Angela's Hope (Wildflowers)

by Banicki, Leah

  “Where you stayin’ lad?” Gabe gave him an eye.

  “In a dreadful tent across the street yonder.” Ted pointed behind him in the direction of the tents he’d just left.

  “Well fer a dollar a week I got me a place two doors down above the abandoned laundry. There are steps up to the place. The rent is affordable if you are willing to keep an eye on the place and clean up the place downstairs. They left in a hurry and with my wife expecting, I haven’t felt a rush to clean it up. Sound good to you?” Gabe saw potential in this young lad.

  “I will certainly be accepting such an offer. You can count on me, sir.” Ted’s eyes were wide and he wondered at how his luck could have changed so quickly. God was indeed looking out for him.

  “Thank you Lord,” Ted prayed in his head.

  “I expect no gambling or bringing women up to your place unless it be your own mother or a wife.” Gabe said with a serious look. He was practicing his parenting voice.

  “Absolutely sir. Would you be needin’ a deposit?” Ted ran a hand through his blond hair in need of a trim.

  “No son, but I would be needing to know your full name to put in my papers.” Gabe got out his notebook from his pocket.

  “Ted, ugh… Thaddeus Greaves, sir.”

  “Good to meet ya Ted. I will ask around for some good work for ya. I know plenty who will be glad to get you more than enough work for any able-bodied man. Now get yourself your bags and whatever is yours before it gets stolen from your tent. I will get you set up when you get back.”

  Gabe watched the young man bound out the door with a grin feeling like he’d been part of something good. You never knew when you would meet someone that you might have that chance to be a blessing just in time to change their life. He had that feeling that this young man needed a guardian angel just now. Just a passing fancy really, but it stuck with Gabe all that day.

  “You sure got a sweet smile just now husband o’ mine.” Amber stepped slowly down to the bottom step of the staircase. Her body moving a little slower everyday but still the glowing, sweet beauty he loved so dearly.

  “Yes, just helping a fresh young lad straight off the boat. He wants nothing of gold mining and just had a feelin’ about him. Gonna rent him the place over the laundry. He has agreed to clean up the place for the lower rent. Just somethin’ about him. Was ponderin’ how God can put people in yer life for a moment and it’s our job to be a blessing.” Gabe kissed his wife after he spoke.

  “I love that you notice these things, Gabriel. The reason I married you, outside your good looks, was your big heart.” Amber teased but stood to her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek.

  Chapter 13

  Angela took over the counter duties with Clive while Amber and Gabe left with a young man over a rental property nearby. Clive and Angela talked over prospects on how to get word out about her brother. This place was a hodgepodge of people all with their own agenda. With gold on the brain and high expectations talking to strangers was sometimes like talking to a brick wall.

  “I have a feeling this may be a long stay here in California.” Angie said with a bit of a sigh.

  “Yes’m.” Clive quipped. “It very well could be. I have found family reunions don’t always go as quick or as well as we’d like em’ too.”

  “I understand that. I just wonder how I will pass the time. Gabe and Amber warn me a lot about never going out and how unsafe it is here. I think I am doing the right thing but what will I do with myself once I am no longer needed to run the counter? Amber is a determined woman. After she delivers I betcha she will be back on this counter with a baby slung around her shoulder. She is not the kind to sit still for too long. What’ll I do? Do ye think we can actually find Sean?” Angela spilled out her emotional thoughts.

  “That was a heap a questions, Red. I think for now you just keep praying and being yourself. You will find your purpose here.” Clive gave her a pat on the shoulder affectionately.

  “I am not Corinne with her brilliance, ye know. I am no miracle worker or brilliant businesswoman. I am really rather un-extraordinary.” Angie finished lamely, not sure what else to say.

  “Well I can see you been working real hard thinking up ways to belittle yerself. You feel better now that you spit all that garbage out?” Clive gave Angie a pointed look.

  She shook her head ‘no’.

  “Well, I never asked you to be Corinne, did she?” Clive asked.

