Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) (16 page)

After they ate Ted finally wanted Corinne to have her box from Angela. It had several letters and a small rectangular package wrapped in brown parchment.

“Oh, letters and a gift.” Corinne exclaimed. She gingerly opened the package and saw a beautiful carved box. Inside was a matching carved pen and stationery with flowers drawn as the letterhead. She gasped and touched the paper tenderly.

“We found a fancy goods store in San Francisco. She could not resist getting this for you.” Clive said with a grin. He was pleased to see her reaction and promised himself he would remember this moment and tell Angela all about it when he returned.

“I will have a letter or two to send back with you. So be sure to stop by again before you leave.” Corinne made Clive promise.

It was not a hard one to keep. Clive and Ted had plenty of visits in with John and Marie, Russell and Chelsea and even twice more to the Grants before they traveled back south. Clive was able to get lots of business done and still seemed to have time to give Ted a grand tour of the Valley. They attended church with the Harpole’s and Grants. All in all Ted felt like he had a good grasp of this budding community. Clive was good at his job and felt a hankering to give the boy a liking for Oregon. Just in case his inclinations about Ted and a certain redhead were true.

Corinne had asked Clive before they left if there was anything she should know about this attractive young man. She had pulled him aside.

“He has mentioned Angela several times. He seems to light up when we talked about her.” Corinne was curious.

“There is nothing beyond the sparking, as I can say but they are both shy. They may need a nudge if they are ever to move past it.” Clive stifled a laugh.

“Well, I like him. He seems a good Christian lad. If God sees fit to put them together I could see it as a match.” Corinne nodded.

She handed several letters to Ted before they left to go back to Portland. “If you could deliver these to her yourself, I would be much obliged.” Corinne smiled and gave Ted a warm hug and goodbye. Lucas was just as friendly and grabbed his handshake with both hands and told him he was welcome in their home at any time. He leaned in and whispered too.

“Oregon is a good place to settle. I would be glad to see you around here someday. God Bless ya.” Lucas let him go and Corinne and Lucas followed them outside to see them off.

* * * * *

San Francisco, California Territory

Ted delivered the letters to Angela the day after he arrived. The steamer had arrived at night. They decided all to stay on board and get off in the early morning.

Clive was ready to be about his business with Gabe. He had so many plans swarming in his head he was chomping at the bit to get with Gabe and discuss the move of the business.

Ted got his two bags to his room over the laundry, fit in a quick shave and cleanup and was out the door by nine a.m.

The mercantile was nearly ready to be opened and Ted saw the smile of Angela through the large window. She opened the door for him and she nearly leaned in to hug him, he thought. Perhaps it was wishful thinking.

“It is good to see you back safe and sound.” Angela said, a pretty pink blush lit up her cheeks. “I thought I heard Clive in the back room with Gabe but I didn’t want to disturb them. From what I could hear they were deep in business talk.”

“Clive is a dynamo, he impressed me so much with all we did while we were gone. He has so many business ventures, I have no idea how he can keep them all straight.” Ted said with enthusiasm. He had been tired but being in Angela’s presence had him awake and a little jittery.

“I am sure we will hear all about it tonight at supper.” Angela smiled. This was a pleasant side to Ted.

“You were right about Oregon.” It was his turn to blush. Knowing what his thoughts implied to himself. “It seems like a good place to settle. The land is so beautiful and I was told by many how fertile the land is.”

“I hoped you would like it.” Angela said without thinking. It was a bit forward to be telling a young man where he should settle, especially if she wanted to live there herself. Her pink blush turned red. Angela could tell that Ted noticed.

It was an awkward minute until Ted reached into his jacket and retrieved the letters from Corinne.

“I should be off, I haven’t eaten since last night. My need for some breakfast is great.” Ted put his hands in his pockets and let his gaze follow the lines of Angela’s face a moment before he had to will himself to leave.

“Oh no, stay right there.” Angela with a quick turn was around the counter and running up the stairs. Her skirts swishing as she hopped up each step. Ted could not help but grin.

She was down just a minute later with a plate heaped with a few biscuits with jam, a few slices of bacon some potato hash.

“We only just ate less than an hour ago. If you don’t mind leftovers you can save yourself a dollar. The restaurant prices are going up.” Angie said practically. 

“I don’t mind at all.” Ted said accepting the plate.

Angela patted the seat by the counter as an invitation. Ted gladly took it.

“You can keep me company while I get the store ready to open.” Angela’s sweet smile was Ted’s near undoing. He had no idea how to think when he was around her but somehow he needed to figure out a way to… he didn’t even know what he wanted to do. Well, perhaps he had a thought or two. Her pretty pink lips and green eyes were keeping his full attention.

“You eat your food Ted.” Angela said when she saw he hadn’t eaten a bite in several minutes.

“Yes’m” He said and stopped the staring. He was going to have to get a hold of himself. He ate his breakfast but was still able to watch Angela as she worked her way around the room tidying and nudging things into place. He decided that this was a fine way to spend a morning.

Clive and Gabe joined up with Angela and Ted. Angela gave Clive a quick hug and went back to her work. Clive gave Ted a questioning look.

“She fed me breakfast.” Ted said lamely, trying to explain his presence. “Oh yes, I also delivered the letters.”

Clive laughed and gave Ted a knowing look. Ted knew he wasn’t fooling anyone. Clive gave a look to Angela who was busy with her counter duties. Clive raised an eyebrow to Ted and shook his head. Ted wasn’t exactly sure what Clive had said with all his gesturing but he was pretty sure that he had failed at something in Clive’s estimation.

