  “You eat first Chelsea, I will take care of Sarah.” Corinne cooed and made faces at the sweet girl.

  Everyone enjoyed the meal and chatted away. Lucas and Russell both tried to include Angela in the conversation by asking about her trip. Angela spoke with her shy voice at first but felt more comfortable speaking as the meal progressed. Even the Brannigans’ family she traveled with had treated her like a servant, though she paid her own way. She wasn’t used to being treated like an equal yet. It might take a long while.

  Once the meal was done and everyone, including Corinne, had partaken, Chelsea served up several slices of apple pie. Lucas went to the stove and percolated some coffee and passed out mugs.

  “This batch of coffee is a good one.” Corinne stated after a few sips.

  “Clive has been buying the coffee beans himself and learning to roast them. I swear that man must know how to do everything.” Lucas laughed. “His first batch last month was a bit darker but this batch is very smooth tasting. He has mastered a new craft.”

  “He has nine lives, like a cat.” Corinne said with a smile. She loved Clive like a grandfather.

  “He makes the rest of us mortals look like we are sitting around doing nothing.” Chelsea stated. “My grandfather needs a challenge at all times. I think it is about time he married again. Perhaps he would stay still for a few days with a wife to keep him company.”

  “He may be shy of another wife dearest. He has been widowed twice.” Russell said with a nod.

  “Tis’ true. But a woman would be good for him.” Chelsea stated. They all laughed but agreed that it would be interesting for Clive to have a new wife someday.

  The rest of the evening passed along well. Chelsea and Angela were able to get reacquainted and th
eir friendship was easily rekindled from their days spent together on the trail. Chelsea was very easy to get along with and made Angela feel like an equal.

  Russell and Chelsea left after dusk to retrieve their son Brody from his Grandpapa Clive.

  “Those two together are sure to be stirring up trouble if I let ‘em loose for too long.” Chelsea laughed and waved.

  “I’ll be by early to help build that bridge.” Russell told Lucas. Lucas gave his brother a friendly pat on the back before he was gone.

  Angela watched the cozy scene with a peaceful set in her heart. These were such good people, all accepting of her and each other. This was a place she could call home.

  Lucas and Corinne talked with Angela until she grew fatigued. She was eager to have more energy but went to bed with a peace in her heart. Oregon was proving to be good for her. Tomorrow she planned to write to Edith Sparks and tell her all about her new home.

  * * * * *

  The next few days were full of everyday tasks that Angela watched but rarely participated in. Corinne was certainly opinionated about Angela being a guest and would not allow her to lift a finger. It was fine for the first few days but as Angela’s strength was growing her desire to have a task grew too.

  Angela started sending Corinne off to her greenhouse and lab without her. Angela was beginning to get a feel for the land around her and she was getting fond of visiting with Marie and Cooper. Cooper was an excellent fishing buddy. Angela felt several times that since Corinne was as dear as a sister to her that she had a solid claim of Cooper as a second little brother.

  They took a few turns around the property together and Cooper showed her all the places that had stories.

  “This was where I caught a toad as big as my head.” He exclaimed over a place on the trickling creek.

  “This was where I saw a coyote.” He said from behind the barn.

  “He was probably trying to get to the barn animals.” Angela said with a sense of mystery. Angela would always try and sound amazed with his every declaration. Her own childhood had been cut short and she was enjoying seeing the joy of this young lad. It made her heart a bit lighter. For the first time in a long while she had thoughts of motherhood. The idea of that “someday” was getting easier to see.

  Marie and Angela became close over the next few weeks, as Angela’s stay continued. Marie was a lot like Edith in Angela’s mind, very sweet and full of motherly advice. Marie had dimples, blond curls and always a pleasant word to say. It was very refreshing to be around her. She sang old folk songs while she cooked and whistled prettily. Marie let Angela help in the kitchen and they would work and talk for hours. Angela was learning to crochet when she left the Spark’s home. She saw that Marie had a basket full of yarn near the rocking chair by the fireplace. It didn’t take long before Marie and Angela were sitting and crocheting together. Angela was still slow but learning a lot from Marie’s patient instructions.

  Chapter 9

  A few weeks had passed and another round of harvesters were coming for lunch. Corinne buckled under Angela’s protest and allowed her to help serve the men. They worked together at plating up the prepared food as the minutes ticked closer to the crew’s arrival.

  “I have been reading some of my mother’s journal. Her words about Ireland are so romantic and tragic. My parents would not abide by the way many of the wealthy folks were treating the peasants. It seems that two times my parent’s home nearly caught afire.” Angie shared at the lunch table.

  “Oh my, was it an uprising?” Corinne asked as she had heard many stories on the long trip from Boston to Oregon, so many people from so many places. She had heard of uprising in Ireland.

  “It was one of my father’s cousins who wanted the land and was angry when my father inherited. I guess that is why he eventually sold, perhaps just a chance to start again in America. I remember my mother saying my father was too soft-hearted to be a Baron. Perhaps I come by my gentleness honestly.” Angie said with a smallest hint of a smile. The picture of her father was becoming a warm memory again. Somehow she had been angry with him for dying, it was irrational she knew, but she had had many lonely and dark days in the workhouse. Some days anger was its own battle to fight against, along with the starvation and abuse.