  “She never would do that.” Angie said protectively.

  “Well then who did?”

  “No one really.” Angie wondered where all her emotions were coming from. It just hit her like a wave. “What in the world is wrong with me?”

  “Looks to me that life has thrown a couple of hard things your way, right Red?” Clive grabbed Angie and gave her a sideways hug and let her nod against his chest. Her escaping tears landed on his soft flannel shirt.

  “Ye know it to be true.” Angie’s voice a web of emotions, catching in her throat.

  “You are no longer a servant, but you don’t know what you are yet, do ye?” Clive asked, not really expecting an answer. “Seventeen is an interesting age, chile. Give yerself time to grow up a bit. Perhaps here you can learn all sorts of new things. Yer a smart gal. You will figure it out.” s

  After a few minutes alone in the store the door rang repeatedly with activity and the quiet embrace shared between Clive and Angie was interrupted. Angie wiped at her stray tears and helped a man purchase some staples for his hunt for gold, coffee, canned food, matches, a lantern, and a few extra shirts.

  “Thank you sir, good luck.” Angie sent the man in the direction of a man selling tents across town. Her directions were memorized but she had yet to travel outside more than one block since the first day.

  After an hour Gabe and Amber came back to make plans for the evening. Seems like the big news is that tomorrow the first Sunday meeting in a year would be in the morning. The girls excitedly talked about clothes and things and even the men decided getting spiffied up might be in the order of the day.

  Angie helped Amber with getting enough water upstairs. They had two barrels outdoors and a bucket to pull to the second story, Angela stood below and made sure the water bucket was as full as it needed to be before it was pulled. Gabe took over pulling the buckets up after the first few. Angela was glad of it. Amber took over heating the water on the stove as they filled the cast iron tub. Once the first barrel was empty Gabe and Angela took a few trips to the nearby water well and refilled the barrel. They laughed as they were both covered with the cold well water after the several trips back and forth.

  The bath night was a success. Angela realized it was a lot easier to do the weekly bath in Oregon because getting the water to the second floor made things more complicated.

  Angela and Amber sat by the fire and brushed their hair near the heat until it dried. Amber kept laughing when she felt the baby kicking. The two women enjoyed talking about the hope of the new church.

  * * * * *

  The morning brought a heavy fog over the bay and the air was thick with moisture but there was no rain. The dark grey clouds and the fog combined to make it a dreary morning. The Quackenbush men led Amber and Angie across the muddy street to the hastily prepared tent that was a block away. It was in an open space between the bank and livery.

  “There used to be a building here but it was so poorly kept the town council had it knocked down. Not sure who built the ramshackle mess, but glad to tear it down.” Clive shared. He seemed invested as much here in San Francisco as he was in Oregon. Angie had to wonder at how much Clive had done in one lifetime.

  The tent was stained canvas, with many patches holding it together. Angie wondered if a good rain would carry it away. Is to be any hope for a dry service week after week? She mused to herself.

  There would need to be walls built, and soon. When they all got through the tent flap at the front they saw the Henderson’s, their new neighbors, already at the front talkin
g with a short man. There was a wobbly pedestal at the front as well and a few rows of benches. The wood on the benches looked new and not even sanded yet. They looked freshly built.

  Clive, as the patriarch of the group, introduced them to the minister and his family. He was short and round with a patient smile. His wife was equally as warm and friendly. They had a son and a daughter both taller than them. It was a lovely boggle.

  “I am Gideon Haimes, this is my wife Grace and my children, Gideon Junior and Naomi.” He paused while everyone shook hands with everyone then he added as an afterthought. “They get their height from my grandparents. It obviously skipped over me.” He laughed at his own joke with a chuckle and the ice was broken.

  “We are all glad you are here no matter yer height. Some good preaching and singin’ will do us all some good.” Clive seemed to say the right thing to get everyone moving toward the benches. Angie watched a few more people wander through the tent flap before the time to start.