Ted left after his breakfast plate was empty. He returned the plate to Amber who was upstairs.

“See you folks soon. I will be checking around for some work. God bless all.” Ted waved.

They all said goodbye and both Gabe and Clive noticed that Angela watched from the window as the young man walked down the street.

“You go take a break, I will cover the counter dear. You go read your letters.” Clive offered. Angela squealed the tiniest bit and ran up the stairs. After a brief moment talking to Amber she went to the balcony off the side off her room. It had a nice little chair and table.

She read the letter from Corinne:

Dearest Angie,

I am missing you again. I have been busy as a bee with my labs and plants. The oil production is started and the science is working the way it should. Producing clean and pure oil from my piles of lavender plants. Dolly has started staying with us sometimes and the missing you is easier when I have female company. Her English has improved greatly and she now insists on reading out loud from our bible after dinner every night. She has confessed a new belief in God but struggles with how it all goes together. We all help when we can but somehow we know that she has to find God in her way. She has the desire, I can tell, but her upbringing was so very different. But she talks about her Mother and Father having been believers in the white man’s God. She is a strong young woman and knowing her has been a blessing. I hope she never leaves the area. She sometimes talks about how her tribe wants her to come back. I don’t know how to feel about it.

We added on to the cabin on the North side, with a whole new section with two bedrooms, and a large room for feeding the harvesters. Lucas says our crowded cabin is going to burst if we have to repeat what we did last fall. The wing to the west that Andrew’s parents built for us is finally the way it should be. It is three rooms, a bedroom, and a sitting room, both with a fireplace and a small kitchen with a wood stove.  It is connected to the house but offers complete privacy. Marie and I have decorated it. Lucas thinks it would be a great wing for a housekeeper. But I am adamant to have no servants. I know you understand my reasons.

Marie has a few dresses made for you when you return. She made me a darling new Sunday dress that is so fashionable. Lucas whistles every time I wear it.

I sent a reply back to my cousin Megan and they telegrammed to me that they set sail in April. They will be setting up their new home near Sacramento, California. Her father, Arnold Capron, wants to set up a large dairy operation there.

Lucas and I have told her to come and stay with us over the winter months if she wishes. I am not sure what kind of escape she is hoping for but I am always willing to help when it comes to family.

We had a lovely visit with the nice Mr. Greaves. Ted, as he allowed us to call him, seems a very good young man. He spoke very highly of you and was always mentioning you every time we had him over for dinner. Perhaps it was my active imagination but I do believe he mentioned settling here about a dozen times. Does that please you, friend? I would dearly like to know. I cannot keep from grinning, as I am here with more than a mild curiosity about how my dearest friend is making such good acquaintances. Please do tell if there is any news on that front. Before I burst with my own inquisitiveness.

I have also sent along another letter that came by post a few weeks ago. I was excited to see Edith Sparks printed on the outside. I do pray she has good news. They were both so very good to you. I pray a blessing on them often.

As always you are in my thoughts and prayers. Please come home to me soon.

Corinne Grant

Angela sighed and read over every word. Feeling her friend’s teasing over Ted, she had nothing to share with her friend but in her hopes there was the hint of something there. She would have to explore it further on another day. She went to the other letter.

My darling girl,

God has blessed our fort with so many visitors over the last months. The spring was the busiest I had ever seen. My root cellar was near empty as I sold out of all I had set aside for sale. I tried ever so hard not to dip into our own food supply but I will say upon occasion I did sell to a few desperate folk that were running out of food stores. I do wonder how they were to survive the long journey having prepared so ill.

I have some news. It was near summer when a wagon train pulled through. It reminded me of the day we met you when the wagon boss came into town so early. A father and mother were killed along the trail, one to snake bite and the other to a bad water crossing. They had three children, orphaned and without transport. The train did not want the responsibility for them.

The oldest child a girl, Heidi, who is almost ten years old declares that they had no family at all back in Illinois. The wagon boss shared all the belongings with us and upon our agreement left the children with us. The two youngest, twins, a boy named Peter and his sister Fiona are so beautiful and sweet little darlings. They don’t really understand the loss of their parents but they have warmed up to Henry and I. At first we didn’t know what to do with them. Henry sent a post to his commanding officer in Illinois about the children. Since the children were considered orphans we were sent papers that signed us as having guardianship over them. If wished we could send them back to any city to an orphanage or we could adopt them.

It was not a hard decision for us to make. I had spent years praying for children, then more years allowing God to work within me to get past my childless state. I had such a joy in my heart when we had you to take care of; though you were nearly grown it was such a blessing to me. My tears were plentiful after you left, the house so quiet.

We have decided to adopt the children as our own if they all agreed to it. Heidi was not hard to convince but her sadness over losing her parents created a melancholy in her for a time. The good Lord is helping us all to see her through it. The young ones are a constant joy and challenge. God has supplied me, at 43 years old, with a family I never could have expected.

Henry and I have discussed the topic at length and prayed extensively. Upon Henry’s next re-enlistment he will decline. With his savings we have decided to continue west. We have our hearts set on being near you, Angela. You are a daughter of my heart and I would love to raise my new family on a piece of land near you. We would love to teach the girls to grow things, and Peter to have a place to run and grow into a Godly man. I have a dream of a nice cabin with room for a big garden and a farm stand to sell my produce. I do so love that part. Seeing people buy what I grew, it is less about the money and more about the providing someone with good healthy food. I am rambling on and on. I miss our chats.