  “I like knowing that he had a generous heart.” She added a minute later.

  “That seems a good quality to inherit, Angie.” Corinne smiled and finished filling the plates with the warm bread and hot stew that Marie had just delivered.

  “Will you do the honors?” Corinne asked and pointed to the bell just outside the door. The long table outside was ready for the stampede of the men helping with the lavender harvest.

  Angela approached the bell and gave the rope a good pull then kept it going. The bell was loud and hurt her ears so she ran back into the house and laughed.

  “Ha, Angie, it doesn’t bite.” Corinne giggled a bit then put her to helping get the plates passed out as they arrived. After a few got their plates some of the young men started whistling at the pretty redhead serving their dinner.

  “None of that, young man.” Lucas Grant strolled up and gave the man a cuff to the back of the head. The men all laughed and the situation was lightened.

  “Miss Fahey is a lady and is to be respected. No tom foolery with this woman, she is under my protection.” Lucas gave poor Angie a wink and the young man apologized respectfully.

  Angie blushed through her mortification.

  “That did not take long.” Corinne stated as she kept handing Angie plates of food. “I knew she would catch someone’s eye. We women are a rare thing to see out here, an unmarried woman, and a beautiful one is a valuable find.”

  “I know I am seventeen but I have no desire for a husband right now. I wish to find my brother first.” Angie stated loudly a bit bolder after her embarrassment.

  “No worries on my account, Angie. I have no wish to marry you off right away. I want you to be able to have some freedom before you settle down. You need a chance to dream a little first.” Corinne said warmly. She was such a dreamer and the thought gave Angie pause.

  “I think I should go to California, Corinne. Will you despise me if I leave you again?” Angie asked after the last plate was handed out. They sat inside and ate at the small table. The men had to have their own space where the pressure of table manners was less needed.

  “I would never deny or question your need to connect with your brother. I am excited to think there is a hope of meeting him, myself. It is strange to think of him already as a part of my family. My prayer is that you bring him here to meet us.” Corinne took Angie’s hand across the wooden table. Her eyes did not lie. It calmed Angie’s fears. She felt pulled in several directions. Clive had lit a flame of hope in her chest.

  “I have had my own thoughts creep into my heart. Mostly fear and a selfish desire to keep you close. But I know your need to try and find Sean. Just know we are here for you, if you do not feel safe just know we would come for you, and you always have a place to come back to.” Corinne said as her voice broke a little from emotion. “You should go Angie. Clive’s family will care for you. I will be praying for you sister-friend.”

  They spent a good moment hugging and then got back to work. They were being watched and making a spectacle of themselves. They laughed as a few of the men were teasing them.

  They kept talking as they worked. Finding a rhythm of serving the harvesting crew.

  “I need to talk with Clive more, and find out when I should prepare to go. I need more clothes for most of mine are rags now from the journey. Also I need to handle my affairs at the bank. I went through the lawyers documents today, they are very confusing in places.” Angie became more talkative when her nerves got the better of her.

  “Going to the bank is a good idea. You should know what you have and then you can plan for your future.” Corinne said. Her heart hurt at the thought of her friend leaving, but she knew her friend needed to go for the chance of finding h
er lost brother. It was a sad thought to ponder but Corinne knew she must accept it and be supportive. Angela needed to know that it was okay to leave through more than her words, through her actions, as well. Corinne would pray for the strength to let Angela go. It was the right thing to do.

  * * * * *

  "When would be a good time to go, Clive?” Angie asked, leaning against the counter at the mercantile.

  "Well, my girl, I’ve been pondering that. My Grandson and his wife could handle you at any time. They got a nice place downtown with a three-story building, nice and sturdy, iffen I don't wanna crow too loudly. I built it myself a few years ago. San Fran is a nice port town and gettin' supplies there makes my life and business easier. Sutter's Fort isn't too far off an' now with the Gold Rush it will be hopping."

  "I just know my brother is in California somewhere and my heart aches wanting to know he is safe, I just want to see him." Angie saw the sparkle in Clive's eye. He was such a sweet and spunky man. He was truly a Godsend.

  "Well I will get a telegram Gabriel’s way and we can figure out when the best time would be. I would get ready iffen I was you. In the next month it would be a good idea to get yerself out there. The crowds will be getting larger by the day as soon as the ships from the east arrive. That store will be jumpin'. I will go with ya and be helpin' with the store for a bit anyways. So you will have some company. I will get the word out about yer brother. We will find him my Angel girl." Clive gave her a pinch on the cheek.

  Angela shared a hug and then found Corinne and Marie making a mess in the fabric section. It appeared that Marie may have purchased half the bolts of cloth for Angela’s wardrobe.

  "I am so excited Angie, look at all the warm tones. You are gonna turn some heads for sure and certain." Marie's blond curls were escaping her bonnet and her genuine warmth and caring had won over Angie completely, that and her fried chicken.