  Being in the front row she got to sit quietly and get a decent view of all the introductions. An elderly gentleman in a string tie and black vest named Walter claimed he worked at the bank. The young man Angie saw in passing with Gabe and Amber the day before was named Ted. He turned and met Angie’s eyes for the briefest second before he passed and found a seat behind the Quackenbush family. Gabe stood and gave the young man an invitation to lunch. Angie wondered about the look he gave her as he spoke with Gabe. He looked as if he knew her. But she certainly had no memory of him. Perhaps she was just being imaginative. It had happened before. Angie smiled as she cleared her mind of everything and watched Gideon Haimes take the pulpit.

  They began the Sunday meeting with a prayer and then they all got to sing a few popular hymns. There were no hymnals yet, Gideon claimed they were still packed away and next week there would be more music. It was grand to everyone even in its simplicity. Gideon’s preaching about love, and loving your neighbors was a good one. The room had not more than twenty people but it felt friendly and like a small community, in only one service. Grace played the violin beautifully and she ended the service with a lovely song she said she made up herself. It was sweet and struck the hearts of many. It needed no words; it was just a sweet gift. To Angela it reminded her of an evening spent at the Grant’s when Lucas would bring out his violin.

  The service ended and everyone’s mood was light and friendly. Angie talked again with Sheila Henderson and found out they were both just seventeen. Angie was hoping to make a friend. It was still a fresh new relationship but Angie hoped to cultivate it.

  She heard from Amber that a new friend of Gabe’s was coming for Sunday supper. Angela was a little nervous to meet someone new but tried to hide her feelings. She was sure that a friend of Gabe would be a nice person.

  * * * * *

  “Hello Mr. Greaves, I am Angela Fahey.” She was seated next to the young man she saw at the church service earlier. Angie and Amber had put together a stew the night before and fresh bread two days ago. The table was full with Clive and Ted joining them.

  “I heard from Mr. Quackenbush that you were from Boston and you are looking for yer brother here in California territory.” Ted spoke clearly and his face was genuinely interested in her answer. Angie still got nervous around strangers sometimes. Some people were so good at being dismissive to her. She was a servant for a long time. She felt invisible still.

  “Yes, my brother Sean, he came to this area about a year ago… according to his letters. He may be hard to find but I am willing to stay in the area to find him.” Angela saw that the young man was actually listening and she gave him a friendly smile. His hair was relatively short but had a tendency to curl. She had to admit she liked the look of him.

  “I will be praying for you to be reunited iffen ya don’t mind.” Ted nodded at her and grabbed a piece of the sliced bread as the plate went around the table.

  “I would be appreciating that. Prayers are always welcome.” Angela nodded when he offered her the bread. He took a piece and placed it on the side of her plate then found the butter in a small china bowl and let her dip into it first.

  “Thank you.” Angie murmured and Ted just nodded.

  “You settled in nicely at your new place there Ted?” Gabe asked Ted.

  “Yessir, the place is fine. I need to come by the store tomorrow to get a few supplies. But I have a lot of work in town this week. It seems everyone is needin’ a hand. Your grandfather Clive has got me working tomorrow makin’ a shipment near Sutter’s mill. I guess the area is springing up faster than anything. Looks to me like no one cares where they live, people just throw up a tent and get a pan in the stream. Seems awfully silly to my reckonin’. A hundred jobs to be had here in town and a thousand fools squatting in the dirt.” Ted got the whole table laughing.

  “No need to come to the store when yer so busy. After the meal we can get ye what ya need.” Gabe gave Ted a wink and finished off his buttered bread.

  “That would be a blessing.” Ted said.

  “Not a problem, ye seem a good young man and I am glad to help ye out. So many come and get lost in the ‘gold fever’. It’s good to see some wisdom in such a young lad.” Gabe and Ted spend a little time in the store then they returned upstairs.

  Everyone was noticing that for some reason Ted kept finding reasons to talk to Angela. He finally got brave and spoke honestly to her about why. Amber, Gabe and Clive kept giving each other looks and a few smirks.

  “You Miss Fahey, I have no desire to be overtly friendly - I have some small shame to admit.” Ted said as he watched her crocheting a baby sweater.

  “Whatever have you to be ashamed about, Mr. Greaves?” Angela was a small bit concerned but for the friendly and lighthearted manner he had. Ted seemed like an easy-going lad. No malice in any of his looks.

  “Oh nothing to be afeared of, just when I saw you the first time across the street a few days ago I thought you were the spirit of a dearly departed sister of mine.” His eyes were honest and she saw that he was speaking truth.

  “Well, I am truly sorry for your loss.” Angela felt it sincerely. Too much loss in her own family had made her sensitive over other’s losses.

  “You seem a lot like her as far as I can see in such a short time. She was a ‘little mother’, we all called her for she cared for everyone around her. Even us older siblings felt her ‘mothering’ and her heart felt such compassion. I can see that in you as well.” Ted said quietly.

  “That is indeed a kind thing to say. She sounds like someone you loved very dearly.” Angela could feel her emotions rise. She hated feeling so strongly but she knew no other way to be.

  “She was, she died young of a fever. I always felt like she was with me somehow. After a terrible boat trip I saw you across the way and somehow thought maybe her spirit came with me. Or maybe it’s just my fancy imagination again.” Ted grabbed for the yarn that fell from her lap and placed it back where it needed to be.

  “Well I am glad you are doing well after the journey. I have heard a few stories about the long trip around Cape Horn. The Oregon Trail was a hard one as well. Seems the way West is full of peril by land or by sea.” Angie said and nodded but kept her eyes on her crocheting. She was enjoying talking with this new friend of Gabe’s.

  Ted was quiet for a bit just taking turns from talking with Gabe, Clive and the two women in the room. The company was friendly and he felt at home. He tried not to but many times that afternoon he caught himself watching Angela crochet. The sweet young woman was indeed a giving soul, a lot like his sister. But her friendship was already something he felt. He was thankful for meeting Gabe but somehow even more importantly he felt a strange feeling that Angela Fahey was going to be a dear friend.

  He went home that night and spent a while in prayer over her and her desire to find her brother. It felt good to want to bless her. His heart was in earnest about her happiness.

  * * * * *

  Angie was washing the evening dishes after
supper. Amber was feeling slow and achy and Angie forced her to lie down. The night was quiet and Angie liked to look out the small window above the washtub and see the mist rolling in from the bay. The distance between the bay and town was enough that she could not see the water when it was foggy but the open sky was drawing her gaze. It would rain soon, she thought. The night air was getting chillier and she was glad to have a roof and warm clothes. She heard Gabe’s heavy steps coming up the staircase and turned to give him a nod and reminded him to be quiet.

  “There is a young man to see ya.” Gabe said quietly. “Bradley Henderson” His mouth in a smothered grin.

  “What in the world would he be doing wanting a visit this time o’day.” Angela wondered. She dried her hand on a towel that was draped upon her shoulder. She took off the work apron and grabbed a shawl from a nearby peg.

  Angie hopped down the steps with the bounce of energy even after a long day. Her curiosity about having a visitor was setting her brain abuzz but she was very surprised to see the tall young preacher’s son with his Sunday best on. Angie suddenly felt a little self-conscious in her simple frock. It was clean but very simple. She had been helping Amber all day with cleaning and packing some things for the move to the new building. It would still be a few weeks but getting a head start was wise in Amber’s condition.

  “Hello Miss Fahey.” He was tall and his voice was even and pleasant. He had medium brown hair and his eyes seem to look a lot like his father’s.

  “Hello Mr. Henderson.” Angie had never actually spoken to him but for a handshake and hello just a few days before, then just a nod at the Sunday meeting. Angela felt a bit awkward but wanted to be friendly.

  “I know we haven’t spoken much but I wanted to say hello and get to know ye’ a bit. You can call me Bradley if ya wish.”